Vault 139 is a new cruise bar in central London. It replaced Manbar a few months back. Readers anhonestview and UltraBlue visited recently and here are their views. Vault 139 is at 139-143 Whitfield Street, W1T 5EN.
I like the fact the music is not too overpowering so you can have a proper conversation at the bar. Sadly there was no dj last saturday. There is plenty of space to dance.
A shame there is no dress code on saturday. Vault 139 is well suited for naked, underwear, rubber-leather night and it's hard to find an affordable naked night on a saturday so I think it would work on a regular basis. The former Man Bar was famous for the fact it brings together social interaction with sexy action.
The dark room was the busiest area but other spaces look largely underused; the lounge space and the "dance floor" space were dead.
The small arches are the perfect spot to show off as there is some light in the arches and guys watching from the corridor stay in the dark. Two inflated matresses with a rather unusual design add some originality and sm touch in this otherwise bland space. Personally I think black is over in sm and I hope more guys will try colour rubber ;-0
I found Vault 139 less distinctive than the the former Man Bar with its psychedelic tyre tables and industrial shower room at the end. At Vault 139 the carved wood bar looks amazing but the material used in the vertical covering looks like formica and the light colour doesn't match nor contrast with it.I would suggest metal for the vertical panels.
Visited on Friday for the first time and wow was I impressed. I thought Manbar to be dirty and dreary with no atmosphere. Vault is spacious, exceptionally clean. Staff friendly and helpful and it seems to be more social. DJ Jamie rocked the decks (Its not a dance club Ultra!) while the horny guys rocked the arches. I was surprised to get a FREE drink on Entry and FREE cloakroom. I also understand they have just introduced FREE reentry passes all night.
All in all it is a great step forward and great to see money being put back into a bar. Tony the general manager (so friendly and very sexy)was saying that there are plans for private cubicles and proper padded platforms are being constructed for more comfort. Will be back as a regular every week.