please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I like the small 'booths' along the right hand wall.
I like the 2 meals for £8 which are very good value.
I like the friendly staff.
I like that there could be a group of japanese tourists and american tourists and local workers in there all at the same time, as was the case when I went.
Better on the inside than appears from the outside.
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I think you might be being a little hard on doctordupree here, bradwan. Although the brother does not wish to advertise his disability by using a white stick, etc, it is not necessarily morally reprehensible to mention this fact on a site like this where, of course, he remains anonymous. Bradwan is probably in a better position than you or I to judge whether his brother would mind or not. Also, although the licensee might have the right to refuse to serve whomsoever he chooses (although I’m not certain how our raft of anti-discrimination legislation stacks up against this), it still strikes me as somewhat crass to do so without giving the courtesy of a reason.
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Looking at all the comments this seems like a typically badly managed Spirit Group pub, and I normally urge people who have suffered bad service to complain to the company, but I have to comment on what doctordupree says.
If your brother is too proud to draw attention to his gloucoma I find it morally reprehensible for you to do so here. It is of no relevance. It is also a fact that no reason ever has to be given for refusal to serve anyone in a pub. No one has a right to be served, end of.
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Popped in again the other day, despite the fact that I hate the "revamp". The entire pub smelt of the gents, and its blocked lav. Nice awning for smokers, but otherwise steer clear.
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This pubs Goon show heritage has undergone a bout of Starlinist revisionism, all trace of Sellers, Secombe, Bentine and Milligan had been erased what took it's place is a very bland and tired looking pub,and very dark the only light source seemed to be coming from the fruit machine. We had one drink and left not the sort of place you would go out of your way to go to.
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As the Grafton Arms this place is revered by Goons fans as it was here that the comedy team first met up under the watchful eye of the publican and radio scriptwriter Jimmy Grafton, after whom the pub was named. Spike Milligan apparently even worked behind the bar to make ends meet. In recent years it had a spell as an Irish theme pub called Finnigan’s Wake before reverting back to a more traditional pub. Sadly there is little if any evidence of its previous notoriety and is today a rather ordinary and unassuming hostelry. The interior is fairly narrow and extremely cramped with large pillars and badly positioned tables making it difficult to navigate, especially around the bar area. Down one side are 4 alcoves of varying size and intimacy and each having its own plasma mini screen to compliment the 2 main screens that are themselves obstructed from many areas due the aforementioned pillars. You can see from the extended bar canopy that the bar has at some stage been repositioned and I can only imagine that in days gone by there would have been even less space. The pub has a fairly worn look with thinning carpet, bare brick walls, dark wood paneling and a dark ceiling that makes the interior rather dim especially as there is little natural light to the rear. One is almost grateful for the glow of a few low lux lamps and the fruit machines. The beers are fairly mainstream with Broadside, Green King IPA & Bombardier making up the Ale selection. They seem to do a good trade on food (special offers of 2 meals for £8). Customers these days are more likely to be office workers, residents and market traders. In short, the Strutton Arms has its bit of history but for some reason decides to play it down and there is nothing else of note to lift it up above anything more than average.
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Me and my husband visited London in March, we went there quite often. Beer is good, food is also good. Nice place to wach football and drink beer.
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Spent a good evening here watching Newcastle play...the London Toon Army seem to have migrated here from the now refurbished Barley Mow in Duke St. The beer is okay, the staff are nice, and there are a lot of screens, so it's the perfect place to watch European footy, as the staff will bend over backwards to make sure that as many games as possible can be shown.
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Goons photos now removed. This is like Henry VIII's reformation. Can hardly stand to visit now. Old Spike must be spinning in his Sussex grave.
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Crazy, crazy place!! Called in on a Sunday afternoon to catch the late afternoon football match - Loose was offered a seat on a man's lap. Pretty much set the tone. The most amusing thing was watching the American tourists cope with the brewing punch-up from the seven lagered up English boys. Hey, at least they "took it outside".. for about 2 seconds, before coming back in again. Hmm. Great place to watch sport. Great screens. Comedy action. Just don't wear the wrong shirt (or face).
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Good little boozer for those glory glory European nights.Nice bar staff and there is always a good crowd watching the football. I always go in here to watch the Arsenal after work and will be there again tonight cheering em on!
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Renamed the Strutton Arms, after the market-street at whose north end it stands.
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Tragic that Jimmy Grafton's smoky old theatrical boozer, haunt of the Goons in their heyday, has been unconvincingly Irish-themed. Nothing against Irish theming, mind, but it's like turning Westminster Abbey into a Subway. The spirit of Major Bloodnok, Henry Crun and Jim Spriggs lingers feintly on in one or two framed pictures (Princess Margaret and Tony Snowdon smiling along with Spike and colleagues) in the alcoves, but the spell has been broken. You could visit for lunch and not even realise you were on consecrated ground.
With its central location it's handy for more or less everything urban, including St James's Park tube. Be very careful, mind, if making your way there during the present twitchy times in London. Scotland Yard lies between you and the station and those machine-guns the rozzers outside are holding look real.
By the way, I here once encountered the Speediest Barman in the World, who had everything poured out and your change ready before you'd even finished saying "and one for yourself while you're about it my good man". Where is he now? Possibly themed out of existence. Or shot on suspicion.
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Does need better air con, but this pub will always have a place in my heart. Some of the nicest bar staff I've ever met, and although I don't visit as often as I used to, they still know my name. If you want a Guiness then this is certainly the place to come. Very friendly regulars too.
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In days gone by, this was a great pub. Dark, cosy, great service, fantastic "Dublin Grill" and great Guinness. Refurbs and changes in management have taken their toll - gone is the good fry-up, replaced by some rubbish from the microwave. Not as snug as it was either, just seems to have lost its character. That said, the beer is still good.
bazil - 20 Dec 2004 17:12 |
Affectionately known at work as "the worst pub in the world" because of the lack of ventilation. An evening in Finnegans is the equivalent to consuming a whole packet of Benson and Hedges. Beer is OK. Very popular with the after work crowd, especially on a Friday night.
Andy - 23 Feb 2004 16:20 |
nice and cosy! Good jukebox. Good beer. And no tossers.
Rob - 1 Feb 2004 18:54 |
I can't decide if I like this place or not. Yet I seem to keep coming back. Hmmmm.
Jeff - 8 Oct 2003 00:45 |
Always seems to be open tome, even when we had the recent power cuts in Strutton Ground. Really great friendly Irish bar staff. Nice little nooks and snugs where you can have quiet conversations, assuming they are not already occupied by couples indulging in ilicit office affairs
Greenfingerz - 16 Aug 2003 20:24 |
Its STILL ALWYAYS CLOSED !!!!
Or do they just see me coming ?
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OK, mind you it once was a Goon's pub, say no more!
Richard J - 19 Jun 2003 23:17 |
The third time i tried to visit this place and the THIRD time its been closed !! It looks lovely from the outside, but i'll never know unless they actually open !!
BK - 11 Jun 2003 17:13 |
Lovely little local boozer with genuine regulars and a half decent juke box. Good bar staff - landlord worth his weight in gold. Which is a lot.
Paul - 8 Nov 2002 16:06 |
