please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very quirky and an institution. Agree it has a more mixed/bohemian crowd than most of the pubs full of lawyers in this part of London.
Beer quality (both Harvey's and Sharps Cornish Coaster) exceptional and certainly a place to take people unfamiliar with London/if you are going on a crawl of old/quirky pubs.
Real trek up steep narrow stairs to the toilets as others have said!
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Visited for old times sake. Neither Roxy nor her cat were there. Despite being 6' 2" and over 15 stone I seemed invisible as the bar staff served legal types who had arrived after me! My pint of Darkstar was good but the Adnams wasn't quite right. Not sure how it should be changed but something need changing!
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A survivor from pre-Great Fire days, this is a long narrow pub right in the middle of the Inns of Court area. Eclectic decor and surprisingly bohemian for such an area.
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Visited this pub a week or so back.Nice setting and you pass a few land marks on you way from Holborn station.Pub is small and a bit grotty to say the least),but the beer was excellent. I had both the Adnams southwold and the Harveys IPA.
Barman was chirpy enough,but the pub isn't overly friendly. Got the distinct impression I wasn't particurly welcome to be honest.Glad I went, but wont return. it gets a 6 for the quality of the ale alone
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Grotty little place that clearly has its fans. The beer's okay, the staff don't seem any worse than many other London pubs and the stairs are steep. The men's toilets are out of order at the moment and I doubt they'll be fixed any time soon. I suppose a visit here is part of the great London pub experience but I wouldn't recommend a return.
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A short walk down from Chancery Lane brings me to pub number one of my Friday night crawl.
I’ve never been here before and am quite taken aback but what a lovely old looking pub this is, it’s almost hidden in amongst the buildings
Hanging baskets outside give a colourful look to the dark building that apparently dates from 1602!
Old floor boards inside, it feels very Intimate. There are a few impressive mirrors advertising breweries hanging on the walls giving the impression it’s larger inside than it actually is.
Now to the beers….5 pumps which were dispensing 3 ales they were Dark Star Hophead, Adnams Southwold & Broadside. I opted for 2 pints of Hophead and they were both excellent.
Unfortunately I didn’t see the pub cat on my visit.
A great pub to start a Friday night pub crawl in, now onto Clerkenwell.
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A London classic presided over by the gregarious Roxy Beaujolais, this is tucked away enough to be unknown to the city boy crowd that pollutes other nearby establishments while the ale selection - Darkstar Hophead included - is always well judged. Food on the evidence of previous visits is very good and the film posters make for a nice sense of decoration. I also don't mind the cat.
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Historical small alehouse in the heart of 'lawyer' territory. The ale (Harveys) was okay but am not too keen on sharing my barspace with a moggy even if it is wearing a ruff. Usually you would see food and water for pub pets on the floor - here it is in your face on the bar. Am surprised they get away with it - you would think one of the m''learned lot from across the road would have got round to suing them after suffering a bout of distemper/cat mange or whatever. Worth a looksee for the quaintness but not a place for ailurophobics - or people who like a bar to be hygenic for that matter.
anonymous - 29 Jun 2014 21:30 |
I have been drinking here for years and always wanted to know what the food was like. Well I found out..... Big time!
I ate the fish pie on a Saturday night and went home about 9pm. At midnight I awoke to feel my body contorting in shivers and I desperately staggered to the loo. Needless to say I threw up more than twice that night, and had the most chronic diarrhea of my life. I fainted at one point and my arms went numb. I spent the next two days in bed in a kind of coma, unable to move or eat and desperately weak.
I am planning to sue the woman who runs this filth hole, who allows cats to eat off the bar and God knows what else in the kitchen! I'm currently taking advice on how to report them for food health violations and how much I can expect to receive in compensation for the hurt I have suffered.
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I'd forgotten how small this pub was, until my return visit on Friday evening. On entry the pub cat was sat on the bar with some biscuits and water. After the cat had departed, you could have been forgiven for thinking that the biscuits were some kind of bar snack! The pub basically has 3 drinking sections - the main bar area, which is rather narrow and 2 seating areas either side, where you can dine. The one to the left hand side is slightly more modern, whereas the one to the right is far more traditional. Toilets are up a narrow and steep staircase. There are just 2 cubicles and when you go upstairs, you feel as if you are truly in somebody's house. Food being prepared in the kitchen smelt very tempting. Ales on were Adnams Bitter & Broadside, Sambrooks Wandle & Sharps Cornish Coaster. Cider is Aspalls. Well worth a visit and tucked just enough out of the way to ensure it doesn't get too overcrowded.
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Historic pub not far from Fleet Street. Found it after aiming for the Wetherspoons at the end of the road which was closed for a private function. Small, narrow bar area makes it feel cosy. Good choice of ales, the Doom Bar and Black Sheep were well kept. A touch on the pricey side but then this is London. Worth popping in if you're passing
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Nicely quirky (definitely a French café feel) and the Southwold Bitter was very good this lunchtime. A friendly welcome and worth a visit for one or two.
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Yes, all very historical but as a pub leaves a lot to be desired. My pint of something called Redemption tasted like Jeyes Fluid, absolutely undrinkable, the barman tried a bit and said "Well, it tasted like this last night, you're welcome to buy a pint of something else if you want." Aw, thanks mate, you're all heart. I'm sure you're the expert, but just don't ever expect us back.
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Decent boozer, great pint of Hophead, would imagine it gets mobbed dinner times and evenings.
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Odd pub...decor more like a French cafe, with loads of arty posters and plastic chquered table cloths....however the beer was good...would re visit if on a pub crawl, but wouldn't go there for a session..
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An idiosyncratic pub, quite food oriented with the flavours of the food being served very evident. Great pub architecture and obviously a rather historic pub. Rather packed on a Saturday night we still managed to find a table. The toilets are up a steep staircase, en-route you can see a shambolic office and hear a Wagnerian opera blaring out and then there's the kitchen with the unmistakable smells of Eastern European cuisine accompanied by a woman loudly chatting in Russian on her mobile. The Sambrooks beer we had was superb, the best beer we had on our crawl, I will return.
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Matski57 obviously doesn't get this place. The old Aussie he refers to is the owner Roxy, a west end and Soho legend of the Norman from The Coach mould of proprietor. If you don't have the personality to impose yourself, in the time honoured tradition of the real British pub, then best to give this great old place a miss.
Darbs - 14 Jan 2012 13:44 |
Others have commented on the "quirky" staff and that is one word you could use! My friends and I went for a quiet drink here when it wasn't busy but generally got the impression we were an inconvenience. The barman with the funny glasses walked out of the pub for 20mins half way through serving us with no apology when he came back. The old aussie barmaid eventually pried herself from some regulars to come over but then spoke to us like we'd insulted her family. I don't know, maybe if you're a regular or one of the local lawyers you might get treated with a degree of respect. No need to be arrogant and rude. Poor show.
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Went here with my Dad the other night as it was his local when he worked in London 40 years ago. He was very pleased to see that they still hadn't mended the sticking door into the right hand bar ! Had roasted Guinea Fowl and a couple of unusual ales (for a central London pub). All top notch. I funny little place with loads of character and plenty of quirks. A lot of people won't get it at all which obviously makes it great (and not too busy...) Going back next week for more of the same.
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One of the oldest buildings and pubs in ldn. Decent pint. Flies swarming around the bar off putting. Guaranteed a conversation about the toilets.
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Went again last night - had the corned beef hash. Full credit to the cook here: food is systemtically of the same good standard. Beers consumed included Wandle and Adnams, both absolutely top notch. Love this place!
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Nice old interesting boozer.
The cat was on the bar in it's lawyers outfit, and was drinking out of the sink. The pubs has some of the steepest wobbly steps up to the bog.
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This is one of the London pubs I have intended to visit for years, and finally made it on Tuesday. Having read the reviews beforehand, it was almost exactly as I had expected. The cat was on the bar wearing a ruff round its neck, the staff were OK, the overall ambience was quirky but pleasant, the visit to the gents was vertiginous and the place was full of jolly decent legal types. �3.60 seems quite a lot to pay for a low-gravity ale, but the Hophead was fine. Well worth visiting, but I wouldn't rush back.
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oh, and they served us food at the bar, some sort of toulouse sausage affair and it really was excellent but my wife's request for some sort of gravy was met with horror/terror, they refused to ask the cook/chef but agreed to make some as long as we didn't tell the cook/chef
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I like this pub very much indeed, yes the barstaff are quirky if not outright moody but if you roll with it rather than getting offended it's cool, I had a lovely few hours with the wife sitting at the bar, various usually pissed types came in and got the almighty hump with the staff, to my barely concealed amusement. If you want smart and efficient service then avoid I suppose, if you can get on with the humour and style of a place like this then try it, as others have said, it's different and in a good way, the beer I've had in there has always been A1
there's so many bland chain pubs out there doing it by the book that's it's a joy to see a place with it's own style
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Another famously quirky central London pub that divides opinion. It�s certainly a unique little place and made a real impression on me the first time I went � there are some great original features that earn it a mention in CAMRA�s book of London Heritage Pubs, two small cosy rooms to drink in, checked tablecloths that recall a Parisian salon, a resident cat that skulks around the bar and lets you stroke it, and the toilet is up a very steep flight of stairs, next to the proprietors� study-cum-office which normally blares out opera CDs while you take a leak. A Pitcher and Piano this isn�t. But to be honest once the various novelties have worn off, you are left with a pretty average pub that is clearly trading off its reputation, dispensing beer of questionable quality and employing notoriously rude staff. I don�t think I�ve ever encountered Roxy, the famous landlady, but I have certainly encountered one of her minions and he looks at you like you�ve ruined his day every time you place an order. Nowadays I usually only go in here if I am taking someone else for their first visit � it seems to get more disappointing each time I go back.
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Visited Wedesday lunch had a pint of Hop Head. The glass was flithy. Bar staff appeared to be doing me a favour my serving me. The actual pub is historic but very small i am sure any busy time you will be forced out on to the pavement. The experience could have easierly been made more pleasant. 4/10 just because of the state of the glass.
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The pub has more character per square inch than any other in London. Well kept ales on tap, Dark Stars Winter Warmer was grand last weekend. Don't understand why the teams personalities are criticised - real people with real character add to the fun and charm of being there.
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Lovely little pub but....
The rudest landlady in London totally spoils it, absolutely disgraceful.
Can't be bothered going into the details.
Won't be going back.
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This place is very special indeed. Great bar staff and best management (TOM!!!). Best time to go:
week-ends!
Sadly it is expensive like most pubs in central London but it is very enjoyable indeed
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Such a shame that the barmaid/waitress is so sullen and rude. Discovered this gem (one of the very few pubs in the City of London that is open on a weekend) 4 years ago. Great crowd, and the atmosphere was heightened by the characterful landlady Roxy Beaujolais. Re-visited for the first time in ages on Saturday 11 September 2010 and noticed a real difference in atmosphere. Empty glasses on tables, barmaid doing nothing behind the bar. She told us off for taking a photograph. When we returned our empty glasses to the bar upon leaving, she walked away from us (avoiding eye-contact) until we were out the door before picking up the glasses. Very odd behaviour, and, unfortunately, it soured our visit.
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A small pub with a long (400 year) history - apparently Dirk Bogarde used to drop in half a centuary ago. On to now. You would be hard pressed to find more ignorant and arrogant staff, and the beer is not brillant either. Worth a visit if sight-seeing otherwise not worth the bother!
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Still worth a vist for a pint or two, charming pub but disintrested bar staff makes it not as welcoming as it once was. Dark Star's moon on the water was ok the other options were hophead and Adnams.
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Thought I would give it another try a couple of weeks back. Pleasant service with the first pint but when I returned for another a different person was serving and they had their head where the sun does not shine. If I want this level of rudeness and grubbiness it is cheaper to use the Northern Line. Sad if it disappeared but it would be an own goal!
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Still a but special though to be honest it's a sad reflection of what it was like 4-5 years back. Trading on past glories, even though a lot of the staff and clientele that made it special are no longer around. Even Tom is getting lazy. Beer far less reliable than it was in Terry's day, despite the extortionate prices. Still worth a visit if one's in the area but if I was planning a night out I'd head for the Olde Mitre instead.
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The pub in itself is charming, dated back to 1602, a little jewel within the Holborn area.
Unfortunately the young waitress who reluctantly "served" us was extremely rude, which spoiled the experience.
I regrettably might not go back there but I will instead definitely go back to "Ye Old White Horse", within walking distance, which, although not looking as charming, is also full of history and has a much friendlier crew (check out for smily Damien!)
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Dirty dirty dirty but stil charming
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Obviously the last comment is from the chef!! One comment posted, all about the kitchen in this dump!!
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This place is fantastic, highly recommended. As for the people down below me who are complaining that they were told that food was off etc, if you had come upstairs to look at the size of the kitchen you may be a little more understanding. There's barely room to swing the pub cat tom Paine let alone cook and serve 20 different meals in a matter of minutes. Perhaps next time your large group should go to a wetherspoons as it sounds like you enjoy sterile, boring places and are too slow to connect that a tiny pub may not have a huge kitchen with a staff of 5.
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"she carried on her conversation whilst asking us what we wanted"
Replace that with a HE' and my comment is the same as below. When you serve a �3.50 pint at least stop talking to your friend at the bar and engage the customer.
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It's hard to tie down just what is the appeal of this pub. It has history , it's dirty
hasn't had any money spent on it in ages, it's expensive and the bar staff are efficient if not charming. Perhaps it is just rarity - a disappearing kind.
We would miss it if it went being the theory.
Darkstar and Adnams always on, I had the Hopback Fuggles on my visit.�3.50.
Eclectic clientele
Verdict. "To be in Carey st." is an old saying for you were being made bankrupt in the nearby law courts. If you have, drown your sorrows here if you can still afford it.
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popped in for quiet pint,hophead from dark star on and hop back fuggles ,always good in here ....ales too
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Nice little place, little being the operative word, but friendly and interesting decor, sat at a table in a little room to the right of the bar. feels more like your in a Parisian cafe almost with the table cloths etc.......gave the steep winding stairs a whirl to the gents and encountered the little black cat everyone has mentioned, at the top is the kitchen area etc and had a pleasant lady with pink hair say hello (the owner?) - all in all very pleasant - but certainly an acquired taste....not the sort of place you would want to go relax and drink a few - its a bit more of a one-pint-and-off-to-the-main-pub type of place.
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Great pub, slightly off the wall but all the more intresting for it. You can feel the history as you walk in. Beers are good often dark star available, well worth a visit.
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Was very disappointed with my visit here just after lunchtime, midweek. The barmaid was more interested in chatting to a friend over the bar than serving and when she finally got round to serving us she carried on her conversation whilst asking us what we wanted. Very rude and off hand service. The bitter was cold and fizzy, and over priced. Wont bother coming in here again for sure. Faded glory without doubt. Quite tragic given its reputation.
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a real gem. good pint of broadside and love the parisian style table cloths. always a great atmosphere. i remmember visiting this pub years ago when it was heaving with lawyers,students and tourists all squashed together. was slightly worse for wear, and asked the acerbic barman bantering with several of the bar flies for a pink gin. to this day i dont know why....great pub
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This is one of the truly great pubs of London. Visually charming it is packed with, yes often eccentric, but stunningly educated, talented and amusing human beings; from the law, show-biz, architecture and other creative works, as well as many clergy and a few professors from the nearby London School of Economics. This level of talent includes many of the bar staff; who run other successful ventures outside of The Seven Stars.
It is a community-pub at heart, with more than a few living actually in the City itself (including myself, a regular over the last 3 years). Approach it in this way, and you will find it charming. Come in expecting the false politeness of scripted chain-pubs, and you will find it impossibly difficult.
The menu is tasty and changes daily. Only what's written on the board is on the menu. This does not include chips...in fact it never includes chips. Once told this do not keep asking if you can have chips (or a cup of tea!)....you can't, and often results in what some have chosen to see as rudeness.
The pub is small (very small) having its foundation 350 years ago. If you come as a large group you may find it difficult unless you want to stand outside (which you may have to anyway in the evening as it's often packed to the gills post workday.) Much better to pop in on your own and find an interesting conversation. Conversations about football and women are in the hen's-teeth category, although Dan behind the bar can talk bloodlines of racehorses with the best of them.
The latrines to be fair are up some very steep stairs (coming down is more difficult), ...because steep stairs were fashionable 350 years ago. Indeed for most of the history of this pub patrons used the now closed public toilets at the entrance to Lincoln's Inn. Thus the current need for the climb-of-death.
In short, the Seven Stars is like Narnia's Aslan - �He's not a tame lion...but he is good�.
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Visited after a long gap with a friend who was interested in visiting this eccentric pub. Barmaid was quite pleasant when we brought our first drink - rather average Adnams. My friend wanted a second as he wanted to look at the photographs in the lounge(?) bar. It was a trial getting served by the extremely rude arrogant barman with head where the sun does not shine. Needless to say we had the third in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in nearby Fleet Street!
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I totally love this pub. For me, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to The Seven Stars. I can't believe all the negative comments I'm seeing here. I assume they are from pampered tourists, unaccustomed to being part of the real world. Roxy, the owner, is a fabulous if eccentric hostess. She never fails to make me feel completely at home. The stairs to the restroom are a valuable tool to measure one's level of intoxication. Of course, if you find out you're unable to climb the stairs, then there is another problem.
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Not sure what to make of this place. A long, narrow pub with two smaller rooms at either end. The three rooms are painted in different shades of lurid red. Plastic gingham tablecloths cover the tables. We were served by a surly barmaid with an American/Canadian accent who was more interested in talking to the lone customer at the bar than serving us.
Three handpumps, - the Dark Star Hophead clip was turned around, with only Over The Moon and Adnam's Broadside available. I had a pint of Over The Moon, which was a very good dark mild.
A middle-aged lady with shocking pink hair, who I took to be the landlady, appeared behind the bar at one point. She seemed to be up herself.
A dangerously steep staircase leads to the toilet which is a single lavatory. To the right of this an open door revealed what looked like an office, out of which was blaring loud opera music.
I'm not sure what kind of place this is supposed to be, but it is certainly very strange.
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Absolutely terrible service and attitute from the staff.
Waited over an hour for roast duck only to be told very rudely that they had run out of everything, therefore �the food�s off�.
No apology and generally very unfriendly. I would definately recommend people eat and drink elsewhere.
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Don't go! I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than support this place. Rude rude rude. Wait until the current owner goes out of business, then go! The place itself is quite cute, but the staff and owner have no idea how to treat people. We ordered food, waited an hour, to be told there was none left. No apology, nothing. Add to this a general surly attitude and they endear themselves to no one. They'd give the notoriously rude staff at Wonkeys a run for their money.
An hour of this, and finally 20 of us left for the Cheshire Cheese on Fleet St, where they were fun and polite, made us feel welcome, and fed us - woohoo!
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A lovely dump! Charming yet filthy, looks gorgeous but smells, great choices of beer in opaque glasses and dubious condition and staff that look like people but have the manners of farmyard animals. Albeit animals who can do the Guardian crossword.
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Eclectic , eccentric, pricey, priceless and a bit of a poncey pub. Its important that establishments like The Seven Stars exist. 2 Adnams and 2 Dark Stars seem the standard output. The dark stars were lovely.
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This is a tiny little pub which was heaving during my visit. Adnams seemed to be the order of the day on the five pumps and I have to report on having no problems with the staff, although my stay in the pub was brief as I ended up standing outside with the vast majority of other drinkers.
I would pop back in here again at a quieter time if passing.
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No,no, no, no. Manners are essential. No fawning, or sycophantic behaviour from staff would be welcome. But apart from Dan, they are exceptionally rude, foulmouthed and nasty. And its still very very dirty.
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Certainly one of London's most eccentric and characterful hostelries, albeit that competition in either arena is sadly dwindling with the ongoing insensitive and bland refurbishment/re-branding mania, and of course frequent closure altogether.
At first I wondered whether the pub was trying too hard to attain this niche, although in time I decided that any affectations were entirely a reflection of the landlady's own persona, and given that they won't necessarily appeal to all passing trade it's hard to argue a case for them being deliberate attempts to garner extra business. Personally, I quite enjoyed the novelty of stuffed animals, a windy and narrow staircase to the latrines, and the landlady's living quarters all being on open display, to a soundtrack of 1950s music hall LPs.
And even if the all this theatre and sometimes whimsical campery isn't to your liking, if fine ale is, then still you must come here, as there will be much to delight you. 2 beers from Dark Star on (a relative rarity in these parts) amongst others, and both were superb.
Being a large group and a fine mellow evening we opted to stand outside rather than try and cram ourselves into the bar area. Service seemed efficient enough, although "Roxy" didn't muster even the faintest of acknowledgements or pleasantries as I let her pass on the stairway. For someone who ostensibly is such a stagey old dear, she appeared remarkably unexpressive all round, but perhaps one must earn one's niceties at the Seven Stars. In any case, whilst it may deter many, it will not in my case, as at least it provides a clear signal that undue airs, graces and endeavours to ingratiate are entirely pointless and one is spared having to make the effort.
I do imagine this is a place where one could slip in for a quickie (no "oo-ers" please) and end up having an enthralling, if not slightly bemusing, conversation with one of the regulars.
I must say, it's easy to knock, but damned hard not to enjoy all the same!
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Listen, this is a wonderful pub. The beer and food are terrific and the staff are lovely, liberal, friendly human beings. If you want fawning service and to be called "sir" all the time, then go to one of the boring chains. But if you value good company, eclectic conversation and staff who will help you with the Guardian crossword, this is the place for you. Mind you, I'd prefer if you didn't come - I want it to myself!
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I've heard several people say similar things about the strange behaviour of the staff, and if it's all true, then it's inexcusable. Personally, I haven't had any problem at all, so will continue to use it. The beer is great, maybe it's best just to keep well away from the staff.
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Excellent little pub, full of character. People friendly (including the fat black cat hogging the bar stool) superb beer. Strange toilet arrangements, but nevertheless, I shall go there again.
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A gem of a pub, one of my favourites in the area. Great home cured herring and potato salad and a pint of cold Bitburger and the two barmaids were very friendly and welcoming, what else could you ask for.
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Certainly an anthropological goldmine - where lawyers go to die (or at least to get themselves through sunday evening) and the nature of hospitality proffered is very much of the Marmite variety.
Can't complain on factual grounds with many of the gripes expressed on these pages, but I've got to say that i like this place, particularly when sat on the kerb opposite with a pint of a nice beer from Sussex, a drinking buddy/life partner and the evening sun on your face. Quite novel resting your pint on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice too.
Definitely worth a pint or three here, make your own mind up. It's certainly unique.
gcc24 - 12 Apr 2009 20:29 |
Nonsense, it's a great pub. Returned on Wednesday for 4 and a half perfectly served pints of Landlord (3 other real ales available), a delicious plate of herrings and potato salad, and half a plate of cheese. Bar staff and fellow drinkers more than pleasant. Go to this pub.
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First time in here yesterday and I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed. The service (by the Landlady I think) was surly and on the point of being rude and the place seemed to have something of a pretentiousness about it. The beer (Hophead) was ok but rather too flat for my liking. Shame really, because the pub itself is a place with a certain amount of character and charm to it. Can't say that I'll be back in a hurry.
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The fat landlady sees herself as a bit of a character but is in fact bad news, especially when the weather gets hot.
Beer very poorly kept but what do you expect for �3.30 a pint.
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Was in there in the afternoon and the service was fine and friendly, but it was quiet at the time. Four ales on the pumps but all were freezing cold.
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Just the most unfriendly pub in London. The landlady seems to me to be suffering from some kind of narcissistic disorder and the staff are just plain rude. The atmosphere is unpleasant and the place is badly run. We were treated like we were most unwelcome for the whole of our visit. We were going to eat, but decided against it given the reception and so left after two rounds. Really, truly, avoid this pub at all costs its horrid.
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Service?? What is wrong with this bar? Is is haunted?? Is it not really their fault?? Is there some sort of curse that makes your arse swallow your head as you walk behind this bar?? Why when they walk behind this bar do people get a superiority complex?? Can't understand it. Especially when its a very very "chunky" person with a corset outside her clothes. Come on, you've had it too good for too long 7 stars. How about not being W*****S, even for a day, for charity!! You can even wear your XXXXXXL corset, blondie. Whaddayasay, correct that!!
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One of my favourite pubs in London, full of character but definitely best visited when it's quiet. It gets very busy on weekday early evenings (although standing outside is fine in good weather as it's a pretty quiet backwater of a street).
The main letdown of this pub is that certain bar staff are very full of themselves, slow and rude - in particular, the two blokes. The women who work there are generally pretty pleasant.
The beer is generally pretty good. The food is excellent.
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Very busy when I visited here on Friday 6pm. Dark Star Hophead and T.T Landlord both on offer, I chose the Hophead which was perfect.
Thought there was snacks laid out on the bar, realised that it was actually cat food, the bowl of water should have been a giveaway, the cat was nowhere to be seen though.
Nice little pub, woth visiting at a quieter time of day I should imagine.
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The beer is always good. I have never eaten here but the food looks good. I love charmingly bad service... simply bad bad rude service here. Making a potentially great eccentric environment sour and ugly.
After a particularly bad experience, being incorrectly and inappropriately corrected on my grammar twice on ordering, before I felt grieved enough to 'defend' myself (and linguistic purity), I have decided to spread the word.
A pub I would have once have championed, I will avoid so as not to be backcombed by the self indulgent ego massaging of the repugnant staff.
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A lawyers pub, attracting many of the beer-sodden barristers from the nearby courts. Very expensive and pretentious food, but it wasn't bad. Beer was fine on my recent visit. Eccentric landlady calling herself Roxy Beaujolais, and a cat that wears an Elizabethan ruff and has run of the bar top. Pu is full of bric-a-brac, and tables with plastic covers in the main eating area.
Not wonderful, but fairly charming in its own way. Worth a visit, but probably needs to take its head out of its arse and pay a bit more attention to customer service.
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Baffling recent comments on here. A rare pub with genuine charm, lovely bar staff, very well-kept decent beer and a landlady who is as hospitable to regulars as she is formidable to any random punters behaving badly. Given the location it does attract lawyers - but nowhere's perfect.
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Not what it was & living on its past reputation.
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I agree with the last review. It smells of cats and I definately wouldn't want to order food. Nonetheless, the beer has always seemed quite good to me and the decor isn't bad.
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I agree with all comments about charm and history etc. What I can't believe is no-one has mentioned the dirt.This is by far the most filthy pit I have ever seen considering the extortionate prices maybe the odd wipe here and there might not be out of order. and has ANYONE ever ever EVER got a clean glass in here???
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The Seven Stars used to be one of my favourite London pubs. Whenever I was in the area (usually every four to six weeks) I would pop in. However this year it has plunged down my league table. A couple of years ago I had nothing but praise for it.
This year, though, it has gone downhill rapidly and I have decided my last visit a fortnight ago will be my last! Having visited about half a dozen times it does not appear to be a one off glitch. The staff now seem incredibly sullen and slow. To make matters worse if they see someone they recognise come in after you they tend to serve them first. On a couple of occasions the beer has not seemed 100%. It is also becoming increasingly expensive. When I went in with a group of friends we worked out that one was charged �4-50 for a lukewarm Magners over ice. Considering a number of pubs in the area, such as the �King & Keys� have closed down in recent years the Seven Stars cannot afford to become complacent. For me it is time to move on. I will, though, keep an eye on this entry to see if things start to improve.
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Small and full of character, the only let-down being the prices. But this is central London.
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Came in here on Friday night and was a bit disappointed following a previous visit. Adnams Bitter and Broadside together with Fullers Chiswick. They put Harvey's Best on later. �3.20 for Chiswick was ridiculous. They have the most pretentious and expensive pub menu I have ever seen.
Nice little pub, don't wan't to complain, but it could be better.
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Great boozer, fabulous beers and a real unspoilt gem in Central London. I didn't see the famous cat but I expect he was relaxing in a quiet corner somewhere. In some ways this is an almost continental-style cafe but that can only be a good thing. They sell Aspall's Dry Suffolk Cyder and Harveys (not the Bristol Cream). The blackboard outside recommended NO Big Brother Conversation - I couldn't agree more...
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Very, very, very small pub, but also rather lovely. Bar staff are friendly, beer is fine, bar cat is excellent and fat. Only real gripe is the prices. Some pints have now topped �3.50 which is just ludicrous.
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Disappointing. Use to be a must on a pub crawl but the beer choice was limited to Adnams Bitter and Broadside. The pint of Broadside I had wasn't the best either. Great little pub but not as good as it use to be.
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Had a cracking pint of Harveys here last night. Small but welcoming. Pleasant staff and a pleasant pub cat.
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Unusual old pub with a narrow bar area and small rooms to each end. As others have commented a steep spiral staircase leads up to the toilets with rooms visible either side seemingly being part of the living accommodation. Mind your head on the way back down! Legal themed pictures and film posters adorn the walls.
Adnams Bitter, Broadside,Black Sheep Bitter and Dark Star Espresso coffee beer available on my visit. Beer a bit pricey even for the locale.
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In mid-week at 7:30 for a quick couple of excellent pints - very quiet. Great beer but expensive (Harveys �3.10). Loads of character, friendly. Apparently the food is excellent and won the 2008 Good Pub Guide award for London.
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place full of character and characters,nice pint of Harveys and a dodgy trip to the bog ,which gets worse as you drink more.I never seem to see the pussy when I come here,but that could be the story of my life.
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An intriguingly odd establishment,had a lovely pint of Harveys and revelled in the rare opportunity to drink beside a ruff-wearing cat,must also mention terrific journey to the toilet,steep staircase leading to glimpses of strange, ramshackle rooms - its just not a proper day out on the crawl in London if the toilets aren't located either up or down tricky steps with low beamed ceilings!
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Nice pint of RSB from the Red Squirrel brewery yesterday, not cheap though.
Where have all the legal eagles gone that used to frequent this place - seemed to be full of scruffy students yesterday ?
Still a great pub though, but do take care when visiting the toilets unless you want to fall and break your neck
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I agree with other posters about some of the niggles. Yes, the stairs are steep (I like that); yes, Ms B's oh-so faux Bohemian attitude grates somewhat; yes, the food is pricey and...err...vinegary. BUT how come when I'm uptown I am inexorably drawn to this charming, interesting and cosy pub?
The cat is called Thomas Paine. And he wears a ruff.
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Pussy and dykes in a pub? Purrfect....
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Had a couple of pints of well kept Adnams last week. Facinating place, freindly bar staff and a cat sat on the end of the bar, cant ask much more from a pub really.
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dark star hophead,cat licking its arse on the bar, and a couple of wierdo dykes running the pub. give it a visit, truly superb boozer.
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I had a superb boozy lunch here last Saturday; some great ale, good food prepared by Roxy herself (who was on fine form), all polished off with a very strong well mixed Martini and a Cuban cigar. And the sun was shining! What more can a man ask for?
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Well kept beer, over-flowing hanging baskets and an eccentric cat. Almost says it all really...
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Another good evening here last Thursday. Ales on offer included Adnams Broadside, Black Sheep Bitter, and something rathr good from Dark Star Brewery. Oh, and a "proper" barmaid was a real bonus, pity there aren't more like her in London's pubs.
A good mix of customers too, from the �250K pa lawyers to �25K pa lower grade civil servants, all mixing happily it would have seemed.
Another in the "I wish this was my local" category.
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I highly recommend seeking this place out if you're in the area, in fact, it's probably even worth a journey out of your way to find it. A good, changing selection of well kept beers with Brewers Gold (which is probably one of the best golden ales you'll ever try) and an Adnams beer seeming to be the regulars. Definitely worthy of repeated visits.
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Always charming but I had not visited for many years until the other night. Sampled the two beers from Dark Star (Mild and Hophead) which were excellent if pricey. Recommended in the area.
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Like this pub a lot. The Broadside is on top form. I can email the addresses of a few All Bar Ones or other similarly bland sh*tholes to those whingers who don't like bar staff to have opinions or personalities.
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Amazing home away from home with spectacularly good food and proper beers. Tom Paine is worth the visit alone and the serving staff on the weekend second to none...
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Something of a Marmite pub it seems. Personally, I'm on the side that loves it. They serve a great pint of Harvey's and it's characterful without being cliquey. I will grant that service is occasionally on the slow side, but I'm happy to wait. If you find yourself offended by suits, you are encouraged to seek out a pub not situated behind the Royal Courts of Justice. My uniform is jeans and a t-shirt and I have never been looked at askance.
Ghoti - 14 May 2007 17:27 |
Very bad. Phoney, self-conscious take on a london local. Sullen, extaordinarily slow service. clientele mainly tourists and suited post-office people. whole thing feels smug and inauthentic - the opposite of a proper local pub. Avoid.
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The best pub in town. Terrific food from a varied menu, good guest beers, great landlady and staff, and a sartorially savvy cat. Watch out for the treachourous ascent to the bogs.
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This is a really good pub, full of character. The staff were friendly, the cat was reasonably friendly, the American tourists I chatted to were friendly, and the beer (They had Dark Star Spring Equinox and Hopwood on as well as Adnam's)was superb. That'll do it for me. Will definitely be in again later this week.
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Nice, snug pub in a great location with a funky interior. Landlady didn't seem too impressed when I moaned that it was �6 for the cigarette machine, but then it's her pub and I was perfectly drunk at this point. Am going back soon.
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Best pint of Broadside I've ever had in London (and I do try). Fantastic place with lovely food and great beer. Like the Nag's they also have Aspall's cider on, which is always good to see.
I've yet to see what it's like in the week, but I expect it'll be great even when it's rammed.
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I passed this pub a number of times in the summer and was somewhat intrigued. As there were customers spilling out onto the pavement (their garden) and a set of house rules on a board outside. Anyway a few months passed and as I was passing by there were only two people outside who seemed to be enjoying a smoke and quiet conversation. As there was some room inside I decided to give it a try. Some of the comments on this website could make one wary but I got a warm smile from the landlady and the customers all appeared friendly. They serve Adnams which is not seen so frequently these days. After ordering my pint I found a seat in the �Axminster bedecked� side room and took in m surroundings. It is a small but cosy pub and totally individualistic. The beer was well kept so I stayed for another and then another. Each pint was served in a different glass � evidently a custom in this pub. Yes, I like this pub a lot. I will have to try the food next time � I suspect it will be pretty good. Recommended for those who like individuality.
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Went there this lunchtime.
Nice Beer
Nice food
Friendly service (and no we are nothing to do with the legal profession, beither were we wearing suits (indeed jeans were the order of the day.)
Treat others with respect and you will get similar treatment in return
anonymous - 10 Nov 2006 21:21 |
Now now children there appear to be a few people here suffering a sense of humour failure (on both sides of the bar.)
The Seven Stars is an institution an old pub recommended only for those who either don't drink a lot or with a bladder the strength of an elephant (well those stairs are not to be attempted after a good few pints.)
Sure the place is small and also unique. Yes it has its locals/fans but everyone is made welcome. Yes the staff are (seemingly encouraged,) to break away from the bland corporate norm and like all of us can get the emphasis wrong and make an inappropriate comment. If they do, tell'em and they should (if they are human,) take it with good grace. As for the landlady well I agree sometimes her reputation might just run away with her, but take her with the pinch of salt she deserves and you won't go far wrong.
I am not a regular, but find that in the Seven stars if you treat the incumbants with good natured respect, you won't go far wrong.
Oh and they serve a cracking pint (and I have never been refused a top up.)
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Yep, good one. The cat is called Tom Paine, by the way.
NB - Boss_Hogg, don't try nicking this one for your local Rat and Parrot. It won't work unless they have a cat called Tom Paine. And they don't.
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This is one of my favourite places. The beer is kept in excellent nick though rarely if ever served in the appropriate branded glass (this is my only criticsm, ok, and bangers and mash without gravy). The food is nearly always good, it's better in the winter and any complaints are always seen to. So what if the service is a little idiosyncratic, I've never witnessed a member of staff be rude without provocation. If you want obeisence you've come to the wrong place, bubba. If you don't like yer pub packed then go at two in the afternoon or at the weekend when you're pretty much guaranteed a table. Go alone and one invariably ends up chatting to really interesting people. Once I ended up engrossed in a WW11 bomb map an American Londoner just happened to have on him.
frankblack, I couldn't agree less, Roxy is a predictable drunk. Bringing cheer to those of that persuasion and short shrift for rude, miserable or stuffy gits (see ianfreeman). ianfreeman, being employed as a journalist (oh, noble profession) does not qualify anyone as an expert in banter and repartee (in fact the opposite , having time to consider and refine what they wish to say).
I am a regular and a local and treated accordingly. Roxy has no need to 'surround herself with cliquey types", people gravitate towards her naturally, there's nothing to be scared of. I've never seen so many spiteful opinions about such a great pub. If one would prefer a boozer where the proprieter is never seen and the staff are as bland as a steamed pollack, they are situated throughout London in great abundance.
This is a cracking pub.
I am not a member of the legal trade nor am I a close relative of the owners.
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Brewers Gold on today but there's no rush to serve you. Landlady is a character and in such a small pub it's difficult to avoid but who cares, at least it is a place where you can find out what everyone is like. Not the perfect pub but a special pub.
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Beer excellent (Hophead) if overpriced and landlady's language entertaining although I can see why one may hesitate to bring WAGs. Visited twice now and found barstaff variable. Full measure on one day had to be fought for next time. However, on 2nd visit...
Paid for a round with �20, barmaid proffered change from �10. Stood my ground and had the balance literally thrown across the bar after only a brief shuffle in the till. (They don't usually give in that quickly!) Conversation with a local suggested this was not an isolated incident.
Bloody funny pub but worth a visit if you can count.
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Its a great pub. The beer is good. The bar staff can be idiosyncratic but provided you don't take yourself too seriously, it isn't a problem. The lunch there is good - it is made on the premises and could be regarded as a bit pricey. I think it is worth it.
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This is a great pub unfortunately let down by the landlady (an unpredictable drunk who surrounds herself with cliquey types), the smell (perhaps it's the drains) and the beer (they have no cellar so in summer time the beer's way to warm) It's a shame because it could be one of the most celebrated pubs in the country, yet alone London.
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That's the great shame about the Seven Stars. Despite this Roxy character has lots of luvvee friends and gets bigged up in the media, she doesn't understand how to behave as landlady of a pub, and her food isn't actually very good to top it off.
(I admit those are rather harsh words but it annoys me because this place could be one of the best pubs in London if she'd sell up to someone decent)
anonymous - 10 May 2006 20:05 |
Lovely pub, just a shame about the attitude of some of the staff including Roxy, who before I exiled myself served me in a 16 oz glass rather than a pint. Rather than apologising she had a go at me. Shame. Marked for the pub and beer!
On prices when I first went there it was the cheapest in the area but then worked out that they could charge a premium (who can blame them)
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The same layout as Whitelocks in Leeds-though about 200 years older!Wasnt too busy when I visited during the day.It appeared to be a bind to the barmaid to serve people as this kept interupting her text messaging.......
As expected-most of the other punters were legal bods-trying to outdo each other with their stories.
Pleasant enough place.
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Quality place, nice food, friendly barmaid and old man at the bar. Cramped but then it's an old little pub. I'd go again.
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A classic case of having to choose between good, well-kept beer, and a comfortable place to drink it. The Seven Stars might be a nice place to sit down and relax if you're the only patron, but it gets crowded in a hurry, and the pub's denizens aren't in the least interested in making room for one more. Try to hit it in the off-hours to enjoy a pint of any of the guest ales on offer (mostly Adnam's).
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I agree w/Roger B: visited last Saturday and did not get a good feeling from the female barstaff...either they were in a bad mood or they have no intention of encouraging new patrons to their pub. Adnams was well kept and tasty.
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One of the oldest (dating from 1602) and probably one of the most cramped pubs in the area. The main bar is very narrow and having seating at the bar leaves very little room to maneuvre in the remaining space. A narrow ledge offers some solace if you want to put your pint down somewhere. There are a couple of small tables but you would need to be there early to nab one. There are 2 rooms to the side of the main bar, one used primarily for dining has a few more tables with their caf� type tablecloths and the other is quite frankly best avoided unless you like bright purple paint. They have Adnams and a couple of guest beers (Dark Star Solstice and Hophead when I was last there). Prices appear to be slightly higher than the surrounding area but I suppose this is to be expected when the customer base consists largely of professionals � the Royal Courts of Justice are opposite so the pub is used extensively by lawyers, solicitors etc. The walls are adorned with various prints and posters with a legal theme and the almost tatty appearance does lend the pub an air of authenticity. There are some interesting characters among the staff and customers but it is difficult to know what to make of the Seven Stars. It comes well recommended in various guidebooks, the beers are excellent and the food looks good but the pub comes over as very insular and you get the impression that you are either standing in someone�s reserved space or sitting in someone�s chair. It is certainly worth a visit but perhaps not everyone�s cup of tea.
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Nice snug traditional pub much frequented by the legal profession. Don't use the upstairs loo if you're a bit the worse for wear, descent perilious !
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Great beer - the Brewer's Gold was on when I was there and was exceptionally ell kept. But why do they big the food up here? The bangers and mash I had was terrible which doesn't bode well for the rest of the menu. I did not like the staff at all. The clientele include far too many americans and arrogant barristers, but then considering the location it would be unfair to criticise the pub for this reason alone.
anonymous - 30 Dec 2005 13:23 |
Great pub if there is room or it's warm outside! Good beer well kept.
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Nice snug pub with loads of atmosphere. Had a nice pint of Adnams Bitter here. The stairs to the upstairs toilet are a challenge!
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Went here after a works do a couple of months ago, and despite being amongst a load of the quietest people I know we were told to shut up by the bar staff, who then proceeded to take the mick.
OK, so they have 'famous' people running it, but it's a pub, I'm a drinker, and I don't expect to be patronised by a load of people who think that they are better than you.
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Nathan, have only just noticed your comments. I found your staff anything but fun-loving - they were acid-tongued and singularly unpleasant. I have not been back to the pub because of it. One person's 'lip' is another's downright rudeness. And as a journalist, I can assure you that they were not 'expert in banter and repartee' - they were childish, rude and disrespectful.
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Proper pub, this one, in an area where you'd least expoect it. Great beer, great atmosphere, but I've bought shoes that came in boxes bigger than this place. Don't bother trying to get in after work, it's futile. Leave it couple of hours, though, and it's a great little place.
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I trek to London once a year and this pub has quickly become a favorite. Its a cozy room, the staff is engaging and the Adnams is always top notch. I can't wait for my next trip.
anonymous - 27 Mar 2005 23:37 |
I love The Seven Stars, I used to work near Holborn and would nip across Lincoln's Inn Fields whenever I had enough time at lunch. The beer is good, the food is fabulous.
I like the staff! Sure they tease you a bit, that's a good thing isn't it?
I don't think I've ever been in there and not ended up talking to a really interesting stranger.
It's tiny though, so don't all rush in at once.
Tom - 19 Oct 2004 14:09 |
It's true about the staff. Seemingly, all female and mischievous. Excellent Bitburger on draught, recommended. Watch out for the climb to the loos. This place hasn't changed since I was a lad at the nearby LSE and that's just one of the good things about this rather fine establishment.
Dermot - 14 Sep 2004 20:52 |
The staff are expert in banter and repartee. They give customers lip, but they ain't rude-- just funloving. They're fabulous actually. Try them! (I'm the co-proprietor.)
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This was by far the best pub of about 15 in the area we tried on a stag night. It has PERSONALITY. You won't get this atmosphere in any of the McPub chains that litter London. Cracking!
Mike Thomas - 24 Nov 2003 15:05 |
Staff was a bit cheeky but at least they had personality. The place was packed with locals spilling out onto the sidewalk. Great off the beaten path location.
Jeff - 16 Nov 2003 14:25 |
great little pub; concur w/that the staff is a bit persnikity...when i said to the blonde behind the bar that this pub was hard to find on a rainy night she replied quite convincingly "we like it that way"...the other woman was helpful however in recommending a sunday pub crawl to hammersmith..she was even willing to take a photo of me and my tourist american friend. worth the trip.
scott anderson - 1 Nov 2003 03:04 |
Beaut friendly pub, great filling pub food. Interesting atmosphere. Very cosy
Peter Wotton - 21 Aug 2003 05:29 |
A tiny pub with a lot of history. The landlady only really likes serving regulars (local legal types) and allows the resident cat to sit on the bar. Worth a visit but don't use the toilets if you've had a few. You WILL die on the stairs!
Gary - 26 Jul 2003 12:10 |
A nice little pub, if a bit over-hyped, but quite the rudest staff I have ever come across. It was like they were doing you a favour by allowing you to spend money there.
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