Fuel burns brightly in the Garden

This review was published in May 2002

Having only re-opened this month after a redesign, Covent Garden's latest cocktail bar has bang-up-to-date decor - its colourful lighting and white-washed walls give this basement space a surprisingly airy feel while some red sofa-type seating, curved cellar ceilings and illuminated-from-within tables suggest the designer took his inspiration from the Star Wars cantina.

The menu isn't spectacular, comprising a short list of snacks, starters and mains of either stone-baked pizzas or savoury crÍpes - but the food is inexpensive (snacks for around £4, pizzas and crépes for £8.50), well-presented and tasty.

However, it's the extensive cocktail menu that'll bring in the crowds - especially during happy hour when cocktails are £3.25 instead of the usual £5.50 and bottles of guest beer - Stella on our visit - cost £1.90.

Unobtrusively attentive waitress service dished up a variety of tastebudtingling beverages - with the milkshakey Chop-Nut (vodka, Malibu, crème de banane), tangy Polar Bear Cooler ( vodka, triple sec, blue curacao, fresh sour mix) and zingingly sour Suffering Bastard (dark and light rum, orange curacao, almond syrup, cucumber) - proving unsurprisingly more-ish.

Fuel isn't mega-trendy and attracts the usual Covent Garden crowd of Italian tourists and afterwork stragglers, but its unfussy approach and myriad of secluded alcoves makes it an infinitely more attractive prospect than its increasingly shabby peers.

Fuel Bar
21 The Market At Covent Garden, The Piazza, WC2E 8RD