please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I have stopped going here for the same reason, they have killed what was the best pub/Gastro pub in London with this attitude. Got to also add the boring choice of ales hasn't helped either. Staff still pleasant though. well said Grovetown
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Absurd situation yesterday.
Dropped in shortly after opening to meet a mate for a drink.
It was 90% empty, yet wasn't allowed to sit down as EVERY table was reserved for dining.
It now then needs to decide whether it's a pub or a restaurant.
If a pub, then make some provision for the casual drinker and passer-by.
If a restaurant, then stop calling it a pub - because, yesterday, it wasn't.
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I found the food and beers both of high quality with on-the-ball staff.
Good atmosphere, though they did leave doors and windows open on "warm" summer evenings. The busy staff might not have been chilly, but the customers were.
Pleasant, darkish, woody interior meant the hubbub never became too loud.
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its a very well run gastro pub, but the quality of the meat they are using has gone down since they started buying from a butchers in north end rd, they used to have meat delivered from a company that supplied west end hotels, still a great pub but by penny pinching they will lose some punters,
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Met some friends here on tuesday night for a few drinks, what a super place, so rare in London to find such a friendly and well run pub. A super range of Ales and Lagers, plently of space and a nice outside area for catching some rays, if your very lucky this year! Food seemed to be quite important to the place with its restaurant sized and staffed kitchen, menu looked very nice and the steak sandwich my friend had looked fantastic, it was polished off in quick time so I guess it tasted as good as it looked. All in all, one of my favourite pubs in London and the splash guard in the gents is epic.
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The Atlas is sadly on it last legs now.
I fear since other pubs in the area have now successfully transformed from being a pub to a restaurant the atlas feels it must do the same, NO NO NOOO. Service is extremely slow to get a bear since now they are trying to do table service, which to me isn't necessary in this pub.
God knows what this place shall be like when they start building the 10 storey housing block directly opposite it this year. BYE Bye, we shall miss you, x
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A nice pub, good atmosphere, well kept beer.
Got busy as the exhibition at Olympia closed. Seemed a bit light on staff not helped while a bar maid took the best part of 10 minutes to prepare 2 'virgin Mary's'.
I shall return.
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What a great boozer. A real pub selling great food and good beer in the heart of London. I had the Lamb Shank which was great and reasonably priced. Beers on included Pride, Otter and Black Sheep. Great to see people playing cards, chatting and bringing their dogs in the place.
Highly recommended - looking forward to getting back there soon.
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I am a local and this has been my favourite London pub ever since I first walked in through the door some years ago. Friendly staff, relaxed, comfortable atmosphere, well-kept ales, fairly priced drinks, very good food (but still a pub where you can easily get a table if you just want to have a drink), and slightly out of the way so that it doesn't get too crowded (except on Chelsea match days and after the bigger Earls Court shows). Also has two excellent upstairs rooms which we have hired for a number of great parties: �120 deposit returned if you hit the minimum spend (which is set at a level which makes it easy enough to do), extra �50 for the late licence. Highly recommended.
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great pub. good staff. ale kept nicely. very good food. proper boozer.
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Henners and Mark007 - I think there are many people who would love to see this pub come back up to the standards of a year ago but in my mind it is treading water at best. I went in there earlier this week and the only real ale on was London Pride, so nothing particularly compelling about a beer you can pretty much get in most West London pubs.
I'd love to see someone get hold of the cellar and start providing a consistent variety of real ales but talk to the staff and there is a real sense of inertia towards the management.
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Oi En cantrell, no answer yet to your operating theatre,was in their saturday noticed the guy behind the bar called Mark, I will think it was you unlesss you let me see your reviews on other sites. Beer was ok on saturday but choice has got more boring.
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Its over 30 games a season now with cup games which is more than twice month, and enough to know the beer quality has gone down. If on your other site someone mentioned one pub, talked about beer, coffee and wine wouldn't it sound like an advert. How often do you go in there and what site do you "operate " on so I can see your fair and honest opinions, I shall put my hands up apologise and even buy you a pint.
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My apologies Hanners, you are clearly a devout reviewer of pubs. I naturally assume you got a wholesome view of this pub during a soccer/football game - of which there are maybe two a month?? I, however, am a local and can give a full description of this pub. Indeed my profile on this website is new; nevertheless , I operate on another website primarily. At least we both agree this pub has got an overall 'good' standard. It would be a pleasure to enjoy a pint with you if you are ever at the atlas for more than one night per month.. En cantrell
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its a good pub , beer not as good as it was. Sort this out before reviewing yourselves or getting mates too, it ruins this site an is obvious when you only have ever reviewed one pub. Check me and the last opinion we can give an HONEST opinion.
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Great food, and a real warm atmosphere in this pub. I've been coming here for some time now, and love the quality of ales on tap and brilliant reds they serve. They also have great coffee as a nice compliment to a good evening with friends or family. Would recommend this place to anyone wishing to have good evening out of the cold!
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I go to this pub most home games and the quality of the beer has noticiably gone down hill, had a terrible pint of Otter the other day. Its a shame as its been spot on for the last few years, the new manager is obviously not an ale fan. Will be sticking to the Sloaney pony now until I hear beer quality is back. Also noticed them reserving tables which they had never done before, last time I ate the food was still ok.
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Since Toby left, and more recently his cellarman, Matt, this pub is now sadly in decline. The beer is now very safe, so gone are the days when you'd look forward to Meantime London Pale Ale being on draught. So given that its ordinary beer isn't cheap there has to be another reason for going in, it used to be the food but this too has become very ordinary and the 'spanish' influence which was so prevalent has all but gone.
Its a shame but someone should go and get Toby (and Matt) back!
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Cute pub, excellent food, if a tad expensive. Very good selection of ales and nice homely atmosphere. Log fire a real boon in winter. Highly recommended!
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I work near the Atlas and for years it's been a brilliant gem of a pub in an area with a decided lack of decent drinking venues. Over the years the company I work for has spent thousands of pounds in the Atlas as it's always been our automatic choice for birthdays, lunches, leaving drinks and after-work pints.
Until a couple of months ago, we'd always received excellent service and we'd never had a bad night in the Atlas. However, they now have a new member of staff (possibly the manager?) who seems to have a serious attitude problem. A few weeks ago we were there as a company for someone's leaving drinks and, having been in the pub since 4.30pm, at 11pm we were unceremoniously told by this barman/manager chap to 'drink up and leave'.
Then last night a group of us went in for a couple of after-work drinks and three of us were sitting having a normal conversation when the barman/manager came over and said 'Look, ladies - I don't mind you being here but you're going to have to stop swearing'. We weren't swearing and we hadn't even raised our voices - it's not as if we were sitting there effing and blinding and being rowdy! There were far more noisy groups in the pub, but for some reason we were singled out. We asked other members of staff if anyone had complained about us, and they didn't know what we were talking about.
Suffice to say that was the final straw and we won't be going back - so well done to that barman for losing the pub a large group of very loyal customers.
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At a show in Earl's Court, came in for lunch, glad we did. Friendly bar staff served us happily 5 minutes before food ended, and my steak was actually worth the �15 - especially since work was paying. Free bread and stuff before the meal.
Beer I had was Skinners Cornish Knocker and damn nice it was too, great temperature and fresh. Wish I could have stayed for a few more. Prices are London Gastropub level but they're not taking the piss and the quality is actually up to it.
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5 handpumps only 2 on, serving st Austell tribute and deuchers. Pride had just gone off. Tribute was good. Nice pub. Has a bit of a gastro feel but not too bad. Probably the best pub I've come across in the area and would definately go again.
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Popped in for a swift half as I was passing (used to be a semi-regular when I worked nearby a few years ago). Beers on were Deuchars, London Pride and Timothy Taylor Landlord. My half of Deuchars was �1.60.
Yes, it is a gastro pub - but definitely not one where drinkers are made to feel unwelcome. Unlike other gastro pubs in the area, the food is not all encompassing. So it still feels like a real pub, and the staff were friendly. It wasn't too busy (although a few were in the yard outside), but where is on a Monday night in late September?
Music seemed a bit spanish-y, and was not too over-dominant.
Overall, if you're in the area, I'd recommend it.
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As you can see from the picture above this looks like a good old fashioned boozer, but as you walk through the doors your heart sinks as you realise that you have entered a gastro pub. Thankfully I do agree with the previous comments that this is better than most gastro pubs as you are made to feel welcome by the polite staff, even if you are not dining.
There is some outside seating running up the side of the pub that was a pleasant area to have a couple of beers.
Pride, Deuchars and Meantime Pale Ale were available alongside a standard and premium lager selection.
I�d rather drink in a pub that has awards for beer rather than food, but this place is well worthy of a visit if in the area.
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A great friendly little bar very close to the exhibition centre. As pubs in this area go, this is probably the best. The beer was fine and - although it is relaively small - finding a seat wasnt to hard. The staff could not have been friendlier, which - when compared to other pubs in the viscinity - is a Godsend. Will most definitely be visiting again very soon. 10/10.
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In here after GBBF set up yesterday. Only Pride was on but barman let us have the Twickenham Grandstand that was just about ready. Also had Hoegaarden and Leffe. Attractive pub, food a bit pricey - not bad.
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Like many here I imagine, I'm not a fan of gastro-pubs where drinkers are effectively unwelcome because of an over-emphasis on food. You know...the sort of places where every table is set for diners; and one feels almost embarrassed for just drinking.
However: this is not the Atlas, which achieves a really rather happy balance. If you want to eat (and it is good, hearty fare): fine. If you want to drink: that's fine too. No pressure or compulsion ether way. Beers on at last were 'stock' ales like Pride and Deuchars IPA - both well kept - and Twickenham's Naked Ladies.
Good non-intrusive sountrack from the Blue Note archives; and the garden - more a yard - is pleasant enough.
A stand-out operation in the wasteland of the Earls Court exhibition centre environs.
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They had Pride, Deuchars IPA and Harvey�s Best on � the Harveys was on good form and at �3.10 a pint the going rate for the area I suppose. This pub still retains a number of its original features, most notably, in my opinion, the wood panelling in the back bar. This was clearly originally a two-room pub with the public bar at the front and the saloon bar at the back, although some of the panelling that separated the two bars is still in place. But it is no longer the backstreet boozer that I remember from the mid 80s, although the furniture seems not to have changed much.
As others have pointed out, the emphasis now is on the food, but I had no trouble getting a seat to just have a pint at 2.10 on Saturday afternoon. It still had the feel of a pub to me, albeit an �upmarket� one � gastro food-centric, bare-boarded etc. Worth dropping in for a pint if you�re in the area.
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Quite simply unbeatable. This gem of a pub is by far and away the best gastro pub west London can offer. The beer is well kept, service is consistent and the food is perfectly in turn with the environment. The cassoulet being the prized piece within a menu that caters to all. The Atlas could serve as a winter warmer, comforting boozer or can alternatively provide you with a bright and sunny early evening date in the summer. An absolute must for those who appreciate the rustic touch... keep it up lads!
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Twickenham Ales Summer Gold, Pride, Deuchars. Attractive large wood panelled room, open but roughly divided halfway down the left-hd bar (black&white tiling, foot rail), smaller area to the front, larger to rear. Wood floored throughout with distressed wood furniture & some leather-seated wood-backed banquettes. At the very rear is the kitchen with an open �hatch� to the pub above a stone fireplace (dunno if it is ever used but it�d need an odd-shaped floo, see White Cross Richmond), other aesthetically pleasing, albeit gas-fed, fireplaces at each end. Rather bemused by comments on the beer-garden, just looked like a narrow paved area with a few tables, the �garden� door was fixed open, as was the entrance door at the front, and this caused an uncomfortable draught which was intrusive, especially as I was (for a change) eating. Despite the wind-tunnel effect the food was very good indeed, menus on blackboard but also printed daily, gastro prices, �6-8 starters, �10-14 mains, squid with chorizo, rabbit & wild mushroom� There is a plasma tucked away in a rear corner, although it didn�t strike me as the sort of place to screen footy. Friendly barstaff and, whilst it undoubtedly leans toward the food market, you would feel perfectly comfortable just going in to drink.
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Not the cheapest pint in the world, but not bad for a London gastro pub so close to Earls Court exhibition centre. Menu looked good and made me wish I hadn't already eaten
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Attractive gastro pub where, whilst the emphasis is clearly on food, they do also accommodate those only wishing to have a drink. The 'beer garden' is a little cramped but does provide some extra seating during busy times.
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Great pub with a nice beer garden and excellent service. At a busy time they got my lunch order wrong, but were very apologetic, quick to fix the error and threw free drinks in to make sure that we were happy.
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A gastro pub that still resembles a pub - how unusual and wonderful! Wish the pubs in East Dulwich and Forest Hill would do the same.
And most excellent full sized urinals, not these little individual things where you get splash back
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Deuchars IPA always good, staff friendly and a nice atmosphere. Clever use of space squeezing a garden down the side alley, complete with automatic canopy for our English summers. Not unknown for me to pop in for a pint on the way home and all of a sudden its three hours later.
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Excellent pub with food, or is it food with pub. Go there for a good feed with some beers. The food has a mediteranean vibe to it and is first class, not cheap as others have mentioned but first class.
Seating is on a first come first served basis and on a Sunday you have to be alert and start hovering to grab a table.
Winelist is not vast but is good for a pub with some excellent choices on there - all reasonable prices. Food really is the outstnading thing about this pub. Staff are polite helpful and work hard behind the bar. A pub to visit, but be warned the secret if there ever was one is out so expect it to be busy.
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High quality gastro-pub. Reasonably priced beer and wine, with the pricey good quality food. Excellent little beer garden and the pub has retained its character.
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This pub is a cracker... hidden away and has a great beer garden.... not full of Earls Court aussie reptiles and possibly has the best steak this side of London... great clientele and good beers.... go here and go nutz !
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The food here isn't cheap, but the quality is high. The refurb has been nicely judged. Well worth a visit.
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Nice place and I agree that it probably stands out in the area, but the term gastropub is correct. It's not what I call a pub. However, it deserves a big thumbs up for keeping a real ale (Deuchars) on in good condition. We didn't try the food, but it looked good and was reasonably priced for the area. Also looked like a good choice of wines on offer, if that's your thing.
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I was shocked when I pulled up my local here, and it's only rated @ 7.1!!! That's terrible...food is always great, menu changes every day, beers are good and wine selection is excellent. What's not to like??? I've rated it a nine...the only thing is it's sometimes full with the 'exhibition crowd' from Earls Court...bloody blow in's. Probably should have given it a 3 to increase my chances of a table. GO ATLAS!!!
Huddo - 23 Nov 2005 14:43 |
Very nice pub, suprising as it's so close to Earls Court but it's not a run down rathole like so many other pubs in that area - it's a real little find, tucked away a bit but popular with those who know it.
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Wonderful, buzzy pub that's always full and serves amazing food. Service can be a bit brusque, but with the cosy inside and the nice little walled garden to the side, this is one of the best pubs in London.
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Although now a gastropub none the worse for that. Beers have always been drinkable. Retains the older-style wood-panelled interior of the pubs I learnt to drink in.
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Good atmosphere. Nice gastropub with local atmosphere. Ideal for reading the Sunday papers over a tasty pint.
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Terrific busy little gastro with a changing menu and interesting selection of wines and easily the best near West Brompton tube. Caledonian IPA is consistently well kept and you will always find something delicious to eat. It�s closed over Christmas, so make it your New Year resolution to pay this great little pub a visit.
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Excellent. Local Pub. Great Atmos, if a little crowded at times. Food is to a very high standard. Music cool and at respectably volume
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Very nice, good range of beers, unspoilt interior. Some people have intimated they couldn't find it:
On Old Brompton Road, find Earls Court 2 - by the Prince of Wales. Stand facing it and turn about (through 180 degrees). You will be looking down Seagrave Road. The Atlas is down there on the left.
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Excellent food, good beer. HOwever get there early to get a table if you're eating as it gets very busy.
Gareth - 25 May 2004 16:12 |
fantastic food - brilliant chef
great place to go!
Hank - 16 Oct 2003 14:24 |
If you live near The Atlas and know where it is, you must go!The food is superb. The wine selection good, and beer usual. Great atmosphere at all times. In the garden in mid-winter or by the fireplace in summer - it's always a (great value) treat. My favourite in London and a reason to move to the area.
Robin - 16 Oct 2003 13:25 |
A very nice pub, conveniently close to Earl's Court. A good selection of beers, including the usual lagers, the ubiquitous London Pride and a couple of other ales. It's a nice old building, with a small but pleasant beer garden, and an upstairs bar available for hire (we had it for a couple of days recently during ECTS). The food here deserves special mention - it's excellent; a bit pricey, but this isn't your usual pub food. Well worth a return visit, and possibly the highlight of ECTS this year :)
Chris - 30 Aug 2003 19:05 |
The above says it all - superb food, good wine and friendly staff. The garden's usable year round and the pub's clean and airy without apeing a souless chain-pub. One of the best pubs in London without doubt.
Alex - 27 Aug 2003 09:45 |
While the food may cost a little more than your usual pub grub, you still get value for money - fantastic Mediterranean cuisine. You won't find better pub food in London.
Usual beer selection, but always an interesting wine list and the outdoor seating area works well.
Peter - 7 Aug 2003 17:13 |
good wine, great food and friendly staff. It's also got a cool party room upstairs - last time i was at one the host had ordered canapes and they were absolutely brilliant
James - 9 Jul 2003 15:21 |
Rated as one of the best pubs in London by the Evening Standard in 2001 (I think!), the Atlas has THE BEST pub grub in London. In fact, my mother, on a recent visit from the States, insisted on a return visit -- this above all the other attractions in London!
Erica - 28 Feb 2003 17:37 |
