I WAS invited to a party and visited with a degree of trepidation. I have only heard rude things about the Rood (it is next to the Old Highwayman after all).

What a nice surprise. Okay, it's not Claridges, but it doesn't claim to be. This is a cheap and rather tidy members club, predominantly Irish.

It has a biggish downstairs function room and rather twee upstairs bar.

The sign on the notice board in the foyer boasts recent redecoration, but the doorman explained that notice had been up for two years. Still, the redecoration is holding good.

Two things impressed me very much.

The first was the round of drinks. Three pints of very acceptable Guinness, two bottle of Smirnoff Ice, a Baccardi and Coke, a glass of red wine, a Hamlet cigar and a glass of something else over 12 per cent (I can't remember what) all for under 12 quid. Are you sure referee?

Not only that, but also it was not quite packed to the rafters, but busy nonetheless. After just one round, the barmaid remembered the order better than I did.

As I said, this is a members' club, but the doorman had no qualms about letting me wander upstairs for a nose. Why don't you?

By the way, we knew we would be drinking to excess we left the car in the rather large car park over night. When we returned on Sunday it was still in one piece. There you go... another pleasant surprise.

June 17, 2002 17:30