The Alex - A rocky start, but has this pub got good grub?

I feel like everyone I speak to about The Alex has some kind of memory there. For me it's going there as a student in the 2010's and remembering the arcade games and pints (perhaps a few too many on occasion).

I got invited there in the early days of the food blog when a new owner took over and started doing food, interested to see how it would fare. They've obviously changed hands since, with the grand reopening being held on the 28th November 2025.

Now, I will admit we got off to a rocky start. I popped in at 6 for a quick bite to eat before heading on to the theatre, I ordered at 6:15 and come 7:30 I still hadn't received my food. My ticket vanished into the void. I pinned it down to opening night teething issues, but I did share the experience on my Instagram story. They could have ignored it, but they saw my experience, held their hands up to it and said that opening night teething issues do happen but it's entirely on them that mine slipped the net. So they invited me back to try the food properly, on the house.

I'm glad I took them up on that issue as the food is great. I'll talk about the great value steak frites later on in this blog... Firstly I want to talk about the ambience and music, it fit perfectly. They've clearly given it a fresh lick of paint, artwork and vibe. The music hit just the right spot with me, a sort of mix of indie and other favourites.

Now for the food. To start, I went for the chicken tenders with candied jalapeño. They were huge. Not strips, not little goujons, but massive pieces, some close to the size of a full chicken breast. Three of them made up a portion, and it felt generous, you can also order them as a 6 but honestly I think 3 is a perfect size! The breading was spot on, crisp and well seasoned, and that candied jalapeño brought this sweet heat that worked so well with the juicy chicken. Really lovely stuff.

Candied jalapeño chicken tenders

Alongside that, I tried the tempura asparagus, served with a cauliflower and black garlic purée, an agave drizzle and fresh chilli flakes. I am not usually rushing to order tempura asparagus, but this was a pleasant surprise. The batter was light, the asparagus still had bite, and that purée added a deep, slightly sweet savoury note that lifted the whole thing. The agave and chilli gave it a gentle kick of sweet and heat in the background.

For the main, I went for the Glucksburger. This is built around a Wagyu patty, Monterey Jack, a bone marrow melt and an herb garlic panko crumble in a potato bun. It is not your standard pub burger, and that is the point. The patty itself was cooked really well, juicy without being greasy. What stood out most was the texture. The bone marrow melt with that panko crumb gave the burger this extra crunch and bite that you don't usually get. A great blend of textures. I also appreciated that they served the pickle on the side, as I know some people aren't a fan of it.

Glucksburger

We didn't order it, but they also gave us a plate of their smacked cucumber. I'm not a cucumber fan, but these were nice and I can see the appeal. The peanut sauce is gorgeous, I hope they use it in other menu items at some point!

Beef & leek croquettes

The menu is fairly tight, but in a good way. It reads like elevated pub grub, simple ideas done with a bit more care and creativity. You also get the sense the chefs are actually having fun with it. They were even chatting to us about ideas they are playing with and the specials they planned to run, which is always a good sign.

I've since been back and tried the steak frites and beef & leek croquettes. Twenty quid gets you an Australian sirloin, house fries and an entrecôte sauce. In the current climate, that price for steak and chips in the city is hard to argue with. More importantly, it was good. The steak was cooked well, the fries did the job, and the sauce brought that rich, buttery hit you want with a dish like this. It is the kind of plate that alone is worth the visit. I can't think of anywhere else in the city you get such good value like that.

Steak frites with entrecôte sauce

The beef and leek croquettes were served with a sour cream and chive dressing and parmesan. If you have had the dutch dish 'bitterballen' before (if you haven't, check out Belgium and Blues!) think along those lines. Crisp outside, soft, rich and savoury inside. Proper comfort food in bite-sized form.

Drinks-wise, it still very much feels like a pub, and I have noticed they show a lot of football, which will be a big draw for some. Not my main reason for going, but worth knowing. For me, it is about the food and the atmosphere.

Overall, The Alex feels like a strong addition to the area. Yes, there were teething issues on opening night, but the way they handled it and the quality of the food says more than that first hiccup ever could. A small, focused menu, talented chefs, good value options like the steak frites, and a space that balances nostalgia with something new. It is a pub I am glad to see doing well, and one I will happily keep going back to.

This post covers a PR/invite event, but in line with our ethos, all reviews are honest. If a visit doesn’t meet our standards, we either provide constructive feedback to the venue or don’t post at all.