please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Potentially a nice small neighbourly boozer, with 4 handpumps. However if a recent Saturday night was anything to go by, the mindless "music" was perfectly matched by pushy, shouty crowds. They obviously liked it but anyone over 25 might feel different.
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I do like this pub, friendly staff, stylishly decorated interior, good layout, it has a cosy feel and tasty bar food. The Pub has a good range of ales to choose from and I particularly enjoyed the Timothy Taylor, which seems popular with pubs in this part of London. This pub is also good for Sport and I always end up watching a game of Rugby here with my rugby fanatical South African friends. In sum this pub is defiantly worth visiting for anyone living or visiting this part of London
scarr - 24 Jun 2012 11:39 |
I see that the last review for this pub was last spring, so as I had two meetings in Chelsea that day I thought I'd give it a spin. Not an awful lot has changed since my last visit, other than the vastly improved WC area which have got to be some of the best I've seen in a pub (on par with The Coopers arms nearby !) - An important detail these days, especially with the girls they tell me ! I had some bar snacks, salt and pepper Calamari was top and the Duck egg scotch egg aswell. Other food coming out looked well presented and good value for these parts of town. 4 ales on tap, I had a decent pint Tim Taylor Landlord, but Doom Bar was available along with Harveys sussex best and Black sheep....a nice independent choice, better than the L Pride and Youngs that is almost unavoidable in Chelsea ! Staff all friendly and chatty, all in all a decent Pub and and has to be up there as one of Chelsea's best...!?
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I just don't understand what some people are on when they "review" a site. This is a cracking little pub, with a new name (The Sydney arms) in a great location, with friendly staff, great beers and, from what I have sampled, damn decent grub.
It is not up to the owner/owners/landlord to take into account the social implications of the well being of every human being on the planet, if they wanted to do that they would have applied for the latest position at No.10 (who arent that good at doing that either btw..!).
Whoever runs this, has spotted an under performing pub, that clearly no-one ever used to use regularily enough........or otherwise it would have remained as as "the great little local working mans boozer" or aka The Wellesley / The Peer etc.... that it once, apparantly, was.
These people have but their money / necks / reputation on the line to provide a service to those who wish to frequent their Pub......and shock horror....they may actually make some money on the way.....(do I hear gasps from the previous "reviewer"). If these "reviewers and social do-gooders" were REALLY bothered about the social implications of life evolving etc.. etc.. blah, blah, then they would put THEIR hands in THEIR pockets, buy the ailing boozer and invite all their new best friends to ensure that the place closed again in 6 months.....and then what have you got to replace it with.........probably a Costa Coffee or something even worse, which is what I am reliably informed it nearly became when it closed last time.
So good luck to these guys and their freehouse little pub with 4 guest ales on tap, 7 draft beers/ciders, wines of the world, cocktails, breakfast, luch, dinner, and all day bar snacks.......do I need to go on...? Jesus, they gotta pay the rent somehow....! Leave them be....and let them serve you a pint, after all it is just a Pub you know..!!
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Regeneration -- the concept presents a veritable dog's breakfast to even the most astute practitioner. The Peer's recent transformation into the newly entitled 'Sydney Arms' provides an engaging illustration of the potential conflict between regeneration and gentrification. On the surface, we see nothing more than an enterprising young businessman pursuing an opportunity to turn a struggling local pub into a thriving (and profitable) brasserie-style venue. But beware a far more sinister danger -- social re-engineering and the destruction of much that our society has come to value.
I for one have already personally enjoyed the benefits of the new venue, finishing a creditable third in their recently initiated regular pub quiz and being rewarded on a somewhat disproportionate scale to say the least. But the reviews herewith stand as a warning that perhaps something has been lost in the transition. Can an innocent pint no longer be snatched amidst post-footy 'steam'? Is the dignified nearby social housing resident doomed never again to sup his chosen drop in a welcoming and wholesome working class environment? One cannot immediately tell with any certainty.
But if I might venture a frank opinion -- and this being a 'review', I fear I might well be expected to do so -- I would suggest that a much more agreeable balance on the spectrum between sincere regeneration and distasteful gentrification has been achieved at the nearby 'Zetland Arms'. You may well come to a similar conclusion at the end of your own personal research endeavours, and I would wholeheartedly implore you to consider the underlying social implications of your choice.
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Not true melberry. We do - every week in the Builders; money talks, but then you are only a 'working class professional'. Your words!
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Ps Chelsea local - if u really are chelsea local you will know that u never get into Builders Arms in football kit.
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I was in the same night as one of previous posters and I saw a very different version of events. I AM local and I was in with a couple of mates for quiz night and I overheard the discussion about the guys wearing football kit. The barman asked them if they didnt mind wearing jeans/trousers or tracksuits next time. I was interested by the conversation cos I play football on different nights for years and he had the same conversation with us. Perhaps bcos we are working class professionals and not middle class professionals like the other footballers said they were (so what) - we took it on the chin. We have been coming in for ages too and sort of see where the bloke was coming from as place has only just reopened. Anyway more importantly we have found the new pub really good - definitely the bar food and all the staff I know are really friendly. Maybe they caught that one bloke on a busy night but all I heard was him asking them if they didnt mind coming in wearing shorts so other reviews very harsh. Go and see for yourself.
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What I wonder is the last post about? A quick check shows similar irrelevancies from the same poster.
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Chelsea 3-0 Portsmouth
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I use this pub a lot - its near work; I share the views on the unfriendly, pricey and slow service which is manifested by the very low rating. If the management does not change (or is not changed), the future for The Peer is bleak. Just see the list of 'nearby pubs' above - 5 are within 0.1 miles. The choice is ours.
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I was one of the footballers mentioned below....we play on a pitch next to the pub and told the barman that we'd been coming in every week for a couple of years and were planning to continue. We actually inquired about arranging some food each week. He responded by telling us that coming in every week in our football kit "didn't fit in with what he was trying to do". Well, if turning away 10+ people buying food and drink every monday is what he is trying to 'do', good luck to him. We won't be going back.
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I am a local resident who has been a regular drinker in the Peer now Sydney Arms for 7 years. It has always been a friendly inviting local, and the food and ale choice has always been excellent. Loved the hot ciders on a cold winters eve! Unfortunately the pub has been taken over and the new regime is the antithesis of friendly and inviting. I share the comments made by others below. If you want an over-priced experience and a hostile reception I thoroughly recommend it. Try the pub round the corner - 2 minute walk - the Builders Arms - my new local and very welcoming.
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This pub has never been famous for the friendly and welcoming staff but things have taken a turn for the worse. And regular visitors to this pub will be shocked that the service could ever get any worse.....oh but it has. Last night I overheard the manager in a blazing row with a bunch of lads who had clearly come from the neighbouring football pitch. From the sound of these lads they were middle class professionals but he basically barred them because they lowered the tone and told them they were no longer welcome. At one point he was swearing and gesticulating so much my girlfriend asked if we could leave. The food is as slow as it ever was and I've just given up on this place. How many chances can you give a pub to change given the vast range of alternatives in the area.
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Formally The Wellesley Arms, and now The Peer, this is a great located Pub with no identity, shame. Fear not as I hear through the Pub grapevine that new owners have recently been installed and when I recently visited this was confirmed.
Jan 2010 refurbs are planned (It needs it) and good ales, beers, wines and food are part of the plan, evidence of that is already present. Good looking staff behind the bar, and a warmer reception felt than on previous visits.
I hope they get it right as this really should be a cracking Pub in a cracking spot.......I just hope that they change the name to something more suitable !
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Dreadful reception by the manager. Unacceptable waiting time.
2 nice girls serving. Acceptable food but why pay to be insulted?
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This pub was not a dive before its was the last old english pub you could go to and have a nice pint and a good convo. Now its just But its still the wellesley arms but with abit of Botox and has new friends.
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has the look of a gastropub however good for a quiet pre match drink if that is what you want. Three handpumps dispensing sharps doom bar, taylors landlord and adnams broadside, which makes a good change from the limited selection available in these parts. Good music selection.
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Seems like it's picked up since the last post. I was here saturday and found it a great little pub. Cosy atmosphere, nice crowd and Erdinger on tap :)
I'm told it use to be a bit of a dive, hence the low rating from before i suppose. The refurb appears to have changed all that, but without it seeming pretentious like most of the pubs I've been dragged to in this area!
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Now open, but probably not for very long. Has the atmosphere of a public toilet, and the same green paint. Whoever designed this needs a Chinese style re-education programme, quickly, in case they are set loose again. All remnants of character have been ripped out and this pub is now completely empty, almost always. Luckily the Builders Arms is just a short walk away. Terrible shame, used to be a great pub.
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Closed
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A great pub with friendly people and two pool tables in the upstairs room. Lots of character and during the summer will give you a plastic pint to take into the park next door.
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Decent boozer, but as with most pubs has "locals" who bitch and winge if things change, like the 'no smoking at the bar' rule that is being phased into most pubs. One bloke who wasnt even a smoker was complaing, saying it was all the barstaffs fault
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I do not know if you went to the same pub, Kevin, but Moni (the "grumpy" european barmaid) was just fantasic when she did a few weeks managing there. I drink at her other pub, and only went to the Wellesley Arms because of her. She (and her husband) are by far some of the best managers I have met. Shame about the rude/scary customers though.
Groovy - 26 Sep 2004 07:05 |
If you manage to get the Grumpy
Eastern European barmaid to acknowledge the fact that the pub serves food you"ll get a good value
delicious pub meal.
This place is a real Chelsea local
mature locals -- however a little overheavy with shaven headed replica kit wearing football lads.
KEVIN - 15 Sep 2004 21:01 |
Great pub - the current managers (Ben and Moni) are great, only there for a few weeks, while the others are on holiday, but have stamped a great mark on the place - we felt welcome and had a great time.
Angela Crinee - 1 Sep 2004 02:56 |
Proper Chelsea "boozer", filled with characters, all Chelsea locals and regulars, Sport oriented, great place to watch a Chelsea match. Two pool tables. Just off the Kings Road, some celebs are known to frequent
Fu5i0n - 8 Apr 2004 13:15 |
