please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I caught it on a particularly bad day last time as they had no non-Fullers beers. (Hence the snarl)
|
Whilst I absolutely agree with Snarling Mallard it used to me much better bland and corporate is harsh. For a station pub it's still pretty good and has a range of none Fullers beer on that whilst is nowhere near what it was once independent is better than most tied/Fullers pubs. A solid 7.
|
Used to be a quirky independent pub now it's just a bland corporate Fullers waste of space.
anonymous - 5 Apr 2018 22:02 |
Excellent pub, never had a bad pint here. Can get very busy when sports events on TV. Discount for CAMRA members.
|
Nice little pub hidden away from the main busy area near the Bus Station. Good ales and a nice little sitting spot upstairs. Full of names of train stations all over the walls, very good pub.
|
Good review from Raiders Of The Lost Pubs: https://raidersofthelostpubs.net/2014/04/15/the-doric-arch-nw1-1dn-tube-euston/
|
My first visit for several years before a trip to Wembley. This remains a hidden gem with a good selection of Fullers and guest beers aided by attentive staff. We were so impressed that we returned after the match to top up.
I can't think of a better railway station pub.
|
This is a great pub carrying the full range of Fuller's ales and keg products plus ever changing guest ales from other Breweries. They usually have a boxed cider as well as the wines and spirits you'd expect in a pub.
The photos for this listing are out of date as the Doric had a major refurbishment a year or two ago. It is clean, maintains its rail memorabilia and has two TVs that show BT Sport and Terrestrial sporting events. Otherwise there is back ground music. It is the pub I usually go to watch rugby matches at the weekend. They no longer do Sky TV but that works for me as pesky football no longer clashes with the rugby.
It is a pub of two lives. During the week it has a regular customer base of commuters having a pint or two before catching the train home. At the weekend it is a bit more transient with people popping in as a first port of call getting off the train from the North or killing time to catch the train back.
The staff are all friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. They also offer a 15% discount for card carrying CAMRA members on the sale of ale.
The only downside is access issues for those with limited mobility. The toilets are downstairs below ground level and the pub is on the first floor. The only ground floor public footprint is the two access points.
|
Wot they all said below plus discount on pwopa beer for card carrying CAMRA members! What's not to love!
|
Surprisingly good pub that overcomes two obstacles - it's part of the expanding (and expensive) Fullers chain, and it's a railway station pub (in the courtyard of Euston station). Good choice of real ales, bar staff are always efficient and well trained, prices are more reasonable than some nearby pubs. Always a pleasure to visit.
|
Outside 28/08/15 http://i.imgur.com/HtLNi5p.jpg
|
Pumps: 14/08/15 - http://i.imgur.com/DOTKkHm.jpg and http://i.imgur.com/wauCJuC.jpg
|
Very close to Euston, good selection on tap, friendly staff, nice food, nice and plentiful seating. Maybe a bit expensive, but it's worth it as you get a pleasanter all round experience than at other local pubs.
|
Always a pleasure to have an afternoon pint in the Doric. Decent Fullers range including London Porter. Had a burger today. Decent but a bit overpriced for what you get, in my opinion. Since being done up the pub seems brighter and cleaner. The staff are friendly enough for me.
|
Nothing you would expect of a station pub and actually more than decent in the face of tough competition from the nearby Euston Tap. Indeed, this places bests that one when it comes to loo quality and less tendency for city boys to push in at the bar even if there isn't quite such a good range of beer. Not that it doesn't score highly on that front - tipples from the Windsor and Eton and Butcombe breweries supplemented the Fullers regulars. The only quibble would be a lack of atmosphere because the crowd is transient.
|
Very respectable boozer. If you're coming for the football, this is a much, much better choice than the Flyer up the road and far less likely to be as heaving. Staff jovial, Fullers ales well kept. Nothing you'd expect from a station boozer; think it's just that distance from the entrance that clinches it. The unassuming station crowd seem to pile into the Britannia at their peril anyway. Would come here more often if it wasn't for the Tap's brilliance. 7/10.
R3NW5 - 19 May 2014 16:04 |
Delighted to report that the two leather wing back chairs have survived the make over.
You lot can leave them alone. I have bagsied them.
Still my favourite pub in the area. Superb beer.
|
CAMRA pub, well worth a visit. 6/10
|
I expected an awful ,typical station pub, but was pleasantly surprised.A really decent boozer that does a cracking pint of London pride(well it is a Fullers pub)
A lot rail related history on the walls,and comfy seats if thats your thing.
A decent pub indeed
|
Don't be put off by the exterior. Inside this Fullers pub quite cosy with leather chesterfield arm chairs, half a dozen real ales and railway memorabilia. A comfortable and welcoming place that feels traditional and it is just perfect before embarking on a train journey.
|
I must have walked past this pub 100 times before and was always put off by the entrance, assuming that the pub itself woud just be a usual station pub.
Tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago - excellent boozer, lots of charachter, full of railway and transport paraphanalia, very good range of beers. Well worth a visit.
|
Quite impressed with this pub. Went in after a footie match this weekend and found the staff to be very helpful when discussing the ales. The beer was lovely, although we did both stick to the same pint as it was so good. Prices not too bad considering its proximity to the station.
|
Part of a tour of pubs which was overall not very satisfactory, comprising the Pakenham, Queen’s Head Acton st (easily the best) Calthorpe Arms (easily the worst) Euston Tap and Doric Arch.
Last call was the Doric Arch, hardly anyone in, good choice of ales, though only tried one, which was excellent. Good friendly service, and a bus spotters' paradise, also very handy for my train from Euston. 7/10
|
Lovely little boozer in my opinion, there is usually some good beer on tap, with a selection of Fullers and other brewers over between 6-8 pumps. The staff are generally friendly and helpful, the views over the bus station are great and I've always walked away satisfied (which is pretty damned good for a pub in train station in my experience).
|
O no I am having to agree with MillHouse with regard to this pub and the great service received.
One of the Barmaids showed me how to fill in a form for a 15% discount loyalty card.
The card is then issued so long as you can show them a valid CAMRA membership card.
When first taken over by Fullers the selection here was a bit limited but there are a lot more guest ales on now.
|
I visited this pub for the first time last week, having found it recommended online when looking for bars near Euston Station (I was meeting a friend who was making a rare visit to London), and was frankly appalled at the level of service we received. The two members of staff we encountered were extremely hostile and rude towards us, and left us feeling totally unwelcome. As a lifelong Londoner, I know what to expect from the city's pubs, and have never experienced anything as poor as I did at the Doric Arch. We left before finishing our drinks and went elsewhere; thankfully managing to salvage the evening that the staff at this pub seemed intent on ruining.
|
I like the layout of this pub and some of its idiosyncratic features. In my opinion, beer quality and range are usually rather better in the nearby Bree Louise and Euston Tap. However, as JonnyConsumer says, this is maybe more likely to be the place where you'll find a cosy corner and simply sip and chat the night away
|
Wonderful pub; one of my favourites.
The staff are always lovely and the range of tap and bottled beers is excellent.
The railway memorabilia makes for a great atmosphere. Look out for the huge ‘9F’ above the bar.
The food is good, it is always nice and warm in winter, and the football on the TV is never too loud.
A perfect place to wait for your train!
Actually once you get settled, chances are you will miss the train but don’t worry, it was probably cancelled anyway.
|
Nice quirky little pub next door to Euston tube/bus station. Lively locals and bar staff give a walm welcome on a winter evening and £3.20 for a pint of discovery this close to central London (where pints usually equal no change froM £5) can only ever be a good thing.
Only slight concern is the little mouse than ran over my shoe 1 minute after I sat down...
|
4 Fullers and 3 guests on yesterday. Friendly and helpful barstaff who dealt pretty well with a noisy buch of football fans.
An amazing 15% discount on real ales to CAMRA members - you have to sign up to a seperate Doric Arch discount card. This reduces London Pride to a most acceptable �3.01!
|
You know i must have been past this a thousand times. It looks nothing from outside but has a really nice decor and some superb ales, from the fuller range an furthe afield. Not sure about 3 quid for a pot of tasteless scratchings but everything else was brilliant.
The bree louise will no more be my pre train stop off.
Lets keep this pace a secret.
|
One of my favourite drop in pubs. Good service not too crowded. Good range of beers and practically next to the platform for the train home. A gem.
|
Excellent pub for a railway station : not too crowded as it's on the edge of the bus station so you have to know it's there. Wide choice of Fuller's ales and guest ales. I think you will found that there are far more than 2 Fuller's pubs that also serve one or more guest ales.
|
Your barman last night was probably referring to The Olde Mitre near Hatton Garden, another Fullers pub that is allowed guest beers.
|
According to the guy behind the bar, this is only one of two Fullers pubs that is allowed to sell guest ales.
Four on tap when we popped in for a quick pint last night - had an Elgoods beer, which was okay and just under �3.30 with a CAMRA discount.
To get the money off you have to sign up for the pub's separate discount card by showing your CAMRA membership and then you get a 15 per cent off card.
Hadn't been in before as I just assumed it was a Fullers pub but not the case, so would head back in as an alternative to the Bree Louise.
|
The Doric Arch is still a good option at Euston Station. Although I haven't been here for a while since the opening of the Bree Louise, Euston Tap & Cider Tap. However, we chose to visit last night and found that little had changed since our last visit. Fullers beers - Discovery, ESB, Jack Frost, London Pride & Bengal Lancer were supplemented by 2 guests - Kelham Island Pale Rider & Harviestoun Haggis Hunter. The cider was Westons Vintage Organice. It still seems to be popular with football fans on a Saturday night. The service was quick and fine.
|
A surprisingly pleasant and traditional feel awaits visitors to this outwardly unappealing pub set within the ghastly brutality that is the present Euston station complex. There seemed to be plenty of punters in attendance when I dropped in on Tuesday evening, and there was a steady hum to the place.
Cask ales are on fine form here, with not only the usual range of 4 or so Fuller's beers on offer, but a range of guests - I think 3 options were given us 2 days ago and what I sampled was on splendid form - damned if I can recall the brewery off-hand but it was called 'Supernova' so that may help if anyone wants to know.
Service was just about with a smile though took quite a while to avail ourselves of it. I didn't get the feeling the barmaid was especially committed to her role, and despite being American - normally that most bubbly and exuberant of nationalities - we found her somewhat charmless. Saying that, she was manning the bar alone and in the end poured some decent beerage.
Can't comment on grub here although I seem to remember there was food served, presumably to help buttonhole the numerous passing trade that this outlet benefits from. I hear they're planning to redevelop Euston which may be a blessing aesthetically, though if this pub is lost in the melee it would be a bit of a shame, as it's a convenient bolthole. Time will tell.
|
Bounded into the Doric with two friends at 2023 on 25/11/11. Insanely quaffable half of ESB went down without touching the sides! My rating of 10/10 remains!
|
Always pop into here if I'm in the area. Sometimes gets overly busy as you'd expect at peak travel times but otherwise, worth it for the excellent Black Cab Stout.
|
Nowhere near as good as it was when it was The Head of Steam - end of story!
|
The only pub I've been in where you need a combination number to get into the toilets! It's to stop outsiders popping in for a quick leak as the toilets are situated just inside the door.
The whole layout is a bit odd. The bar is situated upstairs and there is a feel of a private club as you ascend the stairs. The decor is railway orientated with lots of old signs and notices adorning the walls.
The beers are mainly Fullers naturally, but I was pleased to note Pale Rider was still available. I found the bar staff to be quick on the ball and there were no short measures. Didn't try the food at all.
Sky tv was on but not intrusive and there was a good atmosphere. Not as great a choice for real ale as the Bree Louise but not too bad either.
Not sure if the mouse spotted running around the room was a pet or just sheltering from the cold!
All in all pretty good.
|
Went to the Doric Arch last night and it was the polar opposite of the recent reviews on this site. When we walked in it smelt like a nice pub not a gents toilet, the bar staff were on the ball and served with a warm friendly style and the main thing was the beer was a well poured pint that went down quite nicely. It is a very nice little boozer where the onus is on quality product served well and with a smile.
|
Revisited it recently with friends; beer was OK but our pints were mickey-takingly short measure, and when I asked for them to be topped up it was done with very bad grace. We drank up and headed for the Bree Louise.
|
The only time in my life when I could have cried looking at my pint of Landlord, awful truly horrendous . The toilets are two floors below but the smell seems to carry to the bar, nothing to recommend this so called pub, leave well alone.
|
Excellent food...right out of the gate. Great selection of Fullers real ales, and some decent ciders I don't usually see. Cracking atmosphere on the night I was there. Thanks to The Rocket not allowing us in (see other review) I happily spent my pounds at this place and made a new discovery! I'll be back...
|
First ( long overdue ) visit since the Fullers takeover. No
Visible changes, but just felt different. Like visiting my Nans house after she died and my aunt moved in. Same but different. Couple of suits at the bar and a few punters watching the cricket .Just like at the Doric .. Flat , just like the Tim Taylors Landlord I was served . Oh. And the smell of urine prevaded the whole place. By the time I made my way to ground floor I was almost gagging. I Hope I visited on a off day. Gutted
|
I used to really like this place but the beer selection was poor the last time I visited (wall to wall Fuller's plus Timothy Taylor Landlord). There's nothing wrong with Fuller's beer but Fuller's need to wake up to the fact that people want more choice. They should cut out a few of the Fuller's selections and offer some guest beers. If Wetherspoon's can do it, why can't Fuller's?
|
I think this place has lost its appeal since Fullers took over and I now prefer the Euston Tap or Bree Louise where the selection is better (and a good bit cheaper as well). When it was The Head of Steam it was always a stopping off point for a couple of unusual beers, but now - well there are better places.
|
Not as good as it once was. Usual Fullers selection and if you like trains plenty of bits and bobs to look at. Beer was in good form. Well worth a visit if in the area.
|
This is a lovely pub. Even more so the fact it's a railway pub. Great decor, great beers, lovely view of the bus station if you're keeping an eye out for your bus. I missed a few so I could stay longer! I'm a bit weird, I like quirky pubs and this is quirky...in a good way. Recommended.
|
A good pub to kill time in, although I�m not entirely sure it's somewhere you'd visit for any other reason. The staff were genial, if not a little aloof at times and the bar is disconcertingly low.
There were only a couple of lagers on tap but unsurprisingly an array of house and guest beers on offer.
All in all, a pleasant experience.
|
Great pub and well kept ales - unfortunately the days when it had the quest ales (even in conjunction with Fullers) appear to be over - Landlord was the only 'exotic' beer on that Friday evening. Easily worth a visit but Fullers is so ubiqitous these days....
|
The Doric Arch is situated at the foot a drab office block in the station concourse. But inside, it has the surprising ambience of a genuine backstreet pub: long wooden tables and benches, barstools, a booth and a fine selection of ales in bottles and on draught, in this case Fuller's. The decor pays homage to rail travel, with maps, metal signs and other memorabilia on the walls and ceiling.
A welcome alternative the generic station bar, The DA is the main reason I book a later train home, allowing me time for 2 or more of Mr. Fuller's fine products before heading off.
|
This pub missed the spot for me but the Butcome was well served and kept. Bit odd that you need to know a code to use the loos, but I guess they get a lot of people coming in from the station to use the facilities otherwise.
|
Good thing about this place is that it is almost a station pub, but it stands as a good pub without its location. Decent ale, decent food and the staff are very good.
|
Basically a bar on the first floor of an office block that has an upper gallery area overlooking Euston Bus Station. Plenty of train paraphernalia adorns the walls including (apparently quite valuable) enamel station signs from old BR days. A reasonable selection of ales on, of which I plumped for the Butcombe, which was a nice enough pint. Most frequent request of the bar staff is the daily 'toilet code'. Bearing in mind that you are on the first floor, the toilets are in the basement and the ground floor entrance to the pub is on the same level as the bus station you can perhaps understand the reasoning behind it. ... oh and almost forgot - handy for the station.
anonymous - 21 Jun 2010 20:31 |
Had heard good things about this pub and was pleased to stumble in following tins on the train back to Euston. Plumped for a very good pint of Kelham Island Easy Rider, and enjoyed the range of railway memorabilia on the walls which gives the place a more homely feel than the nondescript boozer within the station concourse. I can't see myself becoming a regular here by any stretch, but if pre- or post- train beers are your bag then this is a good place to have up your sleeve.
|
Went there last week and had 1845 on draft , a sensual experiance . Staff were excellant as always , thanks Steve for the carrier , got it all the way home then it broke in the living room , absolutely perfect .
|
This was a Fullers House, and we hoped to get their new beer Bengal Lancer, but it had gone just before we got there. Had the Kelham Island Pale Rider and chatted with a couple who knew a lot of the Midland pubs we get around to. We had to go upstairs to get to this one which was a bit off putting, but it was a vibrant pub. Maybe we had gone in the back door, but if so it was well lit up.
|
Agree with everything everyone else has said. Excellent range of beer - recommend the Batemans XXXB and Kelham Island Pale Rider.
Seem to have a new menu too - excellent burger.
Only downside was that barman tried to convince me that Keg London Porter was the same as Cask - apart from added fizz, dead in the barrel and slightly chilled of course.
|
Seems to have revived a bit in recent months. The staff were helpful and the food surprisingly good. My pint Pale Rider was fine. But it is clearly a place for rail and beer anoraks.
|
Formerly a free house called The Head of Steam, the Doric Arch is now a Fullers pub situated just outside Euston Station on the edge of the station concourse.
It's a split level traditionally furnished pub with, not surprisingly, much railway memorabilia, particularly old station signs. One rather depressing feature of visiting this pub which always sticks in the mind is the need to ask behind the bar for the access code to the downstairs toilets - which I presume is a reflection of the large number of scumbags and druggies in the area. I don't think I've ever been in a pub with this requirement before - and I've drunk in pubs all over the country. It's one of the "benefits" of being in a large international city, I suppose.
Sporting events are shown on the TV and the pub is popular with football supporters passing through either from or to a game.
Perhaps inevitably, the beer range has been reduced since Fullers acquisition a number of years ago. On my recent Saturday afternoon visit, there were only 2 guests - a rather good TT Landlord and Kelham Island Pale Rider which was past its best. The pub is listed in the 2010 CAMRA GBG.
It's convenient for the station and, despite the reduced beer range, I'm inclined to call in again sometime
|
8/10 Pleased that Fullers have kept guest ales at this pub after taking it over - remains an excellent pub. If only I could work out how to operate the code that opens the door to the toilets.... d'oh!
|
The main thing here is to try and forget this is a station pub on the mezz level of a 60s office block.
Having done that the pub itself is quite nice and with 10 pumps enough to give any anorak wearing CAMRA member an extra couple of inhes of beard growth. The 5 at my end of the bar offered Landlord, Centurion Ghost, Pride, Discovery and Kelham Island Brewery Pale Rider.
It's still a station pub though and for non-ale buffs like me doesn't really offer much to return to.
|
The so-called review of November 28 (by Union Jak, not the one below it) is racist nonsense and ought to be removed asap. The Doric, previously the Head of Steam is good as far as railway station pubs go, and welcomes everyone, after all they have a business to run. My only gripe is that it has fewer beers to choose from since the change a few years back but still seems to be doing good trade.
|
Visited last night for the first time since Fullers took the Pub over. from recent comments I was not expecting much, but it just shows how wrong you can be. The usual Fullers range was supplemented by 5 guest ales from Tim Taylor, Kelham, and York Breweries amongst others. The three beers that I sampled were all tip top and there was a nice atmosphere and the place was crammed full. No trouble with finding a decent Guest Beer here last night
|
They have tak en to hiding the Westons organic cider under the counter.Don't be shy about asking for it.
|
Dont know what millhouse is on about you can get London Pride almost anywhere but the fabulous ESB is hard to find as is HSB .The range of real ales is good enough and you can get London Porter on tap , also the babe that runs it is great .
|
Had a pint of ESB and could not finish it because we had to evacuate, a fire alarm went off. The ESB if I remembered was very good.
|
We finally dragged ourselves into here last week and were both pleasantly surprised by this great little pub. I'd tried to drag Mrs Drummer in there several times over the years, but she'd always refused because of the area that the pub is in. We ended up staying for 4 hours in the end!! A big selection of Fuller's own and guest beers in great condition, with very knowledgeable staff serving you.
|
A great railway themed pub. A good selection of beers other than Fullers. Friendly service and fine food. Well worth a visit.
|
Went in at lunch to watch the cricket. Tried three of the ales all in top condition. Good choice of beer, very good service and thefood was nice. Really good pub in an unpromising location.
|
I concur with the good reviews - excellent choice of ales. One of my team kept muttering that this was a "dive" but he is a wind-up merchant!
|
Beer always good quality. I'd still like to see Harvest Pale back as a regular though. Or even Hophead.
Don't take the barman who looks like Chris Moyles too seriously. He's likes a bit of good natured banter with the customers.
|
A great pub well run with good beer at affordable prices , i am pleased the HSB and the ESB are permanent . Steve does a superb job in the cellar , Zaf is one of the most likeable managers in central London . Long may they continue .
|
First visit last week to this Fuller�s station pub, almost opposite the green. Was slightly taken aback by having to go up so many stairs (think they may scare off the old and infirm).
There�s a good selection of ales (at least four Fuller�s plus at least two guests) and both of my beers were tasty and well-served by a friendly barman.
Pub interior is a little dark and full of old railway memorabilia � a seat by the large glass windows overlooking the station entrance is good for people-watching if you�re bored.
There�s a quizzer that won�t quite pay as well as food.
The toilets are down two flights of stairs and you need a code from behind the bar to get in them � presumably to keep the local dregs out. Best take a pen if you�re planning to have a few�
Was surprisingly quiet inside for a Friday evening, thought there would have been more people.
Not bad, will return next time I�m in the area.
|
Handy for those getting on or off a train at Euston. Even though this is a Fullers pub, there are several guest ales - Kelham Island Pale Rider, St Austell Tribute, Taylor Landlord, Castle Rock Elsie Mo and Black Sheep Best, in addition to London Pride, Discovery, ESB and HSB. There are also a couple of real ciders or perries from the Westons range. Yesterday they had Herefordshire Country Perry and Organic Vintage. The interior is full of old railway memorabilia and is a little dark. The toilets are down two flights of stairs. Before you negotiate the stairs, make sure you get the code to go through the doors from the bar staff.
|
good choice of beers & close to euston station
anonymous - 30 Apr 2009 13:40 |
The last time I was here was before it was called the head of steam to see a band called death by crimpers! I'm sure you can imagine what they were like!
Good selection of well kept light beers including kelham island pale rider which I sampled. More style than the bree. Pity about absolut radio blaring out while many people were watching football on tv. Left at half time
|
Still going strong although not as good as it was in the 'Head of Steam' days. Still better than many of the other pubs around this area.
|
Saturday 4th, a visit while waiting for the train. Dark and dingy and seems to have gone downhill a bit recently but better than some of the others nearby that are full of chrome lager pumps.
A Good selection of ales on but nothing I fancied so plumeted for a Discovery chilled, Fullers what have you done its awful. Ice cold and tasteless.
The Titanic White Star was a better choice but was still lacking any real taste.
They have changed to combination lock to the loo so you have to ask at the bar for the number.
|
I made a rare visit to the Doric Arch recently and was pleasantly surprised.
The furniture changes are minor but have made a difference. It was nice to see that the selection of ketchup bottles etc. at the top of the stairs had gone.
The beer selection was much better than I have previously seen and I gather this is a policy that the management will continue. No Hophead but Kelham Island Pale Rider was a more than adequate substitute.
Due to the number of Fulllers beers it stock, it will never be able to offer the wide selection that the Bree Louise can. But it had one thing that the Bree Louise often lacks - Atmosphere.
|
The railway memorabilia is still there from when it was the Head of Steam, but there are fewer real ales. It is still rather dark upstairs. I called in today at lunchtime and there were a fair number of customers, mainly en route from the station but it was quiet and a nice respite from the bustle outside. There was some good St Austell bitter and Timothy Taylor on draught. I'd go again.
|
Popped in for one on a Sunday but stayed for a few more as beer was so good. Quiet, footie was on, but it was all about the beer, so well kept.
|
If you are going up North on the train, I was about to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper to Glasgow and was in need of some sleeping potion, then this is the pub for you. The Fullers beers plus about 3 guest beers, all in pretty good nick, an efficient although somewhat 'alternative' bar staff, the young fruity barmaid needs to pull a full pint however. Not quite in the station but literally 5 minutes walk from the platforms.
|
Not quite as good as it was as the Head of Steam however still well worth a visit. Good choice of ale from the Fullers Range and 3 guests (Hopback SL, Timmy Taylors Landlord and Dark Star Hophead). Food seems to have improved of old and new furniture adds to the comfort. Just miss 10 guest ales and the beer festivals
|
Paid a visit last week and was pleased to find that Hophead was on, and a fine pint to end a day out in London it was too
|
Went here on a Saturday night & while it wasn't heaving there were a few punters in, They now have at least four guest beers on as well as the Fullers range, on my visit = Dark Star Hophead, Timothy Tailor Landlord, York Midnight something or other & Hop Back Summer Lightening, Oh & if you come here on a suunday they put whichever live game you want to see on individual TV's so i was watching the Tyne wear derby while some bloke was watching Celtic
|
Popped in the other day, first time for a while. A few changes here and there that have improved the overall appearence, new seating upstairs makes for a relaxing atmosphere, The food appears to have improved greatly, Free wifi is now available, the quality of the beer was to it's usual high standard, the timothy taylors landlord was excellent, and as for the landlady, wow, as they say "it is all in the eyes". Will go out of the way to come here more often.
|
Please ignore what Simon63 said. Does anyone honestly think Fullers will get taken over by McDonalds?
|
This pub really divides opinion,but the beer quality can't be faulted.Yes there is a smell at the front door but this doesnt drift upstairs to the bar.Lavs are clean and for a station boozer ,the pub is functional and tidy .Bar busy until 7pm,but after that quiet and convivial and the bar staff are friendly and chatty.Only major negative, �3.15 for Summer Lightning is taking the mick.Would use this pub again if at a loose end in Euston .
|
i hear they have been taken over by macdonalds.
|
Are you lot crazy, all this talk about the tv and beer. What about the two beautiful and charming ladies who work behind the bar, that is why i use this establishment, the quality of the ales is just a bonus.
|
I really liked it in here as they show Sky and Setanta on a plasma screen, it is relaxed and the staff are very friendly. There is plenty of railway and London Underground paraphernalia on the walls, but this is the only giveaway that you are drinking in a station.
A full Fullers range was available on my visit along with 4 guest beers, but two were off. There are 70 ales written on some chalk boards behind the bar and the pub is asking visitors to vote for their favourites and the top three will feature in February.
I would definitely go back to this pub if passing.
|
It is still an ok boozer. The non-Fullers ales are now priced above the Fullers and not in the centre of the bar. Perhaps a way of trying to get rid of them? All are in very good condition.
The doorway smell is awful though and can sometimes drift upstairs.
|
It's a decent enough pub with good ale and within spitting distance of a major rail terminal which, as previously noted, makes it fairly unusual. Not in the class of the Bree Louise, though, I have to agree.
|
Still has the peculiar smell in the doorways that puts many a less determined drinker off. With the decrements in the beer range over the years this is no longer a destination, merely a hopping-off point for Euston when there isn't time to go round to the Bree Louise.
|
Breaks one of the golden rules of pubs in being half way decent despite being in a station. We await the first good pub with a flat roof, the first good pub with a lock on the toilet door, the first good pub you have to descend a staircase to enter, the first good pub in west London, the first good pub with alcopops behind the bar, the first good chain pub and the first good pub with posters of drinks deals displayed outside.
|
Interesting pub with railway related decor. Good choice of ales too. Not bad for an area thats a tad run down.
|
GOOD NEWS HOPHEAD IS BACK 7TH OF JANUARY IT SAYS SO ON THE BOARD WILL BE IN BRIGHT AND EARLY FOR THAT
|
TRY THE WESTONS>>HIC>>
|
We hadn't visited this since the change and really there is not too much difference. Pretty reasonable choice and very comfortable, the easy chairs are great. Friendly service and in a very handy place. We will return.
|
For me, the chief attraction of this pub is its transient 'railway bar' ambience and the view of the buses out of the window. I am not enough of a connoiseur of ale for the reduction in the number and variety of beers on offer to be a significant problem for me. Having said that, I know what tastes good and bad and so far I have not been disappointed in my visits to this pub since the renaming. I have also found the staff to be pleasant and helpful.
Taking all this into account, the Doric Arch remains one of my favourite pubs in London.
|
Late saturday night 22nd. Far to early for train with time to loose.
Great little pub with a fine choice of ales and what a way to finish a day of drinking. The Centurian ghost is a really good yorkshire ale.
The young lady behind the bar was very friendly. If you need the loo there is a combination lock to get into it. You ask the bar staff the number and then try to remember it as you stagger to the loo.
Good place to stop before heading home on the train.
|
I went in there recently following a disappointing visit to the Bree Louise. This was slightly better but I was sorry to see that neither Hophead or Harvest Pale were on. When I asked someone who appeared to be the manager when Harvest Pale would be on, he said he hadn't heard of the beer. Worrying times ahead I reckon.
|
i have just returned to this pub,good news that the polish goth is not working anymore, she was a right pig. lovely beer still avaliable and great staff.
|
When the Doric Arch was a decent pub, they always has at least one light hoppy beer on draught, often two. The usual suspects were Dark Star Hophead, Phoenix Arizona and Castle Rock Harvest Pale. An excellent selection of a style of beer that is not readily available in the London area. These beers were so popular that the staff used to say they could not keep up with the demand. There were many Satuday nights when these were not available as the pub had run out of them.
It would be reasonable to assume that these beers were being sold at a profit, so it was a major surprise when the then new landlady decided to stop selling them. The effect was noticeable in that many of the regulars, such as myself, decided to stop using the pub. It has few other attractions, and the poorly maintained toilets are a disincentive to use the place.
There is a gap in the market for these light hoppy beers, that the Bree Louise has not filled. All it taked is somebody with a bit of business acumen to realise that.
The recent postings have been promising, but many of the offerings are available at better pubs than this.
ajsqs - 21 Nov 2008 00:13 |
lovely girl, left to work in the euston flyer.
|
The Doric Arch seems to be fighting back with it�s recent mini festival. The Abbeydale Moonshine was good, as was the Phoenix Wobbly Bob and there was even a cameo appearance from the popular Dark Star Hophead. It was noticeable that a couple of the �guest� pumps were turned around most of the time but the pub is at least showing willing in it�s fight against the recent pretender The Bree Louise.
|
polish girls??
|
haven't been there for a while since managment has changed. decided to pop in some time ago and ws truly disappointed. a woman who apparently is a manager, Zoe, i think, was sitting at the bar stuck to her laptop searching for her date. when we said 'hello' she didn't reply, not even a slight move off the computer screen. i hear it is like this all the time. i have heard she is a real vicious person, when i was told she forced one of her long-term staff members to quit her job shortly after she took over by cutting her hours by over 50%!! no wonder atmosphere behind the bar was kinda though. most of my mates stopped going there because of this new manager, but hey - as she says, she wants to get rid of the scum and get 'decent' customers. are you suprised people don't want to visit as often?
apart from this unpleasant woman people are ok. fat guy is as slow as always - gotta wait about half an hour for him to serve you, 'cause he's still chattin to the previous customer. got used to that by now. only nice people i spotted there were - petite black girl and a guy with a moustache - assistant manager i think. very friendly, quick and quality customer service. helpful and polite. choice of beers was rather lousy so i've switched to spirits. toilets were stinky and filthy. my wife said ladies looked worse than public toilets with allthose tiles coming off the walls...
gonna move to bee louise...doric arch is dead.
and where are two polish girls?? suppose one of them was forced to quit, what about the other one? well, anyway, good for them to go somewhere else. they were far too good for this place...
|
Whenever i go to this there are always 4 guest ales , Summer lightning seems to be a permanent guest , with Centurions Ghost p retty frequent as is Landlord . They are all great beers so who's complaining , as for the food if you want haute cuisine and other foriegn crap then go to the Somers Town Coffee House and enjoy , some people actually like proper english pub grub and are looking forward to the forthcoming festival .The service is always quick and the staff are very quick especially Steve .
|
Dropped in on Sat (25 Oct) and there was a full set of guest beers available - Summer Lighting, Landlord, Your Centurion and Pendle Witch. The Landlord was very good.
They're keenly advertising their Ale and Food festival but the ales they're getting in are not much different from those they've had on before (eg. Hophead) and the food they're advertising is hardly haute cuisine.
Still they're showing some effort...
|
Summer Lightning appears to be the onky guest that they actually sell consistently.
There has always been a mentality that people will drink Fullers if the guest beers are unavailable. This is true for some customers, often just passing trade, but for many of use, we can get better kept Fullers beers in more attractive locations than this.
The attraction of the old Head of Steam and the early days of the Doric Arch was the opportunity to drink small brewery beers in the Euston area. Luckily for the former regulars, the Bree Louise has taken over this role leaving the Doric Arch superfluous.
Hopefully the staff were using their computers to research the vast variety of real ales that are available in the real world.
|
Four non-Fullers guests were advertised last night yet only the Summer Lightning was available - not particularly on form as it was warm and a bit lacking in condition.
Was there no one capable of changing a few barrels?
On recent vists I've noticed that the music is getting louder and more intrusive - also the staff seem more interested in messing around on the laptop.
The sad decline continues...
|
sorry to say, but i used to run a fuller's pub and was fighting to get more different real ale but they like to keep there own
|
cute-donkey
Le pub va en descendant, le choix de bi�re a disparu, mon �ne ne fr�quentera pas ce pub pendant quelque temps
ajsqs - 25 Aug 2008 18:50 |
Very poor compared to past visits. What's happened to the choice of beer? Come on Fullers, give us more choice
|
sad to see fullers reducing the range of beers. went in last thursday and there was only 1 non-fullers beer on.I am disappointed in Fullers,i will not be using the arch half as much from now on.
|
Le joli petit ane dont tu es, devrait venir prendre un verre dans cet �tablissement plus souvent. Ici, le service et l'hospitalit� est exeptionnel. Je voudrait le recommender a tout le monde......
|
The rating for this pub is too high as it is based on the efforts of the previous regimes, especially when it was known as The Head of Steam.
All of the postings since the new management team have taken over have been negative, especially about their policy of sticking to Fullers beers with a few non-descript guest beers. This pub does not warrant its current rating of 7.1 out of 10
It is about time beerintheevening started a policy of showing the most recent ratings to give a true recent reflection of the pub rather than historic ones that do not apply, such as here. Good pubs should not be concerned about this as their ratings should be consistent.
ajsqs - 30 Jul 2008 13:52 |
Used to come here a lot when it was the Head of Steam and before Fullers got hold of it. Totally spoilt now - boring beers, surly barstaff and the food, which was never the best, is inedible. What a pity.
chick - 28 Jul 2008 15:11 |
I agree. We used to go here especially for the Harvest Pale and/or the Dark Star Hophead. Don't get me wrong - I do enjoy the Fullers beers in there but without the choice they used to offer it loses a lot of it's appeal. Will stick to the Bree Louise round the corner...
|
Agree with the previous poster's remarks: visited the other week and it looked to me like they had cut down the number of guest ales significantly - I did wonder whether this marked the start of it turning into a normal Fullers house by stealth. And without the guest ales, fundamentally it isn't much of a pub: grim location at the foot of an office block between Euston train and bus stations, and a pretty shabby interior that doesn't look like it's been refurbished for years. When a pub offers a fantastic selection of ales, such factors can be endearing, but become less so when the ale count goes down. I think Fullers need to think carefully where they want to go with this pub; I'm not sure it's got the location or building to be a successful bog-standard Fullers pub.
|
Rapidly turning in to a normal Fullers pub and not the semi Free House it was after it was bought. The list of guest beers now appears to be fixed (please correct me if I am wrong) and their availability is reducing again.
One of my reasons for still using this pub is the availability of light hoppy beers. The usual selection being one or two of:
Dark Star Hophead, Phoenix Arizona or Castle Rock Harvest Pale.
I have visited the pub on the last two weekends and found none of the above to be available. The nearest they could offer was Summer Lightning, which is definitaly not on the light side. Not sure if they are keeping the "good stuff" for the weekday trade or just reducing the amount that they stock. Either way, if you are visiting on a weekend, don't expect a full range of beers.
ajsqs - 16 Jun 2008 13:57 |
i'am the donkey round here! The cute one :-)
|
What's all this stuff about pigs and donkeys about?
|
The doric does not seem as "donkey" friendly as it used to be.
|
Pretty good, but often pretty packed
|
A ok place to kill an hour if you are waiting for a train, only problem as I have mentioned before it positevely stinks of farts and BO. Please repeal the smoking ban
|
Good thing it was honey and not KY jelly!
|
So what happened to the pig then ?
|
Superparkerman must have been on the Quink! - or the Dark Star stout if it was on! Food has always been lovingly prepared on my previous trips!
|
Strange place, I heard yesterday that the chef was sectioned under the mental health act, after he was found chasing a live pig around the kitchen with a cleaver in one hand and a jar of honey in the other.
|
Had a splendid evening here last night (1800-2030) with three friends. A hearty session was enjoyed in the "snug" area. Fullers' Chiswick and Discovery on particularly good form; Dark Star Hophead was the best. Left before I could try the Harvest Pale! Noted four guests and five Fullers beers on in total at the time.
Food was very good. I had a delicious warm tuna spring onion baguette, and a friend seemed to love his lasagne.
Will go more frequently in future.
|
Mintyboom was lucky to be able to sample the Harvest Pale. On both of my recent visits, the choice has been Fullers or nothing.
The guest beers sell quickly and nobody thinks about replacing them. Not sure if this is deliberate or just lack of experience. The end result is the same. The keypad is to keep the dregs out of the toilet and is therefore for the customer's benefit. It is also a great source of amusement to the staff who watch people struggling via the CCTV
ajsqs - 10 Apr 2008 13:40 |
Excellent ESB, found the staff a litle off-hand, but the beer and unusual layout of the pub more than made up for that. Often stop here when in London.
schaf - 29 Mar 2008 17:44 |
With reference to the poster who commented on the keypad lock used to gain entry to the toilets, I would hazard a guess that it is there to stop the dregs from getting in and isn't intended to be an inconvenience to the punters - it was like that when I first went in the place over 10 years ago. On a general note, I was there the other day with a colleague and the beer (Harvest Pale) was spot on as it usually is. You could do a hell of a lot worse and I'll continue to be a regular visitor to the place.
|
Nice place to relax after arriving back in the smoke, always a decent selection of hand-pull, prefered the old name!
|
Stopped for a quick one before trip to Liverpool. Rather dull Gales pint but fair enough as a stop off.
|
Good pub, nice atmosphere shame about the toilets what with having to use a keypad to gain entry.
What with all those hopheads drinking their pints of real ale there was a lot of wind being broken, If I had struck my lighter I seriousley believe that the whole pub would have gone up. Please bring back smoking in enclosed places.
|
luv the pub,luv the girls,especially kat
|
Good waiting room for Euston - the London Porter has outlasted most other locations this year but is still very drinkable.
|
This pub offers a wide range of real ales which appear to be well kept. Being a carling extra cold drinker myself i can confirm this is excellent, The pub is genarally well kept but some times the bar can be a bit sticky which can cause problems when one is doing one�s crossword. Also i feel compelled to point out that some of the bar stools can be a tad on the hard side so would not recomend to anyone with haemorrhoids. The bar staff are a friendly and entertaining bunch with special mention to �ola� who is a real cutie and an absolute delight to talk to. The food is basic pub grub with the exception of the fishfinger sandwhich, the idea i am lead to believe came to the chef in a vision. The toilets are not the best in the world and sometimes the floor can be a bit wet, maybe the management could toy with the idea of employing a ferryman or somebody similar. On the whole i would recomend this pub to anyone for the wide selection of ales and the cutie barmaid.
|
this pub is found just outside the mainline station by the bustops
anonymous - 15 Nov 2007 11:46 |
I like this public house very much the ale is good and the staff are friendly. but unfortunately there seems to be a bit of a crisis going on with the management team, I do very much hope the new manager is a more friendly and relaxed type rather than the "hair today gone tomorrow" breed.
anonymous - 14 Nov 2007 12:12 |
I went in a couple of days ago just to see the "ola" that everyone is talking about and i was lucky enough to be served by her. She is extremely pretty and looks very much like kate moss. Perhaps next time i go in i will ask to have my photo taken with her. the hophead was excelent a credit to the cellarman.
anonymous - 12 Nov 2007 13:53 |
Couldn't find this pub. Is it inside the station?
anonymous - 11 Nov 2007 16:20 |
The pub is indeed under new management. Dave the landlord has finally gone and will not be missed. James is in charge on a temporary basis at the moment. The regulars hope that Fullers will see sense and give him the job full time.
I was in last night and there was an excellent atmosphere. A lot of people in drinking good beer and enjoying themselves. For the first time in months, they had a full range of nine real ales on, including the excellent Fullers London Porter and the equally palatable Castle Rock Harvest Pale.
I will be using the place more now that I don't have to risk seeing the ex landlord in his usual foul mood drinking Lager at the end of the bar.
ajsqs - 11 Nov 2007 16:08 |
I popped in on friday and it was the busiest i had seen it for a very long time. There seems to be a completely different atmosphere in the arch almost euphoric. Could it be that the pub is under new management! Nice to see that ola is still there as it always makes my visit worthwhile. Excellant london porter
anonymous - 11 Nov 2007 10:22 |
i agree,the little polish girl is loverly.but so is james;
|
Personaly, i am not that bothered about the beer. The deciding factor for me is the little polish barmaid, she is so cute and sweet, every time i see her i just want to ask her to marry me.
anonymous - 8 Nov 2007 12:39 |
Yeah simon, it is not so bad for me being such a big lad. If it looks like it is about to go off, james gives me a shout to sort it out, plus i can normally rely on james and joe to back me up if it gets a bit messy. But touch wood, i have always managed to deal with things myself without putting james or joe in danger.
|
Thats why i could not work behind a bar, i could not handle all that violence. Its not so bad for you "superparkerman" as i know you are a bit tasty and can handle yourself in a brawl. Its the girls i feel sorry for as it cannot be nice to work in an envoirment like that, obviously you look out for them but you cannot protect them all the time, after all you are only human ( no pun intended superparkerman ).
|
What is all this about fishfinger sandwiches, i have not seen them on the menu, or are these only available on the cellar tour. Ola is a wonderful girl, only a 11/10 simon63, i would make her at least 15/10.
|
Great pub, good hophead. Simon63 is spot on about ola, she is absolutely gorgeous. Is the fishfinger sandwhich available with extra cheese?
|
An odd comment Biker, your reviews are normally very sensible. The only times I have seen hostility and threatening behaviour [when it was the Head of Steam] was precisely because they weren't being served. You've been there so you know the layout, short of employing a full-time bouncer downstairs how can they stop the already inebriated from entering the premises?
|
Good meeting point for yesterdays football trip. The usual good range of beers available, nice pint of Dark Star Hophead and the excellent all day breakfast for �5.95. Reasonably busy and buzz of chatter at 11:45 yesterday. A good pub providing excellent choice in what is a bit of a difficult location. Not like most "station" pubs.
|
Fish finger sandwhich. The chef has done it again. He took a traditional old favorite and turned it into a modern mastgerpiece. 10/10. Yeah ola is lovely, a true asset. 11/10
|
Posted by superparkerman, "Every day we have to deal with hostile and violent customers" Why are these people being allowed on the premises or served ? I would suggest your management needs to re-read the rules ! No rating left, not been in the Doric for at least 3 years.
|
You do not realise what a hard job we do. Every day we have to deal with hostile and violent customers, we are in constant danger.
|
great pub,but the menu is a bit pricey.perhaps they could do things like fishfingers or something a bit cheaper
anonymous - 3 Nov 2007 10:20 |
beautiful ola
anonymous - 3 Nov 2007 09:36 |
me too, joey69 is spot on. the manager is a decent bloke.Not heard of this dunkery before, anywhere in london sell it?
|
sorry dexter79 but icannot agree,david is a very charming man who does a lot for the local community. and always gives a very warm welcome
anonymous - 2 Nov 2007 10:25 |
carling please, extra cold sir,yes please just like daves personality.
anonymous - 2 Nov 2007 10:18 |
Sorry to disagree with you dexter79, but i am with joey 69 on this one, dave is a diamond geezer. Anyway i can confirm it is definatley not dunkerys, as my mum lives in exford and i often visit her. Whatever it is, it is certainly strong, It is a tribute to dave that he can stand up straight after giving a couple of tours.
|
landlord good and enthusiastic? he's killing just by lookig at you. let alone saying something he doesn't like. he will refuse serving you and kick you out. staff is ok, but i feel sorry for them 'cause they have to work with this drunken man. beer is good though and food not bad. thanks
|
oh my god,i have had the good fortune to stumble upon a gem of a real ale venue.an array of exquisite ales all kept in great condition by the landlord, whos name i think is dave.a very good and enthusiastic man of good knowledge and humour. i recommend a visit
|
I think the mystery ale is "DUNKERY ALE ", but the landlord would not confirm it, he just gave me a knowing smile. My hat off to him a wonderful afternoon!.
anonymous - 2 Nov 2007 07:39 |
There's a good selection of real ales (about ten). Personally I'd prefer more guest beers and fewer Fullers beers.
|
After getting a tip off from a collegue, i ventured down the doric arch, bought a pint and seeked out the govenor at the end of the bar. I felt a bit awkward, but came out with it "any chance of a tour of your cellar". "of course came the reply and i was duly lead down the cellar. WOW, It is massive, and the tour begun. It was not long untill we made our way to the "special barrel" which i was told was not available upstairs. After a few half pints and a lot of chat i was eventualy lead back up stairs. 10/10 I would recommend this watering hole to anyone. Perhaps a more experianced hand could tell me the brew i was drinking, because the govenor would not let on.
Many thanks.
|
a visit to this real ale mecca is amust.if you come in early morning dave the guvner will only be too pleased to give you a personal tour of his very fine cellar and will talk for hours about his true passion please just ask
anonymous - 31 Oct 2007 12:32 |
I have been using this pub for several months now, and the only downside to it is that you have to walk down 2 flights of stairs for the toilets. There is wide range of ales, normally about 9, which are very well looked after and are often varied. The bar staff are an amusing bunch who seem to know their jobs very well especially the two girls who have such nice personalities, both of whom i would recommend. The landlord is a extremely friendly chap, who tries to make customers feel very welcome and would bend over backwards for anyone. It is easy to see that the landlord is held in high regard by his regulars and staff alike who affectionatley call him uncle dave. It can sometimes get very busy, and i would recommend the best time to pop in is early afternoon when the landlord is not to busy and available for a chat and a tour of the cellar.
anonymous - 29 Oct 2007 15:28 |
I spent a week working in london and used this pub as my tempory local, the beer was fantastic. I could not believe it when someone behind the bar pointed out that the drunk guy sat at the end of the bar all week was infact the boss! They could make videos here on how a landlord should not behave. A horny gorilla has better people skills than this freak. I feel sorry for the rest of the staff, even the chef who looks a bit like Fred Wests evil brother. All said, this pub is still worth visting, just avoid eye contact with the raging bull at the end of the bar after 9 pm. Enjoy
anonymous - 21 Oct 2007 13:54 |
I'm not an ale drinker but most of my friends are, and they do seem to have a better selection here than in most places I go to. I agree about the staff being friendly, although the toilets are a bit dingy and could do with a refurb. There was a faint smell of stale sweat in the air when we arrived on Friday which is probably a combination of the pub being popular and warm, and years of people chain-smoking there. Still loads of train memorabilia on the walls... I wonder how long this will survive?
|
Great pub this. A Superb range of Fullers Ales and guest ones too!! Nice and relaxing. If you are interested in Railway Memorabilia, this is the place to be. Will be going back very soon.
|
Haven't been here very recently but seeing as I am rounding up some reviews I will do this one. Apart from the Fullers they often have Hophead, usually Batemans Mild, Summer Lightning and Castle Rock Harvest Pale. Either this or Bree Louise are the places to go if you are killing time at Euston. I like this place. Food ok too.
|
This pub has great beer (I recommend the hop head) and the staff are friendly, however the boss is best avoided, especially when he has had a drink, so stay on the right hand side of the bar! Enjoy!
anonymous - 4 Oct 2007 20:01 |
Any Young Members fancy a social here? (I organise these you see).Contact the North London or SE London (or any other) branch/es.
|
Beer range may not be as good as Head of Steam standards but is probably more sensible given seeming lack of appetite for real ale in most of London (most sales were lager and Magners while I was standing there). Hophead was welcome change from Adnams/Landlord and was very good.
|
Two guest ales on when I last went, which is very poor compared to this pub in it's pre Fullers days.
But the Dark Star hophead and Fullers discovery were both very well kept, and the bar staff are friendly and knowledgeable so not going to mark this pub down too much. Would give it 7/10 now, it's still massively better than most station pubs and the pit that is the Britannia on Euston concourse. But it isn't comparable to the pre Fullers era for beer range.
mps77 - 13 Aug 2007 13:23 |
Still a decent place to visit for a good pint but it doesn't have the range of beers it used to boast.
Then again there aren't that many places that do.
|
Took a friend from Italy here for a couple of pints last night. The pub seemed quite empty even for a Monday evening, but Dark Star HopHead was absolutely on its best form.
Found staff quite friendly and jovial, and it was fairly relaxed at closing time - another improvement on previous visits.
|
Harvest Pale on good form again last Friday afternoon - good to see a decent selection of guest ales alongside the Fuller's range. Let's hope they keep it up.
|
Popped in on Saturday night (23rd June) - there were a few people in without it being too packed and, echoing previous comments, the Castle Rock Harvest Pale was on excellent form.
|
Excellent pub by Central London/rail terminus standards, and well worth a visit.
Can't comment on the food - haven't ever eaten there - but can compliment the cellar staff for maintaining a superb range of Fullers and micro-brewed beers at (by Euston standards) modest prices.
Have popped in roughly once a week over the last couple of months, and in addition to the reliable beer, have noticed that after a few visits the staff begin to recognise you. (Most of them have been around since before Fullers bought the place which is encouraging).
The only drawback I can think of is the two-flight journey down to the gents loo...but most of us could do with a bit of exercise couldn't we?
|
As far as station pubs go this is very good. There are a few fruit machines and other annoyances [you need a code from the barman to use the loo downstairs], but there's an excellent range of beers and all the ones we had were very good. The "Harvest Pale" was worth the visit all by itself...
|
ladnewton: Only �2.60/�2.70 a pint? Some people don't know they're born ;-) There are a lot of �3 pints in Surrey now and I paid �3.30 for one pint in Hersham village the other day!
|
Excellent impromptu session early on Wednesday evening (30/5/07). Hophead and Phoenix Arizona of particular note. The pub was buzzing and my friend and I found the atmosphere more relaxing than it has been in a long while.
Note that many of the ales are now in the �2.60/�2.70 bracket.
|
Surprisingly OK, given the location - right next to Euston Station. Some real ales, decently kept - and you can irritate other posters here by smoking. ;-)
anonymous - 17 May 2007 10:55 |
It's alright. Decent ESB.
Nothing to write home about. They've probably sensed as much, I didn't see any postcards for sale.
|
An unusual sight tonight, I saw the guv�nor behind the bar and he was actually serving someone. Normal service was soon resumed however as he retreated to our side of the bar with his pint. If only everything in life were as reliable as a Volkswagen.
anonymous - 1 May 2007 23:13 |
I keep coming back here cynically expecting that every time I return, one more generic 'buy anywhere in London' Fuller's tap will have displaced another excellent unusual microbrew but I have to admit so far my cynicism has been misplaced and Fuller's seem to be treating the other beers with respect. The only remaining problem is the extreme, constant, cigarette smoke that makes the place stink to high heaven. What's that, you say? A total smoking ban from 1 July? Then the Doric Arch will truly become one of the best pubs in London, and one which I will visit far more often. Bring on the ban!
|
ales are not rotated like they used to be, many are served way too cold,
|
Good beer quality - Dark Star Hop Head and Castlerock Harvest Pale. About the best beer I have drunk in a station bar. Shame it's spoilt by the pony-tail guy behind the bar whose attitude to sensitive customers is a bit disappointing. The rest of the staff are very friendly but you do have to wait at busy times.
Worth visiting on a crawl but not the place to finish one due to rigid pub clearance at 11.20
|
I see what the previous comment meant re star arrangements - I walked round the place twice because I couldn't find an obvious way to the bar! Paid off though, nice pint of ESB, nice ambience in what can be a bit of a "dodgy" area.
|
As good as you're going to get this near a station. If only we had one near Victoria. I guess the stairs and loo arrangements are too complex for the usual station low life to navigate. Nice guest beers as well as usual Fullers range of reasonable quality, someone knows what they're doing behind the scenes. Bar service is typical central London hopeless.
|
Decent beer in a decent place before boarding the train home which is surely all one can ask of a place like this. Railway Station bars tend by nature to be dodgy in one way or another but this place is ok.
|
Popped in at lunchtime, food was good, beer excellent-Dark Star and Cottage. Sadly some road/building works going on nearby meant, it was not the most relaxing of lunches-this may only be temporary though.
|
Paid two visits to the Doric Arch last weekend (early afternoon followed by a late evening visit after a disappointing few hours at Mabel's Tavern over the road).
Hadn't been in since the Fuller's takeover and refurb. Was overjoyed to see that, in addition to 3 (I think) Fuller's ales, there were at least another 6 handpumps in operation with various guests. Tried the mild (Batemans, was it?) and Dark Star Hophead (an old favourite) and they were both excellent. Prices for both seemed very reasonable for central London - �2.60. The previous night, I paid �3.10 for a pint of Deuchar's IPA down the road. Make of that what you will.
In the afternoon it was pretty rammed for the rugby, but not intimidating at all. Returned at 9.30pm or so, and it was quiet but not dead. Just how I like it.
As someone else mentioned - what a shame the bar is still smoking since the refurb. Roll on July.
|
I find the bar staff very efficient everytime i have been in this pub the staff are always very friendly, They also seem very knowledgeable about the beers and are always very helpful.
The management will always point you in the direction of the Euston flyer at 11:01 as their closing time is still 11:00PM but where they are i can see that Dave is a very intelligent man who knows how to run a good pub. Exellent Beers courtesy of Steve who is always rushing up and down stairs to change them, and the entertainment is always brilliant from James and Kofi (I hope i spelled that right) 12 out of 10 for this pub. No idiots exellent beer great staff need I say more
anonymous - 20 Jan 2007 01:38 |
Not much spent on the refurb but the beer prices quickly adjusted upwards nevertheless. Beer quality is still there, the variety is not. The staff as wackily miserable as ever. A place in gentle decline, but still well ahead of local competition.
mally - 12 Jan 2007 00:18 |
Good beer and better value than the other Fuller's pub along the road, the Euston Flyer.
|
Quality ales - both Fuller's and guests. Shame that after the refurb last year smoking is still allowed at the bar. Echo earlier comments about staff attitude!
|
As mentioned in other reviews, very little has changed since the refurb - there's still a decent selection of guest ales along with Fullers' offering. This place will continue to bde a favourite haunt of mine as the ale is usually spot on - however, it wouldn't do any harm for the staff to raise the odd smile now and again.
|
Yes beer is good and the setting interesting - we had a panorama of the bus station complete with a tramp passed out flat on his back! An amusing accompaniment! Very handy if you're waiting for a train.
|
Beer as good as it ever was, staff are as warm, friendly and welcoming as a wet fish - No change there then!!
|
It has great beer
Other comments however have some validity
anonymous - 18 Dec 2006 12:57 |
I can't understand why this place has such a devoted following. It is a complete dive, is a nightmare to get around, unfriendly staff and has dreadful beer. It also has an odd smell and using the toilets is a hassle (although I fully appreciate why).
anonymous - 18 Dec 2006 00:33 |
As a station pub it's a bit of hassle getting into the bogs in a hurry but does have a great selection of beers on. Only my second visit but I'm sure i'd pop in a lot more if I had to pass by there.
|
It's good to see that Fuller's haven't spent too much money "improving" the Head of Steam - the seats may be a bit more comfortable, and the place is slightly less cluttered, but the Doric Arch retains much of its quirky charm and railway memorabilia. Excellent range of guest beers, as before. (PS - Remember to get the door code from the bar staff before venturing towards the toilets downstairs.)
|
Certainly last 2 visits the beer is on the up in the last year. My mate had ESB and as he is a cider drinker his 6 or 7 pints or so say it was as good as it looked. The Summer Lightening was good not great say 6/10 and the Bateman's Dark Mild an 8/10 and probably as good as it is.
At 7pm it seemed to have a sensible crowd.
|
So what has happened to the railwayana that is no longer there?
|
Thankfully the beer range seems to be as it was before the refurb. Some of the heavier railway items have gone and the place looks a bit brighter.
I forgot to see whether the toilets had been spruced up and repaired - not one of the pleasantest places to visit.
Be nice if they installed a few smiles on the bar staff...
|
I haven't been in since the remodel and rename, but by all accounts not much has changed.
Certainly the Head of Steam was always a good bet if your train was delayed; or, if you were meeting someone at the station, a good reason for turning up well before their train arrived. Great range of beers (now including the full Fullers range in addition to a good range of guest ales), decent food, a few screens for watching the sport, and lots of railway memorabilia. As long as all of this remains the same in the Doric Arch, it will be worth drinking in.
|
Goodbye Head of Steam, hallo Doric Arch or 'The Doris' as it's now known by us gay blokes. Don't turn up expecting anything different, Fullers haven't been flashing the handbag about! There are 2 nice flat screen tellys to watch footie on, the chairs don't creak or collapse when you sit on them anymore, it's been painted and they jiggled the ornaments round a bit. So it's nice and fresh, and outside is painted dark red. The reason you come here is for the beautifully kept beer, and in this department nothing has changed. There are always 3-4 Fullers beers, great if you like 'em (I do) and 4-5 guests (best pint of Summer Lightning in the Milky Way), reel cider and all the usual. Now carry on drinking.
|
Great pub. good range of real ale & railway memorabilia to boot
|
I was in a couple days ago and was able to confirm that the remodel will be limited to a scrubbing and a few drops of paint, plus, possibly, re-arranging some of the railway memorobilia. Assuming the fellow gave me accurate info, this will remain the best pub near Euston Station. Pub is scheduled to re-open about two weeks from today.
|
OK, OK, so it's got a great range of (well-kept) real ales but it's like drinking in a series of shoeboxes decorated with railway memorabilia.
|
As long as they don't get rid of the Railwayana!!
|
Spoke to someone who works here yesterday and they confirmed they will be closing for a couple of weeks next month (October) for the long-anticipated change to the Doric Arch.
|
1st class watering hole. Spent many a pleasant hour in here.
|
The available beers are usually listed on blackboards at each end of the bar, so I make a point of checking what's chalked up first. Hop Back's Summer Lightning is often available, and Holt's Bitter and Archers are usually good. I was there a week or so ago - and noticed the seating had been much improved - at least in the raised seating area. The railwayana material seems to have been reduced.
|
I'll definitely remember this little gem for next time my train is delayed. A great selection of ales (plus the standard Fullers fare) - don't miss the ales at the far left of the bar like I did! Only noticed them on my way out. A good mix of people, students, old boys, commuters, tourists. It's a bit shabby, but that adds to the effect. Shame about the constant drone of the sky sports news presenters from the TVs. A great little pub.
|
Thanks to reviews on Beerintheevening and a follow up phonecall, discovered that there was going to be MILD here. We were not dissapointed, had a few pints of well kept Batemans Dark MILD (�2.50 a pint). Had a lengthy chat with the barman about the availability of MILD in London, confirming its scarcity. I like this pub, ideal place for train spotters, the coach compartment seats are a novelty. Excellent model of 9F 92004 and other railway memorabilia are of interest. Very few in early evening so pretty quiet. Friendly atmosphere, the old guys on the table next to us were supping bitters and were quite dissapointed when they realised they had missed out on the MILD. Perhaps the MILD pull should be bar centre rather than hidden away down the far end.
|
For the MLF only a pint of MILD will do and after the success of the PORTER at the Euston Flyer, Stus.search.4.mild and I were again rewarded with a most enjoyable few pints of Bateman�s Dark MILD in comfortable surroundings with room to spare.
Lots of railway memorabilia and an impressive 5 in gauge 9F in a case on the wall.
Friendly informative bar staff who took the time to answer our queries of further availability for MILD. No guarantee that on a successive visit we would be successful but for now this pub gets a good score from us and no need to enact our motto of � NO MILD WALK OUT.
After emptying the tanks the MLF prepared for the hike through the nether regions of Clerkenwell. Intelligence reports suggested that the Old China Hand may have some Porter.
|
Since the take over by Fullers I have seen no sign of a change of name to the Doric Arch - am I blind or have they just failed to order the new signs???
The ale selection was fairly decent when I was in here on Friday night - only one hand pull was unused, about 7 beers in total I think. I must admit however I smashed three pints of Fullers/Gales Festival mild, not really a guest ale in the true sense!
I like this place - its a good laugh, full or rancid characters. Despite one of the comments below about this being like drinking in a staff canteen, I don't actually agree and find it surprisingly pubby. If you are a commuter it must be a godsend. However as a non commuter who lives in central London I don't often have cause to go here.
anonymous - 9 May 2006 10:06 |
only 2 fullers beers available so plenty of choice, well kept beers, always worth stopping by
|
I popped in to meet a friend after work last week, in order to "wet the baby's head" - my first trip since the changeover to Fullers. No change seems to have occurred - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
It wasn't broke, it's not been fixed, so it's still a jolly good pub as far as I am concerened.
|
the problem with the head of steam, is sometimes closed for unknown reasons, I visited of 0/02 at 18.30, it was closed with no notice of when it was to reopen ?
|
Still good but not as good as it was. The beer choice follows a fairly predictable rotation ( obviously what Dave is allowed on the Fullers choice list) but even that is halved by the permanent Fullers inmates.
Where is the adventure and variety that used to be a defining feature of this place?
mally - 11 Feb 2006 01:17 |
This pub created a buzz when it first opened. And for a couple of years it was kind of exciting to go to a clean, modern and buzzing real ale pub, rather than a tired, run down and scruffy real ale pub. But it gradually started to look a little tired and scruffy, and there was a sense of the inevitable about the news that Fullers had acquired it. Still sad though...
|
Had a look to see what it was like. OK inside, but nothing special. None of the guests actually took our fancy so we both took down an ESB. The Wenlock Arms is a better experience as they do unusual Milds, Stouts, as well as good lagers and a fruit beer on draught, rather than just a selection of similar ales like this place.
anonymous - 4 Jan 2006 14:20 |
Whenever I go to London, I try to visit this railway pub. It is still a good place for the good range of real ales, including Fuller's Red Fox. But the London Pride was not as it used to be.
|
Nice little Real Ale pub with lots of old Railway memorabilia - Well worth a stop off before going home at the end of a day in the Big Smoke!
|
No less than 10 real ales available here and those that I managed to sample were all well kept. The place has a pleasant atmosphere, but you have to compete with football on the TV and memorise the access code for the loos.... which latter task becomes perversely increasingly difficult to achieve, as you work your way through the real ales and the the need to bring it to mind becomes more and more frequent.
|
No sign of the new 'Doric Arch' branding yet. But obviously mainly Fullers beers now. Quite acceptable, and a better menu than previously, all served until 8pm. Whether you will get a seat - particularly in No Smoking - is anyone's guess though, because no two nights are alike. The pub, and loos, are a bit scruffy so hopefully there'll be an overhaul soon.
|
The pub is unfortunately not so exciting to visit since the 4 of the pumps are allocated to Fuller's. Still an OK pub - and the beers are well kept.
|
I was once a student and had to work extremely hard for my exams. A pint of beer was a luxury. I funded my existance with a Saturday job and money was tight. The Head of Steam was not known to me at the time or else they would have had my business. There's nothing wrong with a pub having a student discount as most university towns have such pubs. The beer is not overly expensive in the Head of Steam (or now the Doric), and as an adult drinker I never felt that I was "subsidising the workshy", but glad to share the pub with those who wished to broaden their horizons and make themselves better people. (So long as they were studying brewery chemistry and pub management, that is!) The pub, although not London's absoulte best, is still high in my estimation and gets an easy 8 out of 10.
|
do you sport a beard? are you a member of CAMRA? yes, this is the place for you. a marvellous selection of real ales. a roaring fire too. this is the place for those cold winter afternoons. situated in a tower block next to euston station.
|
Didn't actually know they offered a student discount but delighted they have stopped it. Maybe the price of beer will reflect the fact that we no longer have to subsidise the work-shy (not that I see many tree huggers in here anyway). If anyone is looking for a student discount go to the abomination that is The Rocket (qv) just down the road. I agree about the state of the toilets, they are dreadful, and let's hope the Fullers influence does something about it.
|
Went there beginning of sept: They've stopped doing student discount! Maybe they will put the extra cash into piss-smell elimination + toilet seats/paper?
Beer was better than before though :-)
|
Pub is now known as the Doric Arch. Fullers now runs it as a "freestyle" pub, with the full range of Fullers plus about 4 guest beers on.
I stopped in for a pint a few days ago, and it's not been ruined as I originally thought, but its early days yet guys. Staff are friendly, and all the station sign boards are still up.
The gents could do with a spruce up tho...
|
thankfully retained most of its character and beer range despite the fullers take over,
|
Standard and range of ales seems still be good. Only thing to have really suffered is the good range of bottled beers that they use to have - and now no longer have.
|
i got called a "Ginger Muslim" by some meathead in here the other night,..for leaving my bag unattended at the fruit machine (for 30 seconds or so whilst getting change)!.......wouldnt'a minded so much but im fcking strawberry blond,.....stawberry blond!!,...i shoulda held them cherries as well....
Wouldnt like to say that the geezer was typical of the patons in the pub,..cos thats the nature of station boozers,..thats whey we like em,..the drinking equivalent of a lucky dip. Neanderthals on one table,..chinese tourists on another and the Boca Juniors cheerleaders on the next!!,...
"La Chicas fuego si,...Check em out,..Juanitas a la reche!"
"no,..not you pal!,...yeah yeah,..i reckon you'll beat arsenal on saturday yeah"
|
Did return on Saturday and i can see no major changes. Two Fuller's beers and all usual guests available. Only thing i did notice was two tables had gone from the No Smoking area. I can live with that.
|
A bit concerned by the take over, but to be honest Fullers are hardly the worse chain in the world when you compare them to turd churners like spoons, S&L and the rest of their Satanic cousins.
As long as the place retains its atmosphere (the key to why its a great pub) and keeps the ale selection on the right side of heavenly we havent got much to worry about ...
anonymous - 3 Aug 2005 18:17 |
Talking to the assistant manager last night and he insists the only major change will be the regular stocking of three Fullers beers. Guests WILL be stocked and the fixtures/fittings will remain. As Mally put's it, "wait and see". Also heard the pub will change it's name to the 'Doric Arch'.
|
Fears confirmed.Shut Monday & Tuesday next week for 'Fullerisation' of cash systems and suchlike. Apparently 3 Fullers beers to be stocked & 6 guests.Wait & see
mally - 28 Jul 2005 23:26 |
Do not sell OUR pub to Fullers! They have a pub in Euston already and this is a valued Free House, one of very few in London!
|
Very worrying news about the rumoured sale of the Head, as there is surely no way Fullers would retain the unique character of the place. I also agree with the comments about the recent improvement (or rather return to form) brought about by new management and staff - Tanya summed this up very succinctly in her posting. But then again, it's always a good idea to agree with her if you want to be served in this place!
|
Rumour of sale to Fullers very soon. Hopefully just a rumour. If I want Fullers there are plenty of places where it can be found. However this place is almost unique in Central London for beer quality and variety. Does anybody know more about the sale?
mally - 23 Jul 2005 13:42 |
The clientele here can be awful sometimes, but that's par for the course in a railway station! I find the staff here are always polite, and often friendly. But what really counts is the quality and the range of ales - and over several months I've never once been disappointed. If you want a reliably delicious pint of beautifully kept ale in Central London, then this is your pub. And thanks for the passcode: it has certainly raised standards downstairs. Rating increased to 9/10 (for ale quality).
|
Used to like this pub for its good ale and proximity to Euston. However, frequented by very rude clientele and not helped by the bar staff who do little to discourage anti-social behaviour by middle aged men who should have a modicum of manners.
|
Two minutes from the platforms at Euston, so perfect for that last minute pint. Fantastic range of real ales, and friendly service. Can get very crowded, but hey- its a railway station. TV screens, major sporting events shown.
Food very reasonable, but not spectacular. Better than any of the stuff on offer at the station though!
|
If you like beer (and this isn't some snide code for 'if you're an alkie', I do mean 'if you like beer') this is a good place to go. A range of real ales local and out of town as befits a place by a railway station. As is the decor, which together with the beer might make the place a bit blokish, but it seems to avoid that pitfall also. The toilets are downstairs from the pub so you need a passcode to access them, so people can't get into them from beneath.
|
I'd agree about the atmosphere, it can get very smoky but I guess that adds to the real pub feel that is evident throughout. I think you probably were unlucky with the quality of the beer, whilst the service and enthusiasm of the staff can be a bit variable, I have rarely had a bad pint. Hope you'll give it another chance soon.
|
bit of a smog even in the non-smoking area, not been here for a while and was disappointed by the pint of vinegar i was served that was passing for real ale - i am trusting i was just unlucky...
anonymous - 5 May 2005 13:24 |
Its good that they always offer a student discount and there are usually some good guest ales available. The place does seem to attract a somewhat geriatric clientele, there are few younger people around despite the student discount. The staff can be fairly irritable at times but this doesn't detract too much from the overall experience. Prices are good given that its so near to a major railway station.
|
The Head is the best choice when waiting for trains at Euston, in my opinion but nothing special and certainly not worth travelling to!
|
Tucked away between a sandwich bar and the bus rank outside the station is the best pub in the Kings Cross/Euston area � a shining oasis in a parched desert of bland chain run bars. Everything about the place oozes character, from the most understated entrance in brewery history (basically a small bland door) through to the remarkable bunch of characters of all kinds that it counts as clientele (tramps, squires, clowns, doctors, you name it!) and finally the genuine 70s �old boozer� feel that pervades throughout. It is not I would like to stress a grotesque themed bar, quite the opposite, and the identification I make with the era of kipper ties and pre-commercialised bars may just be a personal thing. But for me there�s something about the wall to wall railway memorable, the old wooden chairs/tables, the large range of ales, the patterned carpet and the thin haze of cigarette smoke that just screams 1975.
Of course, all of this makes it something of a bloke`s gaff and not as a consequence the sort of place most of us would want to take the wife or the new girlfriend. But apart from this slight draw back its simply brilliant � 10/10.
anonymous - 2 Apr 2005 10:13 |
its a long walk to the toilets in here
|
I also agree with Tanya - this has improved inredibly since last October. Has wide selection of real ales. Great non-smoking area where you can sit by the window and watch all the nutters go by! 7/10.
|
I agree with Tanya that the atmosphere has improved recently. The cask ales are always good, though I would like a bit more variation in style. The prices excellent, especially for students.
A disappointing development is the marked decrease in the selection of bottled beers, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is an excellent pub.
|
This is a wonderful pub. There is a permanent beer festival at reasonable prices. There are enough odd characters too keep oneself entertained if drinking alone. A place where they have got their priorities right by concentrating on beer quality & variety. Bar food available, Sky TV can be a bit noisy
mally - 25 Mar 2005 12:47 |
Out with the old, in with the new! The HoS is under new management, and the difference is startling.
The place, which used to be where I worked and spent a lot of time, went seriously down the pan in the last year. The new atmosphere is cheerful and welcoming, the old regulars are coming back and a whole load of new people are in. There's always plenty of beer on and the new staff are competent. In fact, I'm so impressed by the upswing, that I may just go back to work there!
|
A marvellous welcoming interior, totally belied by its exterior. Plenty of railwayana on display. Well cared for Proper Beer served in excellent condition by friendly staff. Because of its proximity to a major terminus, there is always a good selection of ale from all over this great realm of ours.
|
The Beer is great, the venue is WIERD.
It's like getting pissed in a staff canteen.
|
This place sells nice beer. The real ale selection is always changing and interesting. I never find the place a hugley comfortable environment to sit in...not sure why really, but i wouldnt go there for a whole evening. Definitely agree on the Gandalf The Wizard lookalike statement! Also on a few other statements below that will go unmentioned.
|
Arrived at about 8.40 pm on a Sunday and was told they were shutting at 9.00. Had a quick pint of Holt bitter which tasted good. I like the railway signs and pictures. I think they are genuine railway relics, not fakes as suggested by another user. If you get a window seat you can watch the buses pulling in and out of the Euston bus stands.
|
Straaange... the first floor of an office building converted into something approximating a pub. Scruffy, cheerful and very crowded with CAMRA types on a Friday night. Decorated with phoney railway platform signs and homemade posters offering discount deals on take-home ales. Obviously run on a shoestring, with no budget for toilet paper (or toilet doors for that matter). Upside: a good range of well-kept real ales at reasonable prices.
|
The first couple of times I tried this pub it was excellent. Friendly staff who let me try some of the beers I'd never heard of and a great crowd of people. Didn't get quite the same welcome the last time, but am sure that was a one off. Shame the toilets are such a nightmare! Puts me off a nights drinking there. But by far the best pint of beer I've ever had in London.
|
Isn't Becky, thats the new Becky, rather splendid what?
I have a complaint which I shall take to the trading standards commision. Wurzle took the piss out of my tank-top. I wish him an 'orrible new year! The bounder.
Review: Its one of Londinium's premier, thats premier real ale emporiums. Always guaranteed to see characters. Usualy a Gandalf the wizzard look-a-like. Staff are courtious and I can't spell to sacve my life! Aint she sweet!
Oh, the lock is off now!
Good luck W and all the wewy bestist 4 zero-five.
As a regular
|
Went here yesterday evening to find it shut.
|
The beer here is really good and changes a lot - the staff are mostly alright except for that idiot nobber talked about in Travis' post. He is an arse - pure and simple.
Martin - 6 Nov 2004 20:53 |
POPPED IN THERE ON WEDNESDAY WITH A COUPLE OF MATES FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME - BEER WAS EXCELLENT AND THE YOUNG LADY WHO SERVED IT RATHER EASY ON THE EYE TOO! ONE OF MY LONG TIME FAVOURITES AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO.
BOOMERS - 5 Nov 2004 22:00 |
In there a couple of Saturdays ago on the way home from footy and very disappointed that only 2 real ales were available. Admitedly the Banks's was rather nice :-). Thought at the time perhaps it was an 'off' day but reading below I'm not so sure now :-(.
Darren in the City - 3 Nov 2004 17:45 |
Seems alright, lots of beers but I was a bit knackered and it was a sunday evening.
|
This pub has slowly and sadly decayed over the past year. Usually a real ale haven, I've been in there at times when there's only two available - although admittedly that's two more than many other places, whilst the toilets are rank (I think the security code on the door is to keep the overwhelming piss-smell in), and the staff are indifferent, unknowledgable, unfriendly and ever-changing.
There was a guy in there claiming to be the manager with his "name above the door" no less, despite having never seen him before in years of going there semi-regularly. He was so utterly disagreeable, he had to be seen to be believed. He's graduated from that offensive 11:10pm tactic of snatching your beer before you've finished it, to actually lifting your chair up whilst you're sitting in it - and did it to a woman no less. Unbelievable is the only word I can think of in hindsight, although I did let fly at the time.
|
I love this pub :) It has a fantastic choice of beer and a rather lovely view over the bus station so it's excellent for bus spotters, or if you're not particularly interested in buses (like me), it's great to spot bus spotters spotting buses! Sometimes have a student discount too, and often have a random beer festival. Piss smell is gone now, last time i checked!
edd - 9 Sep 2004 17:42 |
Always a good choice of quality beers served reasonably well.
Sit in the alcove for more privacy.
FatPhil - 2 Sep 2004 17:59 |
Cant count the number of times ive walked by this place on my visits to London. Eventually paid a visit at the weekend. Great pub!......great beer!. Friendly service. Will make it my first call on future visits. And to think I used to use that shite-hole The Brittania!
|
Interesting and welcome. Mildly quirky mix with occasional Goths guest appearances, a mix of railway fans, railway professionals (drunk managers?) and weary travellers. Watch the world go by from the top tier windows or spend all evening trying to guess the combination on the loo door. One entrance persistently stinks of piss. Service is good old fashioned 'when I'm ready mate' yet the beer is nice nice nice. Try also the Exmouth Arms nearby.
If you are leaving London by sleeper train get a head of steam up here.
|
Excellent beer, both range and quality, and a good atmosphere. I have to say I've had experience of the staff being a bit off-ish as well.
John - 22 Jun 2004 14:37 |
I read all the great comments about the HoS on this web site before I visited London. Thanks to all who said good things. You are right... the place was awesome! This is one Yank who loves great beer and I WILL return to this wonderful pub on my next trip. Cheers!
|
I'm sorry to hear Alison's story - which doesn't match my experiences - though I, and I suppose the vast majority of drinkers at the HoS, pick the pub for its wonderful choice of real ales. In fact, I think the pub's a gem - an oasis in the Euston desert (excepting the Fuller's pub outside New British Library, of course) - with 6, every changing, real ales on the go all the time. The understated entrances sppear to ensure that the pub is never heaving and, even given it's location, the clientele are friendly and eclectic. Why not give it another go, Alison, and try one of the real ales this time?
Simon - 5 Apr 2004 10:52 |
As a non-beer drinker who accompanies my real-ale drinking friends for a drink occasionally I think this pub stinks. I was given a glass of corked wine and on requesting it be replaced was faced with an argumentative manager who has no concept of customer services. After 20 minuts of argument I left having had my evening ruined. The only red wine on offer is cheap and nasty 1 euro from a Calais supermarket table wine. Apparently by her own admission if you have the audacity to complain about the beer you'll get into a similar argument with her. This pub is definitely to be avoided!!
Alison - 25 Mar 2004 09:50 |
Excellent beer, definately the best pub in Euston. Although to fair the competition isn't all that strong.
Nigel - 29 Jan 2004 16:34 |
A handy stop after the journey into Euston Station.
Bob - 29 Dec 2003 18:46 |
Great to see a pub in London with such a wide range of real ales.
Well worth popping into if you're in the area.
Darren in the City - 29 Sep 2003 12:41 |
This pub is a haven amongst dodgey surroundings. If you want to escape obvious students, yuppies or braying windbags this is the place to go. Admittedly it lacks finese, but i think that a real pint, reasonably priced and a view over the bus depot more than makes up for that! Its easy going and not pretentious and (eh hem) gives student discounts.
edd - 5 Sep 2003 17:23 |
Recently started going to the Head of Steam and was mightily impressed by the range of beer and cider they had (10+ beers and 2 ciders). They're kept well, as well. The only negative point is the mens toilets smell a bit because of vandalism. Hopefully this'll get sorted out...
Edd Almond - 2 Sep 2003 11:21 |
Made another visit to the Head of Steam recently and it's still a pretty good place to drink. If you can put up with having to ask for the code for the toilets and the sometimes indifference of the bar staff you'll be rewarded with some excellent and decently priced ales.
|
great selection, some decent lagers as well, fair prices for a station pub, wish more station pubs were like this !
ian - 11 Jul 2003 13:24 |
A little cliquey which takes the edge off it a little. For a better atmosphere and just as good a range of real ales take the northern line to Angel & walk down City Road for the Wenlock. Staff and locals are friendly here!
|
Great pub with one of London's best selections of real ale. If you need a pee you'll have to ask the bar staff for the combination, but contrary to other comments it isn't full of winos and crack addicts. Mostly suits in reality.
Mike - 5 Jun 2003 17:46 |
Great Cigars
Richard - 29 May 2003 13:54 |
Great beer, fantastic atmosphere. Loved the chilli on chips. Friday lunchtime just can't come round soon enough.
Milo - 29 May 2003 13:48 |
Excellent Pub, excellent beer.
Unique info - if you need the loo you must ask the bar staff for the combination for the lock.
Carl Blackburn - 9 May 2003 10:42 |
Great pub. Decent staff and lots of real ales. This place is much better than Coopers inside Euston Station.
John - 16 Apr 2003 13:20 |
A fantastic range of ales with up to eight on handpump at a time. Interesting Seabrook crisps in some exotic flavours. A raised snug and a mezzanine area give the interior a unique character, whilst railway memorabilia bedeck the walls and ceilings. Quiet tv, usually sport. A few gaming machines. Mild often available, usually from "up the west coast line". Food served most of the time until about 7 or 8 in the evening. The only downside is that come 11:10 you are hurried agressively to finish up by 11:15 - they need to "chill-out" a bit. I for one would visit more often!
|
