please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I had to check to see if people were reviewing the same pub I went to. Go to the upstairs bar, ita's intriguing without being engaging... otherwise downstairs quite drab. Bar staff and cronies were absolute teenage blank bubble headed south africans/aussies who fancy themselves as the stepford wives and drone on to each other about shoes and handbags and boys. If you're over 30 prepare to be treated charmlessly, as if you're a slightly distastful alien. Wont be going back... there are far superior sam smith pubs nearby.
No handpumps, no ale or bitter.
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Tucked away off Rathbone Place and probably doesn’t get much passing trade. There is a small front bar with bench seating around the sides and a few tables. The even smaller back bar has a few stools just one table and a dartboard, there’s also a serving hatch to the bar which looked as if it was still used. Upstairs is a pleasant lounge with sofas and armchairs that feels a bit like walking into someone’s front room. It does have it’s own bar upstairs but I imagine this is only opened during busy times.
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This pub has no handpumps ! so while it is still relatively cheap if you are a lager drinker it is very dissapointing if you are not.
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Went with work colleagues, couldn't believe how cheap and nice the beer was. Will recommend to friends. Shame no handpumps, though.
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The truth about Sam Smith's is that the chairman is a nutter, and when he is gone I will miss him and his pubs that have all jumped out of a Tardis from when Doctor Who started, because despite making more money than any other pub company the cappuccino swillers that 'manage' pub companies now will kill this one.
On the other hand I think it is mad, even for Sam Smiths, to have no handpumps in so many central London pubs. The Crown on New Oxford St had a complete referb 2 years ago and got not real ale despite the manager asking.
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No handpump, but as i'm a fan of Smith's Pure Brewed Lager, no dramas. I don't know what it is, but there's something very appealing and neat about the interior - and on a summer afternoon the light floods through the window. Nice staff, too. I like it here.
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Whats this, No hand pumps. Dark and dingy little place. Fizzy beer only. This is not a pub.
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Good pub with very friendly staff.
Excellent beer at affordable prices.
Loved the barmaid....... lol
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Fantastic find just a stones throw from Oxford St. We went here on Sunday afternoon and spent a relaxed hour or so supping the excellent stout. Highly recommended.
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Please bear in mind if you are going there for the Sam Smith's OBB, They don't have handpumps in this pub.
and while the draught beer in sam smith's pubs is very cheap the bottled stuff is over £3.
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love the sam smith's pubs. but gone a little odd, now that they've decided to ban music...
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Fantastic pub. Only been there once, but was so surprised that a cheap, friendly and cosy pub could exist right in the heart of London. The beer was fantastic, the two Aussie / NZ barmaids were friendly, and the sofas and decor were wonderful.
Top stuff.
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strangley good pub,I like the back bar
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i went to this place last night(monday) and was pleasently surprised how such a small back street pub can attract such great customers! the larger was the best at only £1.99! such a find would recomend this pub to anyone!!!
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Very cozy but very busy during the academic year. Once all the students have buggered off, however, it's just perfect and one can enjoy a pint of Wheatie with mates upstairs in peace. Sitting on comfy sofas, it always feels a bit like being in someone's living room. A chill out Sam Smith pub, x
Wish it'd had a tv for the world cup though (against Sam Smith's policy, apparantly)
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Funny little place, upstairs is like a gentlemans club that hasn't been decorated since 1976 - very cosy.
Drinks were decent, though the barman was a right knob-rot; still, you can't have everything in London I find.
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Good pub had many a drunken night in here.
Warm, welcoming and cosy. The back bar is good for the darts, the front bar for a quick pint and upstairs for a session.
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Another west end winner for Mr Sam Smith. Love the upstairs here, very cosy in the evening, even been know to have the occasional game of Darts as well. many a long hour and over-loud conversation been had in this little boozer even spent one of my birthdays here.
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Used to frequent this pub regularly years ago when I worked in the area and it was great. Popped in last weekend when I was in the area and was pleased and disappointed. Pleased because it still has the same welcoming feel and a good place for conversation. But it was a shame to discover that the pub no longer serves real ale - the beer being all cold keg stuff.
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What Mike2004 said.
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A good old Sam Smiths pub, offering fine ales at cheap prices.
TheGP - 21 Sep 2004 14:05 |
Top pub with the usual selection of quality ales from the Sam Smith's brewery. A little on the small side but this just adds to the charm.
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Yes, it can be too popular (which Is why I haven t rated it, as it doesn t need any recommendation)
But it does have character, and a friendly one, not the scraggy dog and carpet sort. Even if this does involve slamming open all the windows at closing time in the winter to clear the punters out.
Jabberwocky - 6 Sep 2004 02:28 |
really like this pub. its great. cheap beer. lovely drinks. v nice upstairs. nice people. bags of character. its a great sam smith.
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Like the nearby Fitzroy, they do Hefe, the only 2 places that I know of that do. It tastes of bananas and comes in a great tall glass.
God, I need a girlfriend.
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The beer is cheap and the upstairs bar gets quieter as the evening goes on. Downstairs is really good for a post cinema bevvy as it's really emptied out by half 10.
Samuel Smith - 19 Jun 2003 09:10 |
Sam Smith pub, so as long as you like their beer it's perfectly passable. And going to the Fitzroy Tavern instead would be a really bad idea. Yes, it's two times the size, but it attracts three times the punters!
That and The Bricklayers has a bit more character. Don't know why. It just does!
G - 16 Jun 2003 16:49 |
Its a nice little pub and off the beaten track. A good place to meet before going to cinema, theatre, restaurants etc
Soots - 7 May 2003 16:16 |
small and friendly pub - I've always had a good time here. Easy place to meet your mates.
Darryl - 27 Apr 2003 23:19 |
This pub is far too small. Fills up far too fast and the service is inclined to be a bit slow. You'd be better off going to the nearby Fitzroy Tavern which serves the same beers.
Alistair - 6 Jan 2003 15:23 |
