please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub has had a curious refurbishment, replacing one type of Victorian (carpet, one or two booths, bit of brass,) with another (boards, ox-blood leather window seats.) It could have been worse, and though it's according taste, I do not understand why all the trouble and expense to replace a charming, cozy, comfortable an unusual interior with this duller, though adequate one.
Some of the cost has gone on the drinks too - I paid £4.65 for a pint of bitter. In the Hour Glass's defence it was absolutely excellent.
|
I was quite impressed by the Hour Glass. It has recently re-opened after a refurbishment. In an area not too far from the Michelin Building with a few designer shops around, it was more down-at-heel than I was expecting. But even still, many of the patrons were supping on wine, rather than the ales. The selection was Fullers London Pride, Portobello Market Porter & Trumans Swift. A box of cider was on the bar, which contained Gwynt y Ddraig Autumn Magic. Some rather expensive bar snacks are available. For example, pork scratchings at £4.50. Samples of their other wares, such as Scotch Eggs can be seen on the bar. But I quite liked this pub and it's certainly one of the best in the area.
|
A decent pub in an area dominated by non pub types and tourists. Decent beer, decent food and a decent atmosphere. Not the largest of pubs btw which is is probably why we liked it.
|
A nice cosy pub that is warm and friendly which is more than I can ask for. Staff do a good job and the Landlady doesn't put up with any nonsense. Its nice to be in a pub that has no loudmouth drunks giving you aggro. The food is very good with good service even during rush hour. Great selection of Ale's.
|
Well done to the landlady of this fine pub for standing up to drunks thinking they own a pub when they buy a few drinks and treat it like the shithole they live in. I am fed up with people ripping soap dispensers off walls, throwing toilet roll in the urinal (what is that all about?!) or sticking their gum everywhere. People are fast to complain if a pub is a bit shabby but then they climb over the furniture and trash the joint. I've had a drink in here a few times and it is well run, the staff are friendly and chatty and you can tell it is managed by a real professional, not some corporate half wit. Keep up the good work and if we all have a word with everyone acting the arse and embaress them into going elsewhere then more power to us.
|
An old style pub located on the Brompton Rd. Don't be fooled by the photo - the pub has a reasonably wide frontage but is very shallow with the bar area being much wider than deep. On entering I fould that the bar area is wedge shaped with the narrower end to the left, a central bar and a larger area to the right. On a cold winter evening the left hand side offered the distinct advantage of an open fire.
Furnishing was traditional and comfortable and the ale offerings were Pride and Butcombe with Fullers Jack Frost as a seasonal guest. The barman reminded me of Nobby the Leeds United supporting barman in Love thy Neighbour from the 1970s
In an area full of poncy bars and restaurants this pub was a real find
|
With reference to cndove's posting below. The young lady omits to mention that the reason she was spoken to was due to her walking across a leather sofa in the pub in her heels. The Hour Glass is an extremely well managed pub and does not tolerant customers treating the pub, staff and other customers with a lack of respect.
The Hour Glass is an extremely old characterful pub. The toilets are dated, but are clean and functional.
The Hour Glass is not the cheapest pub pricewise in South Kensington, but it provides a safe, well managed environment with high levels of service and top class food and drink. The pub has been a finalist in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea's Best Bar None scheme for the 3 years that the scheme has been running. In 2010 The Hour Glass was awarded runners-up spot behind the pub category winner. The pub has held the Cask Marque award for real ale for many years and has a Scores on the Doors rating for food hygiene of 5, the highest score possible.
|
This pub is convienent for my friends and I and we have been going there for many years but after a most unplesant encounter (not the first) with the rude and self important landlady yesterday evening I will not be going there again. In addition to this the drinks are over priced, even for South Ken and the toilets medieval.
|
This is a very small and narrow pub that has a plasma screen and real fire at either end of the bar. It is popular with diners and the food smelt good, but it is still a proper pub in an area that seems to have lost most of them.
Black Sheep and Pride were the ale options along with a standard draught selection and my Guinness was well served by a very friendly barman.
I wouldn�t go out of my way to drink here again, but if I lived or worked locally I would pop in for a mid week pint every now and again.
|
A proper pub in an area swamped with posh bars and restaurants. Excellent!
|
My family and I stopped in here and had some lunch. There were six of us, inc two under 5 yrs. The landlady was so helpful and really looked after us despite the lunchtime rush. The real beer was Very good, and the homemade food was lovely, unfussy, well priced. We really think this place is worth recommending because we left feeling revived and ready to tackle the museums just round the corner. Thank you very much for the wonderful service.
|
Decided on this as a lunch venue after attending a sale at Christie's. Quite wide frontage but short on depth inside but, nevertheless, it's reputation in earlier posts is well-deserved. My Black Sheep was in fine form and the food freshly cooked and my friend's sweet 'n' sour was rather too much for her! Friendly landlord who seemed impressed when I told him that the pub had been recommended on this website and I gave him a little background to this excellent site that hasn't let me down yet! Keep up the good work BITE!
|
There was a nice atmosphere in this small place. The bitter smells wonderful.
|
Cosy pub that is smaller than it looks from the outside. Open fires and traditional feel. Outside seating which would be nice in the summer. Toilets are clean but dated. Locals and staff appeared friendly. Superb real ales, London Pride and the guest ale was Black Sheep on my visit. Large selection of lagers if you like that sort of thing. Big plus was the excellent fresh homecooked food, not the branded frozen ready meal rubbish you get in most London pubs.
|
Awful service/rude staff [the couple that run the place also have a bad attitude]. Surprised folk drink here.
Don't bother drinking in this pub. Move on and spend your hard earned cash elsewhere.
|
Not really damn good, small pub, the menu is damn simple, i like damn complicated menu,and the beer is damn good
|
Found this to be a bland and rather unremarkable pub. Limited selection of beer on offer. Was a bit packed when I was there.
|
Small and friendly. Just recently had their food menu revamped and by gosh is it nice now. Everything freshly cooked. We miss the opportunity to buy bangers and mash with - wait - 9 Sausages!!! that was on the old menu.
Even though it is small, always manage to get a seat.
lupus - 20 May 2005 08:47 |
Great staff. Great locals. Dodgy toilets. New (and slightly rubbish) quiz machine. If you're ever in the vicinity of the Hour Glass and feel like having a drink in the Hour Glass, it's well worth popping in.
|
Small and friendly local pub.....
Draco - 15 Jun 2004 23:22 |
