Willie Gunn

MLG ( 30s, Female, United Kingdom )

I’ve eaten in the restaurant at Willie Gunn’s, but I only go there for the bar area which is undoubtedly one of my favourite locals for a drink and a light meal on a weeknight with friends.

The bar area is small, but finding a table or a perch at the bar is normally relatively easy. Lighting is low in a small room with simple wooden tables and chairs dotted around, but with windows on two sides of the room, it feels open and comfortable without being crowded, even when full.

The wine list is relatively short but well priced with a good variety of wine at under £20 a bottle, representing excellent value for money – I’m particularly fond of the Argentinian reds at £17-18 each.

My friends and I almost always choose a selection of the bar snacks – generous portions of nachos always go down well as does the roasted garlic with pitta bread and houmous (although portion sizes of the latter have definitely got disappointingly smaller in the last year or so). Tomato bruschetta are less easy to share but delicious and the steak sandwich, at £7.95 is good value and tasty.

Service is friendly rather than efficient, but with the owner manager on duty regularly things remain largely under control.

A small note on the restaurant which does not come anywhere near the bar area in terms of quality of food, value for money or atmosphere. Go to Willie Gunn’s for a few glasses of wine and a simple meal in the bar area – it will seldom disappoint – but avoid the restaurant.