please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This remains one of the few “real” pubs in Central London. There are no unnecessary mechanical distractions – such as televisions, one-armed bandits or jukeboxes. Tucked away down an alleyway near St James’s Palace, you don’t often see any tourists in here; in fact, as much as any pub in this area can be, it still seems to be mainly a locals’ pub. The furnishings are fairly ordinary, which is no bad thing in a decent pub. It has large(ish) leaded windows that let in as much light as possible bearing in mind that it is situated in an alleyway. St Austell Tribute and Adnam’s Bitter on when I was in there – I had the Tribute that was very good. Highly recommended – I shall definitely return.
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It's claim to be "London's last village pub" is stretching things a bit, but this decent little hostelry - hidden away in a little alleyway just off Pall Mall (and only a short distance from St James's Park)- is well worth a visit. Nice pint of St Austell Tribute.
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A traditional pub. Quiet and friendly.
Limited selection of ales (Adnams and Bass) but decent nonetheless.
Worth a visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of Picadilly/St James's.
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Great little pub. Great Service, friendly landlady. I dont know where "jorrocks" saw all the tourists it's normally full of workers and just a few tourists that have got lost.
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My London local when I "cums down from Norferk.A proper pub to hide in away from all the tourist trash just round the corner. No pretentions music or slot machines just good beer, great selection of Scotch, interesting clientel great staff. Must be protected as a threatened species.
I visit 2 or 3 times a year and get recognised and treated like a regular. Used the pub first more than 30 years ago. Super pub then -still is.
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what a cracking little pub, right in the heart of london, everybody friendly, great beer a must when your in this part of london
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After visiting the awful Golden Lion round the corner I was cheered up by the wonderful service and welcome we received in this nicely tucked away pub. Beer was great and the whisky selection was excellent too. If you like your pubs traditional this is the pub for you. Excellent.
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An absolute belter!! Love this pub. If only they were all like this. The Adnam's is cracking
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Like the location, like the pub and the staff. Friendly customers although my experience was the opposite of the last poster almost everyone on in the place was a tourist.
Bass and Adnams on offer.
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This feels like a country village pub rather than one in the heart of London. Except the prices - no surprises there. Very bona fide, olde worlde decor. Traditional seating and because it is so tucked away, no real tourists, despite its being very close indeed to Buckingham Palace. I thought it was great - I really like going there. It's not overly large though, so if it got any more popular, you would be out in Crown Passage where there is nothing to look at at all.
Also, it isn't staffed by young foreigners with a poor command of English who offer you ice to put in your Guinness (it has happened elsewhere...).
So if you want a pub that doesn't look as if it has changed dramatically in the last few decades and probably won't in the next few, this is an excellent bet. It is part of the now vanishing non-Costa-non-Starbucks London that is rapidly vanishing underneath a tide of rampant drossy commercialism. You'd never know you were about 5 minutes walk from Oxford Street.
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A place to warm the heart. Fine location, very well kept beers, happy atmosphere with pleasant staff. Solid regular trade evident. History underplayed but I suppose their is enough in the immediate area to last anyone for a lifetime! Certainly the place of choice in the locality.
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Proper old London pub, with a good atmosphere & a sense of history. Well kept Adnams the only real ale normally, but perfect for after work or lunchtime pint. The upstairs is normally quiet & a bit like sitting in your grandmother's lounge. Full climbing rope & harness recommended if visiting the gents after more than a few pints...
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A real gem tucked in small passage close to St James's Palace. A traditional boozer in the real sense, warm and friendly welcome, panelled walls, no electronic distractions, old gits on stools, limited but tasty sandwich menu (no idea about evening), a real adventure to have a wee, snug bar upstairs (sadly you have to return downstairs to get more beer).I suspect would get crowded but perfectly pleasant for a Tuesday lunchtime.
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Cosy pub, recommended, The selection of Ales are not great, only Adnams and another
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Splendid pub - well worth a visit.
Highly recommended for its traditional atmosphere and warm welcome
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Went there with some friends on a Wednesday night in January and ended up staying to closing time. Because of the small size of the pub, we were standing for the first hour or so. Excellent Adnams, reasonable Bass. Small moan – no proper crisps, only Pringles at £1 for a tiddly little pot.
What no one has mentioned so far is that this pub has one of the widest range of whiskeys I have ever seen outside of a Scottish hotel behind the bar.
Definitely an unspoilt traditional English boozer which deserves to be visited at least once (and to have a preservation order slapped on it to keep it just the way it is!).
And while we're going on about the gents: mind your head if you are over 6' tall!
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The sign says "London's oldest 'village pub'" and that's got it down to a tee, right down to the red-nosed old gent sitting on a stool in the corner.
Tucked away in an olde-Londone alley, this is the perfect stop after a stroll through St. James Park.
Little room inside but the alley windowsills thoughtfully double up as shelves.
Two things:
a) the stairs down to the gents are lethal even if you only have one inside you
b) the dark-haired barmaid's a cracker
Wullie - 17 Aug 2004 15:36 |
OK pub and good Adnams, but the bog is awful. Male shitter lacked a lock and door was partially kicked in - not very secure when you're caught short.
Potbelly - 13 Aug 2004 10:20 |
One of Westminster's best kept secrets; the Red Lion used to serve as a haunt for the local MPs, 2 minutes walk away at the Houses of Parliament. The pub itself is wonderfully traditional, has great bitters and ales on tap, a friendly drunken, but philosophical clientele, oh.. And if you ever wanted to hear last orders to the chimes of Big Ben, here is the place to do it. :)
Guy - 25 May 2004 13:17 |
One of the smallest boozers I have ever been in. Authentic atmosphere.
Aaron - 14 May 2004 03:58 |
Great place. A traditional unspoilt English pub. The Adnams is to die for, staff friendly and the lounge a must. I shall return!
Grant Fettis - 27 Feb 2004 14:29 |
Fantastic pub! Really friendly staff. If I could afford to live around here, it would defintitely be my local.
Lynn - 1 Feb 2004 20:16 |
Brought the wife here after following the guard up to St. James's. A true gem, friendly patrons and staff and a nice Adnams for a cold and weary guest. Not on the tourist track, but right were you want to be.
Wild John - 27 Dec 2003 00:07 |
a sense of traditionalism.
andrew ward-minter - 24 Nov 2003 18:34 |
Very cool. Love the glass.
Jeff - 8 Oct 2003 00:44 |
It is a very pretty pub. Small and crowded at midday. Very friendly staff.
Charles - 11 Sep 2003 23:11 |
small and cosy.
Clare - 2 Sep 2002 17:42 |
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