please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub and the whole corner plot now a building site. It was a good Nicholson's establishment some time ago.
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Intriguing Nicholson's pub just up from Bond Street tube.
Smallish bar area downstairs with a definite lack of seating but lots of room upstairs on the restaurant floors.
Good range of beers on Thursday, 5 ales including a very good pint of Thornbridge Sequoia.
Food is traditional pub fare but the burgers and pies we ordered were very good with the exception of the dessert cheese platter which was pretty miserly.
Staff pleasant and helpful.
Very decent pub, would definitely go back for seconds.
Dan65 - 21 Jun 2013 23:31 |
The Jaipur was excellent today.
A friendly enough pub really busy at lunchtime today but the service was good.
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Very good pub, round the back of Debenhams. Good range of beers, I had Doombar which was well kept and well served. West End beer prices! Food was excellent, i.e. good quality and good value.
One gripe: in the evening, they turn the lighting down too much - the place is almost dark.
Pleasant and professional staff.
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A nice enough boozer - � 3.60ish for a pint of strongbow - A good atmosphere,nice pub and good dtaff close to the tube - 7/10.
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Always seem to end up in here when in the Oxford Street area, a decent option to escape the crowds of Oxford Street (especially in the run up to Christmas).
London Pride, Doombar and 2 or 3 others on tap.
I went for a few glasses of the mulled wine, or mulled cider as the barman advised, which was decent.
Nice downstairs area although limited for space
Have not tried the food here yet.
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A veritable haven from the dreadful experience of Oxford Street, just off the nice area of Marylebone High Street.
I would have given this pub a score of 7, if their price list was readable. Posted on a post/wall by the bar, it was completely unreadable. No bar on the Continent would practice such a scam - tiny 6-point print in a low level lighting. Their prices have to be visibly up-front. I want to know exactly how much a particular pint of beer is before I go to the bar!!!
Otherwise a quite acceptable environment, short of spaces on the ground floor.
�3.65p for pint of London Pride.
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Pretty much what you'd expect from the Nicholsons chain. Characterful pub, pleasant upstairs seating area, a good food menu and prompt service. Hake and chips were good and the beers (Titanic and Moor) were ok too.
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decent pub with nice basement seating area.. plenty of nice beers on tap and a reasonable, if unimaginative menu.. can get packed on thursdays/fridays, but that goes for every pub in this area
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A pleasant enough and good sized corner pub from the Nicholson�s stable. There�s limited seating in the downstairs bar although plenty of space for vertical drinking. There was a spiral staircase leading to an upstairs bar and restaurant area, although we didn�t check this out. There were also three or four small tables in the pedestrianised street outside.
Being a corner pub there were large, dual aspect windows and this gave a reasonably light and airy feel to the place. The wood panelled bar had an impressive carved wooden backdrop and a good range of pumps, all sporting a notice outlining a brief description of the beer and an invitation to try before you buy.
There was a decent looking �pub grub� menu at what appeared to be quite reasonable prices, although we didn�t eat on this occasion. Staff all seemed friendly and helpful.
A blackboard listed around 25 beers, with the current offerings being ticked. Presumably these are rotated around regularly, although there may well be other guests as well, as not all the ones currently on appeared to be on here. On this occasion they were Adnams Lighthouse and Broadside, Doombar, London Pride, Leeds Best and York Brewery�s First Light. Ciders were Aspall�s Suffolk and Strongbow. There were also about seven lagers to choose from, if that�s your thing.
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Usually an ok pub, but a friend of mine once booked the area downstairs for a party, and despite having spent lots of money at the bar (which shouldn't matter anyway), some of the bar staff was extremely rude to everyone. There was no rowdy behaviour whatsoever so there was no reason why the staff should behave that way. It was agreed that the bar would remain open until midnight when the room was booked, but they decided to shut the bar at 11. Finally after a lot of negotiation they decided to have the bar open until 11.30, but one barmaid was serving with such venomous attitude you wouldn't believe. And at 11.30 on the spot everyone was nearly physically shoved out of the joint. Pity, as it's a nice space, but I now avoid this place at all costs.
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huge pubs on 4 levels. I tend to like Nicholsons pubs due to the good range of ales. 6 on here. Mine was fine. Plenty of room even on a Friday night.
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Popped in yesterday (Saturday) for a pint & lunch and to see how many Aussie players would get sent off v Ghana. Never been before but pleasantly surprised by the range & condition of the ales. 2 x pints of Ubu Purity and 1 of Tribute later I was pretty pleased with the overall experience, especially after factoring in the lovely food. I expected the usual stodgy mash drowning in gravy to mask its staleness but it was really well prepared. Same with the bangers and the actual, authentic, real onion rings (made with a real ring of genuine onion!). All fresh tasting and very reasonably priced for the area.
Another positive was that the tv was sans volume which, even though I dropped in to watch the game, made for a nicer atmosphere. No "mad for it" footie tossers in evidence either.
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Good pub. Nice decor, good range of ales with a reward scheme (buy 4, get 5th free). To top it off, one side leads into St Christopher's Place; great for watching a better class of totty walk by.
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Suffused with Herringbone, Doused in Khaki, I stumbled wearily and hastily inside. Pursuing Morris Dancers fled when they saw the landlord�s carcass � gibbeted and strung up at the entrance � a warning to the curious.
Delirium Tremens seized me and robbed me of words. No matter � the barkeep had my Letchforth Broth fizzing in its Pewter horn before I hit the ground.
I grabbed at antlers on my way down and ripped the skulleous relics from their mountings. Somewhere a bell rang. No-one came. An instant later, a door was thrown back almost off its shacklings, and two bell ringers made desperate flight across the flags whence the dog-fight had reached a climax. �Run!!! The bell mountings have ruste-
This mortal appeal was torn from lavished lungs and salivated kidneys, its last breath robbed. A two-ton, rusted, cast-iron monster came crashing though the ceiling and obliterated the pair as it struck the flags with dreadful force. An earth-shattering boom blew out the windows. Shards of exploding iron devastated walls, furnishings, men and beasts.
As I breathed my last, I raised myself to the counter to take a draft. I found The Letchforth was drinkable and well-kept, which is hardly a stunning endorsement. There are plenty of other decent Ale Houses in the vicinity. The Latrines were in good repair and worthy of mention to any respectable Pyromaniac.
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Pretty busy when I went last night, although no great surprise given the location and Thursdays being the new Fridays etc etc.
Five ales on - Doombar, Tribute, Landlord, Fortyniner and Lancaster Blonde. Underwhelmed by the latter, although having never had it before, wasn't sure whether it was just the beer itself or an average pint.
Certainly the Fortyniner and Tribute were in excellent condition, so leads me to believe it may be the former.
Being National Pie Week, also went for some pastry-based fare. Disappointingly only two on offer. Went for the steak and ale, which was very good, albeit a slightly weird combination of flaky pastry on top and shortcrust elsewhere. Tasted good and a decent portion size for under seven quid, so couldn't quibble too much.
Decent decor inside and not overwhelmingly loud that you couldn't hear what your mates are saying.
J
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One of the Better Nicholson Pubs. Decent Pint of London Pride with all the usual Nicholson Ales available. This pub has a High Ceiling and a spiral Staircase leading to an upper dining room. Recommended for a visit if you are in the area. Nice Decor
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One of the best pubs around Bond Street tube/Wigmore Street. And open later than most as well.
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This is a decent enough pub with nice bar staff and there was a decent drinks selection of Doom Bar, Landlord, Tribute, Pride and two guests alongside a range of standard and premium lagers on my visit.
The music was a bit loud for my liking, but I would go back here again if passing.
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Not much to write home about in here but it's not too bad either. Seemed to be trying with the ale selection but the music was a bit crap and I don't see any need to return here given some of the alternatves nearer Marble Arch
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Spent a leisurely lunchtime here on Saturday. Enjoyed A great Tribute @�2.90 and switched to a reasonable Doom Bar when that ran out. I'd agree with GDS about the institutuinal short measures - needed a prompt for every pint. Sat out in the sunshine in the adjacent paved street. Had a superb quality burger with giant mushroon & stilton for �7.45. Unfortunately the chips were a tad anaemic but that didn't seem to matter.
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A decent Nicholson's pub just away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street.
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Classic Nicholsons, having said that it was very good, 4 of the 5 real ales on, unfortunately not Landlord, very cheerful staff, adequate typical Nicholson's food, warm and friendly pub, and a welcome rest for the odd hour.
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One of Nicholson's better efforts, with seating on four levels (although if you want decent beer, you're better off staying on the ground floor). The Stonehenge Ales Eye-Opener (which I thought was a seasonal summer brew) was a tasty pint.
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Large Nicholsons pub, wooden floors and a lack of soft furnishings make for a noisy environment when busy as it was with the post work crowd. I sat on a stool at a raised table but it was clear the floors are uneven as the chair wobbled and my pen rolled off the table twice.......my excuse and I'm sticking to it. The spiral stair climbs up to the top bar, then again to a little mezzanine with its own small bar, but only TT Landlord on HP up here. Downstairs there was a good selection, TT Landlord, Sharps Doom Bar, Badger First Gold, Tribute, Pride and Stonehenge Eyeopener.
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first pub of the day, overheard the chaps in front of me say they thought the beer wasnt right, opted for guinness instead. head was huge but after some coaxing the barman topped it up ( 2 times). cant comment on anything else as didnt eat or use the loo. This seems to be just another nicholsons chain pub. will stick to the cock and lion when in this area.
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Decent selection of beers, Tribute had gone but was being replaced, TT Landlord was very iffy (dunno why my friend didn�t return it), Doombar & Beartown Bear Ass were good, Pride & Hobgoblin completed the line up, we didn�t suffer the short measures that GDS experienced. Brief tasting notes and �sip before you sup� offers on each pump. Nice woody little bar, ornate iron spiral staircase to upper floor, where some people did seem to be just drinking & chatting, so cannot confirm reports of it being a dining only area. Tall round tables with barstool style seating, nice original bowed window frames, some little wooden tables outside, continental stylee. Quiet but rather whiney soundtrack ystdy, various sausage & mash options from �6. Fascinating approach if you find the little alley leading to St Christophers Pl from Oxford St � a few paces which take you from 21c mayhem to a rather more sedate and preferable land. PC lacks a traditional feel but was worth having �on map� for ystdy�s crawl.
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A lovely atmosphere in this pub. Spent the evening in the cellar bar with a few friends and it's very relaxed and welcoming (large sofa's, lots of space).
Will definately be going back.
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Nicholson's with five real ales and Westons Old Rosie. On Friday night they had Pride, Landlord, Tribute, Bitter & Twisted and Highgate Bee Zone. On 4 levels altogether, they keep the top level as a restaurant, seemed determined not to let anyone up there despite there being no one eating. Ludicrously short pints served that they clearly weren't going to do anything about until prompted.
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Interesting looking pub with a few decent ales on, including some excellent Sharp�s Doom Bar. The ground floor bar has only stools to sit on, so is not particularly comfortable for a relaxing drink. A spiral staircase leads to an upstairs bar with some comfortable seating and which seems to be mainly used as a dining area. I wouldn�t rave about this pub, but it�s a decent enough watering hole and I would definitely visit again if I was in the area.
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Excellent Nicholsons pub with the usual range of guest ales. I enjoyed a pint of "Robin's Ransom" which was a new one on me - very good though. Spacious pub in busy Wigmore Street. Plenty of room inside and out. Spiral wrought iron staircase to upstairs dining area; cellar bar with wrought iron gating downstairs.
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This pub is very hit and miss.
The lager is sometimes flat warm and in a dirty glass, other times it's fine and reasonably priced for the location. The food (and I have eaten there many times over the years) can vary from one extreme to other. It has often turned up late, incomplete, cold and bland, occasionaly it's great. Often understaffed so a long wait for your order but staff are nearly always friendly. Thieves love this place and a visit will always involve witnessing the distress of a victim. I think despite the naivety and carelessness of some customers in leaving their belongings at risk, the pub could do more. It must be the same gang again and again and CCTV and more vigilant staff could help (maybe a bouncer on the door would recognize regular thieves). No football on TV anymore :-(, rubbish place to put the quiz machine (by door)as well, to be honest I only drink there because it's near work.
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Really nice pub,great staff,friendly and helpful,the cellar bar is great,it has a fantastic atmosphere. We hired a section of the cellar bar for a private function,and I would reccommend it to anyone.
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Good chance of getting a seat in an area where they tend to be rare (St Christopher's Place). The food is absolutely gorgeous-we had sausage and mash and unlike the previous reviewer-they were hot! The upstaires bar is a great place to enjoy an after work drink or twelve.
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Visited the Ponty on 2 occasions recently, and found it to be one of the best pubs being operated under the old Nicholson's banner, although I should say that none of these have ever disappointed me, and do offer the traditional pub-lover and more discerning beer drinker a more worthy experience than many London outlets.
A range of 4 good cask ales, including the hardly-ubiquitous-in-London Oakham JHB (a personal favourite!), were on and in good nick. Helpful and pleasant service from staff. The food is rather good and well worth sampling - in addition to a menu offering a range of meats, fish and veg dishes, the sausage menu described below is a joy and features a remarkably broad selection of bangers. All the grub is at a reasonable pricetag for this district as well. To complete the picture, the interior combines what appears to be a relatively genuine old character with comfort; in the evenings the upstairs dining room is atmospheric with candles lit on each table.
If one finds oneself tiring of Oxford Street and to be "over-shopped", then slip down the passageway to St Christopher's Place, a charming a well-preserved detour, and go to the pub to get away from it all for a while!
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A multi-floored pub, part of the Nicholsons chain as was the Argyll Arms we had just come from. Reasonable selection of beer and in good form. I had been here many years ago and didn't recognize the ground floor bar. Saw meals being delivered which looked fine but didn't try anything. All in all quite a pleasant establishment.
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I visited the Pontefract Castle last night for some after-work drinks and pub food.
The pub advertises its amazing array of top quality sausages (which come from the same people who supply sausages to Fortnum and Mason apparently), all served with mash and gravy. I went for the cumberland, and each of the four others in our group chose a different sausage from the list of fifteen or so varieties.
Unfortunately when they arrived the gravy and mash were cold (for every one of us) and as a result they had to be sent back. Fifteen minutes later our meals came back a little warmer, but not as hot as they should have been. Very disappointing. The sausages were obviously of a high quality - and the mash and gravy too - but to serve them lukewarm or cold is inexcusable. Therefore I would recommend anyone thinking of eating at the Pontefract to think twice before doing so.
As for the beer, the Pontefract always seems to have several ales on tap, some of which rotate (including London Pride, Green King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Bombardier, Deuchars IPA, Timothy Taylor�s Landlord, Young�s and a whole host more). I had two excellent pints of Landlord followed by a Leffe and an Erdinger Dunkel (both excellent bottled beers).
So, on the basis of last night, I would give the Pontefract Castle 9/10 for the beer, but only 1/10 for the food (overall a 5).
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Yes, each floor has a different mood. Has the advantage of being to pick and choose. Has the disadvantage of not being terribly exciting.
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Two pubs for the price of one! The upstairs bar, crowded, noisy and hectic-with all forms of life on show. The downstairs non-smoking relaxed and laid-back. Take your pick.
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Can't comment on thieves but thought the place was very good and, most importantly to an impoverished soul like myself, was extremely cheap - two pints (one Fosters and one a decent Green King) came to �5!
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OK, this is London! There are thieves about. Don't blame it on the nice pub though, unwary customers actually have to carry some responsibility here too! If you put it down, or leave it alone, it'll walk!! So don't..! Its one of the golden rules in London. I digress..
Nice pub! A lively place in an evening. If you like to watch live footy, here's a good pub for you.
Unusual spiral iron staircase rises up thru' the middle of this pub. There are 4 floors! Restaurant up top. Ground floor is where all the action is.
I was happily watching a Champions League match here, at the bar, earlier in the year. A gorgeous blonde (girl) came and sat on the bar stool next to me, in between me and the big screen, and started the whole 'grooming' routine, hair brushing, lipstick, make-up, the lot!! I missed the first goal..!!
That's central London for you! At least she didn't pinch my wallet!
(PS - JonBoy may have a point though.. who wants to go home stinking of stale cigarette ash..?!?) TJ
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no pool table. ok place with plenty of seats. full of suits.
anonymous - 10 Jul 2006 16:42 |
nice basement. ok for location. The young's wasn't up to scratch though.
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I went to this pub not expecting much, just killing a little time while waiting for a concert to start--and was mildly surprised. A decent pint, good (if unexceptional) food, but overall not a bad experience in terms of food and drink.
Too crowded when I was there, but lucked into a seat at the counter and got friendly and fairly quick service. If I ignored the endless getting-bumped-into-from-behind, it was a relaxing place...I didn't explore the upper levels of the place, but I wouldn't complain about stopping in again to try them out. The place gains a point for the quality of the staff, but loses it again for the sheer number of annoyingly braying suits crammed into the place--not the pub's fault, but still not my favorite drinking environment.
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Standard procedure bland slightly rubbish pub. Spent a couple of hours in here again. Would rather do so again than be poked in the eye but would prefer to go somewhere else in the area. The Crown & Sceptre on Foley Street isn't too far to walk...
anonymous - 7 Jan 2006 14:29 |
I would just like to question "Jonboy's" remarks posted waaaay back in April.
I work with the fella and I have it on good authority that he was in the Ponty both Friday lunchtime and Friday evening.
I dunno, some people just enjoy moaning. I just guess there's no point in trying to make him happy when he's happy feeling sad.
Keep up the good work Ponty, we'll turn him sooner or later.
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Perhaps it's trying to be all things to all people at once, but it very nearly pulls it off. Play pool downstairs, or sit and chat with mates on the top floor, or watch sport on the giant screens on the ground floor. It's totally up to you!
Whatever you choose to do, you'll always be sure of a friendly welcome and some good hearty food if you eat there.
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This is great pub. As for people having things stolen in there! please it happens in every pub! The Manager has installed plenty of hooks and signage to prevent the low-lifes stealing and are constantly vigilant to such occurances.
The beer is good and cold [as it should be]. There is vast choice of lagers and the Ales are REAL ALES. Any real ale drinkers should go here as due care and attention is given to the ales - you can tell.
The food is great, a good choice. The staff were freindly, and attentive.
Go there on a footy night. the screens can be seen from all over the 4 floors.
The basement bar is great for pool and drinking or private hire. We had a works Xmas party down there and had a great night.
10 out of 10.
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This pub could be good it really could. It is large and spacious with lots of different areas to sit, not too noisy or packed, even on a Friday night. Two things let it down - some of the staff, not all, but a fair few of them are grumpy, slow and unhelpful - you can wait an hour for a simple pub lunch, even if it's not too busy. The other thing is the huge amount of thefts that take place in there. I had my purse stolen from my bag on Friday night - we were a group of 12 and still someone managed to do it. Several of my friends have also had purses/ handbags/ mobile phones and laptops stolen. If you do go in there - WATCH YOUR STUFF AT ALL TIMES!!!
anonymous - 6 Jun 2005 13:20 |
The dreaded "work's local." I really think we only go here because everyone always goes here. Attractive enough place - interesting layout, usually somewhere to sit on one of the three levels (plus basement). However, you come back to work stinking of everyone else's fags (ever heard of AC guys?) and lately, the food service has taken a major dive. Time for a change of allegiance.
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There are loads of pubs near my office but this is the one we usually go to these days. London Pride on tap and a good menu of traditional pub meals. We have to go early ish to get in for lunch as it gets crowded.
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Quite a good atmosphere but a bit dingy for my tastes. Bar staff are slow.
Alex - 18 Jun 2004 17:01 |
A lovely pub that comes highly recommended. Dark and welcoming, it has three floors accessible via a winding staircase and standard fare on tap. Snacks as you'd expect. It's somewhat off the main drag yet busy enough to feel like you're not in the back of beyond. Perfect for chinwagging and catching up, or simply people watching. The music wasn't deafening, even on a Friday night. Great stuff.
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We use this place for our quarterly pub quiz and they always let us use their large basement for free. Great staff - very friendly. Nice to have a big room to ourselves, but a bit of a pain having to go upstairs to order food. The other three floors are also nice, but you have to get in early to get a seat!
Samatha - 25 Mar 2004 12:55 |
WOW....I used to go to this pub in '85 when I was 16 yrs old and attending the American School in London. So happy to see the old pub is alive and well.
Lisa - 15 Jul 2003 05:51 |
Had a wonderful time at the Pontefract Castle on my last trip to London. Its taken me this long to track it down. Played Golden Tee Golf with Stirling (SRI) and would like to contact him to say thanks. Can you help?
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