{"id":9568,"date":"2010-06-21T10:31:41","date_gmt":"2010-06-21T08:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=9568"},"modified":"2010-06-21T10:46:17","modified_gmt":"2010-06-21T08:46:17","slug":"pub-review-watching-the-world-cup-at-harveys-bar-winchester-mansions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/pub-review-watching-the-world-cup-at-harveys-bar-winchester-mansions\/","title":{"rendered":"Pub review: Watching the World Cup at Harvey’s Bar, Winchester Mansions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>We decided that the South Africa versus Uruguay game had to be watched in style and comfort, to give our Bafana Bafana team the best possible support in this important game.<\/p>\n

I had\u00a0popped into the newly renovated Harvey’s Bar earlier that afternoon, for a cappuccino and their scones, which I had read about on Twitter.\u00a0\u00a0 What a portion it was – 2 large light scones, and a clever trio dish containing real cream, grated cheese and strawberry jam (which the Congolese waitress pronounced as “ham”, causing some confusion initially).\u00a0\u00a0The price was an unbelievably low R 18 – one scone would have been good value at this price alone.<\/p>\n

The space that was previously the bar as well as the meeting room has been consolidated into one large bar area, but divided into three sections, one being an open smoking one (I did not know that this was allowed) with a TV area, which leads into the large bar area with another TV, and a smaller, more private, lounge without TV.\u00a0\u00a0 Seating is\u00a0a mix of chairs and couches, in shades of grey and silver.\u00a0\u00a0 In the central bar area, bar chairs look\u00a0smart and comfortable.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately the tables are too low, making it very uncomfortable to eat from, one having to bend so low.\u00a0\u00a0 The edges of the chairs are very sharp, quite dangerously so.\u00a0\u00a0 The glass-encased chandelier lights over the bar, and in the lounge areas,\u00a0are the most beautiful lights I have seen in a long time. \u00a0Sitting in the small lounge initially, I noticed that the top half of the window, which is hidden from the outside by a canopy, had not been cleaned in months, and the bottom part had not been cleaned recently either.\u00a0 With the sun setting in the west, one can see the dirty windows\u00a0easily, and even more so when one is in the hospitality industry oneself.<\/p>\n

For the match, we sat in the bar area, on the bar chairs, in front of\u00a0a serving counter, so that we could see the TV screen.\u00a0\u00a0 The counters in the bar area were behind us, so it was a little uncomfortable to get one’s drink and food from behind – a couch on the other side prevents the bar chairs from being put there, something the hotel may consider changing during the World Cup.\u00a0 The bar was not very full, and therefore it lacked atmosphere.\u00a0\u00a0 The staff seemed disinterested in this important match, and it was annoying that the barman mixed drinks extra loud and extra long on his machines, it seemed.\u00a0\u00a0 Service is quite shy as well, although our waitress Chrystelle had a beautiful smile.\u00a0\u00a0 I was surprised once again that soccer fans in bars do not order food, feeling quite comfortable to only have a glass or 3 of beer.\u00a0\u00a0 300 ml of Paulaner and Peroni\u00a0cost R 22, 500 ml cost R 30;\u00a0Jack Black costs R17 for 330 ml and R27 for 500 ml; Castle costs R15; Amstel R16; and Heineken R20.<\/p>\n

The Harvey’s Bar menu has a small\u00a0selection of food, and we chose four platters for five of us, too much food\u00a0in retrospect.\u00a0\u00a0 We had a samoosa and spring roll plate (R 48), of which the waitress did not know the content, saying the spring rolls contained beef, but there was no meat inside them;\u00a0 nachos con queso, with minced beef, almost too spicy nachos\u00a0and lots of cheese, at R 58; potato wedges with two dipping sauces, at R 21,\u00a0our most popular order; and spicy chicken wings with a tomato based sauce, making them messy to eat by hand, at R48.\u00a0 Other options are Flammkuchen, an Austrian pizza-type covered with bacon, onion and sour cream (R28); prawn calamari (R77); Club Sandwich (R68); Tuna pie (48), Ginger chicken wrap (57); a sirloin steak sandwich (R75); and\u00a0a Winchester Burger at R 75.<\/p>\n

The wine prices are reasonable, and 250 ml carafes of white and red wine are available.\u00a0 The house wine, both white and red, costs R 26.\u00a0\u00a0 Fantail Vineyards from Morgenhof, both White and Rose, Leopard’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, and Tortoise Hill each cost R 30; Bosman’s Family Vineyards Chenin Blanc and Rose cost R 40; and Paradyskloof Chardonnay costs R 45.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fantail Vineyards Pinotage and Leopard’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon cost R 29, Tortoise Hill and Fantail Merlot cost R 35, Edgebaston costs R45 and Cape Boar from Doolhoof costs R 54.\u00a0\u00a0 The sparkling wine is served per glass, Pierre Jourdan Cuvee Brut costing R 30, its Belle Rose costing R 45, and Colmant costs R 48.<\/p>\n

The service is reactive rather than proactive.\u00a0 The decor makes Harvey’s Bar an attractive venue, but it lacks spirit and energy, especially in watching a World Cup match.\u00a0 There is no World Cup visibility at all except for a match schedule in the smoking section, and therefore it receives a low score\u00a0as a World Cup soccer pub.\u00a0Bafana Bafana’s sad loss did not help either!<\/p>\n

Harvey’s Bar<\/strong>, Winchester Mansions Hotel,\u00a0221 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town. Tel\u00a0(021) 434-2351.\u00a0 www.winchestermansions.co.za<\/a> (no information about, menu for,\u00a0or photographs of Harvey’s Bar).<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We decided that the South Africa versus Uruguay game had to be watched in style and comfort, to give our Bafana Bafana team the best possible support in this important game. I had\u00a0popped into the newly renovated Harvey’s Bar earlier that afternoon, for a cappuccino and their scones, which I had read about on Twitter.\u00a0\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,20,21,11],"tags":[5284,97,5277,5281,5283,81,32378,5276,224,3804,3217,5282,5279,5278,5254,5285,3148,4911,2832,5045,2554,3866,228,5247,5255,658,255,5275,32389,32388,5280,5061,1587,3469,32373,112,531],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t