please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Ended up in here on a recent Thursday night at about 9pm. It's all bare floorboards and feels more like a bar than a straightforward pub. Fairly busy, but not rammed. Mostly office workers, but that's not surprising as it's so close to Charing Cross station. Tried the Greene King IPA, which was fine. There were a few other ales on. We had some chips as well, which were quite nice. Staff were friendly.
Overall it's a fairly unremarkable place, but inoffensive. Probably best for a group after work. It's interesting that this is the first review for this pub on BITE for two years even though it's been open all that time. Kind of sums up everyone's experience of this place I suppose. 6
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I really ought to hate this place, but it does serve a purpose on a Friday night when you are waiting for a train at Charing Cross and all the other pubs in the area are absolutely rammed. It is on the small side with limited seating space, meaning that most of the customers end up out on the street (whether they are smokers or not). It also has an annoying split level layout with a couple of steps between door and bar to catch out the unwary. The bar itself is split into two parts, the main lager dispensary which is where the staff are, and a smaller section to the left-hand side which has four handpumps. Ale selection is mainstream - but well-kept in my experience - with Greene King IPA, Youngs Ordinary, Doom Bar and Spitfire (�3.15) available at the moment. It's only features of note are the unusual ledges on the pavement side of the windows which are ideal (whether by design or accident) for setting your pint down if standing outside.
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What a find! Almost hidden in one of the back streets off the Strand, this place is a real gem. I met some friends in there recently who work in the area and know the pub well. It was early evening, there were a lot of people drinking on the street outside enjoying the first spot of summer. We got a table inside. I was pleasantly surprised by the real ale selection, there seemed to be some sort of festival on, the pint of Dorset Brewery Ammonite was excellent. They also had Sharp's Doombar and Shepherd Neame Spitfire. The pub has a good selection of draught lager too, including the Portugese Sagres, not found in many places. The staff were very friendly and seemed to have a good bit of jolly banter going with the customers. Although we didn't eat, the food looked pretty good, especially the burgers. Backgound music was brilliant, a bit of Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon and Foo Fighters mixed up with Groove Armada, Florence and the Machine, a real good mix of stuff. Considering how close this is to Charing Cross, I'm surprised more people don't know about this pub, but at the same time some places are best kept a secret from the masses! Will definitely be going back.
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Agree with previous posters ... feels like a typical 'close to train station' bar - after work crowd sinking a few before going home. Doesn't open Sunday's. Bit dull really.
celt7 - 27 May 2009 14:07 |
Hidden away somewhat round the corner from Embankment tube station is the rather uninspiring Theodore Bullfrog. Knowing the bar was in the vicinity, I am a little surprised it has taken so long to finally pay a visit, but nevertheless, this past Friday I ensured that changed. A dull, uninteresting and incredibly unspectacular frontage leads into a split-level, bare-floored bar, with very little of interest to engage the wandering eye. Here really is lacking on the decorative front. There was, as expected, music, though be it, of a middle-of-the-road anonymous nature. Within, a chalk board proclaims that Wednesday is �Quiz Night� and - for those interested - starts at 7pm. Fellow clientele on my early-evening visit consisted of nearby office suits and secretarial dolly-bird types � the atmosphere was slightly raucous. There are in fact, two bar areas. One larger bar displaying a half-decent array of continental lagers - Budweiser Budvar and San Miguel amongst those spotted - and another, with a set of hand pumps. Disappointingly, the choice was a little mainstream: Bombardier, Spitfire, London Pride and Adnams Bitter - though the latter was admittedly served in top-notch condition by the friendly barmaid. All staff observed were seemingly, both amiable and hardworking. To conclude: Overall, this establishment is far too lacking to warrant a return visit from this reviewer, though there is nothing inherently wrong and evidently, such places suite many.
HTM69 - 26 Apr 2009 11:24 |
Could be such a good secret boozer but it lets itself down quite badly. Was in here at the weekend this was my first venture to this pub for several years. I had a pint was ok nothing special and my wife had a cup of coffee I had to return her cup as it wasnt very clean, the barman who couldnt speak english shot me a look as filthy as the coffee cup. Very disappointed as this as huge potential. Dont think I will bother going back. The whole pub could do with a clean.
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Strange place - neither one thing or another. Used to serve very good quality Budvar, but a change of management seems to have resulted in very poor quality beer.
On the upside, the staff are very friendly and attentive. If the beer was better I'd drink there more often.
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This split level pub felt more like a bar for the mid thirties suit brigade. I suppose that I am nearing my mid thirties so would be classed as one of them, but I don�t talk about my work for 3 hours after finishing it every evening. The staff were amiable enough, but it was patently obvious that they didn�t want to be there and I don�t really blame them. Maybe it is more pleasant during the day or at the weekend.
Tring Sidepocket and Jack O�Legs were available along with Spitfire and various lagers. I went for the lager as no other person seemed to be drinking the ale. There is a plasma screen, but I don�t know if they have Sky Sports etc and food is served from 12 until 8.
Thankfully I was able to shoehorn myself into a space outside so that I could have a smoke and rest my pint on the �smokers ledge� that runs around the outside of the building.
Although busy I couldn�t see the attraction other than locality to Charing Cross Station.
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Visited this evening...gather it's been taken over by new management. Had v pleasant evening - nice pub, friendly staff, good drinks...all in all, a VERY good night!
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This is admittedly a pretty average pub, hoeever it's the only place where you'll get a seat for an after-work drink near charing cross
blink - 24 Jul 2007 12:17 |
Strange place - dropped in for the first time in 3/4 years and won't be goign back. Anywhere that plays non stop Red Hot Chilli Pepper album tracks is worth avoiding for that reason alone. Add to that horriblly smokey air, bland interior and average beer and you've got a pretty average pub. One plus point was the very small running shorts being worn by the atractive bar maid - lovely stuff
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not very friendly and nothing special but i have found it usefull if there is a group of you and you want to sit and chat midweek as it rarely gets busy compared to the rest of the locals. to be honest its an average pub in an area with little quality on the drinking scale
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Oh dear. Prime location, but only gets prizes for being one of the most dreary and depressing pubs I have been into for a long time.
When you ask for a drink, the staff look at you as though you have just asked them for a pint of urine topped up with excrement. By far and away one of the most unfriendly places I have had the misfortune to stumble upon.
The beer is your usual fare of 'premium' lagers, and not much else, the majority of the clientele appeared to be sharing the same brain cell, and the rest seemed as disgusted as myself. Will not be going back, and highly recommend that everyone else avoids this place after my personal sacrifice. I almost feel like Jesus...
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I suppose the convenience of being very close to Charing X train station goes someway to explaining why it is always mobbed in the evenings. Other pubs that have obnoxious, amateurish and inarticulate staff tend to be empty, for very obvious reasons!! I didn�t much enjoy the very heavy smoky atmosphere either �
Can I think of any good things to say about this place?????? No 1/10
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Went in here on a Friday about nine and it was full with office workers who must have been drinking heavily all day. A noisy, smokey, badly furbished pub with average beer. Suffice to say that nearly everyone was drinking 'cider' with ice in it. The world is full of sheep.
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Another pub with a ridiculous name. It used to be the Gilbert and Sullivan and had a lot of themed bric a brac. I wonder what happened to it. Used to be a good pub then, but I suppose you can say that about a lot of places.
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The last time I went with my family, the barstaff were pathologically unfriendly, the Martini optic was full of bar flies - which were duly served to me - and the other barmaid started picking at her something on her shoe.
It looks like it has the potential to be an average to OK pub, but my experience there was disgusting
Bartenders - I know the pay's terrible, I do it myself - so why the hell do you do it if you hate people so much?
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Haven't been for years. The last time was on a weeknight, when it was full of braying besuited tossers drinking euro-fizz lager. I brayed a bit, drank a couple of pints of euro-fizz, and then left. I hope to Christ that this place has improved.
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Although the downstairs was being refurbished - meaning only the top floor was in use - it was quite unimpressive. I can't understand why it scores so highlyl. No ales on and the usual nitro-keg stuff - although the Budvar was alright.
Maybe I'll give it another go after the overhaul.
Lots of plebs drinking Magners, or whatever that other p1ssy Irish cider is.
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Theodore Lounge & Kitchen (formerly upstairs bar at the Theodore Bullfrog) opening end Sept 2006...
Lots of promotional offers & prizes to be won, so come down and see what you think.
anonymous - 13 Sep 2006 18:15 |
Another regular haunt, when working in Whitehall. Had many a drunken lunchafternoonevening, etc, etc, etc in here.
Looking forward to having a couple of jars when next int he smoke.
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It had been a couple of years since I have been to the Bullfrog (I originally remember it as a Berni Inn some years ago). Since I keep hearing good things about the place and I now work 200 yards away I thought I would give it another try as my memories were not particularly favourable. My first attempt 2 days ago resulted in walking straight back as it would have been an adventure of Palin proportions just to get to the bar. Today was a bit more civilized and a straight run to the bar resulted in a decent pint of Bishops Finger. With 3 other Ales (Pride, Abbott & Green King IPA) and a decent and varied selection of lagers / cider (Bell & Compass are you watching), the range on offer is certainly not a problem. The main reason I have never taken to the Bullfrog is that it just appears so tame, monotonous and featureless. In all fairness it is not easy to make something attractive or interesting out of a rather dull and bland, modern building but they have at least tried to make the exterior a bit more welcoming with a few flower displays. The customer base is generally suited office types and bored pub reviewers. There are a couple of basic TV�s and some rather dull background music. The candles on the tables are a nice touch and give the pub an air of intimacy but, for an old git like me, this place is just too modern and characterless. I will give it a decent enough rating (7) as it does have a good beer selection, is obviously popular and does try hard to address its less positive aspects but at the end of the day it just isn�t my sort of place.
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Excellent lunchtime pub, decent reasonable lunch menu, beer is reliably good. Cute barmaids. Can't beat the location.
Evenings are pretty quiet in here. Went in on a Saturday to find we weren't quite the only ones there, but I think our group of 4 was the majority...
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I organised a group to come here for my birthday on a Friday. A mistake! The place was jam packed with suits. The staff were however friendly and served quickly.
Because this place is so jam packed it was very noisy and we couldn't get a spot together, so for the first 3 or so hours we had to be quite spread out. After about 9pm the suits went home and the place opened up.
The place was soulless and dull. I won't be making any effort to come back here.
anonymous - 21 Nov 2005 13:59 |
It's great to find a place that isn't totally clustraphobic unlike some of the other pubs in that area on a saturday night, it has a nice buzz, well lit and a pretty good bar, the staff are friendly and there's the added bonus of a nice cosy restaurant above with great food wonderfully prepared from fresh ingredients and a good wine list which you can do a deal on, for my money I'd say this place is one of the area's unsung hero's and a great place to meet up!
anonymous - 23 Oct 2005 14:58 |
It's a nice place to unwind off the main drag, not too crammed but their highlight is the food being served upstairs, it's absolutely totally delicious....mmmmmmmm
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I used to work in this pub last year bout this time for a few months. I just wanted to know if the same people were running it - Dave, Liam and Agneskia.
Jennifer- Scottish girl. Wanted to say hi and See how they all are.
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not the nicest pub
but it is very central
and not too busy
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I like it. If you can get a table upstairs all the better. Cheap place to bring a lady, as it does 'deals' on the wine.
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Beer is good and not keg. Recently refurbished. Staff were quick and efficient.
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Has had a "refurb". very nice inside now....tho' I still prefer it as it was. Beer still good - bar staff still nice. It gets quite busy in there now - again I prefer it as it was when it was always nearly empty, but I'm not complaining.
Rob - 13 Jul 2004 16:02 |
Nope. This is Rob the professional alchoholic!
Rob - 18 Mar 2004 15:31 |
is that rob the credit controller from kent? Law firm chap?
aha! - 16 Feb 2004 15:57 |
It's getting busier in there now...............
Rob - 16 Feb 2004 15:39 |
Beer not bad. Pub is always empty, which can be no bad thing around these parts. But this does tend to leave the atmos of the place sadly lacking. Ont he plaus side however the beer is godd and the service is better (not hard as the place is always empty!!)
Nice for a *very* quiet pint.
Rob - 5 Jan 2004 11:22 |
Not much to say really, bit soulless and the table was wobbly. Not a bad pub, but it's not that good and there are a lot nicer places only a few minutes walk away
Lieven - 11 Sep 2003 16:56 |
I had about 50 friends there for my leaving party. Very pleasant.
Ted the manager let me have exclusive use of the the upstairs bar for �100 deposit which was returned at the end of the evening.
Giles - 26 Feb 2003 13:22 |
Quite a nice place, tucked away from the teeming mass that is Villiers Street - upstairs bar preferable. Not the liveliest place to go on a Saturday though - they closed by 10pm this weekend due to lack of custom...
Pauly H - 18 Nov 2002 11:22 |
