The Princess Louise, Holborn

i was in this pub to meet friends before going to a restuarant in the area. As many of the reviews says it is a splendid Victorian named after Queen Victoria's daugther Louise Duchess of Argyll.

It has many small snugs and cosy corners etc . But the big problem is its popularity. Arriving at 7PM getting a seat was almost impossible. Just too many people and not enough staff. How anyone can find pleasure being in a grossly overcroweded pub is beyond me. There was nowhere to stand put your bag etc

The beer is the best stuff to buy. I bought a rather mediocre house red wine and it was �5.11 which seems a bit pricey even for the West End.

However it is a nice pub and stands out from the bland interiors in yoru average modern pub. But I will be going next time mid afternoon on a weekday and I think it will be great then on atmosphere.

But Friday and Saturday evenings best avoided unless you enjoy standing in a very crowded hot environment

14 Nov 2009 00:26

The Punch And Judy, Covent Garden

I have been aware of this pub since the 1980s and it has always been a very poor pub in every way. Overpriced, messy tables, hopelessly bad service etc. The problem is whoever is running it just doesn't care. It is in a prime location and for every tourist, office worker etc who visits once and hates it there are always more mugs coming along every day. Basically unless there is a dramatic change I will never visit this establishment again.

13 Nov 2009 18:04

The Curtain's Up, West Kensington

I first visited this pub in the 1970s before I had moved to London but often visited friends in the area. It was a pleasant rather down at heel Victorian pub-probably with teh original fixtures and fittings.. Since then it has had several incarnations reaching itrs lowest ebb in the mid 8os when it had dark paintwork, low beams and agricultural machinery dotted about. The clientelle were very rough indeed fights were frequent and windows got smashed on more than one occasion. There was a strong criminal element present and at one time a manger did a bunk and disappeared. It was a dangerous pub and though I live nearby I verey rarely went in.

Things got a little better when the theatre took off but there was a pool table so acting there was quite difficult as the music was very loud and there was a lot of banging pool cues went on disturbing the shows in the theatre in the basement.

Last few years since it has been the Curtains Up and been redcorated several times and the low life clients have all gone it has been immeasurably better. Though food was poor, microwaved fare which could take hours to arrive, Service was slow and toilets could be bad some days.

The present incanation under Geronimo is the best ever. A proper gastro-pub worthy to be a proper local. Great decor lovely food-bit pricey but you get what you pay for. Waiting and bar staff ALL POLITE AND HELPFUL. general state of loos and decor first class. So in my 30 odd years of knowing this pub this is a remarkable transfornation. WELL DONE TO ALL CONCERNED!

Which brings me to the present

13 Nov 2009 15:43