please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
In there this afternoon to escape the London concrete heat. Ex-market porter types who have been drinking here for decades and know their stuff - the old boy at the bar reckons he first came in here in '52. I don't know about that but he made convincing reportage about "pimps, prossies, ponces and bent cops" back in the 70s. A good local bar amongst the tourist traps.
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Went there last Friday (8th Feb) and received the worst service I've had in any pub for a long time. Asked the bar staff a few questions about the bar billiards table. Had to repeat every single question. Staff member did not look at me when answering. I was told the table would probably never be fixed as its very expensive. It was such rude service I was speechless!
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A long and narrow interior (like what so many of us beer drinkers are not!) and usually plenty of space at the back even on busy nights. The Sam Smith's which they serve is like Marmite; you love it or hate it. On balance I'll give it 7.
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What a lovely pub. Although the pub looks small from the outside it has a large downstairs bar below. Which we hired out for our work party. The decore gave the function a sort of old cellar feel to it. And with the cheap pints to boost it worked out a fastastic night. The bar staff worked hard, I might have been a bit grumpy to leave but I hope they understand I was just enjoying thier pub. So here is my thanks. And if you are looking for a cheap place to hold a function I recommend you start here.
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A lovely bar, with some enchanting locals. I have been drinking here on an off for a few years now and having recently gone back I was pleasantly surprised with some of the changes made by the new managers, with a plethora of new faces behind the bar and a nice atmosphere. The old bar billiards table is still there and they even have darts now. Shame about the girls toilets not having locks on the doors but I was told they were to be fixed soon. I had a right laugh with my friends over a pint and I would definitely recommend this hidden gem in Soho to anyone.
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Standard Sammy Smith's pub...enjoyed a couple of pints of Old Brewery Bitter post work. Very busy pub but service was prompt and professional.
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Dreadful, horrible, miserably appalling place to drink!!
The pub itself is dank and dark, with awkwardly placed seating arrangements and a thin and impractical avenue between the actual bar and the rest of the "Pub". As seating was hard to come by, my party decided to see if the downstairs area was open as it had been roped off when we first came in. Seeing as the place was filling up (...though why it was still eludes me) we thought it was worth another look. Sure enough, the barrier had been lifted so we ventured downstairs to get a bit of elbow room (and a seat!!), only to be told off like naughty schoolchildren by (I presume?) the "Manager" five minutes later for venturing downstairs because, actually, it was apparently still closed... despite it having been opened?! ...no - I don't understand it either.
We finally found somewhere for the 4 of us to sit about half an hour later when a group of students got up and left... they too, looked like they'd been having the time of their lives. <-- that's sarcasm, by the way.
The bar staff (such as they were) were slow, rude, and clearly begrudging of having to deal with members of the public. The little guy who seemed to be in charge of this travesty of a pub, sighed and huffed and scowled his way through our orders, as if "Customer Service" was just some kind of abstract concept - nothing more than a thought experiment not meant to be applied to the real world as opposed to... you know - the norm.
During our brief (but all too long) stay in this dingy enthusiasm vacuum, we were told to "keep the bloody noise down", chastised for the odd swear word (...in a pub!! ...in Central London?!?!), told off yet again for watching a video on a mobile phone (with the sounds muted, I might add) and actually laughed at and deemed unworthy of custom because only 3 of our party were drinking pints.
We were made to feel about as welcome as a fart in a space-suit, to the point where we didn't even bother to finish our drinks, we just left... gladly.
The ONLY plus point to this social atrocity is that the drinks are pretty cheap but in all honesty, I wouldn't go back there even if the booze was free.
I urge everyone to avoid at all costs.
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I have to agree with the review below... the same wannabe 'geezer' complete with cuts on his hobbit face was there and was the main cause of the problems with what used to be a great pub.
I have been to this pub several times in the last few years, mainly with works parties, which have always been good, pleasant staff and a great atmosphere..... however this all changed last night by the severely rude barman that was running it last night.
Two from our party were drinking soda water (one was driving and one was a little unwell) but that didn't stop the barman for making rude remarks about it. I'm not sure what we had done to warrant such a reaction from him but every-time he walked past us he told us to shut up, stop swearing (?!) and to buy a proper drink, which mystified us as the rest of our party WERE drinking 'proper' drinks! Sorry, but I do not expect to be abused for the choice of drink I buy.
We were constantly stared down aggressively by the barman's friends when ever we came to the bar or left to go to the toilet. One actually made an aggressive gesture which I thought ridiculous as he was wearing a biker jacket and cycing shorts! He would falldown if someone sneezed on him.
Eventually we had enough and decide to leave... and we were met by 'good, you are finally going, take you soda water with you' and more unintelligible verbal abuse by the barman and his 'friends'.
This is totally unacceptable especially as we had gone there for a quiet drink and a meeting. My friends and myself will certainly not be back and I will not book our Christmas parties with them in future.
I will also be contacting the brewery about it.
No laughing, talking, "swearing" or drinking. Even if you find yourself dying of thirst, avoid at all costs!
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Truly of the worst pub experiences I've had in a while. Aside from the air-conditioning being broken, the pub being swelteringly hot and having a particularly off smell, the staff were rude, unwelcoming and clearly thought they were very amusing (at least I think this is what they were going for).
At one point my brother was waiting at the bar holding a ten pound note and attempting to be noticed, the lady at the bar came up to him and said "I hope you're not holding that for me, you hold a tenner out in a f*cking strip club, not a pub!" and walked away. Later she came to serve him without even mentioning it.
The little man behind the bar, I suspect the manager, was sporting a nasty couple of cuts on his face which suggested he'd been punched recently. I imagine whoever caused that had everyone's best interests in mind! A real wannabe 'geezer,' I'm sure he deserved it.
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this pub is a rare gem in the context that it has a delightful interior with many tucked away corners and nooks. it feels like the kinda place that has still not been discovered by the soho elite, whoever they may be. the thing that lets this place down tho is the staff. attentive only to the regulars and very slow in response when waiting to be served. there is an air of aloofness and arrogance in the air and this is a great shame. Good, but could be superb
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I am not a fan of Sam Smiths pubs in general but this one was a nice surprise, do not normally leave online reviews but i felt this pub deserved one for changing my mind somewhat.
I visited earlier in the month on a Tuesday evening with some friends that had noticed they had a pub quiz on. The pub seems small when you first come in but on closer inspection there is a fair bit of room around the back of the bar and was relatively busy for a weeknight so we headed downstairs where the quiz is held, there was a good turnout for the quiz but we managed to find a table.I much prefered the downstairs bar, It has an old school cellar look and the decor is fitting.The landlady was the host of the quiz and she was a great laugh and made sure everybody was looked after and included in the banter. There were lots regulars joining in who are all really friendly and welcoming.
As with all Sam Smiths pubs the prices are really reasonable and the selection of beer is great, i descovered i quite like the cider but i would not bother with the white wine ( yet to meet anybody that likes it!) I am not completely converted to Sam Smiths but this perticular pub was far better than others i have visited. It has a really nice local pub feel which being in an area as busy as soho is a nice thing to find.I will certainly be visiting this pub again ( in face i have popped in a few times since) and would deffo recommend you give it a try if you are in the area.
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Notes from a visit on 11th December 2009:
Last night on the way to the Little Boots concert in Shepherd's Bush, the wife and I fitted in our investigation of London bar billiards pubs number 3: The Glasshouse Stores.........
Interestingly, we couldn't get a game on the table, as it happened to have a competition being played on it amongst 13 men in suits - the annual London Inter-Insurance Company Executives challenge !
I must say the pub had a surprisingly good atmosphere and the 'locals' were exceedingly friendly. Tempting as it was to reposition the pegs in the right place for them, and offer to raise the right hand side of the table to counteract the massive right hand drift, I managed to resist as, basically, they were making the best of the bad conditions - and a huge cheer went up when the youngest lad there 'banana'd the red ball back into the 200 hole !
Pub and table are exactly as shown in the link, apart from the table having 'mushrooms' :o - the pegs got stolen apparently.
I would think that bar billiards here has sufficient interest to be there to stay for some while.
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Another good sam smiths. Much bigger than it looks so you should be able to find a seat. If you can't take your shades off you'll then be able to see one.
Pubman @ twitter
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Nice soho bar with a surprisingly local-ish feel. Not a fan of the ale but I enjoy the bottled beers. Good service too. Worth popping in if passing if not a destination pub. 7/10
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I�m totally fed up with Sam Smith�s pubs. Despite being located slap bang in the middle of Soho none of them have bothered to get late licenses, even for the weekend. You go to the effort of coming into town then find yourself wondering the streets at 11:15 trying to find a place to go.
This one is the worst yet. I was denied service at 10:55 and then hectored on to the street almost immediately. I was a bit rude to the staff in response, for which I apologise. But really, what enough is the problem with staying open at least until the last tube.
If Sam Smith�s as a chain isn�t interested in meeting customers� and Soho�s basic requirements then frankly why don�t they sell up and let someone else have a go?
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Popped in on a saturday afternoon and had a tasty stout and wheat beer. The down stairs bar looked great but wasn't open. I ate a cheap and cheerful steak and and ale pie veg and chips for six pounds. will go back there next time I'm in the area. 8/10.
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Nice place - very quiet and to be honest a little bland as many of the Sam Smith pubs are - but I would go back if Im on my own shopping or whatever in the area and fancy a quiet drink.
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What a superb pub! I popped in on a Saturday night and considering the location just off Piccadilly Circus the place was astonishingly quiet and peaceful. I noticed a few foreign tourists had discovered the place and clearly enjoyed it. It is a beautiful place to relax and unwind in.
I had a really good time in here away from the chaos of Piccadilly Circus with some lovely beers and very friendly clientele & staff.
I love finding a pub I've never been to before and discovering that it is all of a sudden one of my favourites. Much better than some of the dross in this part of London. Places like this need to be cherished. Highly recommended.
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Bar Billiards in a Central London pub!!! Fantastic, but of course you can't get on the table - it's always well used.
Actually the rest of the pub doesn't shape too bad either. If the front is busy then try through the back where you can usually find a seat.
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Sam Smith's, so you know what to expect.
Bad drains odour which seems to permeate the locale, and not just the boozer.
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Fair enough Mark. It's all a matter of taste of course. I met someone once who swore by the quality of John Smith's Smoothflow; I was in another pub when someone walked through the door - "pint of Fosters John?" answer was: "No, it's rubbish, I'll have a pint of Carling". Personally, I don't much like the taste of keg OBB, but that's just my subjective opinion - if you like it, then good for you. At their prices you are on a winner! Where Sam Smith's do win hands down (and I'm sure this is something on which we will agree!) is on the management of their estate. Just look at the excellent work they have undertaken on the Princess Louise; and the Champion is also a sight to behold. And there are many others. If only Young's had the same attitude.
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My dear RexRattus, I do apologise if I upset you though my comment (opinion) wasn't aimed at you specifically. I can assure you I am very much fussed about how my beer is served and I agree wholeheartedly that it is crucial to what makes an excellent pub. I cry out loud when I read so many people bellyaching because this pub's "only got keg". The keg in The Glass House Stores (and all the other Sam Smith's boozers I've been to) would knock most run of the mill, mass produced, hand pumped bitters into a cocked hat (you know the beers I'm talking about). We should recognise this pub for what it is, a small(ish), independent brewery outlet dedicated to providing us with the kind of drinking experience that is fast disappearing. You obviously enjoy a good beer so by all means ignore dregs like John Smiths and it's ilk, but you're shooting yourself in the foot if you refuse your custom to pubs like The Glass House Stores. That's why I cry out loud!
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It's not as simple as that cfcmark. For some of us how the beer is served is absolutely crucial to what makes a fantastic pub. If you're not fussed about that sort of thing then fair enough, it's your call and your opinion is as valid as anyone else's. But it's only an opinion, and I'm not sure why you would want to cry out loud just because others have a different opinion to yours as to what makes a great pub.
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For crying out loud, this is a fantastic London pub regardless of how it's beer is served!
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As mentioned previously, this is a Sam Smith�s pub with no OBB on hand pump putting it off the radar for many drinkers.
I�ve been in better SS pubs.
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One of my favorite pubs in central London and I come here several times a month. This place has old school charm rather than the bland carbon copy "all bar one" types. Staff are always chilled out, the punters are quite laid back which makes for a pleasant atmosphere. Great selection of drinks that you can't find quite readily. Usually no problem to find a place to sit. The only downside is the food. I would never eat here again but that doesn't stop me from coming to enjoy a pint. 9 points for atmosphere, 3 points for the food.
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A decent enough little Sam Smith�s pub, but as they only have keg beers on they won�t be getting my custom.
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Nice Sam Smiths pub - but an awful smell as you walk in - rear of pub smell free !
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As with many Sam Smith's pubs in the area, would be much better with OBB on handpunp. However, its a decent enough place and there are worse things than a pint of draught stout at a little over �2.
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Used to be my work local for 5 very great years. Miss it lots.
Great staff that knew who you were, great beer (Fat man) and fun times.
Hope to make it my local again soon!
Busy on Thursday and friday nights, but always easy to get served. Great area downstairs for hire and also to go and hide in the coves or around the back!
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love it
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On a sodden saturday afternoon enjoyed a pleasant pair of pints here, with a nice crowd of regulars and the barman/maid. There didn't seem to be any bitter on pump so I had some "alpine lager" instead (the "man in the box" as it used to be) and it was most pleasing.
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Not bad at all. Very reasonably priced for the location, you can generally get a table, bar billiards and generally good atmosphere. It's a Sam Smiths which limits the beverage choices.
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Popped in for a pint and some food with a couple of friends. Most of the downstairs area was shut and they wouldn't serve anything to eat upstairs so we left and went to the Duke of Argyll up the road. Same beer on offer there but a more helpful attitude towards customers.
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Excellent, excellent, excellent. Cheap beer, nice clientele, friendly staff, lots of seats. Perfick.
anonymous - 1 Oct 2007 17:53 |
Bout time the bar billiards table was fixed.Nice pub and a decent pint of stout in there too.
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A nice pub generally, never overly crowded or rowdy. The only reason we sought it out originally was because it is one of the few in central london to have a bar billiards table. (please tell me if you know of any others). The table was very dodgy, and wobbled a lot. In need of a good clean and a bit of a refurb, but it worked....until recently.
It's been out of order about a month now. :-( No signs that anyone is going to bother to fix it. A shame to lose another table of an increasingly rare game :-( Please fix the table someone!!
P0lly - 29 Jun 2007 10:55 |
I agree about the late licence.Sick to the back teeth of bloody London pubs ramming me out of the door at 10.30 sharp on a sunday night.This pub is a great little place and does a great line in Sam Smiths ales.Recommended and also one of my locals in the West end.
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Much bigger than it looks from the outside, with a typical mahogany and etched mirrors Samuel Smith interior. Service on our visit was slowish, but pleasant enough. Clientele was borderline Nathan Barleys and elderly Soho lushes. Seems a bit more pricey than other Smith's pubs, but still very cheap. There was a poster up behind the bar announcing the fact that none of the brewery's products are advertised in any media. I like the Sam Smith's eccentric approach to retail, and I like their beer, too, though in London I stick to their Pure Brewed Lager. Good place.
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Have been a few times - friendly staff, comfortable and in a really central location.
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the tardis - a small entrance leading to loads of bar space. comfortably (in more ways than one) the best pub in soho, although it's getting busier as more people discover it. the beer is very very good value for the area.
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why don't they get a late license? would make it perfect.
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Cant say enough good things about this pub! A diamond in the rough - how naff!! Lovely atmosphere and good (exceptionally) cheap beer!
Beware of the toilets though, verybody thinks the Ladies loo is haunted!!
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Excellent cheap beer in a really handly location. Food generally good, although the prices have gone up a bit too much lately. But the beer prices make up for it! Recommended.
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Such an amazing find - unbelievably cheap, decent quality beer and really friendly atmosphere despite being right in the centre of soho. Would really recommend!
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This looks like a tiny pub when you go in but it is actually enormous. The Alpine Lager is worth a drink and I believe the stout is acceptable. Good to see a bar billiards table in central London. A real hidden gem in Soho.
Paddy - 10 Feb 2006 10:24 |
Great pub that I have only recently discovered but will be going there regularly from now on. Sam Smith's beer is not to everyone's taste, though I am quite happy with it, but you can't complain at the prices. Nice staff. Bar billiards table is welcome (though it's positioned so as to cause a log-jam on the way to the loo if anyone is playing).
anonymous - 9 Jan 2006 11:40 |
stumbled on this place by accident, suprisingly down to earth and friendly (if a little smokey)
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Nice Victorian number in the heart of Soho. Bit of a rabbits warren. Sam Smith's, so cheap as you like, but doesn't beat the nearby Duke of Argyll for friendly staff.
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A Sam Smiths pub - that means low prices and love �em or hate �em beers. No beers on handpump but I personally find the Sam Smiths keg beers fine. The pub itself is a never ending journey through nooks and crannys. Just when you get to the end, there is another bit further on and even a small nook at the bottom of an apparently redundant stairwell. Very Victorian in style with etched glass and mirrors. Walls plastered with pictures and mirrors. Downstairs cellar bar (didn�t try it). A couple of games machines and the crowning glory right at the back of the pub�a bar billiards table. Well worth a visit.
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Another wonderful Sam Smiths pub. This is a small Soho establishment that manages to make the most of the awkward available space to create cosy leather bound nooks and crannies rich with 1930's detail. The Singing Detective would love this place. All wood and mirrors. Carry on going and you find the space expands at the back, dropping down to a small alcove in one corner and a charming cellar bar in another. All the beers are keg and lacking in character, but they are cheap and drinkable. Typical pub food, but they do offer a good value veggie sausage and mash for under �7.00
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I love this place. It was here, many years ago, I first tasted the mentalist delights of the D Pils (and suffered the hangover the next day - beware, drink at your own risk).
Not the cosiest of drinking holes but for some no-nonsense cheap drinking fun in the heart of Soho you can't really beat it.
Me and a mate tried drinking all the beers through in one sitting which made us a big hit with the barmaids. We retired without completing, promising to review our tactics and return.... and we will... oh yes we will.
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What a strange experience!! I have never heard of the beers they sell...or the liqour for that matter. But it was a really nice pub, and beer being so cheap in the West End...who can complain!! However they could try and make it a bit cosier...thought the lighting was horrible..
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This is one of my favourite pubs in London. It has the qualities of a good local, somewhat lacking in Soho, and the beer is both delicious and inexpensive - a welcome Sam Smiths trait.
Add to this a bar billiards table, affable staff and a friendly atmosphere and you will understand why I like it so much!
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Nice pub totally let down (in my opinion) by only having Sam Smiths on keg
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this is, the most, fantastic place to have your sunday beers,only locals pub left in soho,if no-one has told you about it, you'll have to find out about it yourself, because this place dont advertise. it rocks!
john - 31 Oct 2004 01:06 |
very nice pub good food good drinks lovley to you would luv the pub
anonymous - 30 Jul 2004 16:08 |
Another top Samuel Smith's pub. Tends to get very busy, but is worth squeezing into for good cheap beer and lovely aussie barmaids heh heh. Note that it isn't actually on Glasshouse Street but Brewer Street. Close to Piccadilly Circus tube too.
Larry - 19 May 2004 15:30 |
Nice place, tucked away from the hoardes in Piccadilly. Worth finding.
anonymous - 15 Jan 2004 22:00 |
"Free the Bavarian Six!". So we used to say about the "men in the box" that sit on the bar at the Town Wharf in Isleworth. And so this pub continues the tradition of high quality Samuel Smith boozers. Some don't take to the lager but I like it (Prinz is lethal and the Pils packs a punch too). The pub itself is well worth a visit and I have been intending to pay another visit for a while now.
Good for: An all-rounder.
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Great little pub. A really nice West End pub where you can pretty much guarantee somewhere to sit any night of the week.
Jon W - 13 Aug 2003 12:09 |
Lovely little Sam Smith's boozer - fight your way past the narrow bar area to the back of the pub where there is plenty of seating and, to our great joy, a bar billiards table!! Decent basement bar with plenty of old fashioned leather-clad seating. Serve food until 9pm. Its got a couple of Aussie barmen who are quite a laugh, plus a few euro-barmaids, who are easily confused by drunken English billiards players, although they all seem to respond to the request for "three pints of that man in the box". Cabbies don't seem to know it exists though, as they always try and take you to the Glassblower which is just up the road. Well worth a visit.
Pauly H - 8 Jul 2003 14:25 |
