The Brickhouse in Shoreditch, London

Fluid Eating's Review of The Brickhouse

Erykah Badu, an MC on a skateboard, extremely strong cocktails and camp hula hooping. This it seems is an ordinary night in the life on The Brickhouse supper club on Brick Lane. Eryka Badu cooly breathes "You got me" over the sound system, as my friend and I weave our way to bar, in between a throng of 1930s party goers, looking for fun on a Friday night. On its website The Brickhouse says it aims to provide top quality cutting edge performance with exciting modern European cuisine. We're here to find out if it lives up to the promise.

As we sit in prime position waiting for the cabaret to begin, we order a bottle of rose Sancerre (£18) and blow away the cobwebs of the week listening to Air in the laid back, but elegant, surroundings. The 5-course menu seems to cater for all tastes, and it's a snip at £25. So far so good.

The wine arrives pretty quickly. It's warm. One point deducted. I ask the waitress for ice but she insists on replacing the bottle. Point replaced. The place easily caters for intimate meals for two or party bookings of up to 10 people on one table.

Pork belly with bok choy and Asian spices kicks us off. It's a good size for a five course menu and the pork belly is juicy without being too fatty. Next up, the hake with olive, cress and brown shrimps. This is my favourite. The fish is delicate yet flavoursome and the assortment of colours on the plate is visually tantalizing. A short wait and the chicken with basil crumb appears with potato fondant and basil jus. I'm still quite hungry so I’m glad it’s a large portion. But it's tough. I look at my friend who is chewing like a beaver on an oak tree. It's not attractive. Sawing into the chicken is akin to trying to apply lip gloss in a taxi. It's difficult and not worth the effort. To divert my mind away from the chewy chicken, the acts thankfully begin.

The MC slides in on a skateboard and does a bit of stand up. It's funny, but not setting my world on fire. Maybe it's the chicken? Then the 5ft 2in Colombian gymnast comes on - balancing on one hand on top of a very precarious object in a physics-defying feat of abdominal masochism; I can hardly watch. Chicken what chicken? Then there’s a break between food and the entertainment. My friend goes for a cigarette and the Colombian decides to sit next to me. He's a 24 year old trainee dentist by day and hula hoop supremo by night.

The cheese course comes and goes, no-one can possibly do anything wrong to cheese. Then the pièce de résistance finishes off the famous five: summer fruits, champagne jelly and mascarpone ice cream. My friend is literally salivating and I can't work out if it's the champagne jelly, the espresso cocktail or the hot MC on the skate board. The hen party behind us are certainly having a whale of a time. The bride-to-be, Beth, not shy of volunteering whenever audience participation is needed, offers to lay on the floor while skater boy jumps over her on the proviso he strips to the waist. Brave or stupid? I'm a little sozzled by the mix of delicious chilli vodka and watermelon martini cocktails from earlier, so I'd probably say brave.

For his next trick our daredevil MC asks the audience to throw knives at him whilst perching on one leg on a skate board on top of a tin can. I'm thinking that might be stupid, but I'm impressed and entertained all the same. Fellow artistes include an extraordinarily cute and extraordinarily camp sailor hula-ing an impossible number of hoops to the rousing chants of 'Your Disco Needs You', and a beautiful finale performed by a painted pair of acrobats on silks.

The Brickhouse has achieved cutting edge performance and exciting European cuisine under one roof….and to top it off there is dancing. Cheesy dancing. I'm told that it's usually more dance tracks but put me on a dance floor with Kylie spinning around and I'm happy as can be. Brickhouse: you got me.

Reviewed by Melissa Davis.

Description: Housed in the famous 18th century Old Truman Brewery, this u¨ber cool and contemporary restaurant and supper club serves modern European cuisine, mixed with captivating entertainment in the evenings. The Brickhouse opened at the end of 2007 and has built up a glowing reputation for its high-end supper club, alternative themed cabaret and performance shows, its intimate lounge bar, and more recently its use as a unique space for special, social and corporate events. The Brickhouse provides a discreet sanctuary from the numerous hectic bars and restaurants in the area

Making the most of the monumental building’s impressive height, the space pays homage to urban chic. With a floor to ceiling performance area, the ground floor boasts a sleek black L-shaped bar, traditional dining tables and open plan kitchen. Two mezzanine levels provide further seating, with the best in the house – a private dining room. On the first, deep red booths create an intimate setting for groups of six, with beds on the second enticing those searching for a truly hedonistic setting. A rear alfresco terrace is a welcome addition.

Large windows and a glass ceiling, with views of the building’s iconic stack, allow light to fill The Brickhouse during the day, whilst evoking the ambiance of a city loft at night. Stark white walls provide a minimalist blank canvas for striking modern art and engaging sculpture throughout the venue. Artworks will change and move over time creating a dynamic environment for those visiting time and time again.

Brickhouse restaurant opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: Dinner: 6.30pm-10:30pm

Brickhouse bar opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 6.00pm – 12.00am
Friday - Saturday: 6.00pm - 3.00am (Updated 18/01/2012)

The Brickhouse Food & Drink Menus

Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at The Brickhouse. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's offerings and assciated prices.

The Brickhouse Food menu

The delicious Modern European menu changes seasonally and is highly versatile, with guests choosing to dine from an a la carte menu or from a 4 course set menu which is inclusive of entertainment fees

Item	Price
Warm Duck Breast Salad	£10.50
with wild mushrooms prunes and hazelnuts
Salmon & Celeriac Terrine	£12.95
with pickled beetroot salad
Apricot Stuffed Pork Fillet	£20.50
with braised red cabbage root vegetable mash and a Madeira jus gras
Rhubarb Eton Mess	£8.50
with amaretti biscuits and ginger syrup

The Brickhouse Drink menu

The menu is accompanied by a carefully chosen wine list of world bins featuring ‘good’, ‘great’ and ‘gorgeous’ whites and reds alongside a variety of champagnes, cocktails, premium spirits and bottled beers.

Item	Description	Price
Verdejo	Mayor de Castilla, Spain, 2008. On the nose, it has fruity notes, mainly of apple, with medium-intensity over a background of anise, nuts and vegetal aromas. Fresh and well balanced..	£30.00
Château La Tonnelle	Cru Bourgeois, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2006. A combination of old vines; great vineyard location and excellent vintage have produced opulent claret with ripe, complex fruit..	£36.00

The Brickhouse Special Offers

Title: Four Courses Including Entertainment - Modern European Cuisine / Alternative Cabaret Entertainment for £35
Classification: Dinner, Over £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 30 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Four Courses Including Entertainment - Modern European Cuisine / Alternative Cabaret Entertainment for £40
Classification: Dinner, Over £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 30 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Five Courses Including Entertainment - Modern European Cuisine / Alternative Cabaret Entertainment for £50
Description: For booking there is a minimum of 6 people required. 48 booking hour in advance is mandatory.
Classification: Dinner, Over £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 30 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Midnight Mezze Silver Table Package:Bottle of Claude Renoux Rose/Brut Champagne Tomato Bruschetta, Charcuterie Plate £60
Description: Or Food to the value of £30. Includes entry to the venue and a table reserved for the evening. Price based on up to six guests. Only Bookable Within The Late Night Dining Session. Fridays and Saturdays Only
Classification: Weekend, Dinner, Fixed price Menu
Date: 31 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Midnight Mezze Platinum Table Package - 75cl bottle of Premium Spirit, including mixers, Sharing platter £150
Description: Includes Entry and Table Reservation. Price based on up to six guests. Only Bookable Within Late Night Dining Section. Fridays and Saturdays Only
Classification: Weekend, Dinner, Fixed price Menu
Date: 31 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Midnight Mezze Gold Package: Bottle of Claude Renoux Rose / Brut Champagne Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Salmon for six £100
Description: Or Food value of £40. Price based on up to six guests.Only Bookable Within Late Night Dining Session. Fridays and Saturdays Only
Classification: Weekend, Dinner, Fixed price Menu
Date: 31 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Midnight Mezze Bronze Table Package - One Bottle of Terra Serena Prosecco, One Charcuterie Plate or Cheese Platter £40
Description: Price based on up to two guests Only bookable in Late Night Dining session from 11.30pm onwards - Friday and Saturday Only. Maximum total covers of 36.
Classification: Dinner, Over £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 31 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Four Courses Including Entertainment - Modern European Cuisine / Alternative Cabaret Entertainment for £42.50
Classification: Over £30, Fixed price Menu, Dinner
Date: 30 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: Four Courses Including Entertainment - Modern European Cuisine / Alternative Cabaret Entertainment for £37.50
Classification: Dinner, Over £30, Fixed price Menu
Date: 30 Jan, 2012 - 30 Nov, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: 50% off food bill
Classification: Dinner, Up to 50% off
Date: 01 May, 2012 - 31 Jul, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book

Title: The Brickhouse Hen Package
Description: Before every stunning bride, there was an excited and hopeful hen – eager to spend her last nights of single life with her trusted girlfriends! The Brickhouse will ensure those hen parties wanting to be a little more imaginative than donning ‘L plates’ and a sash, give their hen the perfect send off into married life with a night of dinner, drink and dance topped off with an amazing cabaret show…. You might even like to give our compere a nod and get the party girl involved in the show... ;) Our specially designed ‘Posh Hen’ Package for £60 per person* includes: Entrance to the venue - A table or booth for the evening - 4 course dinner - A half bottle of wine - Mineral water for the tables - Full cabaret show entertainment - After party dancing with guest djs until late - We will also add a dessert cocktail with sparklers as a complimentary special gift for the hen! *The price even includes service charge, so there will be no surprises on the final bill!
Classification: Dinner & Show
Date: 18 Jan, 2012 - 31 May, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: 17:00 - 19:00

The Brickhouse Opening Hours

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Closed	Closed	6:00pm - 12:00am	6:00pm - 12:00am	6:00pm - 1:30am	6:00pm - 1:30am	6:00pm - 3:00am

The Brickhouse Map

• Show me a Printable map

“Great acts, loads of atmosphere, interesting building. The restaurant menu doesn't quite deliver to the standard on the menu but it's still worth a visit if you book as part of an all-inclusive offer.” Rating: — The Restaurant Hunter, London (23 Jan 2012)

“Great atmosphere, the staff was super friendly, had some great food and the entertainment blew us away. What an amassing burlesque show! Best night at out!!!” Rating: — Philip, London (10 Mar 2011)

“Great night out, great food and super performance. Will be telling all my friends about this sassy Brick Lane haunt.” Rating: — Jerry, London (13 Oct 2010)

“Food terrible, but the show was great and the venue is cool. Go for the show but avoid the £35 set menu!” Rating: — Lilac, London (31 Mar 2010)

“Brick Lane has it all, really. I just wish I didn't live so far away. The unusual shape of this venue lends itself to amazing performance, especially those that involve someone dangling and dancing in mid-air. I also like that you can start and end your whole evening here - cocktail, dinner, show, boogie, then home Jeeves.” Rating: — Leigh, Tooting (19 Sep 2009)

“My best night out this year! A one stop venue. Food is exciting and very well prepared. Staff are trendy and friendly. The acts added to the evening and the DJ took us through til 2am. Great night.” Rating: — Sam, London (04 Mar 2008)

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