please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Big dark hole of a place with a lively crowd, last night anyway. Mostly 20 's and 30's ish types out for the night, not post office (not a suit in sight). Lots of drinks, but expensive well served by staff. Club downstairs had comedy on last night, good crowd in to see female stand ups and the excellent 'Slow Country' sketch duo.
|
I've been going to the Albany for a while now, not for the beer/food (although they do have Belgian fruit beer on tap, certainly downstairs) but to a club downstairs called 13th Floor where they play 60s psychedelia and related stuff. Worth going to for that club alone, but when are they going to fix the gents' toilet downstairs? Getting a bit fed up with jostling with the guys to get into the ladies...
|
I really like this pub!! I always go there when u first get into London, great place for a nice social!!
And the bar-maid with glasses aint half bad either..
|
Gets far too rammed for comfort.
|
This place is close to work for me. Probably the best of the very local pubs, good draught foreign beers - including Liefmans Frambozen, Franziskaner and Scneider Weisse, Paulaner Original Munchen and dark Budvar. A couple of real ales usually on too. Reasonable atmosphere, main drawback is the price. Worth a visit.
|
The bar is in a good location, but the staff on duty last night were in my opinion, inattentive, unable to pour a decent pint, and in some cases rude. The beer was also not very good. All in all I would say give it a miss as there are other bars in the area which you should visit first.
|
Dirty, grubby and grimy feel (and smell) to this place, which didn'd inspure confidence when I got there. Seating had a worn and ropey feel to it to. Food was equally disappointing - the 'chef' hadn't mastered the art of frying eggs, as both arrived broken and dried, chips were saturated in oil and the gammon was paddling around the plate in a pool of its own grease. When we complained that the chips were far too oily the lady shrugged and told us "That's England" and walked away. Well, pardon us for eating in our own country, madam - it's just that France was a bit friggin far to go in our lunch hour. Clientele was young/trendy and somewhat studenty. Beer was reasonably priced, but that didn't make up for the grubby experience of this place.
|
relaxing but not so quiet place - Taylors Landlord and Blacksheep Bitter on draught plus numerous imported beers.
|
Plenty of fancy / pricey beers and interesting bar snacks (wasabi peas?).
We went on a Sunday afternoon when it was chilled out and comfy and it's well worth a visit then. I hear it's packed-out during the week.
Thumbs up for the bloke behind the bar yesterday who stayed cheerful despite all the pumps going on his trenty beers yesterday.
|
thank you Martini for the history about The Albany. much appreciated.
Boveman
|
From about 1994 to 2000. Never really took off and it was not surprising to see it revert to being The Albany. Incidentally, for fans of psycho ciders, The Albany sometimes has Addlestone's. Good stuff.
Other ex-Firkins in the area include The Court in Tottenham Court Road, which was the Flintlock and Firkin, and The Rocket in Euston Road, which was the Friar and Firkin. Both of these, as keen Fitzrovians will know, are part of the Scream chain: but fortunately not all Firkins went that way.
|
does anyone know when was The Albany Pub called the 'Fitz and Firkin'? that must have been a long time ago.
|
I had a grand time at The Albany directly across the road from the ISH. My musically gifted and talented Norwegian friend played the piano and we both sang old tunes ranging from 'It's a Long Road to Tipperary' and George Cohan's WW I classic 'Over There.' As we wrapped up singing the great Cohan song, my Norwegian friend asked me to get refills of our pint mugs so I proceeded to take them up to the bar where I was sucker punched in the face out of the blue.
I want to go back to have a rematch with the Brit who sucker punched me at The Albany Pub on Great Portland Street. He can even have his girlfriend play 'doubles' against me again.
|
Fun, better than average theme-esque bar that caters for the nearby advertising execs and sales reps. Always fairly busy, german lager is ok (£2.90 a pint), they had Black Sheep on recently (yet didnt taste anything like the Sheep, i know and love). Service was young and attained a c+ for effort.
|
Was here a few years ago when a friend was managing a band who were playing downstairs. It was warm, comfortable yet lively - sport on the big screen, food on the table and lots of good conversation. On a recent afternoon visit the place was quiet and empty and there was no cask ales on. The actual atmosphere obviously depends on the time of day and your own mood. The pub itself is OK, but fairly average.
|
3 pints cider and I was on the loo all night long, thats just not right.
Full of suits, hogging the big comfy chairs. Little expenisve. Yugoslavian barmaids, were rather sweet. Didnt know how to put 4-leaf-clover on my Guiness, I mean come on... Ok pub, will probably pop in there again just for the barmaids.
PS keep clear of the Cider (im serious).
Selly - 31 Mar 2005 18:52 |
Nice'n'cool "All bar one" type of place. Good atmosphere...in spite of the office workers...comedy nights are excellent value for money and a great night.
|
Although rather pricey this pub is quite cool, its a little known fact that many comedy events take place in the downstairs bar which are usually really good fun. I went here when it was the firkin, euggh! The Albany is much better.
|
Like it.
Much better after the refit. Worth going in if you are near.
|
Nice atmosphere and a cash machine inside. You could vanish into this place for months before you got the sack for not turning up to work.
The only bad memory I have of the place (from a blunderous pre-airport rendez-vous there) was the few very deep armchairs. They aren't ideal for drinking (I'm a stool'n'round table man, myself), so they do exercise those drinking muscles which you don't normally use. Start yourself off with a long warm-up (maybe a bottle of white wine) when you arrive.
Norn_Iron_Dave - 22 Jan 2004 18:50 |
this and the queens head & artichoke are my locals and although it does get packed with all the office workers (yes they need a drink too!) it's a cool bar, comfy, relaxed, good music, not too trendy. perfect for a weekday evening booze with a mate.
alisdair - 21 Nov 2003 13:29 |
Seemed a bit All Bar One at first, but they had Addlestones on, nice!
Pauly - 10 Nov 2003 11:31 |
that rock'n'rollsoul club is brilliant. been a few times and the music is always cool. nice pub too!
stivbators - 29 Jun 2003 13:52 |
I'll second the friendly happy staff. Relaxed sort of place. I'm part of the office crowds but hey, we have to get a drink too.
JohnR - 22 May 2003 22:14 |
Very nice atmosphere, very nice staff and helpful management. Has comedy in the evening, went to see mark little.
Saint - 7 Apr 2003 16:42 |
They do a superb club downstairs on the first Saturday of every month called Rock'n'rollSoul. £3 to get in, licensed until 2am, soul, funk and 60s music.
Penfold - 19 Mar 2003 11:06 |
Gets very busy with office crowds in the evenings but the staff cope very well. Could probably make better use of the space available.
Steve - 7 Mar 2003 13:25 |
Has Leffe on tap. Dammit!
|
