please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Cosy but kind of cramped pub. Great place if you're just looking to relax without the hustle and bustle of the other pubs nearby. The games downstairs are good for a laugh as well.
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Despite spending many years in the Whiethall / Strand area, I'd never visited this place before until last Friday night.
I was absolutely delighted with it. Superb service at the bar (which is a rarity in central London these days), and the beer is well-kept. The TV was a bit loud, but it was a Friday night and the Six Nations was on, so I can forgive them for that. The publican's wife kindly laid on some free buffet for the punters - something I hadn't seen for many years.
I now have a great pub to take friends and visitors to London, and I know they'll love it. It looks the part, and staff, food and drink are of a standard long neglected by the pub chains.
Sadly, the prices are high, but that's not the fault of the publican. I'd still sooner pay the price here than get a pint 50p cheaper at Wetherspoons.
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The average rating of 7+ here strikes me as an overestimate, but only just. I visited on a Thursday evening. Positives are that the pub really looks the part: oldy-worldy, with three levels and a nice nook and crannyish feel to it. Also, the pub was impressively busy and lively when we visited, suggesting a loyal clientele. But the major negative was poor ale: just Bombardier and a guest ale when I visited, and the guest ale didn't taste too good. This is one of a number of pubs in the streets round here, and suffers from comparison to the Edgar Wallace, and (to a lesser extent) the Devereux. It's OK, but not brilliant.
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This is a pleasant, old fashioned boozer tucked round the back of Fleet Street, away from all the tourist traps. Quiet when I was there but I got the definite impression that it enjoys a loyal following from the obvious regulars dotted around the single bar. Beer was very nice - St Austell Tribute, Bombardier and IPA and the staff friendly. Would definitely come back. If only all the other chain pubs round here were like this one !
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Splendid interior and a very cosy atmosphere. In my view this is the best pub in the immediate vicinity although the beer selection (Pride, Bombardier and GKIPA IIRC) is not the most imaginative. Some London Irish memorabilia on the walls gives lie to the landlord's origins and there is a slightly incongruous TV on the cabinet at one end of the pub which was not in use when I was in.
I'd recommend a visit here if in the area.
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Great little pub not to be confused with a pub of a similar name,the tourist trap up on Fleet Street (and a Sam Smith's too,yuk!)
This one is great, the licensee is a real landlord and not a plastic manager and the food is good, quick and value for dosh. Bombardier, Adnams Gun Hill and an IPA was on today, all good (Well I had to try them didn't I?)
Well worth diverting off Strand by 50 metres, past the tourist traps and luckily for us a very well-kept secret. Long may it continue!
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a very good little pub, not notable for the real ales but they do indeed to a great pint of guinness! One of my favourite pubs in the area. my typical night out is to visit here the george and the edgar wallace all within 100 yards of eachother. They are all quite different but have good staff, good beers and we always have a good nights craic!
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This is a pretty good pub that is hosted by a jovial Irish chap that made me feel very welcome. The same ales were available as reported by Sussexcrawler a month ago and I’ll also add that Amstel is also on offer along with a standard draught range of which the Guinness was very good.
There was a bit of back music playing and I spotted a plasma screen which was off, but there was a list of upcoming London Irish games stuck underneath it.
I liked it in here and would return.
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Nice traditional pub tucked away in a quiet street off the Strand serving traditional pub food at reasonable prices. They served, Deuchars, Bombadier and London Pride, which could have been in better condition when I visited. They did however change the Bombardier which was then fine.
Overall well worth a visit if you want a quiet drink in a convivial athmosphere.
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If u like an old pub then u'll like it here !
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Old leaded windows, some Victorian features and a nice ambience lift this little boozer above the average mark.
A couple of ales on, OSH and Bombardier. My Bombardier was a little musty-tasting, unfortunately.
There was also a muted TV on showing the cricket, which did seem a little out of place but I guess it draws the punters in, so why not?
As a pub, I actually prefer this to the Edgar Wallace but the EW does better beer. If you could mix the two you'd have the best pub in the area by a mile.
Worth a quick stop as tick before heading to EW. I'll try this place again as I'd be quite a fan if the beer quality was good.
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Nice enough old pub, but ridiculously over-priced (pint of Adnams Bitter and a small packet of Walkers Ready Salted - cheapest beer and cheapest crisps - £3.80).
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Nice old saloon bar with lots of dark wood, low level lighting, pots and steins hang from the black beams. Old leaded windows. The bar itself has coloured glass above the counter, seating is a mixture of stools, benches and settles. Another room upstairs was not visited, there seems to be another downstairs but this was roped off.
Not unpleasant for a stop off but a more adventurous beer range would improve this place. Bombardier, OSH and Adnams Bitter yesterday.
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Great little boozer a stone's through from Barrister-ville of Fleet Street and The Strand. Close enough to be easy to get to it is far enough not to be overly frequented by painfully trendy, pretentious LSE students and the pinstripe, tassel-loafered brigade. OK, no real ales or beers of note on tap, but compared to the wine bars and average pubs (Southerner and Old Bank of England especially) it is a godsend
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Quite small, fairly dark and gloomy inside, it nevertheless felt warm and welcoming to me. This seemed to me to be a fairly ordinary little pub with a handful of tables, thankfully no high tables and stools, and a couple of real ales (nothing special) on. I actually prefer it as a pub to the nearby Edgar Wallace – and it is far better than the Devereaux – but the EW does do better ales. But I would recommend it for anyone who wants a quiet drink.
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Very small single-roomed pub, although I note att'd suggestions of a downstairs room (I didn't investigate, sorry). Very old appearance with leadlight windows and low-lit bar area (I walked into a stray barstool before I'd even had a drink!) contribute to an intimate feel even if the handful of punters ystdy were local office or legal staff. Decent soundtrack - Lola/Mack-theKnife stylee - although muted sky sports news was probably unnecessary. Despite the size of the bar, the 5 tables (max 16 covers) were all set for dining and notices displayed the daily 'cooked special' - a choice of 3 curries - Lal Mans, Coconut Dhania Murg, Aloo Gobi - with rice & nan plus salad or raita, £6.95. On leaving I noticed that the regular menu also comprised indian dishes. Pleased to find St Austell Tribute as an alternative to the usual suspects (Bombardier, Courage, IPA), and it was good. I imagine bar area could become quickly uncomfortable if busy, but not a bad place for a stop-off if on yr way to Edgar Wallace round the corner. Only open weekends for private functions.
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I have not been to this place for years, but I can tell you the reviews pick out the one thing that this place was famous for when I would go in every other day - friendliness. The staff have always been wonderful and the food very nice. Long may it continue!!
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Popped in again at night this time. I was the only one there so why stay open at night. However the two young Spanish staff were very pleasant.I shall do lunch times next time I am down in London.
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I went back in here a few days ago and was pleased to see that it has actually improved on my last visit. I had forgotten how well the beer was kept here, but I will definitely be making this a regular drinking hole for after work.
The staff seem to go out of their way to be friendly to every one who comes in here, and this is a trait that I hope they continue - it adds a huge amount of value to any pub experience.
It can get quite busy downstairs straight after work, but the service is pretty swift and their is a non-smoking room upstairs, as well as extra seating downstairs.
Highly recommended.
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I popped in here recently and liked what I saw. The drinks weren't as interesting as round the corner but it looks good and the bar staff were very friendly.As the previous comment said he was a gentleman. Adnams was ok.What's the food like?
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My favorite London pub.One of the best reasons to explore the backways and alleyways.Good selection of beers,an Irish landlord who is a gentleman and wonderfully pleasant barmaids.I had a lovely Guiness and steak pie for just £5.45.Only one slight complaint, the piped radio music. however the guy who said it was like a country pub in the middle of London got it right.
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Not to be confused with the famous Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese a few hundred yards away, this delightfully enticing corner pub tucked away down the back streets has a charm all of its own. Run by a very welcoming and approachable Irishman, the pub has a bit of an Irish feel but does not fall into any trashy theme pub category. Once inside, your mind is transported into a country pub atmosphere a million miles away from the rush of the nearby Strand. The single room carpeted main bar has plenty of oak paneling and latticed windows with displays of plates, police badges, cheese dishes and a few stein hanging from the rafters. There is a wide if rather unadventurous selection of beers : Courage Best, Directors, Bombardier and Adnams with Wadworth IPA providing the only relatively uncommon pint on my last visit. Fosters, John Smiths, Strongbow and Guinness make up the rest of the beer taps. Food is limited but very reasonably priced with main courses between £4-£7. Small TV but that is all that is really needed here. There is also a downstairs bar that I have not ventured this far. Well worth the effort to find if you are looking for a decent civilized pint but seating is limited and it can get full very easily.
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I too agree with Jeff. Stopped in twice to this nice cozy pub. Bombardier was in good shape, but a few guests were a bit off. Landlord was very nice gent and more should be as nice to US tourists. If the beers were better kept this would be a 10/10, alas this rates a bit lower. Entire staff was very friendly and this should rate a stop if you are in the area.
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I agree with Jeff's comment, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is definitely preferable in lots of ways, but this place has it's own charms. Once inside you feel as though you have been transported into the countryside. This is a real pub, and the friendly service and general happy atmosphere make this a perfect 'couple of quiet pints after work' kind of pub. Plus, there's a pool table and darts...........
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Not a bad spot but nowhere near the quality of the similarly named Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese further east.
Jeff - 16 Nov 2003 14:30 |
