This is a lovely pub with character and lovely deco, keep it a secret though, don't want any treny wanna be's ruining it.
(s9s, January 2006)
Great pub, lots of different little rooms, something you don't see enough these days. Plenty of character and being a Sam Smiths the ale was dirt cheap, but in perfect nick. I'd definately go again.
(mannyowar, January 2006)
I worked over the road from this first class boozer and attended several (many!) lunchtime 'sessions' for 2 years and all I can say is... keep doing what you are doing...you're good at it. Don't listen to the smart-asses, you will still be in business long after they are long gone. (9/10)
(Biker, January 2006)
Character, charm and cheap beer; what more can you want? How about a bizarre one table back room with the allure of a David Lynch movie. Great pub which I never fail to visit each time I'm in London. Quality.
(Trapdoor, December 2005)
Quality boozer for the those that like to hear themselves think - don't come here expecting a party. A mixed crowd stops things from getting too sedate mind and the layout of the place makes for an interesting atmosphere. I'm advised that in summer it's best but I can see it working as a cozy winter boozer too.
Good for: Anytime.
(thenationofjames, October 2005)
Super little pub to pop into during a weekday afternoon, when the 'affected' "suits" are not in attendence - but even they are worth a smile! As usual, Sam Smiths' great beers/prices.
(mikem, August 2005)
Brilliant little pub for those that like it old school, yet fills up with all types of characters, young and old. Has two entrances for the split areas of the pub, so be sure to try both if you're meeting people there for the first time. There's also a large hidden table on the way to the toilets, via that strange cold garagey bit. Good selection of beers, haven't tried the food but the menu did read of nothing that fancy. Definitely worth a visit.
(Ruby, April 2005)
Nice pub tucked away from prying eyes behind Centre Point. Space is at a premium inside but it's cheap and cheerful both in terms of drink prices and decor. A real old fashioned boozer that gets it's atmosphere mostly from conversation rather than gimicky entertainment. Being a Sam Smith's pub it serves very little other than Sam Smith's beer so those looking for more familiar brand names will be disappointed but they shouldn't be as the lager is very nice indeed as are the ales.
(Mr.Monkfish, November 2004)
I love this pub and have been gere a few times recently. Alright food, cheap (for the middle of London) and nice beer and lots of little snugs and stuff. Don't tell the tourists.
(MrScott, February 2004)
Cheap and cosy local which has somehow materialised smack bang in the middle of London's West End. I've spent many a happy night there drinking the high strength Pils lager and wondering why my legs have stopped working. Every drink bar none is made by Yorkshire independent Sam Smith, the toilets in the lounge have the door by a very busy dartboard and the others are outside and down a narrow flight of stairs. Which all makes for an interesting night out. Oh and the beer garden is closed as the neighbours are a bunch of whining nimbies. Which is a shame because the pub gets packed very quickly.
(agnes_guano, May 2003)
Serves cheap Sam Smiths beers and decent pub grub. In 2000 this was split three sections as it was in Victorian times.
Beer garden in yard at the back.
(John247, April 2003)
good for a footie game and a couple of pints.
(s9s, January 2006)
Great Place to start a night out
very cheap drinks - �1.90 Carlsberg, �2 Fosters
Beer is nothing to right home about but its cheap and a nice cosy warm pub. It is usually relativley busy with tourists and students. A nice quiet pub with tvs for football
cafc
(casual66, January 2006)
Few drinks after work last night proved very pleasant in this place. Had one of the best pints of London Pride ever, although the mates I was with said that the Fosters could have been better. As is the common view, the best thing about this place is the prices. Friendly atmosphere and smiles of the bar staff give it that extra shine.
(palser, August 2005)
cheap like the budgie and handy for watching the last few minutes of footy after the premiere of Star Wars - happy hour is actually really quite a happy occasion for your wallet
(vurshon, May 2005)
I'm a student and can't afford to pay �2.70 for a pint, so when I was told about this place I became a regular. I mean it's �2 for Fosters, all these other pubs must be ripping us off!!
(edblackburn, October 2004)
Superb pub full of character. SS Old Brewery bitter is always on and is outstanding value. Even my lager and Guiness drinking mates like SS's own lager and stout. Only downside is that the bar staff sometimes are busy fiddling behind the bar with menu's and cutlery or wiping tables rather than serving customers waiting at the bar. Priorities guys!
(BothamsAshes, February 2006)
Fine interior, Samuel Smiths beers, often gets very busy, so it might be a while before you get a seat.
(clissold345, February 2006)
A really enjoyable pub with snugs, fires going, and massive casks above the bar. It sounds like a great little local, but it's also a spacious place with a heavy (and somewhat annoying) clientele of yuppies from the business districts. The staff was friendly and took their time getting the beer right--always a big plus in my book.
I'm partial to Sam Smith beers, so this place is a real treat for me, especially as they somehow manage to be a relatively inexpensive place for a beer considering its location. If you can tune out the suits all trying to chat each other up in the evening, this is a great place for a drink, and a must on any Holborn-area pub crawl.
(Hodsthorn, January 2006)
If you can shove past the city lads and carve out a niche, it has the most amazing interior, cheap cheerful food and good drink selection.
(maddiekat, January 2006)
Very interesting pub, well worth a visit. Not a massive fan of Sam Smith's but they serve the bottled Imperial Stout here which is excellent.
(Stonch, January 2006)
An excellent pub with atmosphere, something most pubs in London have forgotten about. With tiny snugs for conversation and a fire that was very welcome on a da that was freezing. I expect this place can be packed with city types on a weekday but it was perfect on a Saturday afternoon. Definitely a pub to be recommended.
(andyshire, December 2005)
Not your typical pub. Nice lounge bar up front but the back bar is what gives the place its reputation.
Snug little booths for conversation. Booths have always been full when I have been there (at the end of the work day). Interesting decor. I think it is a well done pub.
Sam Smiths is not my favorite beer but the Old Brewery Bitter was okay at my last visit. Hard to beat Sam Smith prices!
(jorrocks, October 2005)
I can understand why it is rated highly, very warm and friendly pub. Steeped in history and the Sam Smiths is good.
(cliff, June 2005)
I'm surprised this pub has rated so highly - I like traditional pubs but not this one. The front room is ok, but not so mad about the back room. But then, I don't like Sam Smith's.
(rah, June 2005)
Loved this pub, good beer, like stepping back in time, will definately be back next time I visit London
(Groomy, May 2005)
Stunning interior to the rear bar. The front bar was out of bounds for a private function when I visited the other Saturday. Well-kept beer, cheap for London, and open on a Saturday in an area where so many decent pubs close at weekends. Worth seeking out, next to Chancery Lane tube so doing so is no great effort.
(SJC, March 2005)
Lovely looking back bar. In at the weekend and got a booth to ourselves. Stove fire was very very hot and much appreciated. Good show.
(Boothers, February 2005)
Another superb Sam Smith pub. Looks awesome inside - dates back to 14th C. I think. Suffered from major blaze a few hundred years ago. First floor removed to leave massive open space with original wood fittings and windows. Great booths, and stove fires for the chilly winter months.
And, of course, Sam Smith supplies his wonderfully cheap and tasty brews...
Food's also pretty decent.
(eccentric_man, February 2005)
Spent a good evening down in the basement of this place last Friday. The beer was good, food was alright and the staff were kind enough to reserve an area for me and my mates.
It's a Sam Smith�s pub, you can normally rely on them to be good and the architecture of this one is fantastic.
Well worth a visit.
(MrScott, November 2004)
What a wonderful pub - I found it by chance while looking for somewhere else. Amazing architectural features, cosy drinking booths, air conditioning that works and bitter at �1.66 a pint in central London!! Oh, and the barman was polite.
(ratsdog, August 2003)
Fine pub. Beer is consistently good and the staff is simply outstanding.
(mattmcb57, December 2005)
Working just round the corner, I have frequently used the Coal Hole to meet both friends, spouse and business people and have had no complaints from anyone I have ever taken there�and there lies the rub. It is a pub that it is difficult to say anything against as it appeals to a wide range of people. Set on the Strand amongst theatres etc it will attract tourists so why do people seem so surprised that this is the case! Reading other reports of how expensive the pub is � rubbish! All Nicholsons pubs appear to have a set price and I have found that it is usually pitched a bit less than the average pub in the surrounding area. The beers I have had in the Coal Hole have been excellent and the food fine. The d�cor is interesting and unusual and gives the place its own character. I have never had any problem with the staff or the service in my many visits over the past 18 months and usually manage to grab a seat (try the �minstrel gallery� if there are none downstairs) or at worst a bit of ledge to place my pint. The only downside that I have experienced is when there has been a convention or meeting in the adjoining Savoy Hotel and everyone piles in at the same time however this is not common. It should also be noted that there is a downstairs bar (more of a wine bar) that is worth checking out. They used to have a plasma TV but this has now gone (it�s not really a TV sort of pub and it did look a bit out of place anyway).
(RogerB, October 2005)
Fine traditional pub - no complaints. Mr Monkfish is not wrong - this is the best pub in The Strand
(JohnBonser, October 2005)
I like the Coal Hole a lot and always have. Nice building with a lot of atmosphere and character. Beer is always good and prices are par for the area. Good mixture of people in there normally and bar service is efficient. Best place to go for a drink on The Strand. If you can get one of the few seats on the upstairs bit, it's a very pleasant place to settle in for a drink with your nearest and dearest.
(Mr.Monkfish, September 2005)
Well kept small and justifiably busy pub. Loads of brass nick nacks (including an old-fashioned diver's helmet!) hanging fom the ceiling, old oil paintings and pop memorabilia � I think they even have Elvis and the Beatles' autographs. Beer is good, honest stuff and the service is great. When my mate got a stain on his jacket from the top of the fag machine they paid for it to be cleaned, no arguments. The outside is a veritable jungle of hanging baskets and ivy. Always a good sign, in my view.
(Albert_Campion, January 2006)
Nice traditional pub, well worth a visit. Note the Beatles memorabilia.
(JohnBonser, January 2006)
I love this pub, and im not sure why?
But its one of my favouite in London.
Its jumbeled and messey and red and it just feels right to be sitting in there on a saturday afternoon getting slowly drunk.
Its got one of the best chip shops in london just down the same street from it.
(Jesper, December 2005)
Good boozer and well run with attentive bar staff.
(Knocker, May 2005)
Great pub. Good beer well served by friendly staff. Interesting decor. Well worth a visit. Puts many other 'pubs' in the area to shame.
(Muffindamule, January 2005)
A wonderful cove of a pub. Dark even when it's blazing sunshine outside. Plenty of interesting matter to please the eye it's best enjoyed sober, at first, but I could envisage having a bit of a session there.
Good for: Escaping the Covent Garden throng for a quite pint or two and maybe some bar snacks.
(thenationofjames, August 2004)
Nice place. Can be a bit tricky finding a seat but bucketloads of interesting decor. Have never got a seat on the benches in summer but plan to at least once this year.
(Plastique_Bertrand, March 2004)
This pub is a real find in Covent Garden. Great seating out the front for summer drinks. Inside is very pretty, dark and full of character. Worth searching out when in the area.
(Paladino, January 2004)
A nice, usually quiet, pub that serves a nice pint. I always try to to visit when I am in town. I have never been there when I wasn't amused by some unusual character. The WCs are interesting too.
(saiga, July 2003)
Decent Pub, Not your tourist trap.
Nice & dark inside. Good atmos
(leonmaitland, June 2003)
The Lowlander has a huge selection of beers and a fair selection of cocktails.
Yes, the staff aren't amazing and it does have a slight chain feel to it (the seats downstairs are arranged in long rows like a school canteen) but if you want a fun evening sampling beers from around Europe this is the place to go.
(PicklePub, January 2006)
I love this pub the staff are friendly and knowledgable, the decor and ambiance is great and each of the beers on teh beer menu is served in its own special glass.
I think its a great bar in which to nurse and then medicate a hangover on a sunday.
(Jesper, December 2005)
Seemed ok for the first 10 minutes but this was about 5pm. Still took quite a while to get served, though. By the time it got to 6pm, it seemed impossible to get a beer within 10 minutes. Well pricey.
(tyranny, November 2005)
Another pub with a nice selection of Belgian and Dutch beers.
It has a much more continental feel than De Hems or The Bierodrome.
(edrok666, August 2005)
Great during the day but don't go there in the evening if you want to be served within 15 minutes of attracting a waiters attention.
(Knocker, May 2005)
I went here with friends purely on the basis of the reviews on this site, I'm a big fan of belgain/dutch beers. I am so glad we went as it's definitely one of the best pubs I have been to in London. A huge varitey of beers not just your everyday Hoerrgarden, Leffe and Stella, I had a great pint of Brug. Rows of long candle lit tables, no music & friendly bar & table staff gives it that beer hall feeling. We were so impressed with the beer we tried the food too and the Lowlander burger is truely delicous. It's not the cheapest place admittedly, burger was �11 I think and a round of 3 drinks was just short of �15 but it's a great place to impress visitors with if nothing else. Highly recommended.
(RandomJoe, January 2005)
One of the only 'real' pubs in the area - Good mix of tourists and locals, Worth a visit.
(geonosys, January 2006)
Arrived earlyish evening to find fairly busy, with mix of locals and some tourists. Also a combo of both having food - a good sign!
Service effecient (for which very pleasantly surprised!) with a good range (6) ales on draft. Add to this a combo of other drinks, lagers and impressive for main tourist area.
As a group we worked our way though all of the beers fairly quickly, with all being in good condition. Also as the evening went on we were easily able to get a table.
Look forward to returning again.
(zakman, January 2006)
Nice surprise... good mix of locals and tourists. Lots of original features, decent beer (Young's) good service and a genuinly cosy atmosphere. Given its position its a miracle it hasn't become disneyfied.
(Albert_Campion, December 2005)
Long, narrow, street corner pub decorated like an ex-gin palace. Does a small range of popular guest ales. Tidy, nonthreatening atmosphere. The Old Peculier was a bit tired, but the chips were tasty.
(SilkTork, August 2005)
Pleasant enough. Very American, although I enjoyed the conversation I had with an elderly Floridian couple with whom I got chatting in there last Friday night. I'd recommend this pub for people who want to be close to the bright lights for a late supper, but have no time for noisy, crowded places.
(dawnage, June 2005)
Very impressive! Great beers on cask. Lovely interior... lots of dark wood and there is room to breathe.
(beerbum63, April 2004)
Quality establishment. It's a great room with quality ale. I haven't tried the grub but there was a long line for the lunch special.
(Dr_J, October 2003)
A great place to meet (next door to Leicester Square tube). The staff have every right to be unpleasant (v. busy at times) but they're surprisingly friendly. Some decent ales on too. Also good if you're alone for people watching!
(Terry_W, November 2005)
Not too bad for a quick ale or meeting point. Upstairs pretty good for a function (around 30 people or so).
(Randy_Campbell, June 2005)
Quite a small pub for the area so can get a little cramped. Just opposite Leicester Square station so a good meeting place to kick off a pub crawl.
(lennie384, February 2005)
Crowded downstairs, but there were tables free upstairs so we sat there and enjoyed the view up Charing Cross Road. A good traditional pub.
(jaq, February 2005)
A very handy pub, adequately stocked with a range of beers. Just the right amount of traditional English pub authenticity. All this and the world's smallest men's room!
(marty71, March 2004)
Been here once. The bouncers made us move precisely 3 inches to the left because we "were in the way". That'll learn me to break my self-imposed never-go-in-a-bar-with-doormen rule.
Beer was OK but nothing special. Everybody in the place seemed to be tourists with rucksacks worn on their front (why do they do that?), couples conducting clandestine meetings, worried-looking blokes or Shouty Generic Australians.
(Albert_Campion, January 2006)
The beer list is simply amazing, with some amusingly candid descriptions of certain piss-poor well known brands found in other pubs.
Expensive? Not the cheapest no, but then you can easily spend �3 on a bog standard Stella anywhere else round there, plus figure some of these beers aren't on the usual disributors lists. Cruzcampo may be 50p/l in Spain but then we're not in Spain (sadly...)! Blame Gordon Brown!
It's good to see somewhere modern and vibrant promoting genuinely interesting and unusual beer.
(OldRogue, January 2006)
Great place, excellent feeling, a wicked range of beers and certainly has that awesome bar feel!
(Randy_Campbell, December 2005)
Don't arrange to meet your friends here - it's like a maze. So many floors, half-levels, different staircases, that in the end you don't know where you've looked! But if you arrive together you should be OK. Even when packed to capacity the service is quick and trays are provided to help you carry your drinks to your table. Wonderful selection of draft and bottled beers from around the world (listed in a book!) and great food too. Not cheap though.
(Trev, December 2005)
Boisterous Irish bar on three levels. The beers start at �2.80 approx, pub absolutely heaving at 8pm last night. The atmosphere is lively, and even the bouncers were friendly when I visited. Try the TSB and Oyster Stout.
Interesting furniture and lighting.
(ladnewton, December 2005)
Plain Porter...Plain Brilliant!!...My favourite pint in Smokie Town.....They do a tasters servive,which gives you a quick nip of the main brews...but I've found the Porter is King.....�3 a pint-which seems more of a bargain after each glass!
Good place to visit during the day as its not too busy...The Ups n Downs format is quite similar to its sister branch in Dublin-whilst theres plenty of nooks & crannies to choose your seat from.
(EdgarBriggsMI5, September 2005)
This place is excellent, so much to choose from on the beer menu! The food is pretty good too. Best drink I've tried there is the Porterhouse Red. Heaven in a pint.
OK, prices are bit steep, but it's Covent Garden, not Hull. At least you get something unique for your cash. It does get crowded, so best to go in mid-sunday afternoon to enjoy the place properly.
One slightly sore point - watch their quizzer if you take more than a quid out of it, it sets ridiculous levels of attainment for the next time. Win your money and go!
(Quinno, August 2005)
Great atmosphere and unique decor, on top of the best beer selection for miles around. Often hard to find a seat due to popularity, but it's a great Sunday afternoon pub, especially if you can sit out of the firing line of the Irish session going on in the corner (i.e. great background music, but wouldn't want it in your face). Beer menu contains useful information and tips to help you choose new beers to try.
(mrfrisky, August 2005)
This pub has the best selection of world beers in London. I like to try something new whenever I go in - Russian lager, German dark white-beer, American ale, whatever!
(edrok666, August 2005)
Ok, but over-rated. I've never understood the popularity of this place....
(rah, June 2005)
Excellent selection of Stouts and bottled beers from around the world. That's the good bit. Very expensive and full of loud tourists and City types. Still owrth visiting for the Oyster stout.
(ahscum, May 2005)
Probably the best selection of worldwide beers under one roof in central London. Has a TV screen for sport, but is not imposing. Good, attentive bar staff looking for people to serve and clearing up empties. The cleanest toilets I have been in for ages!!
(snowdog2112, February 2005)
A genuinely stunning interior that puts almost every other pub in existence to shame. Going a bit tatty in places but that's known as a "proper pub" in these days of boring bars and plastic pubs.
And the Louise is *packed* with character, fom the ammonia-drenched loos (bad) to the incredible ceiling art (good), from the organic bottled beer (very good!!) to the very very very reasonable prices (very very very very good - especially in this part of London). There's lots to like here and very little to really dislike.
Not, perhaps, the most glamorous pub you'll ever visit, and the food is pretty basic, but the Louise is usually busy, and with a mix of all types.
(StuPC, January 2006)
Had a nice Samuel Smith pint of stout in here. Pleasant bar room atmosphere and decent pub, all in all. Missed out on the urinals unfortunately but you can't have everything, can you?
(BigWobblers, November 2005)
Wonderfully ornate ceiling, impressive monolith of a ancient urinal, decent decor, friendly staff and cheap prices. This place has plenty of character and if there is a downside it's that decent seating is a little bit scant. One shouldn't be put off by the beer as there is plenty to choose from and it's probably a damn site better for you than most mainstream beers. Strong mind.
Good for: Crawling aroung Holborn
(thenationofjames, October 2005)
I enjoyed drinking here, we were chatting to the landlord who was very friendly. a pleasant evening in pleasant surroundings :-)
(Wardy, July 2005)
Spent a lovely evening here last week, sat by the fire (gas, not real).
Started out v busy and almost too crowded, but got to that nice comfortable level of busy-ness by about 8 and stayed that way the rest of the night.
Friendly staff, lots of seats etc (although upstairs was shut for a private function when I was there, which made it a bit more difficult to find a perch), and good booze.
(minx2012, February 2005)
Go for the loo. Stay for the pint.
(Dr_J, October 2003)
The most amazingly decorative pub - the downstairs bar is a treat for the eyes. Sam Smiths, so nice and reasonable... and wheat beer :)
(TheBear, June 2003)
Found this pub a great place to go during the day time/ early evening, it is not too busy, prices are what you expect for west end pubs. note that they stop food at 3pm then start again at 5pm. which left me hungary. haven't ventured there in the night yet, but am planning to soon. staff are friendly and had no wait to get served. they play good music as well.
(stripe, December 2005)
I think this is a great pub. Differant and even though it's in the middle of all the chaos, it's tucked away just off Charing Cross, so it's not over crowded. I work in central London right near tottenham court road tube station and I think it is a great place to take my mates after work that isn't a giant crowd. Great beer, great staff. Highly recommend this one!
(matteq, September 2005)
This is a great little pub - a real find in the middle of central London. I just happened upon it one day when looking for a loo after shopping!The "oddness" that others have mentioned is its real bonus. It's a bit arty and different which is a real breath of fresh air after the hundreds of bland boring chain pubs that central london is plagued with.
If you want a nice plain ordinary bar then go to 'All Bar One' if you want the staff to smarm all over you with a fake smile on their faces then go to 'TFI Fridays' or some such place. If you want an interesting, decent pub to have a quiet pint (or a good night out with a lively atmosphere - depending on when you go) then I'd definitely recommend this little Gem.
(Curly_Helen, July 2005)
A strange one. It's got character for sure with cool furniture to boot. An odd mix of people frequent here and the downstairs bar begs the question; who is this intended for? If these sound like slurs then they're not. Anything that can disorientate in such surroundings is fine by me.
Good for: This has yet to be defined but I shall be back to found out.
(thenationofjames, April 2005)
Pre theatre drink on a Friday. Got here about 6ish and managed to get a seat in the no smoking bit round the corner. Very pleasant. Excellent bar staff, decent music but you could still have a conversation. Don't like drinking in the West End but this was a very enjoyable drink.
(Lyncroft, January 2006)
The perfect pub.Go for a quick one & you will stay for hours.Atmosphere of a true pub in a vibrant location,quality beers,quality staff.
(glenn468008, November 2005)
I endorse the previous favourable comments on the decor and the staff. Found it surprisingly civilised at 5.30 on a Friday - even managed to get a seat. Good beer, and decent wine at not too severe a mark-up. Also, red wine at a sensible temperature, not cold as a mother-in-law's heart like many pubs.
(joegreen, October 2005)
Good beer, "traditional pub" decor, reasonably priced, nice crowd... but the thing that makes this place stand out is the friendliness of the staff. Even at 10.30pm on a Wednesday night, with the bar crammed with drunk people waiting to be served, they were still smiling and sharing a joke with the punters. The other great thing about this pub is the tourist element. If there's no free seats then we quite often end up sitting at a table with a couple of Americans (or Norweigans in Wednesday's case!) and whiling away the evening chatting about each other's culture and the world in general. Combine all the above ingredients together and you end up with a great pub like the Salisbury.
(steve5312, September 2005)
Encouraged by recent postings I went to The Salisbury on a Thursday night and am pleased to report that standards are being maintained. The beers (we had Tribute and Bombardier) were excellent, the door staff courteous - bag searches were as friendly as it's possible to make them - and we were served within a minute of standing at the bar (not bad for a crowded pub). Add to that the amazing etched mirrors, unobtrusive background music and efficient aircon and it added up to a welcome alternative to other West End offerings.
(MarkW, August 2005)
Fantastic place. I can't help thinking this place is under different management from when I used to go in about five years ago. Now it has very friendly and efficient staff. Sometimes I have two or three asking if I'm being served but I admit that's not when it is at its busiest. It's crowded because it is so good. There's too much competition to risk being rubbish (even though many places don't care about that). Go. Enjoy. Cram yourself in. Strangers seem to get along in here. And, good door staff.
(PeterGoodman, July 2005)
Even on a Friday night there is still a quiet corner of the beautifully decorated Salisbury that you can secure and sample their extraordinary range of ales. A rare gem in London's pub lists in that it is both historical and practical, catering for the tourist, the historian and the thirsty and discerning beer drinker alike.
(agnes_guano, June 2005)
In agreement with most of the other comments, very polite service and interesting decor / architecture.
Was asked for ID which usually annoys me, but the barman in here was so polite about it I wasn't really bothered.
(lennie384, April 2005)
Part of a Friday afternoon pub crawl after lunch at Vertigo 42. Have been in there before but the decor never fails to impress. Place was pretty empty (having avoided the lunchtime rush) but it was a pleasure to be served by such happy and attentive staff - everyone coming in was greeted with a smile. Pub cosy and with pleasant background noise of staff laughing and satisfied customers chatting away. The fact that you can't hear cars and buses flying by outside also makes this place seem a world away from the hectic bustle and crowds of London in general and Leicester Square/Covent Garden in particular. Fully recommended.
(palser, April 2005)
Worth a visit just for the saloon-y decor. Stunning. Does get rammed though so go on a weekday if you can...
(invisible, April 2005)
Historic late victorian pub with etched glass windows and big decoration over the main entrance. Used to be several more rooms than the 3 there are now and has a staicase that goes straight up from the bar like a chimney - which is not too popular with the Fire Brigade so the upper floors are apparently empty. Odd lighting with a mixture of red and amber shades being reflected in the mirrors along the walls which takes a bit of getting used to. Good (although expensive) ales including a guest (St Austell when I was there)
(lout_from_the_lane, February 2005)
Gets rammed in here Friday / Saturday night, but still definitely worth a look, a proper London pub.
Of all the central West End pubs this is one of the most atmospheric. Yes it is a bit touristy, but this is the West End, what do you expect?! Worth checking out just for the decor, there are not many pubs left this well preserved from the Victorian period (first converted to a pub 1898).
A favourite with the theatre crowd, you might spot the odd famous face having a pre / after show beverage in here.
Best position in the pub is the front nook with the tiny bar, ideal for a litte crowd of say 10 odd to plot up in, but be advised, to get seats in there you will have to turn up early doors!
(krylon76, January 2005)
Nice little boozer, with a good selection of ales. Girl behind the bar could do with lessons on how to smile, but all in all not bad.
(steve5312, December 2005)
Very busy place but in an ideal location for lots of West End attractions without the prats. I really like it and the staff are friendly and efficient. Very pleasant on a Saturday lunchtime.
(Nailed, December 2005)
I like this place, even though it is very smoky. We didn't try the food this time, but previously was pretty good. The beers are always in very good condition and the Tanglefoot has it's usual 'wolf in sheep's clothing' effect. Given the alternatives in the area, I would always rate this highly.
(junior_idiot, December 2005)
Rather tastey beer on the pumps. Food, that was on the pumps too. Badgers - nice. Enough mirrors and great location. I agree about the temperature.
(mitomighty, November 2005)
A wonderful treat - wander thru the Arches and up to the pub. Liked the Fursty Ferret on offer. Busy but not overwhelmingly so. Particularly considering the masses thundering up and down Villers street. Well worth a visit.
(jorrocks, October 2005)
Must get something right - it's crowded, perhaps too crowded, almost all the time!
(railtracksurvivor, October 2005)
Very good pub for real ale - it's a Badger pub and very un-London in many regards.
(BigPete, September 2005)
If I'm in sore need of Tanglefoot or King & Barnes Sussex I usually end up here - where I know they serve good beer - have taken quite a few friends to it - who get a kick out of the pub being split across the passage. If I'm organising a crawl this pub normally gets on it!
(Martin_R, May 2005)
A decent london pub split into two on either side of a narrow alley. Quite unusual, good beer and food, and a cosy place to be in the winter. Best near Charing Cross for a post-work drink.
(vinrouge, March 2005)
Never had a problem with service, although it's one of the busiest pubs in the area during warm periods. You can cut the air with a knife if you're in the small bar, so unless you smoke camels you're better off in the other one.
(YoungElvis, March 2005)
A bit difficult to find at first but well worth the effort.Beer is always on form and the staff friendly and polite.The smaller bar is open as well at busier times.
(TonyAle, December 2004)
I love this place, an oasis for commuters bereft of trains. Managed to find the room upstairs last time I went. Smelt spookily like Grandma's house but still the beer makes up for it.
(alivings, August 2004)
One of central Londons little gems thanks to it being tucked away in Craven passage.
Beer usually in good nick (Badger and some nice germans stuff)
(Magpie, April 2004)