please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited with my son. Allegedly the only gastropub in London with a Michelin star. Beerwise I could have had 4 new ticks here, but I stuck to wine with a more than decent meal. Advance booking is essential for a meal. Efficient, fast and friendly staff.
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Pleasant enough 'pub' with friendly staff and a couple of ales in good order.
It is obviously now a restaurant in a former back street local. Managed to get a table which was not set up for dining, but were informed that we had to vacate this before 7 as it was booked for dinner.
Not much to chose from in the immediate area, so probably the best of reducing options.
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Sorry but the Atlas kicks this place's arse , the way they order to stay by the bar is just rude. It is not a gastro pub it is a restaurant.
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It feels as if this place is damns if it does, damns if it doesn't. The fact is that the type of pub that is most likely to close down is one that does not serve food. Lament all you like about how this is no longer a traditional Fulham boozer, but the fact is that a young, British chef has stuck his neck on the line (and his wallet) to turn this pub from one that was dying on its arse to one that serves some of the best food in South West London. You can go in there and have a drink at the bar no problem, just that space is limited. Tuesday's are the best days to go: Michelin-starred food and a challenging pub quiz.
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I think I'd have to agree with Red's review, having had exactly the same experience. Of course you can go in and have a beer at the bar (I did, and the beer is quite good) but who wants to go drinking in a restaurant.
The Atlas at West Brompton has got the balance about right.
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This isn't a pub, it's a restaurant. I visited on a Saturday evening but found that every table was set for food service, other than a sofa in the corner and some stools at the bar, which are presumably intended as places where people can await their table. There were a couple of real ales on but I sampled neither, as I decided not to stop and to go instead to a real pub. It's a good thing to have real ales on in a restaurant, but there's no point pretending this is a pub unless one can go in and grab a table without reserving and without having to eat.
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I have lived around the corner from The Harwood for 5 years and have always loved it there.... until now. The food is excellent yes but now the staff are incredibly stuck up whereas before it used to be warm and friendly and I would quite happily go in on my own and have a glass of wine. I raved about the bar to friends and we went in last night and the staff were so so so rude, they all stared instead of coming over to ask what we wanted. The barman "tutted" when we didn't know straight away which wine we wanted even though there was no list on the bar and he hadn't offered us one. I travel extensively for work and I am also a mystery shopper in my spare time for fun and never have I been in a bar/restaurant with such awful staff. What a pity.
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We have been drinking in the Harwood Arms for many years and have experienced the dramatic changes over the past two. The change to a �gastro pub� was not one we particularly welcomed, but we stuck with it, and continued to come in as often as we did. (We are a party of ten most times).
We have eaten regularly on match days, and the food is excellent.
However, since the dining area has been extended from the back to include the whole area of the pub, we have been made to feel increasingly unwelcome. Tables are reserved (whether taken or not) and we cannot stand and drink anywhere without rude staff pushing past us and asking us to move. Any pub in the SW6 area will be busy on football days � staff should recognise this and tolerate it, or take up employment elsewhere.
It is obvious that the Harwood Arms would rather chase the higher margin food business (which is fine), but wants to tap the lucrative drinking-only custom at other times. Last Saturday, we were refused re-entry to the Harwood Arms (we had already spent a considerable amount of money at lunchtime) on the grounds that it was full. It wasn�t, but we were not evening diners, and so were not welcome.
Regrettably, we are now going to take our trade elsewhere. There are other �gastro pubs� in the area that are more accommodating. We are not the only local regulars that feel this way. I hope the establishment goes on to prosper as a restaurant, but do feel (as others have commented) that it needs to make its mind up about what sort of establishment it is - a pub or a restaurant. It is in danger of not satisfying the criteria for either.
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Sad to say, I have to agree MRW. We were really looking forward to trying it out after reading all about it. But the service was terrible, the table setting ridiculous (our chair's were consistently being jostled by a big group of people who were evidently friends with the owner, and when we mentioned it to the waiter he said that "they were VIPs and more important than you"). Our bill came to �80, so thought it was a pretty bad attitude.
The food was good, but this place needs to figure out whether it's restaurant or a pub. Because it's charging restaurant prices and expecting you to put up with rude pub service. We were wholly unimpressed, requested a refund of our service charge and left.
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We had a horrible dining experience at this so-called gastro-pub. Although there is a secluded dining room, we were seated at a table in the middle of a crowded and very noisy bar with drinkers standing all around us, jostling us and making a huge amount of noise. We were totally ignored by the staff and were only given menus after asking and after a long delay. After we had been waiting for over half an hour with no service of any kind the owner, Mike Robinson, breezed in with a party of friends and was served immediately.
When we pointed out to Mike Robinson that we had been waiting for over an hour for service and that our table was unsuitable, uncomfortable and very noisy we were rudely told "this is a pub - what do you expect". After waiting in this horrible environment with no food for an hour and a half, we left. We will never go back. The Harwood Arms is a disgrace.
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Tony Harrison, what a cynic you must be.
Popped in last weekend, very nice place for a civilised drink. Didn't try the food, except for a very tasty scotch egg. Decided to do a quick internet search to check the food. Good recent reviews from the Independant and Guardian, features in Time Outs Best 50 London Restaurants, both under English and Gastropub entries, and just awarded 2 AA Rosettes for good food. So, although I can't say it personally, it seems the food is pretty good. The beer was also good, and reasonably priced compared to some nearby gastropubs (Marquess of Salisbury.
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This pub would be nothing without the quiz, I hear they're even getting rid of that. Tried to charge me �4 for a pint of Diet Coke, we settled on �3 but I don't expect to have to haggle..the 'excellent food' promoted by the management below is not all it's cracked up to be.
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Excellent food, accommodating staff and a lovely atmosphere. Would definitely return . . .
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Brilliant gastropub. Good winelist, excellent sunday roast with great veg and inventive desserts.
The home made venison scotch eggs are a must try as a bar snack.
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Wonderfully welcoming, well looked after by an eclectic bar staff from all points of the globe, though all with one goal, to make the evening entertaining. The lack of cheap lunchtime snacks lends it to a more business venue than a quick bite 'n' pint. The quality of staff goes a long way to compensate for this tho.
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Awesome. Best pub in the area if you ask me; well worth veering off-the-beaten track around the Broadway
Furthermore: if Carlsberg made barmaids...
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Great pub. Friendly and helpful staff. Is now our regular pre-match pub since the Duke on the Green took such a nose-dive.
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Hi JBPower21.
I am Beate, the manager of the Harwood, and would like to elaborate on what my assistant just posted. I, too, apologise for the steak not being to your liking. Our chefs have been with us for 4 years, and are extremely capable so you must have been un believably unlucky on the day. As for the 2 wines off the menu, we were in the process of changing our list which we do seasonally. That means we run down the old wines first.
After discussing this incident with all the staff, I also would like to make it clear that abusive, aggressive behaviour and poor manners is something we can do without in this friendly neighbourhood pub. If you do wish to come back please remember that the staff are there to help you and not to take out agression on.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Beate
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This is a response to the comment's made by jbpower21. I am the assistant manager of the Harwood arms and I was the one that dealt with your situation on said evening.I am appreciative of your feedback but please remain truthful when reporting such matters.
You failed to mention that I:
-Offered to get the chef
-Replaced your meal (2 steaks)
-Refunded your meal
-Apologised unreservedly
I take pride in my work and would love for you to come in again.
Yours sincerely Matthew.
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this place has definately gone massively down hill. we arrived and found out they did not have half of the wine on the wine list. food used to be a real winner but now our starters were only ok, then got handed a steak for main course which had been cremated on the outside. can still taste the burnt bits 12 hours later. the second steak i had was not cooked in the middle and again black on the outside. when i complained the manager said he tasted quite a lot of my first one and said it was fine and how their steaks are normally cooked. was not really sorry or bothered.
all the way through our meal the bar staff were eating their dinners behind the bar with their backs to the pub so you could not get their attention.
probably wont be going there again.
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just returned to the harwood after a spell away to find that the they have rudest australian woman i have ever meet will not be going back
anonymous - 7 Aug 2007 17:47 |
JRV, gone down in my opinion. It's only the quality of the quiz that keeps me and my friends going there, otherwise I'd avoid the place completely. Service (and the pub in general) wasn't ever brilliant under the old management, but the new people have definitely lowered the standard.
We've had numerous encounters with rude staff, with one guy in particular having no idea of customer service. There's been a noticeable drop in attendance for the quiz, with many teams who'd been stalwarts for years choosing to spend their Tuesday nights elsewhere.
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Any thoughts on the new management and running of the pub since toby left?
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The Trivia on Tuesday night is always a good night out. The place is packed so make sure you book ahead for a table. Unfortunately the food varies from average to good. For those who like to set up tabs - don�t expect any assistance or concern from the owner when your card goes missing from behind the bar!
anonymous - 6 Dec 2006 14:57 |
A slightly out of the way Fulham pub, lets face you're not going to just walk passed it randomly, that serves good quality food in a reasonably nice environment. From the other reviews you may have guessed that the standard of service is variable, which I believe is fair comment. With regard to the braying toffs, I think that's rather a matter of opinion as I've found the clientele rather mixed. Also, I say again, you're in a nice part of West London - what do you expect when you walk into a bar, the Krays?
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This is a great pub. Good food, good beer, good landlord. Does all the basics very well. Only ever had lunch there and it was rather quiet - but the food bangers and mash was done very well. Service was with a smile and that does go a long way to making you feel at home in a boozer.
Def worth a visit
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Great pub! Perhaps it was my gorgeous Aussie companion but I thought it was just terrific, good atmosphere, great food, and even when someone knocked my friend's drink over, the guy apologised profusely and bought another one immediately. Yes, it is full of Ruperts, its true, but if you can get over that, then its a top pub. No dogs when I went in.....!
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I agree lots of dogs, but am a big fan of this place regardless of the Wills and Harrys that come in here.
Food is great and the staff are really friendly. The owner is great chap and the place is in tip top condition.
A treasure in one of the side roads of Fulham.
anonymous - 13 Sep 2006 18:30 |
I thought that Battersea Dogs Home had been relocated further west there were so many grating Jeremy�s and Tamara�s with their minute mutts looking puzzled & anxious at their owners screeching about daddies latest investments. When a dog is a must have accessory, you know that you are in the wrong pub.
The barmaids offered a new level of vagueness in customer service. The first beer was a murky brown & clearly off, although I was advised that it �always looks like this�. The substitute ale was a foam bath having looked like the barmaid had dropped a packet of detergent into the pint. This was served with a straight face as its contents spumed all over the bar.
The place may well serve interesting food, but I am dammed if I�ll be hanging around to find out.
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This pub is a corker and I love it.. great food and good beers on tap... great manager who will always tries to find you a table even when there is 9000 people in the pub... nice wooden tables and doesn't look like IKEA All bar one showroom... great atmosphere� not full of reptile Fulham aussie which is a plus (you can meet them at the Slug or in Subway at 11:08pm) but you do get the odd 20-something Chelsea set walking around with brochures from Foxtons for houses they presumably cost more than the pub... (or maybe they are just Foxtons estate agents in training ?)
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A friend and I went to The Harwood recently and found it to be very pleasant indeed. Smoky, but pleasant nonetheless. We decided to eat there and the following attempt at verse describes what happened. I should like to say that the staff dealt with our concerns in a most professional and timely manner. I would recommend the pub gladly, but perhaps not the squid.
Squid
We went for dinner in the pub and ordered up the squid
We did! I swear it's bloody true! We really truly did!
'You're mad!' you cry, 'Not squid, you nut! Not from that little pub!'
And now I must admit, my friend, the standard was, well, sub-
Great big slabs of slimy squid all floating in a mire
Of melted goop and chewy lumps and butter blocks entire
And garlic, oh! the garlic fumes, near knocked us off our feet
And this is what the two of us had ordered up to eat
The chef, alas, was off that day and so they used his sous-
Although it seems he'd not yet learnt what he's supposed to do
So they agreed we need not pay them any squid-bound money
Even though we ate the lot, which I found rather funny.
The End
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This place rocks and really made my trip to London. I went here about every night for 3 weeks and couldnt get enough of it. It is very well organised and the food is yum yum good. Great parties!! Cant wait to come back!! See you guys in the future...
anonymous - 21 Mar 2006 11:23 |
Had Sunday lunch at this delightful pub yesterday on the recommendation of my sons who eat there regularly. I had also read the review by Jean Christof Novelli identifying the Harwood Arms as his favourite pub in London. I was most impressed by the size of the portions, the quality of the food and the service was excellent. I shall definitely recommend that our paper's Restaurant Critic writes up this very fine, tucked away discovery. The premises was packed with delightful customers - roaring fire, Sunday papers and so on. Essential to book!
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Terrible spot, full of prententious braying clowns.
anonymous - 13 Mar 2006 12:31 |
I cannot believe there could be any negative reviews with regards to this pub. This it my local and i know tons of other people who live in my development love this pub too. The owner, (Toby) not Tom, is the friendliest, nmost charming person and always makes you feel welcome, and takes the time to sit and chat, even when he's run off his feet. The atmosphere is fantastic, whether it be on a busy friday night or a relaxing Sunday. I spent 5 hours there yesterday afternoon and watched the rugby on their big screen, had an amazing roast (the beef was delicious) had countless drinks bought to my table, and then watched as the lights were dimmed and candles lit ready for a sleepy Sunday night...the perfect end to the weekend. As for the review "a pub for the kind of mindless sloane who makes fulham as awful as it is"...if you are so above us Fulhamites, what were you doing there in the first place? get back to your pretentious, overpriced Chelsea and leave us friendly, genuine peoople to enjoy our pub. I have been to countless quiz nights there and Andrew, the quiz master, is the nicest guy who has the near impossible feat of being heard amongst a group of people who are having so much fun sometimes he does have to speak up to be heard. I am a girl and can walk into this pub on my own and feel welcomed and at home every single time. I beg the people leaving ridiculously negative messages to go and get a life, and stop trying to ruin those of the extremely hard working people at the Harwood Arms.
anonymous - 13 Mar 2006 10:39 |
Poor 'Tom'! (see review some way below!) So what did you do to upset the staff? We have been going to the Harwood's Quiz night each Tuesday for the past l8 months and wouldnt miss it! Our entire table had shepherd's pie that evening when you felt let down and as always with the food at this pub it was most excellent (just as our mum makes it in fact). If you are envious of the success of the Harwood, go elsewhere and stop trashing our most favourite local. The new management works hard to give its customer's a pleasurable time with good food and we support them all the way.
anonymous - 10 Mar 2006 18:59 |
WOW.
All I have to say about the last message posted is:
a) where can you get veg at a gastro pub for less the �3?
b)A replacement or money back was offered. Mistakes happen, stop your complaining!
Other points
1. Bar staff manhandle hmmmm. sounds fun!
2. Its Quiz night. enough said.
I have lived a stones throw from this pub for 10 years and have watched it it turn into the gem it is today. It has a quite a great, mixed crowd of locals and I dont mind if it stays that way- The Harwood certainly does not need the extra business!
anonymous - 10 Mar 2006 16:31 |
DO NOT ORDER ANY FOOD HERE. Here's why:
a) massively overpriced - who wants to go to a pub and pay �3 just for some vegetables on the side??
b) "Home-cooked shepherds pie" = tepid, near-solid block of meat with cold gravy. Sent back to the kitchen to be reheated and it came back having been nuked and continued to cook itself on the plate for the next 10 minutes. Waitress kind though, in offering a replacement or money back.
Other points
1. Bar staff undoubtedly have important jobs to do, but that does not make them God's gift to humanity and nor does it give them license to shout at, manhandle and generally treat the clientele like the empty beer glasses they don't clear up
2. Quizzes are all well and good, but it's still nice to be able to have a conversation over the 2 hours of the quiz - an impossible feat when the quizmaster is so in love with his own voice that he cannot be quite for a single minute and has his voice amplified over speakers to deafening levels.
This could be a decent pub if the people working there cared about their customers and creating a convivial, welcoming atmosphere. Bring on new management!
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a pub for the kind of mindless sloane who makes fulham as awful as it is. You people want to live in Chelsea and can't afford it. That's what makes me laugh!
anonymous - 4 Jan 2006 23:34 |
I live down the street from this pub and find the recent comments to be false and very rude. It seems as if someone might be jealous of its recent success.... The staff are friendly and the manager/owner is a charming person who always has time to chat with his customers.
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Nice pub, good decor and food, only problem being that it seems to be full of a certain crowd who all went to the same school as the manager and much of the staff (Radley College, as I've often overheard). This is fine, but sometimes it does feel as if you've gatecrashed a bit of a ra ra public school party...
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good / popular quiz night on a tuesday!
food has been very nice too although I have to agree about some of the staff who are very rude / arrogant! The owner / manager is probably the exception who was friendly on our last visit!
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A great pub, especially in winter with the fire roaring, Sunday papers and a bloody Mary....fantastic. However - the staff: "hit and miss" is being polite. As someone who lived round the corner for 12 years I regarded this as my local but went less and less frequently because some of the people behind the bar (whose turnover seemed to be quite frequent) were just so bloody rude, as if by serving you they were actually doing you a favour. I'd love to recommend it unreservedly but just can't.
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The soft couches and blazing fire are great for relaxing after a busy day! The staff are great and service is always with a smile. Plus, they serve the best fish and chips I have tasted in London!
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Only god knows what you are all talking about, I live seconds from the Harwood and have seen the place go from a old derelict rough pub to now a busy great locals hide away. Both me and my partner love to visit the Harwood on a Sunday morning read the papers and top up those hang overs. As for the food when is it going to stop improving!!! Yes the staff are more bohemian than the average Fulham bar but the service is good and the vibe great. (Maybe these poor comments are just by a regular trying to keep the Harwood�s secrets hidden) Come on show this place off
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After encountering some of the most disinterested staff in London (unless you enjoy the 6th common room)I will not be bothering popping back to the Harwood. However, had a cracking lunch at the Salisbury SW6 ... that would be my suggestion.
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Don't know what the other two are talking about. Great little boozer with friendly staff and fab food in my oppinion.
definately worth a return visit!
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Have to agree with last comment. I have lived in Ongar Road for years and have seen everything about the Harwood slip - shame too that the kids who have posted their 'funny' messages have bothered ... can only be friends of the long-haired tit that works there.
Shame, used to be a great boozer.
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Don't know what has happened to this place but it has gone down hill very quickly indeed. Staff always give the impression of being hungover, drinks are not good, and food is terrible.
Visit the Atlas or the Farm.
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One of the best pubs in Fulham. Had a memorable night there the other night.
anonymous - 18 Jan 2005 15:11 |
This rates as one of London's best and me my flock are loving it!...my only reservation perhaps being the lack of alresco grazing opportunity for those balmy summer nights. Yummy nosh and the staff were incredibly helpful, particularly as I stupidly left my Burberry mittens behind...I couldn't believe that no one stole them!
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great laugh this pub, but perhaps it would be better if the lower ranks of society steer harboard if they don't like my jack wills boating top and deck shoes combo.
anonymous - 10 Dec 2004 14:08 |
A very friendly and cosy pub. Great food and a lovely general vibe to the place. The new management is doing a brilliant job!!! I definately recommend this pub.
Anouk - 15 Nov 2004 15:01 |
A fantastic little pub. Under new management and you can really see the difference. Great menu. Will be back for more!!
David - 24 Sep 2004 11:50 |
Great atmosphere. Relaxed. Very friendly and welcoming staff. The best pub in Fulham in my books!
May - 21 Sep 2004 12:35 |
Very nice pub - I have been there a few times on visits to London - but on my last visit in March the (acting) manageress was possibly the rudest person I have ever met. I saw two people leave because of the way they were spoken to when they asked for their food bill.
Lose her and it is a great bar !
Tony Carroll - 9 Aug 2004 12:01 |
I think the following statement sums up this pub - ahem (Pretentious bar) Was watching the football the other night and a Public school boy type started complaining that he wanted to watch the cricket! (nuff said)
RA - 5 Apr 2004 15:02 |
Great pub. Okay it's public schooly but then the atmosphere and the cosiness in winter more than makes up for it.
Jez - 5 Jan 2004 11:50 |
Hasn't been the same since all the good staff and managers left last year - Bring back Richard, Jeanine, Sally, Hannah & Rico. They should also stop booking tables, half the time i have to move because someone has booked the table, while i've been sitting there for an hour. Getting a bit Public School as well, the other night i couldn't move for salmon shirts and boat shoes.
James - 23 Dec 2003 11:20 |
Lovely pub for chilling out and erading the papers on a Sunday.. Food great if there's a few of you... but after waiting for an hour and a half for cold uncooked Sausages when there in a party of 15, I was less impressed. Although in their defence it was the day after the World Cup final! And they did come up trumps with halving the bill and giving us champagne as we were suitably p*ssed off!
Emma - 5 Dec 2003 11:43 |
Best pub i've been to in london, will return when next in london
ben hurley - 14 Nov 2003 12:47 |
It really is a nice friendly pub, I'm glad it's my local. However, I wish they'd change the menu more frequently. We stopped going for awhile because of the small portions but they seem to be improving.
Roz - 5 Nov 2003 22:40 |
agree with Alice - nice place, but would also add the fit barmaid as one of the attractions.
alex
alex - 19 Aug 2003 10:23 |
Good, friendly pub, nicely away from choas of Fulham Broadway but only 2 mins walk away. Recently modernised with open fire (in winter), wooden floors and lovely sofas. Tasty, modern menu which changes monthly - only complaint is that somtimes you don't get enough! Perfect place to chill out on a Sunday, far more relaxed than other pubs in area.
Alice - 23 Jul 2003 13:44 |
