The Institute Outside Bar in Kabinda

New comment: This used to be my favourite UCL bar for a number of reasons, but I have changed my rating from 5 to 1 star for the following reasons:1. The regular bouncer does not have a friendly face, but he is really nice (bearded, wears glasses). He is quite efficient on keeping the place safe, which ultimately is his main job. The other bouncers (which I wont describeare not friendly, they are rude, uneducated and abuse their position.2. Half of the bar staff is great (particularly women). They are quick, kind and educated. There are (at leasttwo guys (which I wont describewho are terrible and ruin the collective effort of the other bar employees. The last time I visited (7/10/22 8:30pmthe two guys at the pizza end of the bar were doing everything but serving the crowds: one of them talking on the phone while ignoring customers, plus being super rude when I asked him for service. The other one was a bit off, disappeared for almost 10 mins in the kitchen only to come back with free drinks for his friends who were not queuing at all. Later, he would serve everyone around me and was actively ignoring me. When I finally was able to order (perhaps 25 mins into queuing), he was not happy that I ordered 4 jars of beer for my Society.3.The prices are higher than in other UCL bars. I am guessing this is to keep the bars equilibrated, but still it feels like the service is too bad for these prices (in contrast with the other bars).I understand that the bar is operated mainly by students and that finding employees is hard, but this bar is quickly decaying from the friendly and safe space for students to an aggressive environment.Also, employees should not be allowed to work under the influence of alcohol/drugs. This is a disaster waiting to happen. This bar needs to change its working system to something that can be easily monitored: organised queues, online ordering and real managerial supervision.Old comment:Great student pub. Probably the best in the area.

The largest student bar in the uk great atmosphere

I love this place for its great priced drinks and food but seriously the bouncer is on some kind of power trip. Me and my friend both in our late 20s and unfortunately do indeed look it were turned away at the door without IDs around 7pm. He refused to look at any suplementary ID aka student ID or digital versions. Stating "he would do the same with a 45year old." I mean really how ridiculous! Since when was "challenge 45" a common mantra? It just seems a completely overtop/ inflexible view to take for any bar/ let alone a student bar.

Worst customer service. I was waiting in the bar for ages and the bar staff were serving drinks to people who got there after me. Terrible experience, you’re better off going to any other place

Great as always for catch up with friends.

Good placeBut the timetable is wrongNew:Monday-Wednesday: 21:30closeThursday-Friday: 10:30close

Totally in love with this place. Its close to my office, its very cheap, and the crowd is vibrant (mostly UCL students). They have some pizza options and they serve blue moon, which is hard to find in your average pub. I like it ok a Friday after work, where everyone is enjoying their time and the music is great.I must admit, it can be a great place to work too, particularly if you go right after they open their doors. Its quite and they have spacious tables.The staff is friendly but the place can get very crowded and then things get messy. They limit the number of people when it gets populated, so dont get there too late.

Great staff, good atmosphere

Its cheap. Watch out for the unfriendly bouncer though!

Great bar for casual drinks with friends, and their pizzas are really good! Its a university bar, but dont let that discourage you as the atmosphere is very friendly and it seems to be mostly visited by postgraduate students or university staff. They also have some space outside and a couple of pool tables.

Great atmosphere, great prices, friendly bar staff, delicious pizzas

Nice chilled vibes and reasonably priced drinks.

Drunk for a fiver. Dead drunk for a tenner. Clean straw to lie on.

Awesome student prices, but absolutely swarmed by university and non-university patrons during peak hours, which is hard to overstate.Seating quickly gets snapped up and the area around the bar is in need of more space given the popularity of the venue. Outside terrace in need of some portable heaters, or perhaps attendees need better winter clothing; or both!The music selection is invariably very cheesy dad-rock and eighties hits, if thats your bag. For me its tiresome to hear after the third visit or so! Possibly a way of saving on music licensing?

Had fun there, and the people are very welcoming

serves the best beer for sure!

The alcohols and especially beers are cheap in there.

Took over 40 minutes to serve me and my boyfriend, kept serving everyone around us but not us. Then when we went to pick up the pizza it was put under the beer taps which leaked onto the pizza.

Cheap and cheerful! Seriously, the price for drinks are perfect for student living💫

Great, lively, cheap! Whats not to like.

Best and cheapest pints in London

Cheap drinks and food and surprisingly good quality

excellent prices weird bouncers

Better than my student bar Ill tell you that much

Great bar for students

I had a lovely cup of egg-nog.

This is a beautiful bar. The space both in and out is huge. Theres generally good service here except, during the pandemic, if you dont have a smartphone, dont even bother because they will not serve you as everything is online. That said, once you manage to successfully place your order, The service is quite fast. They have got a great selection of beers including Brewdog on the tap which isnt very common in London pubs

Simple, easy and cheap drinks. Nice and quiet.

Terrible experience. Staff are rude and discriminated against me. Worst of all, they are aggressive and I left having being pushed for asking what his problem with me was. Do not go to this bar.

Nice pizza and good pizza&drinks deal!

That was tricky bruh0.5+0.5=1OMG

cheapest drinks in the area. nice student vibe and there are two pool tables

No music but nice place

Chilled bar with goodprices. Outside areas

Nice atmosphere and cheap drinks 🍺

Cheap bar, nice drinks, great for students! They have 2 pool tables there :)

Great area but security was extra rude because I brought my own can. He came to all of us, pointed on me with the finger and said to all my friends, that if i do it again, then we will all need to leave.He toke my full can from me. Not sure, if he is legally allowed to do it.

Great bar. Lovely vibe. Good price and the lighting is nice

Can get quite busy on the weekends but the prices cant be beat! Very spacious and love the outdoor terrace!

Relaxed environment and cheap drinks!

The best of UCLs student bars. Your shoes dont stick to the floor, and a pint is still pretty cheap. All in all a winner.

Good prices. Nice beer selection, I may have to pop in today after work.

Nice beer selection and good prices

Friendly staff at UCL bar without the rediculous london prices. Good selection of drinks for. Student bar. Nice outside area.

Excellent vibe and great place for a chilled after work drink - possibly the cheapest pint in London! Recently refurbished so a lovely new place to drink

Good, chilled vibes. Drinks are dirt cheap too

Very nice pub! Good prices

Excellent students bar friendly place!

Cheap student bar. Looks like the inside of a leisure centre. Cheap though.

Great staff and security. Good music and cheap bar. Two pool tables and foosball