please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Its been about 10 years since I've been to the Guinea, this visit was made during a weekday lunch when the pub was heaving with local office workers and the famous pies were flying out the kitchen.
On my return at around 10.45pm on a Friday the pub and dining room were empty, even much so that I had to check they were still serving. Being a Young's pub the ale choice was 3 from their stable plus Sharps Doombar, the pint of Bitter I had was almost the last from the barrel but was still drinkable.
The Guinea is a lovely pub with a rich history and is another Young's pub that was visited by the late Queen Mother, the picture features on the wall. In the toilets are copies of various letters written to the pub congratulating them on a good meal, these letters are from stars far and wide, they range from Bing Crosby to Graham Norton!
Ornate features are still evident with the bar and dining room being separated by a wooden screen.
A cracking interior and exterior. The Guinea is a little gem of a pub and certainly worth seeking out.
|
The restaurant is excellent though pricey. The pub is also excellent and has preserved its identity as a no nonsense boozer. I saw Tim Martin (Weatherspoons) drinking in there which shows he appreciates proper pubs. They'd occasionally serve short measures and have to be asked to top them up (people should always do this). The Youngs label of course is simply just that - a label. The beer is Wells beer from Bedford.
|
Visited yesterday for the first time in ages. Fabulous as usual. Lovely selection of beers, polite staff, friendly customers. A fabulous pub in a fabulous location. My partner and I will definitely be returning.
|
A truly great example of a traditional London pub that caters for its niche market without having to decorate it so, thus keeping its original feel. The pies are legendary, the beer alas is Youngs or their confusing allied relationship with Wells. Staff were lovely, steak Mirabeau sandwiche top notch, and London Gold best of the lot. Not a lot else to say other than I am starting to feel like I'm writing like every other bugger- need a break
|
Well worth finding - a true London mews pub with the famous pies. You could probably sneak away from work and grab a pint here without the boss knowing (although he's probably in there too!)
|
The Guinea is tucked away on Bruton Pl away from passing foot traffic. Despite being very close to Berkeley Square and Curzon St the road is very quiet - more of a mews type street although most premises seemed commercial and as the previous reviewer said there is a Pizza Express opposite.
The Guinea has a very comfortable interior with a tartan carpet and comfortable seating including some a very nice upholstered bench in the right hand corner. The walls are also covered in pictures and on the whole the ambience is very pleasant. The carpet and seating made me feel rather like being somewhere in rural Scotland and it would have been no surprise to see a grouse shooting party come through one of the doors.
It's a Young's pub so standard Young's offerings - Ordinary, Special,London Gold and Bombardier. There is a fairly limited lunchtime menu although the pub is proud of its Steak and Kidney pies. In the evenings the food is limited to the pies and sausage rolls.
The Guinea is a classic establishment and well worth travelling to visit.
|
Well known Youngs pub situated in the heart of Mayfair, in a quietish mews, just off Berkeley Square. The present building dates back to 1675, although a pub has been on this site since 1423.
It's claim to fame is principally due to the attached restaurant - The Guinea Grill - which ( so people say ) serves up top quality steaks. A plaque outside the separate restaurant entrance tells us that it's a founder member of the Scotch Beef Club. The menu advertises steaks from Aberdeenshire and the Orkneys at prices reflecting the affluence of the area and the restaurant's reputation.
I first visited this pub in the early 70's when working nearby and this was one of the pubs where I quickly developed a taste for real ale - still a bit of a rarity in those days. Although there's now a Pizza Express opposite, the area - and the pub in particular - are largely unchanged from those days.
The pub is a small traditional L shaped bar decorated with old prints and photos. Note the screen and the etched glass dividing the bar area from the separate restaurant entrance area. It's invariably crowded - particularly later in the week - but respite can be had by drinking outside in the mews at the front when the weather permits. In the early evening "suits" can dominate, so, if you have an aversion to office types, you might want to wait till later.
My pint of Ordinary - at a pricey � 3.25p - was in reasonable form on my recent evening visit.
This pub is still well worth seeking out, but check opening hours if you're planning a weekend visit, to avoid possible disappointment.
|
I agree with one critic saying saying seriously rude staff and indeed a group of us had to complain that they served the Pilsner way below the line and they retorted that as it was a continental pour,and that was fine.....finally they relented that the froth did not form part of the imperial pint!!
They merely said it was best to have a real ale point if we wanted a genuine pint ...no apologies given...at well over �4 a pint we felt a pint is what we deserved!
|
I will go along with the view that this is a good pub for a couple of beers when the sun is shining and one can stand out in the quiet back street, but probably one to avoid if it is gloomy as it is not the biggest pub. It seems to have been split to accommodate the grill upstairs, which had it�s own doorman in fancy garb.
I�m not a massive fan of Young�s beers, but I enjoyed the Kew Gold very much.
I found the staff to be very friendly and I will return when next in the area.
|
By far the best steak & kidney pie I've ever eaten. Youngs 'Kew Gold' was also excellent. Bar staff friedly and the place was packed lunchtime with cufflink wearing office people with loud voices. My favourite London pub.
|
This is a Young�s house that has somehow managed to retain pretty much all of its original features. In fact I don�t think that it has changed much since I knew it back in the 60s � although I don�t remember the tartan carpet! The upholstery on the settles has seen better days and probably needs replacing sometime (soon). The ales were what you would expect in a Young�s pub � Bombardier; Special; Bitter; and Kew Gold. I had the latter which was pretty good, but at �3.30 a pint. But (leaving out the Guinea Grill, into which I didn�t venture, and on which I therefore make no comment) this remains a good pub, and I would be happy to visit again.
|
Besiged nowadays by hedge fund people after office hours and lunch. The tartan carpet and drawings of Edwardian oddities and ladies and gents give it the old world air. The mews is upmarket these days - fancy restaurants and art galleries and dont let your ladies near Rupert Sanderson's shoes for fear of ruin!
Still a pub-pub...an oddity in a grand corner of the town, so its very welcome. Try it whilst the ladies are bending plastic on Bond St
|
seriously rude staff, had a great meal in the windmill, hard to believe the same people run both places.
|
I can't add much here - but can confirm what has already been said. Stood outside The Guinea in the sunshine yesterday and enjoyed a couple of pints of reasonable Youngs Bitter. Nice quiet mews relatively traffic free. Ok in the sunshine but wouldn't be so good if the weather forced us into the limited space inside.
|
OK pub, located in a mews away from the traffic so space to stand and drink outside. very little space inside. Beer was OK, but not worth the price.
The staff are all foreign so there are the usual cultural differences such as not knowing what a packet of Salt n vinegar is.
The clientele spent most of their time boasting how they shafted this company or that. Nice crowd.
|
Good pint of Young's Ordinary in here tonight but not much like the Wandsworth version.Hadn't been in here since about 1992.Compared with the majority of the customers I felt very poor and shabby.Spent too much on beer evidently.
|
18th century survival in a side street off Berkeley Square. I had the best pint of Youngs Ordinary since it began to be brewed in Bedford, although it was a bit pricey (�2.90). I've also eaten here and the steak was excellent: the menu makes few concessions for vegetarians.
|
overrated, overpriced, so-so meat pies, misrable staff.
|
It was time for another pub crawl and this time the usual team thought Mayfair and St James's was an ideal venue. Started here on a wet Friday night. Was very busy but managed to squeeze upto the bar. Beer was good but nothing special. Obviously a very popular pub but very small. was a nice place to start though. Would have been better if we could have stepped outside on to the pavement.
|
Was only here once 5 yrs ago with some locals who live in Mayfair. Top Pie if you like it. Must be an English thing because I thought it was gross (liver). Others had steak which I tasted and it was outstanding. Spotless, old style and a bit pricey. Nice to see a good old fashion boozer still around. Would go back.
Joseph65
|
Another trip without a pie, but the Youngs is still great, and the pub is timeless (and customers monies).
|
A very nice pint of ordinary and their 'award winning' steak and kidney pies looked nice but I didn't have time to indulge. Charming barmaid who was very friendly and smiley. The old chipped wood around the place gave it a certain charm. I'd like to go back in the evening sometime and perhaps another lunchtime for a pie!!
|
Thought this place was great! Tiny pub in front that bulges from the seams on those hot summer days. Staff friendly, but can only fit 2 staff behind the bar. Might explain some of those "slow" comments.
Restaurant is excellant! Old style service & great steaks.
|
Very expensive but lovely venue. The best pies ever, shame it's got a bit of a snooty clientele.
|
Is the manager Mr Smith by any chance...? I've heard bad reports about him in the past.
Its a shame a decent pub like the Guinea can be blighted by either a bull of a manager or bad staff.
I love the venue, and the secluded street into which you can spill on hot summer nights... just don't fall out with the management! He'll ruin your day!
Sorry to hear about your experience 'Anon' on 17May06, its not a great advert for this otherwise lovely pub.
(But.. do the managers care..?TJ)
anonymous - 24 Jul 2006 13:25 |
He's not South African......
|
fantastic food.
went in the upstairs bit and it was pretty good. youngs beers are always good so i enjoyed it a lot!
|
One of the most expensive pubs in london. �3.20 for either carling or Stella. One of the best spots for an outdoor pub in the summer. Quiet back street.
Very slow staff.
Full of hedge fund traders.
|
I really like this pub, perhaps a few too many suits (although, i'm a suit so I shouldn't complain), but I just cannot get past the price of the beer. �3.20 for a pint of Guinness (good Guinness, I will conceed) and �3.10 for a pint of Carling, is taking the piss.
|
the landlord doesnt seem to realise that it takes an age to get served in this pub and that he and his team are among the slowest servers in London. This is a shame as it is in a nice secluded street and is good for standing outside in the summer. I have avoided this in favour of the Red Lion due to the service. As a Young's pub the beer is good although it does not sell Pilsner (only Export) which is annoying in the summer, and not an issue in the winter as Ordinary is the drink of choice.
|
Good enough, but concur with other comments on here. Had a stag dinner upstairs in the famous private room. Service was good though not too discreet.
Plenty of famous peopl ehave eaten and imbibed here, if that's your kick.
Lawrence - 5 Oct 2004 16:39 |
Full of pinstriped hoorays but nonetheless a decent place to find some good cask ale in this posh part of London.
Cobbo - 5 Jun 2004 16:33 |
Located just off Berkely Square,this small pub usually cannot handle the press of businessmen at certain hours. The overflow finds space on relatively quiet Bruton Place. Well-kept Youngs ales and outstanding food are its major attractions.
Bob F. - 3 Dec 2003 16:57 |
Small and can get crowded, but very friendly. Serves Young's ales and has an excellent dining room which is attached but has its own front door. Excellent steak and kidney pie.
Ian - 15 Oct 2003 06:32 |
