The Oyster Shed

For all its cutesy nautical styling, the Oyster Shed’s wow factor owes nothing to its designers: a waterfront location directly facing the Shard is the reward for City suits who make it across the urban race track that is Lower Thames Street. What they get is Geronimo Inns’ tried-and-tested vision of a modern, mid-market watering hole, with all the elements in place: a fail-safe, please-all menu that covers sandwiches, burgers, trad Brit mains of Lancashire hotpot or fish and chips, a daily special (perhaps toad-in-the-hole with onion gravy) salads, old-school puds, bar boards to share and yes, oysters – Jersey rocks at £1.75 a slurp, rather than the full bivalve blow out that the vast, double-decker venue’s name implies. To drink, expect classic cocktails from £5 and plenty of potable wines by the glass, plus Adnams and Young’s on tap. There’s little not to like.