please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Situated in what is something of a relatively unknown area of London from this particular pub goer's perspective, is The Carpenters Arms, a reasonably traditional street corner pub.
The first thing one immediately notices on approaching the pub is the fine tiled exterior advertising the wares of "Wenlock Ales and Stout", indicative of former ownership in days before I became of pub going age. Disappointingly, there is no brewery memorabilia inside, apart from a rather forlorn looking Bass mirror in one of the two bars.
The interior consists of two interconnecting rooms, joined by a narrowish corridor, which feature much wood panelling and, most notably, in one form, an attractive looking cosy corner with floral wallpaper and a few plates bearing photographs of the Queen Mother.
There's an upstairs bar - not open on my visit and - up yet another flight of stairs after that, are the gents toilets. The pub website mentions a roof terrace, also.The nicely air conditioned interior throughout was very welcome on a rather unpleasantly muggy and sticky late afternoon.
The drinks menu is presented in an old style record sleeve, which, I suppose is indicative of the fact that we are in media territory. There's an emphasis on foreign beers and I suspect that real ale trade is not great.
Beers on were Dark Star Hophead, Wadworths 6X and, in the bar on the right, London Pride and Daleside Summer Delight. The Hophead - � 2.85p - was reasonable.
This isn't a pub worth going out of your way to visit, but I might just decide to call in again if passing by.
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Went in on a Friday afternoon and ordered 2 pints of Blue Moon. Walked out six minutes later, still thirsty, as the four barstaff were fiddling with a credit card machine, there was no-one else waiting for drinks either.
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Had a reasonable pint of Meantime LPA on a pump. It's a guest. Not a bad experience, the staff are pleasant.
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Relatively untouched 1930�s pub. Interior split between a (what would have been) a public and saloon bar. There is also a bar upstairs and a roof terrace apparently.
Beer range wasn�t bad, the usual Pride and IPA plus a couple of guests.
My pint of Pride wasn�t great however, and I suspect that the advertised 17 draft continental lagers are more popular with the cliental. Seemed to have a reasonable wine selection as well.
Had a curious nook in the larger bar, decked out as your grannies front room, with flowery wall paper, comfy chairs and Queen Mother Plates on the wall.
Seemed relaxed enough, with a younger crowed from the various offices around the place on my visit. Bar staff where quick and friendly.
Certainly would go back, hopefully the beer might improve. If it does it could turn into a regular haunt.
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Went in here yesterday afternoon and sat in the sun on there roof terrace because it was warm and mainly to get away from Jim Davidson who was Downstairs. Good Selestion of Beers and a pleasent atmosphere
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Generally very good but somewhat spoilt by the DJ and loud music. Everyone was just sat at their tables talking and the decor is fairly traditional pub fare so this just didn't fit. Have a rotating guest ale as well as Pride and IPA.
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Full of students, but much smarter than I remember it from when I worked near here some years ago. Reasonable pint of Cotleigh Buzzard, unusually (for a central London pub) served in an old-fashioned 'jug' glass.
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Good pub witha nice selection of beers and lagers. Shame its attract the 'creatives' from the surrounding ad agency offices
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I found it to be ok in here, but nothing special. The main clientele seemed to be of student age and there was a private party going on upstairs. I only spotted Greene King IPA and Pride available along with some premium lagers.
I probably won�t bother with here again as there are better to found in the area.
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The pub's been fairly recently cleaned up and is a decent looking place these days. There's a good selection of different ales and lagers; the staff have always seemed pretty good as well. But it's the people that go there that ruin it. It just seems like a magnet for the obnoxious and the inconsiderate. Why?
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Found the place as part of a crawl on Saturday. The Carling was on form and the service was fine. Not the place you'd want to stay in, but worth a look before going elsewhere
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Food seemed ok to me - or at least the pie I had was a proper one, not a stew with a puff pastry lid. Was expensive tho and had to wait for ages. The main problem with this pub stems from the pretentious, rude, and arrogant staff. They should realise they are there to serve us, not treat customers like we are an inconvenience.
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I can only agree with the previous correspondents!!
Bizzarre.
anonymous - 28 Jun 2007 11:00 |
Very average food, but expensive. The selection of beers is good, but it was lacking in atmosphere inside. Outside is full of pretentious ****s.
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Sterile watering hole with very poor service. Our plates and glasses were never cleared - we were there for two hours. Beer was ok, food below average. One to avoid
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The pub has no atmosphere and is soul-less. The street has atmosphere - Can't understand why? The food is still the normal pub frozen to microwave fayre. I eventually asked for my money back.
anonymous - 30 May 2007 15:24 |
This pub has just been renovated. No Sky, no big screen, no smoking, just a fine selection of QUALITY European lagers (no Carlsberg, etc.) and a couple of quality guest draft ales. Also has the bonus of scrumpy on draft! There's a cracking food menu and wine list too. Bit pricey, but give it another go.
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This place has gone down hill fast.The ales are poorly kept, the lager is often flat, the bar is full of beer flies. If you're lucky, the food is reheated in a microwave, if not its cold. The staff change on a monthly basis. Despite this, it gets rammed on Friday nights. Why?
anonymous - 27 Jan 2007 15:43 |
Having just returned to the area after frequenting this pub from 2000-2003 and then being away for a while, I'm sad to say it's gone downhill by trying to go upmarket.
I believe it changed ownership (certainly the old gaffer isn't there anymore) and while part of it is now non-smoking, the renovations tried to turn it into a trendy wine-bar-ish-thing more than the nice relaxed pub it used to be. Now it is not succeeding in being either of the two.
Distinctly average.
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Being assured by a colleague that the "food is fabulous", I ventured back for the first time in 17 months, since my last review in February 2005. And I can confirm that the food is still atrocious.
rhoda - 21 Jul 2006 14:22 |
I have news for Mr. Fidel Castro, the gorgeous landlady doesn�t dress up as a vampire!! She has a nice personality, it is true!
Your hopes to marry her one day are gone, she is already married and please, RESPECT!
She is the best person I've ever met.
One more word and I'll send the Marines to your island Mr. Castro
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Nice Pub - haven't had the food so can't comment - landlady is gorgeous even when she dresses up as a vampire!! and also has a nice personality to boot, I hope to marry her one day....
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The Carps!!! I used to love this place, lots of Colombians hang out there.
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Avoid the food, it is dire.
This is the same as all the other pubs in Fitrozia, very average. Yet it's always full after work.
Stretch your legs, head down to Soho instead.
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One of the worst lunches my companion and I have ever eaten. It merited a complaint, but that is difficult to do in a busy pub where the food has been paid for in advance. One of the staff asked my friend if he had enjoyed his meal. When he replied: "not much", she laughed and walked away.
rhoda - 16 Feb 2005 14:08 |
This pub used to be fantastic. It was moderate but cheap beer and excellent friendly staff. An overabundance of UCL students in the area, but since I just finished being on of 'em I can hardly complain.
Anyway, like I said was a decent place to go, especially on quieter evenings of the week, but since the refurb last year it's gone downhill. It looks a bit shinier than it did, but the prices went up and the quality went down (slightly).
Disappointed. If you're in the area, I'd recommend the Fitzroy on Charlotte Street as a must-visit, or perhaps the Marlborough arms on Tollington for a fair selection of ale and cheapish/good food.
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Best place. The bar tenders are so nice and the prices are good... not bad for lunch either. It's also very clean!
mel - 9 Jul 2004 01:13 |
Friendly staff, there is a nice Guy, he is latin! So polite! what a service! I want him!
Valentina from Italy - 27 Jan 2004 19:20 |
Cheap drinks, friendly staff, outside tables for the Summer. Friendly local drinkers. Great pub
jack - 27 Jan 2004 19:14 |
I'm the Gaffer,of the pub and i don't think it's overpriced. Check out the SPECIAL OFFERS. Selected items only -
99p on Mondays after 5pm
�1.50 on Tuesday & Wednesday after 5pm
2 drinks for �3 Thursday & Friday after 5pm
New menu coming soon.
Come on folks check it out
Ian Fletcher - 23 Oct 2003 12:02 |
Friendly atmosphere, very nice bar tenders, good service, the best in London
Julia - 23 Oct 2003 10:58 |
This is the easynet systems team's local in 2003. The guv is nice enough to give us free Aftershock, so we can't complain too much.
Sitting outside is better than in.
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Small. Pub split into two and they sell Caffreys, the lager drinker's ale. Saw a gorgeous Spanish girl there surrounded by loud tossers, one of whom she was rather enamoured by. Why she wasn't interested in the German ex-Wimbledon champion lookalike who enjoys commenting on pubs in his spare time is beyond me, but I'd go back, if only in the hope that I may be lucky enough to chance upon her silhouette in the half light. One pool table in the back and, intriguingly, a pool table quiz machine for geeks. But not Internet pub commenting geeks. Oh no, I'm far too ghetto. Peace out.
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