The Refinery in Southwark

Excellent service quality, food is fresh, good in portions and well balanced in taste, atmosphere is a bit noisy (at least for me).

I visited The Refinery Bankside for a meal today and, unfortunately, had a very disappointing experience. I ordered the Christmas turkey dinner, but it was served lukewarm in a pool of unappetizing gravy. The turkey was dry and tasteless, the roast potatoes were overcooked and hard, and the stuffing was unpalatable. The only thing I could eat were the carrots. Everything else on the plate — including the Brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets, and parsnips — was left untouched. The atmosphere was another issue. It was extremely loud, and the lighting was so dim we struggled to read the menu. The staff seemed overwhelmed and were abrupt in their interactions. On multiple occasions, they bumped into my chair without apology and stretched across us to remove items from the table while we were mid-conversation, which felt rude and unprofessional. Adding to the discomfort, a staff member was breaking down a cardboard box right next to our table, and there were constant staff huddles and conversations near us, which felt intrusive. It created a very uncomfortable and rushed dining experience, as though we were being watched and hurried along. The facilities were also disappointing. The ladies' toilets were in poor condition, with flushing issues in every cubicle, unclean remnants left behind, and one of the sinks out of order. There is also a trip hazard in the middle of the restaurant with a hole and crumbling floor, which is not sectioned off. This is a accident waiting to happen. I've dined here before and never had such a poor experience, but this visit left me feeling like the overall quality of The Refinery has significantly declined. Sadly, I doubt I’ll return to eat here, and my friend shares the same sentiment.

Ox cheek just melts in your mouth.

I went there for my Christmas party with my staff, the food was amazing. I’m allergic to nuts and the head chef came personally to the table to suggest me the best dish. Also the atmosphere was really good, the staff super friendly and nice music. I’ll go back for sure

Lovely vibe, cosy decor, attentive and friendly staff, excellent Irish Coffee:)) Oh, and a (very) dog friendly space!

came for a work party, the staff were so rude but still expected 13.5% service charge. the music is way too loud you have to shout to hear each other and the food is so mid and so overpriced. do not come here, we paid almost 60 quid for small portions of underseasoned food.

We went for our team Xmas dinner and it's safe to say we won't go there again. It was too noisy and the restaurant bit was packed. It was cramped at the table we could hardly move our arms. There was no space for us to get up and go to the loo. When we finally managed to get to the loo it was leaking. Felt sorry for the staff working in such a place.

Amazing service from great people - unforgettable

I recently visited this restaurant, and unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. Despite the restaurant being almost empty, the service was incredibly slow, and the staff didn’t seem to care that we weren’t happy with our meals, which made the experience even more frustrating. You could tell that none of the staff members wanted to be there. The food was bland and tasteless, with no hint of seasoning or flavours. To make matters worse, sides were left sitting under a warming table for 15 plus minutes while the main dishes were being cooked, so they arrived dry and stale. The decor is undeniably beautiful, and that’s what you’re paying for rather than the quality of the food. That said, the decor isn’t remarkable enough to justify the prices, especially given the poor dining experience. Stay away unless you're looking to waste your money.

Fantastic place with delicious food, a great atmosphere and really nice decor. It also feels very clean and a lot of thought has been put into the details, such as you walk into the bathrooms and there are candles and a pleasant scent. The food is also tasty and several of our group had the fish pie, and a variety of deserts and we all really enjoyed the dishes.

Staff are rude, service is awful, expensive prices, bad music - however the decor is nice.

I love the decor, it’s inviting and beautiful. Great venue for families and ladies groups. I’ll go again

Lovely modern bar serving food in a beautifully designed ground floor setting between a Blackfriars and London Bridge. Friendly staff, pub grub with some twists. Good selection of non alcoholic beverages and cocktails

I visited The Refinery with a large group for lunch, so we pre-ordered our meals and had a set menu. The restaurant was almost entirely empty other than us, yet the service was incredibly slow, especially the drinks. I ordered the butternut squash soup and was very disappointed by it - it was very bland, with flavourless, soggy chunks of bread. No amount of salt or pepper could save this thing. The roast chicken breast was fine, but I also ordered a side of broccoli that was served just steamed with entirely no seasoning on it other than a sprinkling of plain almond slices. Finally the apple and winterberry crumble was average but nothing to write home about. I think I was unlucky and just ordered the worst things on the menu as my colleagues seemed to enjoy their meals, although I'm not sure if they're just being polite. Personally, I wouldn't go back.

Environment with great attention to every detail, which creates a very cool and pleasant atmosphere. Very good food: the fish pie was sublime! I would happily return!

Nice place, relaxing during city trip

What a truely epic and majestic experience. This is a place that's highly recommended if you are in London. The staff were so pleasant & friendly. The food was truly amazing, they have raised the bar in terms of service and atmosphere. Then the music.. the DJ was on point keeping the atmosphere alive at peak level at all times... I would go back for sure, if you are reading this I would suggest you try out The Refinery👌

On a Sunday they closed an hour early so we weren't able to have a meal.

We came with friends for a birthday meeting, THE RAFINERY IS beautiful place, very polite and efficient service and really tasty food. We liked it very much, the burgers were properly fried with fresh toppings, delicious pizza, very good desserts! we will definitely come back!

I went to the refinery and I ordered the burger and fries. It was delicious. Need less to say the best burger I have ever ate. Perfectly cooked, bun crispy and salad was fresh. The chips were not soggy and full of flavour. The waiters were a pleasure to talk to and recommend the best food on the menu. Definitely coming back and would recommend to anyone.

Went there for dinner with my mum for her birthday as a friend recommended me the refinery. It was amazing. The scenery inside is beautiful everything is gorgeous about the place. I ordered salmon salad and chips it was brilliant. The salmon soft on the inside and cooked to perfection. I had also ordered their salads and they tasted like they were hand picked from a garden so refreshing. There’s not 1 bad thing I can say. Servers greet you with a smile so kind and generous you don’t get places like this often in London. One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Anyone that’s thinking of going it’s worth the money and I would 100% tell anyone that asks me to go. Menu has a good selection too. I loved everything about it.

We booked a table for lunch for a colleagues birthday. The restaurant itself is lovely - flowers everywhere, good lighting and it has a very calm and welcoming aesthetic. The service was also good, with the wait staff very attentive and they allowed us to bring our own cake inside for the birthday and brought it out with candles on which was nice. That is why I have given 2 stars. Unfortunately the food itself was arguably the worst I have ever had in a restaurant. I was hesitant about visiting this place for food after seeing the reviews but I was outvoted. I ordered the chicken burger which was bland and so hard and chewy it was clearly warmed up from another day. Everyone who ordered the chicken burger said the same thing. My colleague who I believe ordered fish also had to send her meal back as it was cold and tasteless. Overall I paid £22 for a meal I wouldn’t feed to a dog. The Refinery is probably best for drinks but I won’t be coming back to eat.

Fantastic bar factor it into your London stay

Vibrant pub with good food, great drinks and good service. Great place to hang out with friends or after office parties !

Shockingly bad food dressed up as something decent. Avoid if you want to eat. Not cheap either.

Great place for cocktails and nibbles. Staff are very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed our evening and will be back soon

I was disappointed with the food and the atmosphere. The music was far too loud for an eatery. The whole idea is to enjoy converstion with family, friends or colleagues over a nice meal. I did not I had fish and chips but the batter was soggy and the fish was not very nice. The mushy peas were just peas mashed with mint. I expect my fish to be white and flaky but this was sadly was lacking.

Pretty good food and a good variety of options. The space can get very loud.

The atmosphere is spectacular, full of flowers and colors, it makes you feel summer, the food was not the best, I only liked the Mocca.

Interior and exterior was gorgeous Food was good and serive was good.

Drinks with a group of friends after work, wrong order came out that was pre selected, the manager was quite abrupt and clearly hasn’t learnt manners go far in the events role, I won’t be booking this location again.

Had a good evening but sadly the service on the night was shocking/slow and after the event, the service from the general manager and the events team was awful. They have not been fair and reasonable and I would not recommend this venue to anyone as a result - not sure what happened to treating customers with respect and honesty.

My wedding dinner at the refinery was so absolutely perfect. From the moment we started communicating with them, the staff was incredibly kind and attentive, making sure every detail was just as I had planned. The service was smooth, and everything flowed seamlessly throughout the evening. The food was amazing—especially the sirloin steak, which was cooked to perfection. The entire experience was delightful, and I couldn’t have asked for a better setting for such a special day

This is an absolutely gorgeous place to dine, however the food is a huge let down. Such a shame, as I expected more than a mediocre bowl of food, when we dined here

Terrible service, overcharging and indifferent food. Do yourself a favour and go to Wagamama or Leon just round the corner. I was forced to order from the bar and pay in advance to avoid the noise inside. The staff added the discretionary service fee without asking and for little or mo actual service. The meal was dull, the protein overcooked and the rest pretty bland. Staff seemed not to care at all. I watched as an American family were also fleeced.

We were seated and our orders were taken quickly. Our server was very kind, but it was very difficult getting their attention throughout the meal. The lemon iced tea was incredibly sour, and the peach iced tea was incredibly watered down.. The fries were very nice and crunchy, and the special of the day was good. The watermelon was spicy which was an interesting surprise. That meal would be ordered again, however the fish and chips were very bland and I would not order those anymore. Had we stuck with more salads, the meal would have probably been more enjoyable since the salad was very good.

I highly recommend the chicken burger Out of this world

I loved the detail of the goodies in the toilet

Excellent service and very good staff, we had excellent server Wahid!!

Amazing setting for all occasions! Was there for both lunch and after-work drinks and had a great time. The atmosphere is very chilled with nice music and the food assortment is fantastic (had baos, fries with cheese and some duck as well). Great stuff!

Such a lovely meal and big thanks to Matt who looked after us!

Wow,it was such a great experience with them. Their dishes was Really soo delicious and also the table serve. Specially there was a boy named Wahid,he was soo humble and experienced. Heartly,I am recommending them.

Nice place and food was amazing,,and specially server Wahid was amazing.

Great Service was provided by Wahid, very nice terrace and food was fantastic.

The place is really nice and has a great design but the food is really bad which is a shame. The service is okay.

Good food with colorful atmosphere. All the staff was good specially thanks to wahid.

The staff is absolutely great, front of the house and table service. Everyone is just wonderful and very helpful specially Wahid

Wahid is our distinguished server, exceptional kindness, helpfulness, and excellent service.

All staff was experienced and well behaved. Especially one of their waiter Wahid, he was so much friendly with us.. will visit again.

It was realy good experience to visit the refinery also their staff behaviour specially wahid. Highly Recommended

Fantastic service by Wahid, The food was delicious and all the staff are very friendly.

Super staff, amazing food and atmosphere!!!

We had the opportunity to try this restaurant for lunch and in the evening for a cocktail. Very nice establishment, courteous and pleasant service, good atmosphere.

Man by the door doesn6 like customer I am heresince 21:15 tables had booking in Cardiff on table is from 16:30 still they said is booking now is 22:25 no one seats on that tables keep switching off music managment is wrong it is amazing pub and restaurant Owner has to find a good manager

Hosted a baby shower here, asked specifically for a mojito mocktail as it was for a pregnant lady, was served a cocktail and we only found out as there was rum in the drink. Do not recommend for a baby shower, for anybody who doesn't drink and for any body in general. Cocktails are overpriced too

We came to this place because it had allergy options and vegan options but it was so disappointing. They were out of all fish option except the fish and chips which contain gluten. Then, we ordered a salad which had no taste, no dressing and was under seasoned. After calling the manager, we got dressing, salt and pepper for the salad and un breaded fish. What a relief! I wouldn’t recommend this place.

The restaurant was out of a lot of food. The atmosphere was great as far as decor and vibes but it was very empty.

Great venue service and drinks..recommended !!

Nice place for a quick business lunch. Great place to meet for drinks after work.

Lovely evening celebrating a friend’s birthday. Food was really good and the staff were attentive and very helpful. We were a group of 12 so had chosen from a set menu which had excellent choices. A gem to be discovered!

Tasty food, comfy outdoor seating, plastic flowers, order via QR code/website, bar staff are friendly, fancy drinks, expensive but worth it, app does mandatory 12.5% service charge and is missing some menu items.

It’s our first time in London and The Refinery is one of the cutest and aesthetic places we’ve been to. Manoj was an excellent bartender, our drinks were delicious. Thanks 🤗

The restaurant decor in the evening caught our attention on our stroll. We decided to give this a try. Very lively place when we came.. ambiance music was club like. The decor is very nice and modern. Service was top notch. Food was good..

Manoj made the best Bloody Mary. Amazing presentation and very tasty and the perfect amount of spice. Top guy, and a top Bloody Mary 10/10

The terrace is quite lovely. Ordering with the qr a bit more complicated than usual but then someone came to help us. The rump steak was tasty, although it was medium, medium rare and rare in parts, don't know why. The salad was tasty, the chicken a bit dry. The sticky coffee pudding was delicious and the coffee was strong and good. I would recommend it.

Wahid was fantastic. The food was good as well. The atmosphere and the food and the amazing service made our night excellent. Will definitely visit again😊

I went today with my friend around 16:30 , place was not busy at all but the waitress didn’t come to our table at all , we were waiting for a while and after went to the bar to ask for someone to help as with our order . Bartender was friendly but the waitress ( a man) was very unprofessional and not polite and rude with us for no reason and at the end when we ask our bill to be split he wanted to charge us for £10 more for each and we noticed that and he said “ah really , I will change now “ and no sorry or apologies…. I don’t know how this person still can work in this nice place .. We love this place and always had a great time but this guy for sure doesn’t have customer service experience at all . Totally disappointed and sad….

We had a great server. The food was delicious. High would highly recommend!

Refreshing restaurant with nice atmosphere My lost shepherd's pie was a bit salty. Staff were good with a great service.

Had drinks here on a Saturday evening for my birthday and the staff were very attentive. The venue has a great evening feel and is in a terrific location.

We came across this restaurant more by chance than any knowledge of it yesterday morning and….SO GLAD WE DID! The entire experience was first class right from the beginning with the manager and all the staff being so professional and polite. The decor and interior design is incredible and sunning. Very comfortable and a perfect ambience. The food was superb - my wife and I have the breakfast burger which I am still thinking about 30hrs later. Photo doesn’t do it true justice so you’ll have to trust me on this. Give it a go! I can only image how busy this place gets given all the tables and chairs so we consider ourselves lucky to have experienced this place during a quiet Sunday morning - a rare thing evidently. We will definitely return to The Refinery again, and again! By the looks of the giany Yorkshire puddings being made in the kitchen I think we'll be back for a roast too!

The place is well set up down to the last detail, but the service is a shame. Half the menu consisted of meat and chicken, both of which could not be ordered. Total receipt with an overload of taxes. When they say: "appearances are deceiving"...

Wahid was our excellent server!

Friendly staff, lovely vibe! Food was delicious too :)

Had some good time watching sports in this bar/restaurant. I came today to ask if they were showing a specific football game, I received as an answer from a relatively thin and tall lady that they were not showing sports in this bar. This is inaccurate and it would have been better to say that you were not showing this game in particular today.

I am Ceoliac so I ordered my food according to the allergy markers on the menu. The waitress then informed me that the allergy info was wrong and I could eat anything but a steak. Ordered this, medium to well it arrived rare and had to be sent back. Really appalling because gluten can make me really unwell and they clearly don’t take allergies very seriously

Cool venue but it's too dark inside at night, the music is too loud for dinner, and most of my groups dinners were overcooked or not good. I had a really tough steak

I had a lovely steak, cooked properly as asked, great taste, great quality ingredients. The bar is lovely, amazing atmosphere! Thanks

The food is spectacular, the atmosphere and ambience are perfect for date night, special night out or a group. I have no words for how amazing the food was!

Went after work with some colleagues and by 6pm was really busy. Very slow getting served at the bar as only a couple of staff on. Bit of confusion for ordering food but got there in the end and when it came it was nice

Great cocktails but food just average

Amazing food, great staff, lovely atmosphere and surrounding would highly recommend. The Duck flat bread and chorizo scotch egg were unreal!!

I loved the place, but the food was moderate.

Love coming here and the Foleys across the river. I love the atmosphere here and the food is always perfect. Good service with great drinks. Please don't change these two places!

I love this place, lots of seating. Lovely food, friendly service and interesting decor.

Didn't eat any food, so I am not able to give any stars. The place has lovely decor and feel. Their staff is very attentive, polite, and professional. Toilets definitely need way more attention, and this cost this place a star.

One of the great things about Trip Advisor reviews is that they can separate the wheat from the chaff. Like much of central London, especially in the City, most places look swish, seem enticing, they work hard to lure you in. That's how it is, of course. Having invested chunks of cash, they need bums on seats. So it can be hard to discern the great from the rest at first glance and we are lured by bling. Cue caution. Well, happily, this place is really lovely. I was here for a business lunch. The moment we walked inside the door we were made to feel very welcome, that our custom mattered and that they were pleased to see us. This came from the greeter, the waitress, the manager, it was consistently the case. It is a lovely airy, modern restaurant, ideal for a business lunch. The prices are city-reasonable - modest for what they offer, the service was attentive and top class, we were cared for well and the food was delicious and promptly served. We are grateful for all of that and we thank you.

Popped in for drinks - great atmosphere and interior. Lots of seating for drinks and dining, with room for families and big groups. Separate areas that can be hired for events and lovely staff. Drinks a bit pricey, but I guess that's what you get in that area!

Didn't eat so can't comment, drinks were excellent.

Presentation was nice. Atmosphere of the place decent. The food and drink however were average. Eggnog latte unpalatable. Broccoli not properly seasoned, salmon slightly overcooked, purple potatoes didn't taste good. I get it's all fairly subjective. What's not is the portion sizes. Why make them so small? Anyhow I will not be returning or recommending this place.

Presentation was nice. Atmosphere of the place decent. The food and drink however were average. Eggnog latte unpalatable. Broccoli not properly seasoned, salmon slightly overcooked, purple potatoes didn't taste good. I get it's all fairly subjective. What's not is the portion sizes. Why make them so small? Service was polite but slow. Anyhow I will not be returning or recommending this place.

We had brunch here on Saturday. The food was ok however, it took a while for us to get served. I requested a none spicy Bloody Mary, the drink came and it nearly blew my head off, it was that spicy. They then ran out of the waffles on the brunch menu, they had also ran out of Guinness, they couldn’t find the vinegar and forgot the calamari that we had ordered. I think they were a little understaffed and the team were running round like crazy.

Boyfriend and I went for drinks to celebrate our one year anniversary. We were quickly sat down at a table next to the bar which was lovely. The setting and atmosphere is very romantic, they have cute table and chair sets outside which was beautiful. On the other hand, the drinks were quite pricey. We spent £30 for two drinks and 2 shots.

Fantastic venue, great service, lovely space in a fab location just close to Tate Modern

The service was exceptional! Thank you so much to the staff for being so friendly and attentive!

very disappointing place. food is average and portions are small. waiter was avoiding us so it was hard to place an order. not coming there anymore

Some of the stuff should be considered to be replaced.

Great atmosphere great music and great service. Can't fault

Really tasty seasonal cocktails, one containing a spirit/liquor called moose which uses Canadian maple syrup. The seating is very comfortable and during the day is a great place for a quiet drink or even a work space where one can enjoy good food and drinks

Brunch: subpar food, drinks service and atmosphere; above average price — not a winning combination!