Of Ends and New Beginnings - The Lost Hour opens in Greenwich

It was a somewhat bitter-sweet experience when we toasted our last in the Auctioneer. The promise of a new bar certainly peaked interest but losing the Auctioneer almost felt like losing an old friend. Though it was in desperate need of some TLC its quirky décor and worn appearance held a distinctive charm for those attending Uni, making it the student hangout of choice in Greenwich. Cheap and always cheerful the bar had been good to us, and so on Sunday 1^st April we affectionately ‘clinked’ our glasses as last orders were called for the last time.

An end of an era perhaps but with a reported £180,000 facelift and a funky new name we awaited ‘The Lost Hour’ to open with eager anticipation whilst a speedy five day transformation took place.

On Thursday 5^th April The Lost Hour made its debut hosting an evening launch that quite literally ‘rolled out the red carpet’. Located on Greenwich High Road, en route to Greenwich train station, one could hardly miss the light spectacle on approach displayed outside the bar. With a welcome at the door, we entered between the two towering lightfire heaters that framed the doorway; The Lost Hour was determined to make a good first impression and a damn fine one they did too.

With a slick and modern colour scheme the place is almost unrecognisable. Cream walls imbued with streaks and pillars of slate green, rich brown wooden flooring, high backed leather studded bar stools and an assortment of little white tables and dark brown booths dotted throughout. Large mirrors open the place up dramatically and a clock in the style of a large pocket watch hangs quirkily above the bar. Sitting at a table in the corner, pints in hand, we looked across the busy scene which was bustling with excitement and laughter and though many things have changed aesthetically for the better in the bar it still thankfully retains an element of cosiness and comfortable intimacy.

 

 

There was a well stocked assortment of drinks available, but two things really stood out. First was an innovative scheme aimed at ‘real ale’ drinkers whereby every pint of cask ale bought also got you a stamp on a card. Collect seven stamps and your eighth pint is free. The second was the option to buy some very interestingly named cocktails, a drink option often overlooked by many of the other bars in Greenwich.

 The bar staff were in full force that evening. They were all very pleasant and polite and the service was quick and efficient at the bar with little waiting time. Fanciful Dandy, in spectacular style, managed to spill his drink across our table half way into the evening, when he went to the bar to ask for a cloth to clean it up himself one of the girls came over and cleaned it up for him right away. A very nice touch I thought which showed an initiative by bar staff to make the effort.

 

Obviously the bar is still finding its niche in Greenwich but if this much devotion and effort is continued I have little doubt The Lost Hour will become a firm favourite amongst regulars and visitors alike. It isn’t the Auctioneer that so many students came to love – those days are gone. Instead it seems to have grown up a bit, matured into a bar with added sophistication but has kept its fun loving atmosphere. Based on the very enjoyable evening had there I will most certainly be making a return visit. They say that time flies when you’re having fun, I can see myself losing many carefree hours in The Lost Hour. 

Posted by Angelic Rogue