please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Good London pub that can get very packed with tourists due to location. This Friday early afternoon saw plenty of empty tables for a change (didn't last long). Enjoyed well kept pints of McMullen's AK and Cask Ale.
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I didn't think much of McMullens' beer when I first stumbled upon it in the Castle at East Finchley a while back, and I didn't think much of it when I had it here either. I didn't like the very touristy and 'West End by numbers' nature of the pub either, although I'd accept that midnight on Friday evening wasn't the best time to see it!
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went here on a lovely friday evening, looks as tough it is going to be busy inside because there is always a huge crowd outside but inside was nice and quiet with plenty of seats and good fast service at the bar.
Great atmosphere
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Managed to get a seat for once, and enjoyed a nice pint of McMullen Cask Ale (which has plenty of hop flavour for a light 3.8% beer) in a traditional London pub which is usually just to close to Covent Garden for comfort.
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Perma-rammed corner boozer an Orang Utan's throw away from Covent Garden.
Have to admit that I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised - there was a decent range of the McMullen's ale on, and served fairly well. Also the interior and exterior retain some nice olde worlde touches.
Worth a stop if you can find a seat.
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Far too packed for my liking - took ages to get served. Probably alright at quiter times
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Gets very packed with crowds of all ages
Can be awkward to get a seat. Fair range on tap. Would re-visit but depends if you want a quiet drink or in more of a flamboyant atmosphere mood as to when your come back
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Depends what you think about McMullen's beers... they're alright but this large boozer was rammed up with people who might want to go to Yates for a bottle of something water melon flavoured.
Might work for a larger group visit should that be your thing....
The beer was ok... but nothing here demands a return visit.
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nags head is an excellent pub.... staff very good... and tony what a legend...put it on a tab......
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Very busy pub - as you would expect in Covent Garden, serving McMullen's beers. Nothing special to warrant a second visit.
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good pint of McMullens reasonable price for the area...never miss this place when I`m in town
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Was expecting something nasty and commercial given the location, and was pleasantly surprised instead. Not very big, and thus busy, and the music a bit too loud. But this was made up for by decent beer and friendly - and yeah, pretty attractive - staff.
anonymous - 24 Mar 2007 17:27 |
There's nothing good about this pub apart from it's close vicinity to Covent Garden tube. It has no endearing qualities. It's too small and crowded. Use it as a meeting place, then move on.
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Good but packed ....the seating arrangements seem to have been designed by South West Trains ???
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A rare opportunity to enjoy McMullens beers away from their home turf. Very busy, as you might expect given its location, but worth the effort. Conveniently located by Covent Garden tube station.
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I can but agree with previous post, (the author of which has to my mind imppecable taste in both beer and barmaids!)
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Popped in on Boxing Day, actually hoping to see some football. Nothing doing unfortunately. The screen was even covered up with a blackboard displaying the menu.
My disappointment was very short-lived, however, as they had a super-delicious festive stout on tap (with a hint of chocolate). As a fan of Young's Chocolate Stout, I have to admit that this brew is superior. It was so good that it took three whole pints to explore every nuance of it.
I know this seems to be my theme, but where do they get all these drop-dead-gorgeous barmaids from? This tall, willowy blonde girl (who MUST have a modelling contract) walked in to be greeted with the predictably swivelling heads (mine included, obviously) and then she turns up behind the bar pulling pints of Country! Back in the summer they had a stunning Swedish girl behind the bar who I ran across in October serving in a bar in Sydney. Small world, huh?
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It's fine, you won't do much better round here. Beer spot on. Most of the pub crawlers only stop for one drink due to lack of what some term atmosphere - Sky Sports and loud music - so you will get a seat if you wait a while.
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As usually tends to happen when a relatively small brewery has a pub in london (think Royal Oak at Borough, Ship+Shovell, Sultan, Shaston, etc) this is an excellent pub with very good beer. For the sake of pedantry, note that the two previous posters mean Hertford Best and McMullens County. If anything, the pub is a victim of it's own success, as you can struggle to find a place to even lean if you go in at a busy time (pre-show).
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Walked past this pub so many times over the years and finally ventured in a few weeks ago. Wish I'd ventured in sooner! It's very roomy with loads of seating and does a wicked pint of Hereford Best, which I'd never heard of before but which was really tasty. Prices were good too for central London. Only problem was it does get very smokey but I suppose we won't have to worry about that soon :) I'd recommend stopping off with your shopping and soothing your tired feet awhile in this place.
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Popped in for a couple of pints at lunchtime today. Great pint of McMullens Country which I would recommend. Not too busy for a lunchtime and plenty of seats at 12.45 before slowly filling up. Friendly efficient staff and prices OK. I understand trasker's comments about something missing from the place but it is worth a visit nonetheless.
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smashing pub ....nice pint of McMullens....average priced for London....been in quite a few times now and never disappointed up to now.....can be very busy but the crowd seems to ebb and flow ..because one minute there are no seats ,then next the place sems empty...before gradually filling once more.....will always make a point of visiting whenever in town
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McMullens beer is a plus but far too many people are allowed in of an evening making it claustrophobic and uncomfortable. Unless you get in early enough, you face an evening of being constantly jostled which is aggravating.
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Nice pub staff friendly worth visiting if you're in that neck of the woods.
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Intresting to find a pub selling McMullen's beer in this area, that coupled with the fact it's one of the few pubs in the area which doesn't have Young's or Fullers on tap makes drinikng here a bit of a novelty. Much bigger than the White Loin across the road, so better for big groups.
anonymous - 1 Jun 2006 17:19 |
This place is an enigma to me. There is nothing wrong per se but it just doesn’t work. Maybe it’s the area, maybe it’s the smoky atmosphere or maybe it’s those seats that block the route to the toilet, whatever it is I cannot bring myself to like this place.
Shames really as the staff are fine and the beer selection good. Oh well.
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I touristy Covent Garden this pub stands out....only went in for a quik one but stayed for lunch and most of a now hazy afternoon....good food albeit standard stuff....nice pint of AK....well served
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this funny little, old fashioned, qwerky pub, where the bar takes up 50% of the space, should be a no, but for all the reasons its wrong, it is very right! the beer is good, the staff are an array of nationalities, and what can u say about the management? original and unique is what springs to mind!
if you're passing, pop in and admire the wall paper over a pint of A.K.
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A deceptively large and spacious corner pub barely 30 yards from Covent Garden market, the Nag’s Head is perhaps a bit more “touristy” than some of the other pubs in the area. That is not say it’s not worth a visit, you just need to dodge the rucksacks. The pub is very appealing with many interesting traditional features: stained glass windows, bar frame, etched mirrors, alcoves, dim lighting. The decorative tiled floor around the bar immediately draws the attention. The pub is owned by McMullens brewery so it does offer a change of scenery from the usual Ales although it was a bit pricey compared to other pubs in the area (McMullens Best was £2.80 compared with Youngs Best at £2.35 in the White Lion opposite). Plenty of seating – I managed to get a stool even on a Friday lunchtime although beware of the stools towards the rear of the pub – they are barely 12 inches off the ground and make you feel like a kid at the dinner table.
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Given the location, this pub has every right to be dreadful. In fact, it's pretty good. I don't go in very often but when I do I've always found the ale to be good, service spot-on friendly and the tables cleared and clean. Maybe lacking slightly in atmosphere, but this isn't exactly a cosy harbourside boozer in a Devon village.
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I don't know where the negative comments come from. I don't go to this pub often enough to be considered a 'regular', but I've always been treated curtiously, and the prices aren't any worse than lots of pubs in the area.
The 'interesting' characters are a bonus!
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I wasn't as impressed with the McMullen's beer as everyone else. Nicely appointed pub, comfortable but can get extremely busy.
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Not a bad pub, though obviously gets busy given the location. In my distant youth I must confess to stealing a pint glass; I do apologise most profusely.
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A bit of a mixed bag this one. On one hand this is a nice enough old-fashioned London watering hole, with a reasonable selection of beers, friendly and efficient staff and a great location. On the other hand it seems to be somewhat lacklustre and the atmosphere and value for money aspects are not all that they could be. Inexplicably much more popular than it deserves to be, not that it's bad or anything but just not quite worthy of being packed all the time and raved about in some quarters, especially given that there are superior pubs within a short walk of here. One plus point though is the sight of the local street performers popping in for a pint after their show whilst still made up as robots, statues,etc. Call me old fashioned but no matter how long I continue to live in this wonderful city, things like that always make me chuckle and raise my eyebrows.
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Delicious McMullen's, a mix of both tourists and locals and Covent Garden's cleanest loos.
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We popped in for a pint and a sandwich and found the food to be good and the staff courteous. Great experience!
Barbara - 3 Aug 2004 22:31 |
After visiting many Pubs in the area over a 4 year period this is a good find. I like the draft beer and the lively friendly atmosphere and good service. The food (although not cheap, but it IS Covent Garden!) is GOOD and highly recommended. I will return:)
George - 11 Jan 2004 15:09 |
I'm stunned by all the negative comments here...
The Nags Head is a great place to stay. Great lunch, great beer and extremely friendly staff.
Would recommend it to anyone visiting London.
Lasse/Nada from Nuremberg - 3 Jan 2004 11:46 |
Lacks adequate seeting but other than that fine. Can't say Covent Garden is my favourite place to drink in London, especially in the evening - which was when I went there. Can't imagine it being any good in the day though.
Good for: Big groups/evening
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Ugh! if you don't like McMullen's then you've had it.
Lively atmosphere, fuelled by some - how shall I put it - 'interesting' characters.
Darren in the City - 30 Oct 2003 09:05 |
I worked at the Nags Head for six months under two different managers...It is great to hear your comments and to know my friends are still alive and kicking....Loved it then, Love it now. I would recommend to anyone.......
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Not somewhere I would recommend to visitors or tourists. If you're one of the regulars, you might receive good service - But strangers are made to feel unwelcome.
James - 1 Aug 2003 02:22 |
I also was in London for 3 weeks with Karen and Kathyrn and the Nags Head was the place where we hung out all the time. Everyone was extremely friendly, plus they had good beer and drinks....what more could you ask for.
Jen from Columbus - 24 Jul 2003 23:05 |
I was in London for three weeks (with Kathryn from Detroit) and The Nags was our second home. The entire staff was extremely friendly and we got to know all of them. Adam and Jez are great managers and Ludi and Gavin were a constant form of entertainment. I would recommend it highly to anyone visiting or living in London! Never did get to the food though!
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I loved this place. The staff (Jez, Adam, Gavin, Helen, Ludi)were the friendliest in London!! The other patrons where also extremely friendly. Never had a bad time at this place. Was in London for three weeks and spent numerous evenings at the Nags Head. Would recommend it to anyone visiting London.
Kathryn from Detroit - 24 Jul 2003 19:31 |
I worked as Head Barman at the Nags Head in 1998/99, and compared to other pubs, it was a great place to live and work, with friendly & fun staff. The landlord did keep the tips though, which was pretty scroungy, but he made sure the staff (all from NZ/Aus & Germany) had one of the best Xmas'.
Dave Ginley - 9 May 2003 02:49 |
Please ignore the message from ' anonymous' The Nags head is a lovely friendly pub/bar with great food and nice staff. It is actually managed by two nice, well presented young men called Nick and Jez, both of whom have loads of experience in the catering industry. Stop by if you have time. Its Great!
Louise Vant - 24 Apr 2003 15:46 |
I loved the atmosphere of the place; came here for Sunday lunch and settled down with my newspaper. I was on my own but found people friendly and chatty; would've stayed there all afternoon people-watching but had serious shopping to do!
Sarah Whateley - 17 Feb 2003 13:02 |
Just got back from London, and Nags Head had the best food of all the pubs. The staff was wonderful, friendly and well mannered. The place could use a little work. A back booth was falling apart and the ladies toilet was mostly out of order (according to my wife), but it is still our fav pub in London.
Gordie - 15 Nov 2002 04:05 |
Started here on my Birthday - got very VERY drunk (for eight hours) and left to go somewhere else - seemed alright to all of us...
Katie - 24 Jul 2002 14:00 |
I love the place. Every time I visit London, it is my first stop.
Joe - 18 Jul 2002 23:52 |
the staff are unsually rude and threatening, avoid at all costs!
P - 20 May 2002 09:01 |
This is one of the most expensive pubs in London. It is unclean and the management is unfriendly.
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