Kirk’s

First came the wine bar, then the bistro. Now there’s the pub – the third and final piece of the Kirk’s corner puzzle on Hardware Lane. It defies definition; it’s not a wine bar, but it feels wrong to call it a pub – the space is too beautiful.

As with the group’s other venues (French Saloon, The European), co-owner Con Christopoulos did most of the design, and the level of detail in the polished terrazzo stone floors, the curved glass entrance, panelled oak walls and mosaic tiles is impressive.

Downstairs is a similar story. Original bluestone bricks and a curved concrete roof make the cavernous cellar cosy and quiet. The space is used for functions, but also catches overflow from upstairs when it gets busy.

Kirk’s is a pub focused on beer and food that goes well with it. To keep its identity separate from the other two attached venues it’s largely a wine-free zone; the menu features one house red, one white and a sparkling. There are about 20-odd bottled or canned beers and more on tap, and spirits.

There is one hot meal a day rotating through dishes such as pies, meatballs and pasta. Smaller snacks include charcuterie, terrine, Scotch eggs, smoked salmon, olives and nuts. Slightly larger offerings include a Pacdon pork pie, croque monsieur and a Caprese salad.