please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Difficult to know how to rate this place. Dropped in last night night to hand over some London Drinkers. Barman denied all knowledge of ever having them. Mind you he reckoned all Sam Smiths have OBB on handpump. Had been here before for functions and gone straight upstars. Had a bit of a poke around last night and hadn't realised how big it was. Must be at least 4 separate bars. It's a must visit but maybe once only.
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Lovely historic pub. It feels as if you have stepped back in time. I love Sam Smith beers so that is a bonus.
Great for tourists to see
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I was in here last sunday - had three pints of OB in the front bar sat by the fire, taking in the ancient smoke-blackened panelling and decor. Tangible atmosphere of time stood still - You half expect Dr Johnson to walk in. Very friendly staff and punters. Good pub.
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Enjoyed my visit here with friends but wasn't as good as I was hoping. Went on a Saturday night when a few of the other bars were closed for private functions so therefore it got fairly busy. Very oldy-worldy feel to this place and I'm sure there's loads of history associated with it too. Usual, cheap Sam Smiths beer available and the staff seemed quite friendly.
Don't think I'll came back again as it's a case of been there and done it now go somewhere else though that's not to say I wouldn't recommend a visit. If I was to go again it would probably be during the daytime to perhaps fully appreciate it for what it is.
7/10
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Amazing interior with lots of little rooms on various levels, steep narrow stairs into the downstairs cellar bars (like a dungeon!) very atmospheric. As much as I like Sam Smiths beers, on my visit (Oct 2008) the beer was not very good, and the food costly and not up to much. Whilst there several complained about the food, taking too long to arrive and cold when it did. Wonderful place, but would not visit again. I guess this has just become a tourist trap, which is a shame. Much better beer and food at Sam Smiths Cittie York in High Holborn.
John W Oct 2008
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A tourist trap and rotten pub;typical Smiths. Good locations and horrible beer. This place was worth going into in the old days when you were allowed to smoke; the open front bar coal fire is a bigger risk to your lungs than any cigar or cigerette. Worth walking by and heading for the Olde Mitre up the road.
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Possibly becoming a bit touristy? But still excellent atmosphere, beer and a wonderful old interior.
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As good as the hype suggests. Try to go in the week when the labyrinthine downstairs is open.
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What a find this pub is! Beer and food all 5 star, thank you for a most enjoyable visit. Highly recommended!
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One of the all time great pubs. Excellent beer at a great price. Recommend going in Winter when the open fire is burning. Pity the big sign actually outside the pub in Fleet Street is missing.
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Popped in again yesterday - seemed to be a better stock and selection of Sam Smiths than previously. Also had the cask ale on too.
Whatever you think of their beer, you've got applaud SS for their upkeep of these historic pubs, and for being able to sell their draught beer so cheaply.
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Beer was good when we visited last Friday, No Alpine on though. Not all bars/rooms open, but they let us have a look around anyway.
Will definitely visit again when in London.
Takes a while for your eyes to adjust to the dark!
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The closest pub to my office and would be a regular of mine if it weren't for the crap beer (sorry, just not a Sam Smiths fan). Stunning historical interior and worth a visit notwithstanding the beer selection. Sometimes a bit too tourist heavy though...
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Difficult to find but well worth the hunt. I thought it was closed at first, so dark were the windows from outside. Very Dickensian place, lots of nooks & crannies. Lovely real fire roaring away in the bar. A typical Sam Smiths pub - full of character with decent but very cheap beer.
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Just started working nearby so met a friend for a drink here and have to say it is a fantastic place. You feel like you've gone to an olde worlde attraction like London Dungeon or something but with the advantage of drinking great, cheap!! beer. I will be back very soon.
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Lovely old historic pub enjoyed a nice pint of Sam Smiths old brewery sitting by the big open fire.
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Unbelievably amazing pub! Good atmosphere, good location, good beer, good food, good history, good..
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Just recently in London. This Pub is great. A quintessential English pub with surprisingly good food and crisp ales. The "Gentlemen Only" area up front is just what's needed now-a-days.
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Hadn't been here for at least 15 years and then it had been summer and my wife and I had to stand outside in the alley. Glad we visited again earlier this month. Won't be 15 years before our next visit.
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Nice pub for an evening visit. Good beer and friendly. Mixed clientele from business types to students to Japanese tourists. Very interesting architecture/paintings.
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This pub epitomizes all that is great about London.The history and the eccentricity is overwhelming and i hope that this will never change. Glad that Samuel Smiths are taking good care of it and not trying to change anything, and they make great beer!
cluck - 15 Jan 2008 11:56 |
This pub continues to serve good beer. Bar staff friendly, though if you want to eat you should try and book as it is still a big tourist destination for the city walking tours.
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This is one of the only Sam Smith's pubs in the capital with hand pumps - makes all the difference in the taste of their ales, which on our last visit were excellent. Service is good and friendly, even when packed. We were in after the Lord Mayor's show and got served instantly despite it being rammed. There's a modern (but tastefullt basic) conversion of the courtyard out the back with a magnificently engineered wooden covering, but the rest of the pub is the reale olde deale. This being a Sam Smith's pub it hasn't been turned into Disneyland. More power to 'em.
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One of the best pubs in London. This is the epitome of an olde worlde pub - wood panelling, nooks and crannies, blazing open fires and strong literary connections. It's Sam Smiths, too, so it's cheap. The bigger bar is closed on Sundays.
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I love this place, very regularly go for a drink there after work. It can fill up with City types a bit after 6, but this goes with the territory. Great atmosphere and decor, mind your head, going down the stairs though. Very good value beer too, which in my opinion is unfairly maligned - the stout is actually very nice. My friend bought scampi and chips which looked lush - I'm told the chips were cooked to perfection. Really, really nice.
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This is one of my favourite pubs in London, so I brought my Canadian visitors to check it out last night. It turned out to be a huge disappointment.
It was ever so slightly cool yesterday evening, but they responded by firing up the coal fireplaces. As a result, the front bar resembled a walk-in oven. The Chop Room and the restaurant were fully booked for the entire evening, so we had to go to the cellar bar for food. It took an hour and a half to arrive, and when it did, the food was stone cold.
What was meant to be an introduction to London's great pubs just went on to confirm all the worst stereotypes about Britain: warm beer (warm everything with the fires), crap food, poor service. At least they enjoyed the prices, as their peasant currency doesn't go far here.
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Great pub. Crappy beer.
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An outstanding, unique and intriguing place to drink. A Sam Smiths establishment, I am not a fan of the beer, the soft drinks or the wine but it is a great place to drink simply because it is so utterly enthralling and captivating. Real open fires, a labyrinthine maze of corridors, rooms, nooks and crannies festooned with antediluvian, ancient tables, chairs and wooden chattels and polite, courteous staff make for a singular, back-in-time atmosphere. You must visit this pub once in your life.
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Was in London 2 weeks ago and asked our guide to recommend something "real" which is how we ended up at the Chesire. No disappointment-ate in the Chop Room and had Scotch roast beef which was so yummy, esp with the chunky horseradish sauce! Would have loved to revisited to enjoy the cellar atmosphere, but time would not allow. A definite favorite.
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This has to be one of the best pubs in London and one of the cheapest. Please don't change it!
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While in London about 10 days ago we went on a ghost walk/pub crawl organised by The Big Bus Company. This was one of the pubs we visited. And it was brilliant! We went to the all wood bar at the very bottom of the building and it was atmospheric, cool and really good fun. There were a great mix of customers, everything from tourists soaking up all that history to a group of lads who were doing a Monopoly pub crawl. I will be going back for a longer stay next time I'm in London. Highly recommended! If I'd tried the food or stayed longer it would probably have earned a score of 10.
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historic city pub, claiming to be based on hostelry associated with the Whitefriars. Cellars go down a very long way. Famous literary pub associated with virtual all great writers along the former director of the Dr Johnstone Museum tells me there is no evidence that Dr J actual drank here - although it is close to his house.
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Another brilliant central London, Sam Smith's pub. Sat in one of the two back rooms. Not as atmospheric or traditional as the front rooms, cellar or upper floors, but plenty of room and perfectly pleasant. A couple of very nice pints of OBB, and some food. My friends had sandwiches, which looked pleasant and good value for money...
I had the Steak and Kidney Pie.... EXCELLENT. Meat wonderful, gravey excellent, veg supereb... but best of all, the suet and herb top on the pie. outstanding, I'll be trying to recreate this at home... but might have to visit a few more times first.
The rest of the pub is beautiful, traditional, amazing. Also, the extra menu for the front Chop room, looks good.
So plenty of reasons for me to visit again!
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Yes, I am a tourist... the only thing to ask for is to leave this pub unchanged forever. A pint of Sammy Smith went down good as usual, can't say anything about the food.
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Been to this pub many times over the years, but had food there for the first time today, for a birthday lunch. We were in the "Chop Room" to the left of the main entrance, and had Bangers & Mash, really tasty. Couple of pints of the draght stout went down very well too. A very successful lunch all round - recommended.
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I love this pub, one of my favorites in London.
As Old Brewery Bitter is my favorite beer I am nearly always happy in a Sam Smiths pub, I particularly like the German Beer Hall effect in the very bottom room and the lovely little wooden booths.
The staff are always quick and usually friendly too.
I also like that the menu is designed for hungry people who have had one too many beers before their dinners! onion rings are brilliant and the chips are like the ones my Granny used to make.
Brilliant!
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Visit this pub for the history and ambience of a bygone age. This really does look like a pub that has been there, and remained largely unchanged, since just after the Great Fire. A Sam Smith's pub so no surprises regarding beers on offer. A must for inclusion on any tour of London's historic pubs.
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Go find something more olde English, its great here. Bring your foreign friends or work colleagues and show them another side of the tourist route.
Alternatively go with a mate and end up with several more by the end of the night.
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Have been coming here for years but ate for the first time recently. (Didn't go to the restaurant - this was bar food.) Despite a big food order not long before the kitchen closed it was absolutely spot on - a brilliant steak and kidney pie. Went down brilliantly with a pint of man-in-a-box.
Unfortunately - as I was showing some friends from out of London around - the more atmospheric downstairs bar was closed on a Saturday night, but as the upstairs was hardly busy it's not surprising.
Overall a top pub.
anonymous - 26 Mar 2007 14:44 |
Met friends here during my recent stay in London...went here due to it's rich past, but could not stay-so smoke-filled..really a shame, the place itself is so lovely
njnkp - 15 Mar 2007 22:51 |
Great pub IF you stick to the original parts, I was in on Monday 12 March which was a lovely bright sunny day and they had the coal fire in the grate burning with the result that you couldn't stay in there for the heat...........not that I'll let that put me off
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well i visited again due to seeing a post made after my last one on the 6/7/06 and i actually tried other things than "stella" which i dont drink as i find it bloodly awful , i know this is a sam smiths pub but with this in mind my local British legion is a sam smiths buyer and the bitter they do is superb , with this in mind a few of the merry wanderers ended up in london (either here or southend) and one of the group wanted to see why we raved about the tipperary across the road , but we came here first and i tried the same lager i tried before and it tasted lovely (think i copped a dodgy pint last time) everyone had something different and we all tried each others the beer we were served was f**kin excellent , this pub had a ten rating from me before because of the excellent service i got , now it has a fully deserved ten .
a historical part of londons drinking history that has been untouched by the glass and neon of a 21st century bussling capital city .
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Very interesting and historic. However only having Samuel Smiths bitter available is not very good.
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Can't decide if I really like this place, or really hate it...went in on Friday night and the place just felt really disjointed. Really busy, and I didn't realise they served their own version of spirits. Average prices - however I yet again got lost on my way back from the toilet to my table.
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With past patrons like Bradshaw and Dickens expectations were high for this oddly named pub.
We went on a Thursday night and the place was comfortably busy. With so many rooms and knocks, it was easy enough to find a spot.
The tap beer was great and the service was friendly and efficient.
The atmosphere reflected the charm and history of the pub, making it popular with tourists and locals.
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This place is steeped in history - sup where luminaries like Dickens and Johnson used to while away the hours. Fantastic higgledy-piggledy layout although the furniture and fittings do belie a slight lack of sympathy for the surroundings. In terms of drinks stay clear of the own brand spirits and mixers and (someone else's) wine I tasted had a somewhat eggy nose... This is a beer drinkers pub and the Sammy Smiths bitters and lagers are good news. In Yorkshire Sam Smiths is much maligned for being pish but in London few places know how to pour a proper bitter and Samuel Smiths places usually do.
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Amazing interior, loads of history and stuff like that. Definitely worth a visit, make sure you have a look round at all the rooms; I could almost believe that it hasn't changed since the alleged 17th century origins...having said that I still have my reservations about Sam Smiths pubs...I can't really put my finger on why, I certainly don't have any complaints about the beer...it's all a nice idea but they never seem to be run with "love".
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Good beer and atmosphere but really could do with an extra person or two behind the bar at the back of the building on the ground floor. They have enough space for a couple more people. Apart from that a good traditional pub.
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Maybe I'm biased because I'm an American and always appreciate the chance to drink in a pub older than my country. Yeah, it's always going to draw in tourists because of the fact that it was frequented by Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens- but besides that it has a very cozy atmosphere, excellent fish n' chips and I like Samuel Smiths.
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Sitting in the cellar is always a treat for some reason. Like the pub and am warming to Sam Smiths. I went with the Stout.
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Disagree with the last poster, but horses for courses I guess. I like historic atmospheric pubs and this place ticks all the right boxes.
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Yes it's old and has history and character but the most I could handle was the two minutes it took to realise that I shall never go there again. Too small, tiny,tiny bar area and that silly room out the back is a about as inviting as a poke in the eye.
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The initial impression is that this is a pub that has got above itself and that what made it appealing has/could led to its downfall; its clear that heritage and decor are attractive for customers but once you go through the original public bar into the 'back' public bar you feel like you are standing in a warehouse. More of a J.SAINSBURY RATHER THAN A C. DICKENS WAREHOUSE i MIGHT ADD. Its too much of contrast. I did not try the restaurant(s) which looked very nice but can't help feeling that the ambience will lead excessively great expectations...
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Good for the food more than the ale. If you are hungry and want some good, traditional pub grub, a little gussied up, this is the place. I had some excellent bangers and Mash, and the service was nice, albiet a bit posh for a pub. I would rate the bangers and mash a 9/10
Unfortunately, this is just a Samuel Smiths, mediocre cheap ale. Its not bad mind you, but there is so much better out there, like Courage Best (a favourite of mine) I don't recommend going here for drinks, as I have made clear, but then, i have no idea what there wines are like.
Because beer makes the pub, I had to rate this 4/10. And it's a shame, considering the excellent food and cozy atmosphere, fire place and all and pleasant scent.
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The interior is wonderful, so it's a must-stop for that alone.
However it's a Sam Smith's so it's the same old tasteless cack that can't hold you there for more than the one, unless the fridge is stocked.
Hardly any seats and limited floorspace so be prepared to stand. It also gets pretty hot.
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Better places in the area for sure....
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Thing is, Sam Smith's being cheap as chips is only an illusion as anything they sell which is drinkable sells at normal prices. Any sh*t in a little box isn't!! Great place though.
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I love the character this pub has. So nice. And as it is a Sam Smith's pub it is as cheap as chips! I haven't eaten here before but it's a real treasure.
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Enjoyed some stout and porter here last night. It never seems to be too busy owing to the size of the place. I love it here but the staff are appalling even to the extent of pouring slops into people's pints. you'd think they'd get an extended licence too!
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I've been going into this pub periodically for the last 37 years. I've rated it as 9 stars even though it isn't my favorite pub in London or in Fleet Street. And probably can't be.
What it has done is endured, which is harder than it sounds. It's listed in a late 1800s guide to historical pubs -- and countless others. Historic is a burden. You inevitably attract tourists to go with drinkers. You can't pick your clientele. And Fleet Street itself has morphed in the last 30 years, from the heart of the newspaper industry to a finance industry that huddles in modern blocks hidden behind old facades. Yet the Cheese continues.
A tippler can get a decent measure of whiskey or a pint of ale from staff with typical pub attitudes, reasonably friendly and competent. The atmosphere may be historic, but the worn interior is a comfortable fit. Just relax and enjoy your drink.
I've eaten here several times, but not not in a few years. The food was usually competent to reasonably good for pub food. There are the rate times that the place isn't crowded and that's the time to be there. But probably still not likely to be my steadyy watering hole.
anonymous - 15 Nov 2006 22:44 |
One of London's most famous pubs but not a particular favourite of mine. The historical importance of the pub is matched by its benooked-and-crannied interior with lots of different rooms, small doorwars and rickety staircases. Very big so generally always some room somewhere, but let down by the poor quality of the beer: whilst the price of Sam Smiths is to be commended, the beer is below average which is a pity as they own three or four of the most impressive pub interiors in central London. As for food, I've eaten the bar food here before, but there are a couple of restaurants which look as though they might be quite decent. Nice bar upstairs as well for private functions.
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My second visit to this pub this week, the coal fire was very welcoming!
For history, you can't go wrong here, but if you are looking for a comfortable sit down after a long day you might be disappointed, as hard wooden benches seem to be the order of the day.
As it's a Sam Smiths pub prices are great. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
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The Cheese has had sawdust on the floor upstairs since I can remember - at least since 1969, so I suspect it's "tradition" rather than pretention, Stonch.
On another note: I remember being fascinated by the visitors books which used to be kept on the shelf in the downstairs bar. A few years ago the (British) barman asked us one quiet afternoon if we'd like a look. The 1933-36 volume was brought down and we found entries by The Marx Brothers, John Betjeman, and a whole bunch of others.
The visitors books only go back as far as 1667 tho'. The earlier ones were destroyed in the fire of 1666...
The Sam Smiths OBB is certainly cheap for central London - Wetherspoons' prices in a genuine pub.
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Haven't been here for a couple of years. Despite living within walking distance I don't normally drink in Fleet Street pubs but last night made an exception.
As everyone has commented, this is a Sam Smith's house so expect their beers only. If you don't like them, you'll be disappointed. I can never quite make my mind up - I like their Taddy Porter and Imperial Stout, but as both are invariably served from the fridge they are never as enjoyable as they should be.
The place reeks history, as you would expect, and the cellars are interesting - the final, large cellar bar you come to if you keep travelling downwards always come as a surprise. The capacity must be huge.
First negative is unfriendly and disinterested bar staff - the curse of just about every pub on in the immediate vicinity. Yes, they're Eastern European, but I don't buy into this bigoted nonsense about Eastern European bar staff being by their nature unfriendly (see discussion on page for Old Bank of England). Go to any decently run pub in Czech Republic or Poland and you'll get good service. The problem here is that Sam Smith's many pubs in London have taken on the character of a large PubCo chain, and no doubt they pay sht wages and offer little or no training.
Second negative is the sawdust (no, I'm not kidding) on the floors upstairs - come off it.
All in all, for me this is an interesting place to visit once in a while purely for the curiosity value, but not somewhere that makes me feel like lingering.
anonymous - 14 Sep 2006 11:38 |
I love Sam Smith's pubs so that was a good start! The beer was great and the place is just as brilliant as I thought it was going to be. Atmosphere, charm and history by the bucketload!!! What an amazing pub, possibly the best in London in my humble opinion. I give it a 10.
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This pub deserves a much better rating than it has. It is a Sam Smiths pub, so it sells Sam Smiths beers. why do some people expect mass produced over priced beers ??. If you want to pay for the advertising of other brands go elsehwere.
We want this pub to remain CHAV FREE !
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I first went here on a saturday night in december 1994 and I loved it. We were in the main bar at the front and there was a great atmosphere, busy but not crowded, real fire belting out heat. It felt like an old fashioned village pub yet we were in the middle of London.
I always visit when I'm in London and it never dissapoints. Went last summer on the day of that Live Aid II thing, there was also a huge Gay pride march in the city so London was just hectic and it was a red hot day. What a releif it was to be able to drink a lovely pint of bitter in the cool and serenity of the cellar area. Could have stopped there all day. It's an ever fascinating labyrinth and incredibly cheap.
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Fair enough, sounds like you were treated very badly.
But your comment about them not having Guinness is stupid. Surely when you booked this place for the reception, you knew it was a pub owned by Sam Smith's and that SS pubs only sell that brewery's own beer?
Or do you just assume all pubs should sell the international brands you are familiar with?
anonymous - 30 Jul 2006 13:29 |
Place was hired for a wedding reception. On the stroke of 11, the bar staff kicked us out as if we were like criminals. Spent a fortune in there, not even a thankyou for your custom and goodnight.
Don't go there. They don't have Guinness, or any normal beers. They seem to think that because they are one of the few pubs that open round there on a Saturday night, they can treat people as they see fit.
The barman was ok, but the barwoman who was so obviously desparate to bugger off home as soon her time was up was horrible.
Landlord, if you read this, appreciate your custom. If you can't manage a Saturday, stay shut like all the other pubs around there.
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Perhaps a rating of 7/10 is harsh, but it is the sort of place which demands the highest standards. On the plus side are the Sam Smith's at knockdown prices and good quality, the incredible building, it's history and ambience, along with it's pivotal location. I was in a way reminded of the beloved "Nellie's" in Beverley. Food (not sampled on my most recent visit) appears better than many places offer. Less welcome was the inability of some staff to be able to hold a short conversation - owing to language problems? Remains a must-repeat place, however. Maybe I should think less and simply wallow.
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Had to respond to romfordir's comment about lack of a range of drinks in this pub - how can you say that? Admittedly they've only got one real ale, but pretty much all SS pubs serve three types of lager on tap plus keg stout and cider (if you like that kind of thing). You get a trad porter, a brown ale, an imperial stout and several others in bottles. That's a pretty good range.
So what are you talking about? I think I know - what you mean is that the familiar trashy brands of overprices rubbish you prefer to drink aren't available. Honestly, I despair of your kind. If you want a pint of Stella just say so.
Surely true variety is found in different styles of beer, not different advertising slogans.
anonymous - 9 Jul 2006 20:06 |
finally got round to having a beer in here , had a sam smiths lager , which tasted strange gave it back and got another which also tasted funny , but carried on with this one my friend had a pint of organic lager which was reasonable , nice pub maybe a bit touristy but the range of beers well i say range should be lack of range , but apart from that friendly staff and reasonable prices
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Lose yourself in time in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. I love this pub, if you are visiting from abroad and want to experience old fashioned London then give this a go.
fuzzy - 28 Jun 2006 15:03 |
The very best place in London for a reasonably priced pint £1-80 for Sam Smiths OBB. Soak up the history in the tiny bar, or eat in one of the more spacious resaurant areas. A must-visit pub, especially on a cold Saturday afternoon in January or February when the open fire is roaring away, and you have the place to yourself!
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An all time classic, one of my two favourite pubs in the world and always a good night out (the atmosphere is friendly and laid back). The drinks are just about acceptable (sam smiths, the dreaded ayingerbrau lager, and very poor wine and soft drinks - we're not far off panda cola here), but the Cheese will be here longer than the beer and will get better at some point. I can't vouch for the food downstairs but like Hugh says, the food in the restaurants is out of this world - Gary Rhodes himself would like the English food served here.
anonymous - 31 May 2006 23:45 |
The upstairs restaurant (Johnson Room) is wonderful. Oak panelled booths, dark red curtains and old crockery and pictures. It really is like stepping back into the London of Dickens or earlier. The food is superb. Anybody who believes that English food is no good has not eaten here. The rack of lamb is heavenly. The prices were reasonable for central London, and the service has always been friendly and polite when I've visited.
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A gem. Takes some finding which is a good thing.This is the real deal , a historic pub where you can feel the history. Its not been overdressed; you can imagine the characters who drank there. Only one complaint, an old pub like this should be floating on Real Ale.On the other hand the decent Sam Smiths was only £1.72 a pint!.In central London!!.
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Great Name, Great Beer, Great Building.
A Pub like it should be from Sam Smith's.
My Rating 9/10
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nice charcoal smell in there, open fire I think and I was there so it can't be all bad.
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Fantastic building with lots of different rooms and lots of different bars. However the range of beers for such a big place is crap. They only have one cask ale and although it's drinkable it tastes more like John Smiths smooth. All in all its an interesting building but the range of beers lets it down big time.
anonymous - 3 Mar 2006 22:00 |
Amazing building for the pub, steeped in history with a load of different areas with a snug little cellar to drink in.
Atmosphere can be hit and miss friday night was too suity (despite some obvious attempts at dress down friday) but at quiter times have found it lovely and intimate.
Sam Smiths beer is great and dirt cheap as well. I love the new 'pure brewed lager' if you want your usual brands then bugger of to a slug and lettuce and leave the rest of us in peace!
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You see Tweak-Head that is the problem with Sam Smith's. They have taken on some absolutely wonderful historic pubs in London and made them totally unappealing - becuase their beers are crap, and in most places they only do keg bitter rather than real ale.
A shame.
anonymous - 1 Feb 2006 16:40 |
I work a couple of minutes walk from this place but I hardly ever go, because the beer is so bad. Both bitter and lager. That's a real shame because it's a great old building that has a lovely feel. Go to the Old Bell across the road for a decent pint.
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belive it or not this is on the orignal london sightseeing tour as a point of intrest , i was shocked when driving the tour xmas day i heard about ye olde cheshire cheese and felt compelled to come back and have a try so i did , really nice pub got looked at a little strangely by some of the punters as me and my mate are both 24 and the clientele was slightly older than us , only had one drink as time wasnt on our side , but i like this pub and i will be back when i get a day off
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genuine old pub. bit dead because of the area that it's in, but worth a look for the old feel anyway. not quite as many "suits" as other pubs in the area (but still a lot!)
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Visited last Saturday; a few tourists in the front bar and a couple of folks snapping pictures here and there....but it is no suprise that they come...a truly antique and authentic feel to the place. I'm not sure if there is another pub in London that can take you back (way back) in time the way the cheese can. Seemed to be alot of folks eating from a pretty extensive menu. Visit the place and have a bitter; but think of the visit as more of an educational experience than a night out.
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All about the building, the staff are so consistently rude across all of Sam Smith's London outlets, I assume it must be a company policy, to give them more of a Yorkshire feel, or something. But at least the beer was drinkable on recent trip, and you can't beat it on price.
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Totally agree with last comment. Sam Smith's beers just aren't up to scratch.
anonymous - 17 Jan 2006 15:48 |
Fascinating old place which deserves better than what bland old Sam Smith has to offer. To be fair, bitter in good nick (and cheap). One for the tourists, methinks.
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Very olde-worldy. Bit too cramped in places, but good otherwise. Good lunchtime fodder.
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Avoid the front room and instead explore and allow yourself to get lost. Great bar to find when it's cold and wet outside and you need an ale in front of a coal fire.
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With it's history and all that you would expect a little more. So for me a bit disappointing. Beers OK, Food is OK but neither anything special. Great nooks and crannies and with a group of you a great place but lacks a bit of real pub atmosphere. Nevertheless a must-visit pub for all visitors to london
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Good for an after work drinking pub but not much soul
anonymous - 18 Nov 2005 13:58 |
Sam Smiths pub - so cheap but not to everyone's tastes. Incredible interior. It's almost possible to get lost in the warren of different rooms downstairs.
Inevitably, due to its location, it never feels like anybody considers it to be their local but it is usually lively enough.
Overall, a real gem of a pub.
gjs34 - 31 Oct 2005 15:21 |
Roger B sums it up nicely. A touristy enough place but it still is a treat. Sam Smiths is far from my favorite but still worth a go.
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One of the most famous and historic pubs in London. Owned by Sam Smiths which means cheap prices but acquired tastes in the beers. From the outside, the pub appears nothing special and you could easily walk straight past. The entrance is down a narrow alleyway and the front door opens into a small corridor. The main bar is to the right and is a real treat - like stepping back 200 years, all musty and dimly lit. You almost expect your beer to be served up in a pewter tankard by some busty wench of a barmaid but you will probably get it from a young Aussie on a working holiday! There is a more recently added drinking area towards the back but this does not detract from the pubs atmosphere. The other side of the narrow corridor is the restaurant overlooked by the stuffed remains of the original Polly the parrot, a pub pet so well known that it filled the obitury columns on both sides of the Atlantic when she died (helped by the fact that the pub was in the heart of Fleet Street and would have been frequented by journalists by the dozen). Downstairs is a warren of underground rooms and tunnels that seem to be never ending. It is fair to say that it can be a bit touristy but whenever I visited, there has been a good mix of office workers as well. A definate must for anyone in the area and well worth making a special journey (there are 4 or 5 excellent pubs along Fleet Street/Strand so the "Cheese" makes an excellent addition to a pub crawl if you don't fancy an evening on Sam Smiths beers.
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only been in here the once but when i'm up fleet street again will visit with the other half,i bet this place is haunted?
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This is a cool pub. Lots of bits to explore. And more than a few scrubbers the night we were there.
anonymous - 6 Oct 2005 15:53 |
I've known this pub for years. It is more of a winter pub than a summer one. There is a real fire in the front bar in winter.
when it comes to ale, only Sam Smith's is sold, plus lagers etc of course. Speaking in 2005 the price of a pint here, at £1.70, must be the cheapest in Greater London and probably a good few miles beyond!
Excellent drinking atmosphere....beware of one leading to another!
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This pub is so old
It could burn down in seconds.
Take care with matches.
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Was this open at weekends? If so, visit it.
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Cheapest pint I found in London at 1.70 Make sure you venture to the cellar bar and visit all the different areas of this pub. Sam Smith's beers were excellent.
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This is a fantastic little (big) pub. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Although I banged by head in the dungeon area. Watch out for the parrot. I was also delighted to discover that they are one of the few places in London with bottled IVC. Can't get enough of that Nordic pilsnerfest - Brings out the Viking in anyone!
Sam Smith's rock!!
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Yeah there's a lot of Americans wandering in here, London guidebooks in hand, yacking away about how "cool" and "awesome" this place is...just like I did. But it's true, this pub is really neat. I can see why the locals wouldn't frequent it as much, being that the Cheese has become a popular city attraction.
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An amazing pub, well hidden away and most probably still holds the charms from when it was first opened all those centuries ago. amazing place to drink and brilliant beers!
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A wonderful gem of a pub. Sam Smith ales :-) excellent dingy Victorian ambience. Best pub I've found in London.
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I have to agree with all the superlatives published below. I have visited a few times and having lived in London for six years there are few pubs that I feel compelled to drag visiting friends to in this great city, but Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is certainly one of them (as is Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden and perhaps Waxy O'Connors near Leicester Square, midweek only), purely for the historical factor and quintessential english pub experience. Definitely worth seeking out. Not open sundays though I believe.
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A great experience, like stepping back in time! There are several bars on several levels, providing a truly traditional service, I went with my father after he had told me of the delights he had experienced after spending a good days drinking there when he was a 'youth'. I highly recommend the lager and the pub in general! It’s a must visit; make the effort, truly great!
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My favourite London pub....But has to be visited at the right time....ie when the suits have departed for the weekend.....Saturdays are great...but watch out for the opening hours.....Sam Smiths is superb ale,but it wasn`t upto its usual standards on my latest 2 trips.....A saturday in winter,when the fires on in the front bar,just can`t be beaten for atmosphere.....Drink the Taddy Porter (at room temp) if the beers not top notch.
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My favourite pub in London. A genuine atmosphere. Stepping through the doors is like going back to Victorian Britain. Can't complain about the tasty beer and prices either! Great one to kick off a pub crawl.
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Really great pub to go to on a cold winetr's day/night. Real ale, Real fires, good pub food - choice of 4 different pies with mash, chips or salad for a £5 is a good deal. The lager on tap is good (especially the white beer) and I'd also recommend the bottled ales Old ale, Nut Brown and Porter.
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Excellent, friendly pub (well it is on a saturday night!). Usual good booze & cheap prices. Sit where Dickens or Pepys passed wind and if you dont examine electrical fittings too closely you could think you were transported back in time a century or three. If its quiet, ask the barstaff about ghosts, not folklore but alleged sightings. Well worth a visit.
Bob Pickering - 6 Nov 2004 20:33 |
love it!!!
marita - 6 Nov 2004 02:14 |
This pub is awful ... full of Americans ! If they did decent beer i'd be in there all the time !
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Wonderful place to have lunch or just a pint. Great food and friendly staff. Best of all, seeing a beautiful old building where famous authors used to spend their time (Dickens and Hardy, to name a couple). Don't miss it!
Diana Garcia - 29 Aug 2004 02:09 |
a treasure - wonderful old inn, good beer, good staff and good, reasonably priced trad English food.
Phil Kirkley - 22 Aug 2004 10:40 |
A bit out of the way unless you work in the City, but inside it is wonderful - smokey, dark, cavernous, laberinthine. Feels like it is unchanged since the 1650s.
Sam - 23 Jun 2004 17:55 |
Agree with all recent comments. Wonderful building, feels like the ideal place to conspire. Wish it was in private hands. Sam Smith's may be cheap but variety is the spice of life.
Oliver - 19 Jun 2004 16:36 |
his is now my favourite pub in London after visiting today. The room on the right when you walk in is like something out of Dickens - lovely smell of old wood, beer and smoke. Its dark and atmospheric - the ideal spot for a drink with Tom Waits.
steve - 28 Apr 2004 15:43 |
Jason summed up my comments exactly! Very impressive old building. It even smells old... in a good way! Staff is very polite and can actully speak "beer". Nice to see people know about what they pour.
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Best pub ever! So much character! You can easily get lost in the maze of catacomb like rooms if you're not familiar with the place. It's down an alley off Fleet Street. Keep your eyes open for the black boxed sign next to the King & Keys.
jason - 5 Apr 2004 23:19 |
The only thing, and I really do mean ONLY thing that is wrong with this pub is that if like me you have a poor sense of direction and a liking for the great beer on tap, you can quite easily lose people if you wander off in search of toilets. My favourite pub in London, bar none
Paul - 22 Mar 2004 17:05 |
Excellent pub with great cheap beer. It has been a second home to me for over thirty years. There are so many bars it is possible to have a pub crawl without leaving the building!
ian watson - 12 Mar 2004 16:17 |
Visited on our last Monopoly crawl (2002) and bumped into another group who were meeting there, only then starting at midday, already behind schedule! It's a good choice for Fleet Street but beware of the limited weekend opening times.
drinker - 6 Mar 2004 06:32 |
Wandered into this place as a tourist looking for a quiet spot to have a snack and rest my feet. Ended up in the 13th century cellar, enjoying one of the freshest pints ever, then chatting for an hour with the bartender in the front room. Loved it. Wish it was my local.
Fawn - 11 Feb 2004 21:34 |
Jeez, this is an exceptionally cool spot!
Jeff - 8 Oct 2003 00:43 |
Lovely place.
anonymous - 27 Sep 2003 12:09 |
cheapest beer in london, and despite the tourist, it is the real thing, smoked blackened oak beams, wooden settles, hidden snugs, and just about everything a 17th century city pub should have......check out the painting in room as you go in to the right ..its the waiter dating from i believe 1824
anonymous - 16 Jul 2003 22:58 |
Fantastic ales and atmosphere. Lovely old building. Fortunately not too many tourists either.
Deborah - 15 Apr 2003 10:31 |
Rebuilt 1666. Seies of small snugs connected by winding stairwells.Touristy but worth a visit for anyone interested in vvisiting a genuine survivor of London's past. Regards to the incomperable Nick, guardian of the chop room.
Bob F. - 18 Mar 2003 19:12 |
Lovely old pub around the corner from Dr Johnson's house. Situated on Fleet Street. Great cellar bars and interesting nooks and crannies probably part of the Carmelite Monastery once on this site. The pub was rebuilt after the Great Fire (1666) destroyed the original. Good beer/food. Novel bleeper system when your food is ready. Best pub in London.
Tony Marsh - 12 Nov 2002 13:36 |
