London's live music scene is known for being diverse, with performances popping up all over the city. But did you know that you can catch your next gig inside a former church? Found just across the road from Borough Market, Amazing Grace is a quirky spot that hosts live shows and DJ sets throughout the week - while serving an enticing food and drink menu to boot.
There's something going on almost every night here, but went to check out their Friday night event Out Of Office, which promised an evening of disco, funk, soul and old-school hip-hop music.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Amazing Grace London Bridge
The atmospheric interiors add to the live music on stage.
Need To Know:
- Address: St. Thomas's Church, 9a St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
- Area: London Bridge
- Cuisine: pan-Asian, burgers
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: the venue maintains some of its original features, from stained glass windows to an altar behind the stage - which created a cool contrast with their animated projections on the walls. There was a lively vibe from the beginning of the night, which only increased as the performances began.
- Perfect For: a night out with added entertainment.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For
Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £100 for two, including a main course, two small plates, one dessert and four drinks. Live music is free on most weekdays.
The Amazing Grace London Bridge menu features enticing cocktails and pan-Asian plates.
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Bao (two for £13) - we tried both the fried chicken and tofu bao buns, both of which were perfectly fluffy and packed full of flavour. The black garlic and sesame sauce on the tofu one was very moreish, and the chicken version came with pickles and spring onion for a tangy twist.
- Chicken burger (£14) - the crisp piece of chicken came coated in panko and sesame breadcrumbs that gave it a delicious crunch, coated in kewpie mayo to add a more Asian feel to the dish.
- Vegan burger (£14) - this featured a spinach and falafel patty, topped with vegan cheese and pickles. It also had a house burger sauce that complemented the dish well - as falafel is always at risk of being too dry.
- Korean potato bites (£5) - it's worth noting that the burgers don't come with any sides, so we ordered these instead of classic chips - and I'm glad we did. The tender cubes of potato were cooked in spicy chilli flakes, sesame and chives, served with a creamy gochujang mayo.
- Salted caramel brownie (£6) - served warm, we shared this indulgent dessert as the music began. It was exactly the kind of gooey texture that a brownie should be, finished with chocolate sauce and a dusting of icing sugar.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Mango Number 5 (£13.50) - a tequila-based blend that makes it feel like summer no matter the time of year, this was full of fruity flavour - mixing mango puree with lime juice.
- Spirit in the Sky (£13.50) - light and floral, this concoction featured gin, elderflower syrup, lemon juice and soda water, making it a very refreshing choice.
Music: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
While we were eating, a singer treated us to renditions of pop anthems, from Whitney Houston to The Killers. Then a little later on their live band took to the stage, bringing us a vibrant performance of funk, soul and disco hits that had everyone up and dancing - the perfect transition into a full-blown night out.
Our Overall Experience At Amazing Grace
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was one of the most fun venues I've been to in a while, and I couldn't fault the entertainment - almost everyone in the bar ended up on their feet, and both sets of musicians were incredibly talented. The food and drink on the Amazing Grace menu was delicious too, and though I felt the price was fairly high for the portion sizes we received, the music was free - so you'll more than make your money back there.
