please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Bit of a throwback/old style City pub and pretty decent. Frequent haunt of hard drinking types from Eden Tree and other similar City establishments in the area.
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Sorry, Billinsgate
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Not one of my favourite Nicholsons. Average range of beer by comparison and actually a bit of a bland choice.
That said the chain is pretty good so I may have just picked an average day.
Really handy for the Monument and overlooks the old Bishopsgate building.
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My first visit to this Nicholson's pub having been past it in the car many times.
Nice pub with a few beers on draught, I had a really good stout.
Busy on the evening I visited, nice enough but not a great deal to report, worth a visit if you are in the area.
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Have visited this Nicholson's pub several times and each time have been extremelt dissapointed. The selection is good but service is very slow - even when not busy (have had to wait nearly 30 minutes to be served). You always need to ask for a top up as you usually get 3/4 pint. Pity because the building is very nice. Avoid this pub if you can -worth walking to the Hung Drawn and Quartered or any other Nicholson's or spoons pub in the area.
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Caught a lunch time beer in the hot weather a couple off weeks ago. Not enough bar staff on and so annoyingly slow service. I had a pint of White Horse Village Idiot which I had to ask to be topped up as it was a rushed pour. Sadly the hapless barman went straight to the Fosters tap for the top up, on which the wag next to me said 'I think you've found your village idiot'! Not a good visit, but I do use this place quite regularly and the beer is usually very well kept and service friendly, so I'll put this down to a 'blip'.
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Good selection of well kept ales and pleasant decor. Not too "city" (considering its location) in its clientele. Standard pub grub - though sadly my ribeye was a little burned and the chips soggy. However, it has to be said, i did feel there was a slightly gloomy air to the place...shame
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Just visited for lunch in June. The beer was perfect, the sausages excellent but I have to agree with the previous poster the staff lacked any enthusiasm at all and service was very slow. Also the outside tables were not cleared from the night before.
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Fairly good range of beers - at least, it's not all dull brown stuff by the likes of Greene King. But lordy, the staff are the most joyless, miserable specimens I've ever encountered. Makes you wish someone would invent the self-service pub.
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My experience of the Walrus last week was also that it is not as bad as some of the reviews below would indicate. Seven real ales on which, as well as the house TT Landlord and Pride, included five guests from regional brewers. These included seasonal beers, Davenports Fall, Cairngorm Autumn Nuts and Cameron's Autumn drop, along with Wolvers Ale from the Newman�s brewery in Wales and Brunette from the Morrisey Fox partnership.
Despite the pub ,(or to be precise the pavement outside) heaving with after work suits on this fine autumnal evening, we didn�t experience any real problems getting served and between us we tried most of the ales with the favourites being the Cairngorn and surprisingly Neil Morrisey�s Brunette, which indicates he could finish up to be a better brewer than he was an actor.
Another plus point in this pubs favour was that we struck lucky on the evening, as it was a promotion night due to them changing the menu for the upstairs Lewis Carroll dining room. This meant that the bar staff appeared at regular intervals with large platters of food tasters for the assemble drinkers. And as normal, any boozer where I get free scoff scores an extra point.
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Visited yesterday afternoon as part of the "Dick Whittington Ale Trail" Had a very nice pint of London Pride at �2.50 Very friendly staff - Customers seemed mainly City Workers. I suppose it was not on the Tourist Trail. Would definately go back when next in the area.
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Not as bad as the reviews tend to indicate.
Sure, they were rushed, and it was a bit messy, but I put this down to the fact that the marathon was passing the door on the day I was there.
Would go back and try again in less extreme circumstances!
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fully agree with peterwarlock , Its been a long time since having a decent beer in here. Even the pride in the britannia is better and thats saying something.
Go to the Ship , Brain the governor there ( thinks he's still there) is a proper publican who knows his beers. ( no, he didnt pay me to say that)
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If you suffer from chronic constipation, I'd suggest that a pint of beer in this pub could sort you out pretty quickly. Otherwise, don't bother.
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Popped in for a quick half and frankly glad that we only had a half and did not have to stay long enough to finish a pint. Clueless girl behind the bar speaking broken english who not only went to pull the wrong beer but also the wrong measure and stared blankly at me when I corrected her that we only wanted two halves! The mens toilet was completely blocked and overflowing and there was no toilet paper or soap, my husband had to unblock it for them!
cluck - 15 Jan 2008 10:22 |
Nice pub to look at but service is terrible. Last time I went here gave up after waiting for 15 Minutes. This time, I was greeted by a bloke who could hardly speak English and a very poor pint of Everards Tiger. I like the Nicholson�s chain as a rule but this is a poor example. Go to the Ship on Eastcheap instead.
No crisps either!!!!
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Dear Manager (or customer experience enhancement executive, or
whatever it is you're called these days). When it's friday night and
you've got a bar three deep with thirsty punters, please ensure your
staff are pulling pints, not emptying the washer and filling shelves
that are already groaning under the weight of clean glasses. This may
stop customers getting sick of waving their tenner in a vain attempt
to make eye contact with the glumsters "serving", and furthermore may
stop them leaving the Walrus and getting served instantly at Ship up
the road. Ta.
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not bad, nice and warm on a cold day, very clean and decent beers, very hard to get seated in the afternoon
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Good range of real ales served in a cosy clean pub. Didn't order any bar food, but the menu seemed to reasonable. My only critism is that when I ordered a pint of real ale, I always had to ask for it to be toppped up.
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Drunk old baldies from the D&O market frequent this place to get their fix.
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no no no all those dissaproving looks i'm off to rehab!!!!
anonymous - 9 Jul 2007 09:31 |
I used to work just round the corner from The Walrus and Carpenter, yet until last nights visit, (31st May), I�d only paid a solitary brief visit. I found it to be quite a decent little pub. The layout is a little unusual, yet the feel is a good one. There was a decent array of beers on offer and everyone seemed jovial spirits. Bearing in mind its close proximity to office after office, it can and will get packed out with suits, both inside and in fact spilling out on to the pavement, but it in fact dies down somewhat as the evening progresses. There isn�t really a lot else to say. It�s certainly preferable to dross like the All Bar One a short walk ahead.
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Great beer - good range of real ales. Asked if I wanted jug or straight glass - its the little things that make a pub! Will definitely go back again
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Had a few at lunch in here today - or outside should I say; twas a glorious afternoon. Good pint of Heineken, chirpy barstaff, all in all my new favourite lunchtime haunt.
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Not bad at all, Good selection of beers, nice interior, but was quiet for a Friday night. But wasnt a bad pub to finish a pub crawl on.
Maybe a bit light on atmosphere but not enough to stop me visiting again for a pint or two.
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Used to be a good proper pub, now just like every other pub in the City
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The "Champagne Bar" downstairs is much better than the main pub. Cosy, clean with friendly staff and good beer. Bit hard to move when it's busy, though.
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Me thinks peehead is a pub plant.
anonymous - 24 Dec 2006 16:27 |
Visiting Capacity: I have used this pub over several years as a hidy hole when I want a drink with friends and a chat.
Beer: Good selection of real ales, the usual lagers (Stella, Kronenbourg etc), Guinness + EC and standard top shelf. Well looked after lines and clean glasses.
Food: Always has been top notch, even before the refurb (22/11/06 opening day). Doorstep sarnies with roast meat of the day was always my favourite.
Layout and Ambiance: Before the refurb you had two distinct bars and had to leave the pub to get from one to the other. Now the pub is one big area, but it still feels like it has retained the feeling of two areas, which I like. Nice dark wood throughout and plenty of historic pictures. Upstairs bar is clean and tidy (haven't used it though).
Entertainment: TV in the front area showing whatever sport the punters want on at lunch (Cricket, Prem re-runs etc). Gaming machines include standard bandits and a golf machine.
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I sometimes have a drink in the falcon and take notice she is not very nice and very petty and yes she is taking some of the best staff from the falcon, but pettyness is catching.
anonymous - 4 Dec 2006 13:51 |
Who the hell decided on the layout of this pub? Difficult to get to the bar when it is busy - everywhere you turn there's an elbow-height partition strategically placed to keep you from the bar. In effect it means a very narrow gap round the bar, while the rest of the pub is packed. Sort it out.
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Re-opened today after it's refurbishment. It's certainly lost the feel of a 'proper pub', but there's no chrome to be seen, and the new upstairs bar looks really nice. Didn't see any of the flies that plagued the place prior to it being closed. Overall, pretty good and I'll certainly be back. Oh, and they were even giving away free drinks this lunchtime!
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your gain is our loss i should have said lol
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the new landlady is called jo and she used to run the falcon pub in clapham junction she is really good and is taking some of her best staff from the falcon with her your gain is our lost your local will be run properly now...she leaves the falcon on the 22nd so the pub should open around then
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My mistake - bought by Mitchell and Butler. Just had a peep through a door a builder had left open. Both rooms have been knocked into one and all fittings replaced. Looks like they've re-used partitions from this and other gutted Victorian pubs. I'm no fan of refits, but this looks like a very high quality job, not just an off-the-shelf lash-up.
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This bogshedof a pub has shut � it's been bought by Nicholson's and is getting a refurb. Reopens in November. I hope they kill the rat.
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I never learn. I was there the other night and some punters were covering their pints with beer mats to keep the flies out � incredible. That's it. Never again.
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beer not up to scratch,probably from bedford.Friendly staff.
anonymous - 13 Jul 2006 12:19 |
Like a battered wife, I kept giving this place One More Chance. Not any longer. I've taken exit couselling from the Ship up the road. The staff are still great, but the beer is not very good at all. Even the lager tastes sour. And now they've got some sort of infestation of tiny flies in the back room. If I'm going to spend 3 quid a pint I may as well do it at the Ship and not have to keep picking insects out of my beer.
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Oh dear. I've given up on this place and I used to be a confirmed regular. The beer isn't bad, but used to be much better... I guess it depends on how much stuff passes through the pipes as to whether or not the beer you get is drinkable. Bar staff are lovely... can't fault them. the MAIN problem is that the music makes impossible to have a conversation without shouting in yer mate's ear 'ole. It's always on at an ear-crackingly loud level.
anonymous - 19 Feb 2006 18:05 |
recently noted a bit of a decline. The bitter is always flat by the time you're halfway down it and the Stella is a bit on the vinegary side. Can't fault the service, though.
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Great pub with too rooms full of happy punters. This is a real, unpretentious boozer with a loyal clientele. Genuinely friendly bar staff who always seem to be smiling no matter how busy it gets. No wonder the landlord is always laughing... the Daily Express has just moved opposite!
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I consider this pub to be a little gem in the City; a 'proper' pub amongst the same old wine bars and 'McDonalds Style' chains. The bar staff are friendly and helpful, the atmosphere always good, and the Guinness is excellent. During the summer, the outside turns into a suntrap and we have spent many a lazy Friday lunchtime sinking cold ones in the sun (and some Mondays!). The food is good, and the Christmas lunches are superb.
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Top proper boozer with decent beer, good food and great staff. In fact, I'm off there now.
anonymous - 3 Nov 2005 12:29 |
One of the best Pubs in the city. Attractive and friendly staff. The live entertainment that was a first last Friday night was a welcome addition. Needs to get Bundy Rum in though.
anonymous - 28 Apr 2005 13:56 |
It felt stale & dirty from the previous night. Sorry, but it put me off going up to the restaurant. It might be my loss, but I couldn't take the chance.
Debs - 10 Sep 2004 11:36 |
A traditional boozer in the heart of the City. Our local at work. Great hideaway standing on the narrow cobbled side street on those summer lunchtimes. Great bar food too - if a tad expensive. Actually - I don't want it too busy....IT'S AN AWFUL PLACE - GO TO THE LOVELY LIBERTY BOUNDS UP THE ROAD !!!
JJR - 24 Aug 2004 11:33 |
I go here most weekdays, I like the pub. Friendly staff, good bar food and the Gryphon upstairs is superb; has a golf machine for those who like them, only drawback is the size. Gets a bit squashy Thursday-Friday, particularly in the evenings.
Andy - 20 Apr 2004 12:40 |
This is a good City pub just 150 yards down the hill from The Monument. Quite tiny yet a santuary from the crowds and busy nearby pubs (The Fine Line, Hogshead). Have been in half a dozen times at lunchtime and the beer/guinness and bar food (the Walrus burger is a classic burger with the lot) are lovely. The staff are friendly. Perfect for lunch, a couple of pints and a conversation with a friend (if you can get one of the few tables).
Paladino - 23 Jan 2004 20:15 |
Friendly bar staff, reasonable beer and a decent crowd of patrons.
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A truly awful pub, but (not a lot of people know this) the truly first class restaurant upstairs is well worth a visit. One of the finest dining establishments in London.
robin - 9 Jul 2003 13:11 |
