please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
On Wednesday just gone, I paid what I think is my first visit to this pub, having walked past it many times over the years.
It was packed and noisy and the music only added to making it hard to talk to my friends. It was Halloween so don't know if that made it busier than usual but they didn't seem to be running any sort of special event.
I had couple of pints of Oliver's Island which were very good indeed and others reckoned the Pride to be in good shape too.
Not much more to say really, good beer but too busy to be really enjoyable. That said, service was quick.
|
A Fullers pub, I hadn't been in here for a few years and after a quick look round it didn't appear to have changed much.
Lots of windows making "people watching" easy and (being Covent Garden) entertaining too.
Very busy and on my visit noisy as well!
The beers available were Gales Sprinter, London Pride, and HSB. I had the Gales which was a little on the flat side.
With several other better pubs in the area I shan't be returning too quickly.
|
After a team meeting meal, this was a place that had plenty of life as people drank continental style on the street at 11:30. Plastic glasses and people either offering you flyers to clubs or a trip on their rickshaw.
|
This pub looks a lot bigger on the outside than inside - it's not actually that big, not that's a bad thing. And it is round, perhaps more semi-circular. A Fuller's place so all their ale was there as you'd expect, but I got very excited when I saw Timothy Taylor's Landlord, perhaps my favourite pint. But then I felt a bit deflated after drinking it. It was completely OK, but maybe Landlord has that taste that varies from place to place.
Anyway, the pub is probably best for a group for post-work drinks - it's all floorboards and a couple of TVs. An easier-ish place to find in Covent Garden on account of it being round(!) and on a corner with other streets. It probably serves the usual lagers, but these days I don't even look at them anymore! 6
|
I dont mind it at all, not a bad pub, busy so you can never get a seat but great to stand outside and people watch :)
|
Not great/Not bad - just a pub - nothing special and when the Lamb and Flag is across the street no contest- just thought Id try it. 5 out of 10.
|
A short hop, skip and a jump away from The Lamb and Flag is The Roundhouse, a street corner pub that, as the name suggests, has a semi-circular curved frontage.
Now a Fullers pub, it's a rather unremarkable interior with bare floorboards, and a mixture of banquette seating and the usual high tables and bar stools.The frontage opens up to give a more welcoming and airy feel to the place, but, even so, it's a rather uninspiring place.
Beers on were Discovery, London Pride, ESB, Seafarers and, notably, Mr Harry. The Seafarers - at a pricey � 3.35p for a 3.6% beer - was reasonable.
With the Lamb and Flag close by, where there's a better range, more sensible prices and a more traditional atmosphere - plus of course other decent pubs close at hand - I don't envisage calling in here again.
|
Popped in about 1pm today - remarkably it was not busy or swamped with tourist - just a few well heeled ladies on a break from their shopping.
Full range of Fullers beers - but not Gales Mild - bar staff attentive and welcoming.
Sampled the ESB which was OK (not the best I've ever had it) and the seasonal Mr Harry which was in excellent form.
|
thirstyboy, thank you for your very interesting post.
|
Ooops !
I had the review below written after a couple of recent visits to the Roundhouse but hadn't got round to posting them before Paul shared his negative experience.
My experience was better and i can concur this smallish pub does benefit when the doors are all open and its good enough for Alfresco drinking.
I have utilised The Roundhouse a couple of times during the last month as a location to meet up, as the beer quality is usually good and its location equidistant from Leicester Square and Covent garden make it fairly easy to find but far away from both not to be swamped by tourist hoards.
Its a bit of a strange layout and can get cramped, especially in the winter months. However on a hot summer day all the double doors are opened and then the large exterior pavement space is utilised to expand the available vertical drinking area.
The pub has three flat screen teles and limited seating inside.
Usual fullers beer on which included the seasonal Gales Festival Mild which was in good condition on this particularly warm Saturday afternoon.
|
Pathetic. If you want to close the doors to your tiny pub during the World Cup final when your air conditioning isn't working, don't pack it to bursting in the first place. Otherwise, you might just come off as a greedy, inconsiderate arsehole.
|
At first I thought that this pub was going to be another grim West End tourist fleecing machine, but instead we spent a very enjoyable couple of hours here and even popped back in later for a couple of shorts.
The bar is plesently designed and decorated with plenty of room and seating. It's position on a corner and the way the windows open up in the hot weather make it an ideal place to sit, drink and watch the world go by!
The full Fullers range was avaliable, my pints of Discovery were in tip top condition and my only complaint was that they had run out of bottles of London Porter.
The food wasn't bad either and not as expensive as some Central London places.
|
I am very pleased with the refurbishment. The red and gold lettering of the pub name has been replaced with the fullers style lettering but in a nice touch, the pub's sign features a painting of the pub with the former red and gold lettering!
|
Thanks for the news that the refurbishment is now complete. I visited a few weeks back when the pub was surrounded by scaffolding and it was raining steadily. I look forward to visiting again!
|
I too gave up going to this pub years ago because it had become awful. Now I'm pleased to see what Fuller's have done with it. It's a welcoming popular pub and the beers are good but obviously from the Fuller's range. The Gales HSB I had was superb - I shall be back again when in the area.
|
Went in here last Friday (March 26th) for the first time in a few years.Nice to see it's thrown off the hateful regime that is Punch Taverns and is now a Fullers pub.It had obviously just been refurbished and even smelt new.The barman told me it was only the 3rd day open since it re-opened.It has quite a traditional look,dark wood etc with a high proportion of those 'high' tables with stools.An excellent pint of London Pride with ESB,Discovery & Chiswick also being available.Now it's a Fullers pub i'll probably start going in there every now & then.
|
BITE might like to try its hand at compiling a list of pubs that used to be great but have headed pretty sharply down hill. The Round House might well occupy pole position.
|
I suppose some tourists are unaware that USUALLY in Britain you go to the bar to order drinks and food. But Rex's comments seem to imply that quite a few pubs do table service. Anyway, I quite like the Roundhouse.
|
It�s a good few years since I�ve been in here, and it doesn�t seem to have changed very much, except that it�s a Fuller�s pub now of course. They had the usual range of fuller�s beers on (excepting Discovery) when I was in there. I reckon this is a typical West End pub � nothing special about it. Bare-boarded throughout, with the usual mix of high stools/high tables normal tables and chairs; small stools � plus faux chalkboards and the staff wearing regulation black shirts. And it is round, so meets that part of its description. There were mainly tourists in when I was in there on Wednesday lunchtime, with several groups perched round tables that were not really large enough for their groups. A couple of groups got up and left when nothing happened after about 10 minutes (I supposed that this is a pub that does not offer table service!). It must have seemed quite unwelcoming to them � a bit depressing on a wet day in London in June.
It�s a fair enough place if you�re a fan of Fuller�s ales; otherwise there�s nothing about it to warrant a recommendation.
|
I too am glad to see that Fullers have just taken this one under their wing...it deserves it as it is looking uncared for right now!
I look forward to a pint of Chiswick or even HoneyDew in the summer when Fuller's have had a chance to settle in!
Great location
|
Joy of joys. It's just been bought by Fullers. Thank you Lord, another saved from the Punch mire. But how many more can besaved. Punch has �4.5b worth of debt, so they are having a laugh asking for the monies wanted on there properties.There going to be bankrupt by August. Wait for the fire sale on property.
anonymous - 30 Apr 2009 08:17 |
This used to be such a good pub right in the heart of the market; not any longer. When I stopped by today the bar was being run by two ratty rent boy types, one of whom had a beard and a filthy skin type caused by an unfamilalty with water and soap. I asked for a pint of Directors and the price. ''I don't know'', came the reply. He then tried to pass me off with a pint with a Vicars collar; i
I take it that he must have been a Northerner, where they get cheap beer or have it bought for them by the DSS. When I told to top it up,he did so,but wiped the glass with the palm of his hand. This guy would love a job in Mexico; not to be sneezed at the way thingsare going. I can't say I'll be back here for a very long time.
anonymous - 28 Apr 2009 16:03 |
Went there on New Years Day in the afternoon. We ordered food and, after 45 minutes, only half of it arrived. When we asked for it, a barman aswered rudely that it's normal to wait when its busy (strangely very few people were eating at the time). Fifteen minutes later we were still waiting, and when we asked for it again to the barman, he just looked at us irritated. When the food finally arrived it was cold, and things were missing (the soup had no bread, the sheperd's pie was just mash potato and sauce, the salad had no pasta as the menu said). We were so unsatisfied we complained, at the barman basically shouted at us. Not once did he apologize for anything.
Eventually we asked for a refund of the food we hadn't had and left the pub. Do not go there if you expect any decent food or service, I'm amazed such rude people can be hired to work there.
|
Went in on a Thursday just before Christmas. Don't know if it was the time of year but not the best experience. The bar staff were not good at knowing who was next to be served and the toilets were in a bad state. If you happen to be in the area I would recommend you give it a miss and try the excellent Lamb and Flag accross the road instead.
|
Average pint of spitfire;nothing to write home about
|
A 'dodgy council estate pub'? What rubbish!
There's always a nice few ales on here.
I agree about the odd shaped bar though.
Have a couple here, then pop over the road to The Lamb And Flag.
|
Went in here and felt like I was on some dodgy council estate pub. Clientele left a lot to be desired. Took a long time to get served due to incompetant bar staff.
|
Went in for quick couple of pints for a friend of a friends birthday.
Beer was ok, wouldn't rush back for it though, like most Covent Garden pubs really.
A bit like the rest of the pub which suffers from having a bar far to big for the rest of the pub, so even with a few people in there it becomes cramped.
mrse1 - 18 Feb 2008 10:49 |
Reasonable pub, but always very cramped due to the odd triangular shape of the bar. Close to Covent Garden, and usually a safe bet for a decent pint.
|
This has improved so much over the years from the old grot-pot days. These days it is welcoming, ok beers, reasonable food, good atmosphere.
|
Great Pub. Good lunchtime atmosphere and the company was next to none.
|
A decent enough pub. Quite a nice Spitfire on.However I had the annoying thing again of asking for a half and getting a pint. I have a Northern accent but it not that strong, honestly. i think it maybe a lack of concentration.
|
As the Roundhouse is very close to Leicester Square/Covent Garden, but just far enough away as to not be surrounded with tourists, it is a good place to meet up with friends before going somewhere else.
It is a small pub with a large bar and can get extremely busy, especially during the summer months when the big sets of double doors are opened up and everyone spills out onto the pavement. It can be a pain fighting your way through the mass of people to the downstairs toilets.
I�ve found the bar staff to be fairly miserable, but the booze is well kept and you don�t have to wait very long when it is busy.
|
I used to work around the corner from this place so have spent many a lunch and evening in this place, it has nothing special to offer, there are plenty of other boozers like it. In the summer however it get busy with people standing out front blocking the pavement.
there are other bars within walking distance which are better.
|
A good pub in all the respects that have been noted before. My only gripe is that the manager refused to let my client (from Germany) sample the real ales (come on, mate, you're a franchise pub in Covent Garden, not some hard-done-by East London local!)
Nice pub though, considering what an over-priced, irritating, tourist / out-of-towner magnet Covent Garden is.
|
Concur with the past comments. I have been trying to find this pub for ages as it was my hang out before meeting my mate coming off work on Garrick while visting London. Great place to chill and watch the people waltz by. Cannot comment on the ale, but had good lagers. Also, bar staff were cool too for an area that can get a bit hectic. Look forward to going back.
Joseph65
USA
|
Birthday's, Christmas and Maunday Thursday.........it's all been done in this fine little boozer.
Always a good spot for people watching as the constant flux of people walking past never abates.
Beers are good, and it has a good atmoshpere.
|
Still does the best pint of Old Peculiar south of Masham.
|
A pleasant and relaxing T&J Bernard pub. Old Peculier is a popular and well kept regular, and there is always a guest ale. The room is shaped like a ship's stern. Warm, friendly buzz of conversation. A decent, inoffensive pub.
|
Above average chain pub. Nice place to stand outside on a friday evening in summer. Haven't been for a while, but the ales always used to be spot on.
|
Have had some great nights in the Roundhouse. Old Peculiar is excellent in here and the staff are a good laugh. Encouraging me once to make paper aeroplanes and throw them about. The beer made me do it. Fortunately no one lost an eye.
|
One of the best.
anonymous - 9 May 2005 20:25 |
The round house has a nice relaxing atmosphere with the feel of a traditional pub that I feel are on the decrease. The staff are polite and friendly and the service great. The food is the other good thing about the Round House with a good selection of the healthy sort. To find no chips on a menu was a pleasant surprise allowing you to get drunk but stay healthy. Good idea Round House, keep it up.
|
And still THE place in London for a great pint of Old Peculiar :-)
|
Just had a little bit of paint, smells nice! The ales are fab, always got old pec and Fullers. great pride seems to be taken with cleanliness, much better than it was a couple of years ago. Still really busy on a friday night too!!
Tim Adams - 23 Aug 2004 23:51 |
Still selling Old Pec! Yummy :-)
Darren in the City - 28 Jul 2004 14:37 |
Great friendly atmosphere, and very refreshing after an afternoon of shopping. Wonderful view.
Dawn - 2 Apr 2004 20:43 |
Nice pub. Shame about the toilets.
anonymous - 17 Sep 2003 11:58 |
A rare treat indeed in London - a good pub that sells Old Peculiar. Have never seen any men in macs there....
Darren in the City - 9 Jul 2003 11:50 |
I thought this place was ok. We didn't stop long though. And we were near the door...
TheG - 20 Jun 2003 10:53 |
Great atmosphere - cramped though!
Matt Le Ross - 28 Apr 2003 12:31 |
Bloody awful - a meat market full of men in macs - avoid
beergimp - 30 Mar 2003 20:52 |
