Departure (Bar, Restaurant, Club)

On a Friday evening, dodging rain showers and London Lite distributors, we arrived at Departure Bar – a tuckaway on Crutched Friars in Aldgate. Lying strategically between the City and Essex (via Fenchurch Station), Departure is clearly aiming to serve the caste of humanity who passes through these two constituencies.

Descending into this crimson cavernous club/bar we encountered small groups of office workers: chattering, chilling, playing pool, slurping and snacking at the end of the week. The venue features varying seating arrangements from club styled booths to low lounge benches along a small but workable dancefloor. The pool table, located next to the bathrooms allows enough space to play and socialise without hindering anyone else’s good time.

But if anything was to hinder a good time, it was probably the “classic” house music that blared from the speakers to the point where I honestly thought my head might blow off; if you must use hand signals to communicate and it’s not even 8PM – the music is too loud dude.

Another slight hindrance to the good times was the Mai Tai served up sans ice, or my partner’s Margarita – with suspicious bits of mint leaves floating around in it…hang on…wait that was a Mojito. Our shared Hot Platter featured the usual morsels of deep fried breaded items – mushrooms, scampi, chicken wings etc. – sided with, you guessed it - sweet chilli dipping sauce. Also on offer are Club Sandwiches, Burgers, Oriental Platters and chips which manager, Mark says are “the best in the world.”

Departure offers many promotions and can be hired to both small and large parties. Thursdays and Fridays are club nights with rotating DJs playing various forms of house music and open till late. The last Wednesday of each month is Open Decks night with amateur DJs welcome to try their hand at the ones and twos.

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