WEST END
AS FROM
DECEMBER 2018 THERE WILL BE NO MORE PUBS ADDED TO THIS PAGE
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Most recent visit February 2018
Longest time since last visit October 2017
LONDON W1
FITZROVIA
Jack Horner, 236 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9AE
Owner- Fullers
Beers- Fullers Oliver’s Island, London Pride, ESB,
Danson Porter, Old Winter Ale, Holly Bush, Rebellion Roasted Nuts, Navigation
Santa’s Blotter.
Telephone 020 7636 2868
Web site http://www.jackhornerpub.co.uk/
A Fullers Ale
and Pie chain pub. Standard décor with wooden floorboards, leather seats and
various bits of odd furniture. I don't know why, but this pub reminds me of how
the Firkin pubs used to look like. Nearby are the electronics shops of the
Tottenham Court Road where you might be able to hammer out a bargain for your
new computer! Good pint on last visit. London Pride was £3.60 a pint
John 8/10 visit
Feb 2012
A nice quiet haven from the busy Tottenham Court
Road. Pub was busy, but I managed to
find a seat. London Pride was £4.30 a pint, but had the guest beer Butcombe
Bitter at £4.50 a pint.
John 8/10 visit January 2016
Six of the
eight handpumps are Fullers beers, with three hard to find seasonal
beers. A pint of London Pride is £4.70.
John 9/10 visit January
2018
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Newman Arms, 21 Rathbone Street, London W1T
1NG.
Owner- Cornwall Project
Beers- Tintagel Castles Gold, Arthurs Ashes,
Black Jack.
Telephone- 020-3643-6285
Web Site-
http://newmanarmspub.com/
Small pub a few minutes’ walk off Oxford Street.
Owned by the Cornwall Project, which brings food and drink up from Cornwall
daily. There are 3 cask beers from the Tintagel Brewery; I had a pint of
Arthur’s Ashes at £4.00 ( nice pint). The downstairs bar reminds me a little of
a Belgian café, upstairs is a dining area. There is a photo of George Orwell
which probably means he drank here! Closes at 1900 hours on Sunday.
John 8/10 visit January 2016
Pub is
closed at the moment
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One Tun, 58 Goodge Street, London W1T 4NB
Owner- Young's
Beers- Young’s Bitter, Special, Winter Warmer,
Signature Brew Backstage IPA.
Telephone-020-7209-4105
Web site http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=432
A ex Finchs' pub now owned by
Youngs which is close to Middlesex Hospital, which is now shut (a prime bit of
real estate). Wonderful Bass and Finchs brewery mirrors are well worth the
price of a pint. Wood panelling, island bar and dart board (rare for central
London) all adds to the good atmosphere. Bar service was good. A underrated pub. Good pint of London Porter
at £3.80 a pint.
John 9/10 visit Feb 2012
Still the same. Lots of Sports screens around
the pub. I had a pint of Redemption Urban Dusk at £4.25.
John 8.5/10
visit January 2016
Still the same; not too busy this afternoon. A pint
of Young’s Winter Warmer was £4.60.
John 8/10 visit January 2018
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Worth a try
Duke of York, 47 Rathbone Street, London W1T
1NW. This is a small pub on two
floors, like most pubs in Fitzrovia. Décor is upmarket with portraits on the
walls. Owned by Greene King. 2 of the 5 handpumps are guest beers, I had Penpoint Cornish Gold at £4.10 a pint. Visited
January 2016.A pint of Black
Sheep Best Bitter was £4.30. Visited January 2018.
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LONDON W1
MARYLEBONE
Golden Eagle, 59 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2NY
Owner- Free House
Beers- Fullers London Pride, St Austell Tribute,
Brick Peckham Pale, Elgood Festive Feelgood.
Telephone-020-7935-3228
Small cosy pub which has been
recently decorated with metallic blue seating around the side of the pub,
yellow walls, white ceiling, but the photos of old Marylebone-the Marylebone
Road which are now gone. There is a sing a long on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
nights. Usually has a Cornish beer on sale. Cains IPA was £3.30 a pint.
John 8.5/10 visit Feb 2012
A good locals pub
in middle of London! Very nicely furbished with blue décor. Older parts of the
pub on show are stained glass windows and the toilets area downstairs, which is
low ceilinged and has the feel of a very old pub. Street sign for ' Marylebone
Lane ' and flower arrangements in the stairwell complete this image. I wish I
knew this pub's history. Excellent atmosphere.
Sue 8.5/10 visit
May 2001
Nice traditional Marylebone pub, with no TV,
gaming machines etc. Red seems to be the favourite colour here! A pint of
Tribute was £4.50.
John 8.5/10 visit February 2016
Nice traditional pub, as mentioned before red is
the colour here! A pint of St Austell Tribute was £4.70.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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LONDON W1 SOHO
Argyll Arms, 18 Argyll Street, London W1F 7HP
Owner-Nicholson
Beers- Nicholson Pale Ale, Sharps Doombar, Fullers
London Pride, Exmoor Gold, Hook Norton Hooky, Kirkstall Black Abbey,
Shipyard Stream Beer.
Telephone- 020-7734-6117
Web site http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theargyllarmsoxfordcircuslondon/
Pub near Oxford Street shops
and the London Palladium. A narrow corridor leads to the bar and its separate
drinking areas. Lovely acid-etched glass partitions and dark mahogany wood
panelling. This pub is in a busy part of London; if you can find a nice alcove
this place can be very cosy, but I have seen people take one look at how
crowded this place can get and walk straight back out. Nice beer barrel tables
outside. Sharp’s Doombar was £3.80 a pint
John 8.5/10 visit Feb 2012
Been here several
times before. Glass in profusion, long bar with seating at the rear with food.`
Good beer - 3 different real ales.
Stuart 8/10 visit
Feb 2002
Still the same impressive pub with its snob
screens; also it has some nice mirrors. A pint of Skinners Lushingtons was
£4.65.
John 8.5/10 visit March 2016
Even at 12 noon this pub is busy. Oxford Street
tube station and Oxford Street shops 20 yards away, might be the reason why! A
pint of Kirkstall Black Abbey was £4.70.
John 8/10 visit January 2018
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Clachan, 34 Kingly Street, London W1B 5QH
Owner- Nicholson
Nicholson Pale Ale, Sharps Doombar, Fullers London
Pride, Itchen Valley Pride of the Valley, St Austell Proper Job, Truman Zephyr,
Rudgate Instant Pleasure, Fyre Maverick.
Telephone-020-7494-0834
Web site http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theclachankinglystreetlondon/
Pub which has a gin palace feel
to it, with brewery mirrors, acid-etched windows and dark mahogany wood
panelling. Interesting old pictures at the rear of the pub. The place is now more
open planed since my last visit, but still a nice pub. There is a drinking area
upstairs if busy. The pub name is Caelic for meeting place. Project Venus
Brewey, Venus black was £3.70 a pint.
John 8/10 visit Feb 2012
Nice pints of
Timothy Taylor. Lovely ceiling with flower patterns, plenty of seating areas. 3
real ales on tap.
Stuart 8.5/10
visit Dec 2001
Always liked this wonderful Victorian
Nicholson’s pub, which is just behind
Liberty’s. Popular with tourists; the friendly staff are happy to help them
out, by giving out samples from the 10
handpumps. I had a pint of Truman’s
Runner at £4.20.
John 9/10 visit March 2016
An impressive range of 10 handpumps at the bar. Pub
is at the back of Libertys; the upstairs dining area is called the Liberty bar.
A pint of Itchen Valley Pride of the Valley was £4.75.
John 9/10 visit January 2018
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Coach and Horses, 29 Greek Street, London W1D 5DH
Owner- Fullers
Beers- Fullers ESB, Gales Seafarers. Redemption
Urban Dusk.
Telephone-020-7437-5920
Web site http://www.coachandhorsessoho.co.uk/
This unpretentious pub is
immortalised in Keith Waterhouse's play 'Jeffery Bernard is unwell' which
starts out with Bernard being locked in the pub toilets after closing time. Pub
with no music or fruit machine which was run by no nonsense landlord Norm,
who's also mentioned in the play. Wood-panelled walls with pictures and cartoon
strip 'The regulars' from nearby Private Eye. Pub of great character(s). If you
visit this pub at the right moment it goes from great to excellent. Now own by Fullers, the pub is still
uncharged with the old Double Diamond, Ind Coope and Skol signs remaining. London
Pride was £3.60 a pint.
John 8/10 visit Feb 2012
Greek Street -
near the Private Eye offices - haunt of Jeoffrey Barnard - the landlord is
called Norm for whom he wrote a play - Basic pub with no fruit machines or
music.
Stuart 9/10 visit
Dec 2001
The décor is still the same from when I first
went in here about 25 years ago. Now has a first floor dining room, which
houses London’s first Vegetarian and Vegan pub/restaurant . Not sure what Norm
would say! A pint of Gales Seafarer Ale was £4.50. No sign of Fullers ownership.
John 8/10 visit March 2016
Glad I visited this pub when Norm was around.
Mainly full of tourists now, who have one drink and move on, with a pint of
Redemption Urban Dusk at £4.95, it is easy to see why!
John 8/10 visit January 2018.
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Old Coffee House, 49 Beak Street, London W1F 9SF.
Owner- Brodies
Beers- Bodies Bethnal Green Bitter, Shoreditch
Sunshine, Old Street Pale Ale, Soho Stout, London Fields Pale.
Telephone-020-7437-2197
A small cosy pub with lots of interesting bric-a-brac
around the walls and ceiling, including old pots, old war enlistment posters,
guitars and old brewery mirrors. Showcase pub for the Brodies beers from the
William IV brew pub in London E10. Good East London names for some of the
beers! Beer in good condition and reasonably priced for the area; Bethnal Green
Bitter was £3.20 a pint, most beer is an extra 50p a pint around this part of
London. Once a coffee house now put to good use!
John 8.5/10 visited February 2012
Traditional pub serving Brodies beer at
reasonable prices (for central London). Not sure why there is Robbie Williams
disc memorabilia above the bar! I
cannot work out a Brodies/ Robbie Williams connection? The Bethnal Green Bitter
was £3.90 a pint and was good.
John 9/10 visit March 2016.
Prices not so reasonable now, ( see previous
reviews). Now in line with the rest of Soho. A pint of Bethnal Green Bitter was
£4.60. Live football showing.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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Ship, 116 Wardour Street, London W1F 0TT
Owner- Fullers
Beers- Fullers Oliver’s Island, London Pride, ESB,
Gales Seafarers, St Austell Tribute.
Telephone-207-7437-8446
Web site http://shipsoho.co.uk/
Good honest pub right in the centre of Soho. A nice
place for a quiet pint and a cosy chat; the green décor is not memorable but I
have seen a lot worse. In the 1960s and 1970s the Marquee music club where a
lot of big bands started, was nearby. Was the hangout of many a rock star and
fan. Interesting old drinking photos at the back of the pub. London Pride was
£2.90 a pint in Dec 2008; it is now £3.55 a pint. Good bar service from the
lone barmaid. Closed on Sunday.
John 8/10 visit Feb 2012
I like this pub.
Friendly with music playing, very pretty dark wood bar with little arches over
the bottles. Chandelier lights and pretty matching curtains and ceiling paper
in green patterning. Windows frosted with Fullers emblem. Liked the atmosphere
- for a pub off Oxford Street it has a very good feeling to it. John says Jimi
Hendrix used to come in here!
Sue 8/10 Visit Feb
1993
Blown up by a gas
explosion in the 1950's! Staircase leading to private rooms. Etched glass and
mahogany. Pictures of pubs in the 1940's - 1960's.
Stuart 8/10 visit
Dec 2001
A long narrow Fullers pub, which looks like
it’s been modernised since my last visit. Still with a good pubby atmosphere. A pint of London Pride
was £4.15 and was good.
John 8.5/10 visit March 2016
Still the same. Music is a little loud, but a good
atmosphere. A pint of London Pride was £4.40.
John 9/10 visit January 2018
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LONDON WC1
HOLBURN and BLOOMSBURY
Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holburn, London WC1V 6BS
Owner- Sams Smith
Beers- Sams Smith OBB
Telephone-020-7242-7670
Present pub is
over 350 years old; there's been a pub on this site for over 550 years. A large
pub, with 3 different bars - all of them well worth a look. The back bar has a
long bar counter, with a nice wooden frame ceiling and barrel tables. The front
bar is nicely panelled and if that’s crowded there's an intimate non -smoking
cellar bar. Sam Smiths OBB £1.86 a pint on last visit in April 2008, this time
it is £2.90. Open on Saturdays, but closed Sundays.
John 9/10 visit
April 2012
Still the same. The back
bar is more spacious, if you find the pub busy. A pint of Sam Smith OBB is
£2.90 a pint. Still open on Saturdays, but closed on Sundays.
John 9/10 visit Oct 2015
Still the same. Busy for a Saturday afternoon, but
only one bar is open. A pint of Sam Smiths OBB was £3.20.
John 9/10 visit January 2018
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Craft
Beer Co, 168 High Holborn, London
WC1A 7AA
Owner-
Free house
Beers- Pale, Bitter, Siren Broken Dream, Fyne Holly
Daze, Errant Passenger, Comanche Porter, The Aspirace, Tusk, Rumours, Clever
Girl. 16 kegs and 14 guest kegs beers from microbreweries.
Telephone-
not on web site.
Web
site- http://thecraftbeerco.com/pubs/coventgarden/
The Craft Beer Co, fifth pub in London on the Covent
Garden/Holborn borders, claims it’s Covent Garden, but the postcode is Holborn
(just). The ground floor bar has bar
stools by the window, while the downstairs drinking area is tables and chairs.
Huge selection of beers, wines and spirits -all from smaller companies. No pint
of Stella mate here, but the helpful bar staff will give you samplers and guide
you to the right beer. Prices are between £3.75 to £ 4.25 a pint for real ale,
depending on the strength. Had a Kent Brewery Black Gold at £3.75 a pint. In
the whiskey section they have a 25 year
old Macallen Sherry Oak for £64 a shot, not a bottle!
John 8.5/10 visit October 2014
In the downstairs bar this time, still has a
great beer choice. Good to see the young and trendy enjoying handpump beers! I
had a pint of Crouch Vale Anchor Street Porter at £4.15.
John 9/10 visit January 2016
Still with an informative beer menu, which is why I
can list all the beers! A pint of Thornbridge Wednesday was £4.35.
John 9/10 visit Oct 2017
Still the same. There is an Errant brewery takeover
at the time of my visit. A pint of Errant Comanche Porter is £4.55.
John 9/10 visit January 2018
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Holborn
Whippett, 25/29 Sicilian Avenue, London WC1A 2QH.
Owner-
Free House
Beers-Adnams Ghost Ship, Redemption Hotspur, Ilkley
Pale Ale, Mallinsons Chinook, Oakham Black Hole.
Telephone-
0203- 3137 9937
Web
site- http://holbornwhippet.com/
New pub owned by the Euston Tap people in a Victorian
shopping street. Small place with unusual décor, which includes bar
stools, wooden floor, brown tiled wall
and no beer memorabilia! 3 of the 6 real ales on are from Redemption; had
Redemption Fellowship Porter at £3.80 a pint. Real ales from £3.20 to £3.80 a
pint. Good relaxing atmosphere. There is a snack meal here, you will notice the
small kitchen on the way to the toilets!
John 8.5/10 visit October 2014
Still
with a good range of beers at reasonable prices. Redemption Fellowship Porter
was £3.80 a pint. Part of the Tap chain. Good atmosphere with local beer geeks
and tourists.
John
9/10 June 2016
Still the same. The food here is mainly pizzas. A
good pint of Redemption Hotspur was £4.20.
John 9/10 visit Oct 2017
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Lamb, 94 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LZ
Owner- Young's
Beers- Young’s Bitter, Special, Gold, Winter
Warmer, Mad Goose Purity, Sharp’s Lambs
End, Redemption, Bloomsbury Blend.
Telephone-020-7405-0713
Web site http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=421
Magnificent
Victorian pub with the Young's emblem on the impressive front windows. Wood
panelling on the ceiling! Nice dark green leather seating and genuine snob
screens on the bar adds to the place, to make this a great pub. Not so busy at
the weekends. Best Young's pub in London. Now the pub has non-Young’s beers, it
makes drinking even better in this great pub, but at a price Sharp’s Special
was £4.10 a pint!
John 9.5/10 visit August
2012
Still unchanged -
Sadly, the Sun Pub across the road is no more. Etched glass, snob screens and a
lower area at the back. Visited many times in the last 25 years. handy for
Great Ormond St Hospital.
Stuart 9/10 visit
April 2002
Still a classy pub; I like the green leather
seats. Friendly barman changed the barrel, before my pint of Sambrooke’s Wandle
Ale (at £4.20 a pint), so I knew it would be good. One of my favourite pubs in
London.
John 9/10 visit January 2016
My favourite Young’s pub in London is still the
same. A pint of Winter Warmer was £4.65, the gravity on the beer has been
reduced from 5.5% to 5%.
John 9/10 visit Nov 2017
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Old Red Lion, 72 High Holburn, London WC1V 6LS
Owner- Greene King
Beers- Greene King IPA, Abbott, Hogs Back TEA,
Black Sheep Bitter.
Telephone- 020-7405-2892
Nice stained glass windows, with the Greene King
emblem on them. The pub has two bars; the one downstairs is a stand up bar with
a few bar stools. Upstairs is a small bar with pictures on the wall and
paperbacks above the fireplace. Friendly bar service, and a nice pint. Open on
the Saturday when I visited, but only 2 people in the pub. Now has 3 guest beers.
John 8/10 visit April 2012
Two real ales on
tap. Mahogany central bar area with stained glass and prints on the wall.
Stuart 8/10 visit
April 2002
Small traditional Greene King pub with a good atmosphere at the time of my
visit. Not a bad beer range, with 3 guest beers. I had a pint of Greene King
Abbot at £4.40 a pint. A bit pricey, especially
when there is a Sam Smith’s and a Wetherspoons nearby. Opens 1700 hours
Saturday, closed on Sunday.
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2015
Still with the same weekend hours. A good pint of
Greene King Abbott was £4.60.
John 8/10 visit Oct 2017
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Penderel's Oak, 283-288 High Holburn, London WC1V 7HJ
Owner- Wetherspoon
Beers- Greene IPA, Abbott, Sharps Doombar, Vale
Black Beauty plus 4 other guest beers.
Telephone-020-7242-5669
Web site http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/penderels-oak
A large
Wetherspoon pub with lots of different drinking areas including a basement bar.
The Gents toilets are well worth a visit, as they are done out in a unique and
original way! Downstairs cellar bar which has a TV, which is unusual for
Wetherspoons- does Tim Martin know!-Open on Saturdays, when it is not so
crowded. Festival beer was £2.70 a pint, when visited for the last festival in
October 2011 it was £2.35 a pint. While still the cheapest beer in the town,
Wetherspoons prices are caughting up with another pubs.
John 8.5/10 visit April
2012
Still the same. Seem to visit this place when
Wetherspoons have a beer festival. My festival beer was Adnams Smoked Ruby Red Ale at £3.30 a pint, note the
prices from the previous festivals.
John 8/10 visit October 2014
Roomy
Wetherspoons pub with a good choice of real ales. Had a pint of Woods Wonderful
at £3.30, which is the price on the menu, but the price on the handpump clip
was £3.60; strange!
John
8.5/10 visit Sept 2016
Always seem to visit this pub when
Wetherspoons are having a beer festival!
( see previous reviews) Guest beers are £3.45
John 8.5/ 10 visit Oct 2017
Still the same. A pint of Vale Black Beauty was
£3.45.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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Princess Louise, 208 High Holburn, London WC1V 7BW
Owner-Sam Smith
Beers- Sam Smiths OBB
Telephone-020-7405-8816
Web site- http://princesslouisepub.co.uk/
A marvellous
Victorian pub named after one of Queen Victoria's daughters, with some great
original fittings. Nice woodwork on the bar; tiles and mirrors add to the
grandeur of this place. Wonderful old gents' toilets which has a preservation
order on it! Pub used to be a free house with a good range of beers, now owned
by Sam Smiths. Sadly there is only one beer on. Sam Smiths OBB was £2.90 a
pint, up £ 1.02 on my last visit in April 2008!
John 9/10 visit April 2012
The décor of this pub is wonderful; shame there is
only one real ale on offer here, albeit reasonable priced. Sam Smiths OBB was
at £2.90 a pint. Before Sam’s took this pub over it was a free house selling
lots of guest beers, before that it was
a Watneys pub!
John 8/10 visit October 2014
Décor-wise,
this Victorian gin palace is one of my favourite pubs in London. Shame only 1
real ale is available. Sam’s Smith OBB was £3.10 a pint.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2016
Still with its grand Victorian décor. A pint of Sam
Smiths OBB was £3.20.
John 9/10 visit Oct 2017
A lovely pub which
we have visited many times. The Sam Smiths beer is average and is the weakest
link. Lovely etched glass and mahogany U shaped bar inside. The ceiling is
worth a look with the relief pattern. The Gents toilets are worth a visit
(sorry ladies) with massive urinals with a grating you stand on. A relic from a
forgotten era!
Stuart 7.5/10
visit April 2002
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Queens Head, 66 Acton
Street, London WC1X 9NB.
Owner- Free House
Beers- Pig and Porter Ashburnham, ELB Pale,
Redemption Trinity
Telephone-020-7713-5772
Web site- http://queensheadlondon.com/
Visited this Victorian pub along time ago when
it was a Charrington’s pub! Still with its wooden décor reasonably in
tack! Also no TV, fruit machines etc.
The pub has 3 real ales all interesting and a small but good range of keg and
bottled beers on the beer menu. Had a Revolution Fireworks at £3.80 a pint.
Only about 5 minutes’ walk from King Cross Station,-add another 5 minutes to
cross the road!
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2015
Only 3 real ales, but all from micros. Interesting
( if expensive) bottled beer range. Good traditional pub décor. The pub has a
snack menu. A pint of ELB Pale was £3.85.
John 8.5/10 visit Nov 2017
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LONDON WC2 COVENT GARDEN and TEMPLE
Chandos,29 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ER
Owner- Sam Smiths
Beers- Sam Smith OBB
Telephone-020-7836-1401
Large pub near Trafalgar
Square. The ground floor bar has a modern, wooden feel to it, while there are
lots of seats, there's a fair amount of space to stand also. The first floor
has a feel of a gentlemen's club with its plush furniture and seating. Sam
Smiths are a Yorkshire Brewery who brew their own beer range including their
own ales, cider, keg beers, lagers and stouts. They don’t usually stock beers
from other breweries, but there prices are very reasonable with Sam Smith OBB
£1-88 a pint in January 2009 and £2.90 a pint in September 2012. Sam's even
have their own brand sprits including their own brand malt whisky! Only dartboard
in central London? Is next to the stairs
for the loo.
John 8.5/10 Sept 2012
On a corner near
Trafalgar Sq. Large downstairs drinking area serving Sam Smiths. There are
small cubicles with seating. As you leave by on entrance there are some stairs.
Climb them to enter a comfy chair heaven. This is another bar in which you can
chill out!
Stuart 8/10 visit
April 2002
In the downstairs bar this time. Despite the
limited beer choice, Sam Smith’s pubs are the best value for money in central
London, with Sams OBB at £2.90 a pint.
John 8.5/10 January 2016
Pub is close to the English National Opera Company.
The upstairs bar is even called the Opera Room. A pint of Sam’s Smith OBB was
£3.10.
John 8.5/10 visit March 2017
Still with the dartboard in the corner! A pint of
Sam Smith OBB was £3.20.
John 8.5/10 visit February 2018
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Coach and Horses, 42 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7BP
Owner- Free House
Beers- St Austell Tribute, Adnams Bitter.
Telephone-020-7240-0553
Small Irish pub with hanging
baskets outside and a cosy intimate atmosphere, from a mixed clientele
inside. This pub was one of the few pubs
in London to sell non pasteurised Dublin brewed Guinness when there was a Guinness
brewery in London. All Guinness is brewed in Dublin now, but the pub still
seems to get the Dublin brew because it tastes great. Guinness was £3.40 a
pint. Interesting pictures of golf and Ireland on the walls, as well as over 70
whiskeys including Irish and Scotch Malts. No Fruit machines or music just a
good criak. Who needs fake Irish pubs! Are you listening big pub chains!
John 8.5/10 visit Jan 2009
Brilliant
unpasturised - creamy Guinness. Full of city gents on a Friday but full of
character. Near the Royal Opera house - I know where I would rather be. Red
mahogany, small bar, pictures of old Guinness barges, golf tournaments and
hurling teams.
Stuart 8.5/10
visit Feb 2002
Still
the same décor; not sure if I remember the old photos of Convent Garden Market
on the wall, which stand out. Only two real ales on; the Tribute at £3.90 a
pint was excellent, but the pub is more famous ( rightly so) for its Guinness.
John
8/10 visit Nov 2015
This time I noticed the old Watneys signs outside
the pub! Food is hot and cold sandwiches. A pint of St Austell Tribute is
£4.30.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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Knights Templar, 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT
Owner- Wetherspoons
Beers- Sharps Doombar, Fullers London Pride, Greene IPA, Abbott, Naylors Santa’s Darkside,
Stonehenge Rudolph.
Telephone-020-7831-2660
Web site http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-knights-templar-chancery-lane
Wetherspoons pub in an ex-bank
done out in a lovely grand style on Convent Garden/ City of London borders.
Nice ceiling, chandelles and drawings on the wall. There is a raised upper area, as well as stone
tables. While traditional, there is a cashpoint in the pub. Enjoyable. On one
visit half the pub was being set up for filming. Festival beers are £2.55 a
pint. Guest beers were £2.49 a pint in January 2009. Open 1100 to 1700
Saturday, closed Sunday.
John 8.5/10 visit April 2012
Another very large
Weatherspoons interior looks like an old Bank. High ceilings and a big drawing
of a knight at the far end. Several real ales on tap. Loads of high tables with
stools - but we found a low one!
Stuart 8/10 visit
April 2002
Still an impressive pub. I had a pint of JW Lees
John Willie ( guest beer) at £3.05 a pint. Closes at 1900 hours on Saturday and
at 1800 hours on Sundays.
John 9/10 visit Oct 2015
Nice Wetherspoons pub, but with only 2 guest beers. A pint of Stonehenge
Rudolph was £3.45.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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Lamb and Flag, 33 Rose Street, London WC2E 9EB
Owner- Fullers
Beers- Fullers Oliver’s Island, London Pride, ESB,
Gales Seafarers, Adnams Mosaic Pale, Long Man Pale Ale.
Telephone-020-7497-9504
Web site http://lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk/
One of the oldest pubs in
London, with lots of history. A small pub with bare boards, old prints on the
wall and a nice intimate atmosphere. Not many seats, mainly bar stools. More
choice of real ale, than from my last visit. Friendly middle aged bar staff
from my pervious visits, replaced by Eastern European bar staff.-service is
still good. Pub is not easy to find (it is down an alleyway from one direction)
but keep looking - it’s worth it! Harveys Sussex Bitter was £3.00 a pint
John 8/10 visit Jan 2009
Still
with the same traditional décor. Now a Fullers pub with 2 guest ales. A small pub which is always busy. London
Pride was £4.25 a pint.
John
9/10 visit Nov 2015
Small busy atmospheric pub. A pint of London Pride is £4.75.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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Lowlander, 36 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5RR
Owner- Free House
Beers- No real ale. 11 Belgian beers on
draught and 100 Belgian bottled beers
Web
site- www.lowlander.com
Telephone- 020-7379-7446
Great name for a place with a
excellent choice of Belgian and Dutch beers. Sit down and make your choice from
the beer menu. Modern place, with high ceiling fans and a upstairs drinking
area. Bottled beers served chilled or at room temperature. Place a little
foodie, but it's okay too just drink. Gets more like a restaurant later on in
the day. Is expensive mainly mainstream beers, but there are a few interesting
beers to be found. Look at the blackboard. Most Belgian bottled beers are
around £5.95. They also have some Sharp’s Belgian style beer in bottles as
well, the only UK beers in the bar.
John 8/10 visit Dec 2012
Since my last visit, the beer menu has gone over
to mainly Belgian beers. Had a half of the hard- to-find Westmalle Duddel on
draught at £4.45.
John 9/10 visit January 2016
Best choice of Belgian beers in London? Even if you
are just having a beer, there is waiter service. A half pint of Westmalle
Dubbel is £4.60.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2018
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Moon under Water, 28 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LE
Owner- Wetherspoons
Beers- Greene King Abbott, Fullers London Pride,
Adnams Ghost Ship, Trumans Bow Bell, ELB Dandy, Watneys Pale Ale, Portobello
White City, Reunion Single Double Hop, Twickenham London Porter.
Telephone- 020-7839-2837
Web site http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-moon-under-water-west-end
First a bit about Wetherspoons.
Wetherspoons are a pub chain which tend to divide real ale fans. Those for them
say they offer a good range of well-kept beers at reasonable prices, with good
service and good surroundings. Those against them say they have the same beers
at each pub except the guest beer, the pubs all look the same, and the new
bigger pubs are impersonal. You pay your money, you make your choice. This pub
is in the heart of central London, included in the guide for its reasonable
beer prices, on my last visit in January 2009 the guest beers was £2.49 a pint,
in September 2012 it was £2.99 a pint.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2012
This place must
have been a shop - near Chiquitos - a great Mexican food joint - which
reasonably priced food. Flag stone floor - slate and sandstone with WC at the
back end, the beer was really cheap - 6 real ales.
Stuart 8/10 visit
Feb 2002
As you expect from a pub in Leicester Square it
is busy, but the staff a doing a good job serving. Guest beers are £3.35 a pint; while dearer than
most London Spoons it is cheaper than most pubs in the West End, which are
charging between £4.00 and £4.50 a pint.
John 8/10 visit January 2016
Not a seat to be had at 1100! The Watney Pale Ale
is brewed under licence by Sambrooks, in case you are worried about them making
a comeback! A pint of Portobello White City was £3.45.
John 8/10 visit February 2018
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The Porterhouse,21-22 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7NA
Owner-Free House
Beers- West Berks Good Old Boys, Hive Honey IPA.
Telephone-020-7836-7991
Web site http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/
Opened in July 2000, this new
pub must be one of the largest in London. As well as a main bar there's an
upstairs and basement bar too. Décor is well done out for a new pub, with
slatted wooden ceiling, copper piping and metal ships' girders, which creates a
good atmosphere. Porterhouse have a home-brew pub in Dublin which supplies
beers to this pub. When you first come in try finding a table and study the
beer menu, before going to the bar. As well as Porterhouse's beers, the beer
menu has a great section of beers from all over the world. In the cabinets you
will see a good collection of bottled beers. If you bring in a full bottle of
one they have not got, they will give you a free pint. Very popular, but not so
busy at the weekends. Beer menu explains beer styles well, for people who are
not a beer geek like me!! Porthouse Ale was £3.90 a pint, a bottle of Duvel was
£4.30.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2012
Very large newly
opened pub which is an outlet for a Dublin micro brewery! Many different
levels, quite an expedition to the toilet as it is so big. Great selection of
beers of which Oyster Stout was my favourite. Also a large range of food
available. The pub is in a back street, so take a good map!
Stuart 9/10 visit
Feb 2002
Still the same. Despite being a large pub, it is
not always easy to find a seat. There are 3 guest beers on handpump, but no
Porterhouse beers on handpump. Had a Sambrookes Wandle Ale at £4.65 a pint.
John 8.5/10 visit January 2016
Not a great fan of large pubs, but I don’t mind
this one. Despite being large most places had a TV screen to watch the 6
Nations rugby. A pint of West Berks Good Old Boys was £4.80.
John 9/10 visit February 2018
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Nags Head, 10 James Street, London WC2 8BT
Owner-Mcmullen
Beers- McMullens AK, IPA, Nags Head Seasonal Beer,
Bitter.
Telephone- 020-7836-4678
Web site http://www.mcmullens.co.uk/nagshead
Popular pub near the Opera
House and Covent Garden shopping centre. Pub done out in a Victorian style with
Mcmullen emblems on the window. Pub has a fair number of seats, but it's still
hard to find one. People do move on after a while! Lively atmosphere and old
opera posters add to the place. Mcmullens are a Hertford brewery with a few
pubs in London. Pub is close to Convent garden tube station. Pub was very crowded on my last two visits.
John 8/10 visit Jan 2009
Every
time I come to this popular pub it is crowded. More fool me for coming when
there are Xmas shoppers about! A pint of AK mild was £3.90. Nice to drink Mcmullens beers in the centre
of London.
John
8/10 visit Nov 2015
Previous reviews have mentioned how busy this pub
gets; this time I am in here at 1130 and just manage to find a seat! The pub
opens at 0900 if you want to guarantee a seat! A pint of McMullens AK is £4.25.
Close to Covent Garden tube.
John 9/10 visit January 2018
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Ship and Shovell, 1-3 Craven Passage, London WC2N 5PH
Owner- Hall and Woodhouse
Beers- Hall and Woodhouse Pickled Partridge, Badger
Bitter, Tanglefoot, Fursty Ferrett.
Telephone-020-7839-1311
Web site http://shipandshovell.co.uk/
From the Sherlock Holmes pub in
Northumberland Avenue walk up the alleyway until you get to the Ship and
Shovell, and you will have a pub on either side of you (a pub of two halves!).
Both bars are very nice with nice wood panelling, mirrors and beers from Hall
and Woodhouse. Name of the pub is explained on the menu. Pub is closed all day
Sunday. Well hidden pub, which is worth finding. Always has a good atmosphere
on my visits.
John 9/10 visit Jan 2009
This
time I am in the other half of the pub. It is small but there is an upstairs
seating area. Decor is very traditional, with old wood panelled walls and old
portraits of ships. A pint of Tanglefoot
was £4.10.
John 9/10 visit Nov 2015
The upstairs bar in the non-TV half of the pub is a
hidden gem. A pint of Tanglefoot was £4.70.
John 9/10
visit February 2018
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Temple Brew Pub, 46 Essex Street, London WC2R 3JF.
Owner- Free House Brew Pub
Beers- Essex Street Maple Red Ale, Very Pale Ale,
Toast, Temple Best Bitter.
Telephone – 020 7936-2536
Web Site-
http://www.templebrewhouse.com/
A brew pub in a basement bar, you will see the
brewery at the top of the stairs as you walk in. Spacious place with a modern
décor, with lots of sports screens about the pub. Good atmosphere and friendly
staff. Two of the pub’s beers are on, I had a Temp Ale at £3.45 a pint. Open at
the weekends; not all pubs in the Temple
area are!
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2015
Brew pub in Temple, which opens at the weekend.
Four house beers were on, I had a Maple Red Ale which was good, and reasonably
priced for the area at £3.95 a pint.
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2017
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Worth a try
Cheshire
Cheese, 5 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LD. Nice traditional pub, close to Temple chambers
with friendly landlord. There are 3 real ales on; I had a pint of Harveys Best
Bitter at £4.20 a pint. Closed at the weekends. Visited October 2015.
Freemasons Arms, 81 Long Acre, London WC2E 9NG. Now a Shepherd Neame pub, after former being owned by
Greene King and Sam Smiths. This pub is truly the home of football. The first
draft of the rules of the game, happen in a meeting room upstairs. A pint of
Spitfire was £4.35. Visited January 2016. Lots of sports
screens. I like the leather seating around the pub. A pint of Spitfire is £4.70in
January 2018.
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