Central London pub guide - information about pubs and bars in Central London # beerintheevening.com

Central London pub and bar guide

Here's a guide to the pubs and bars of Central London - good or bad, we bring you the most talked about venues and the places you have to visit at least once. We've included a few user reviews, to give you an idea of what to expect when you get there. Or you can follow the links to see full details and all reviews for each pub.

The Harp, Covent Garden

Address: 47 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4HS
Phone: 02078360291
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Nearest tube stations: Charing Cross (0.1 miles), Leicester Square (0.2 miles), Embankment (0.2 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Charing Cross (0.1 miles), London Waterloo (0.8 miles), London Waterloo East (0.8 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Very busy, but understandably so.
Great range of beers available and very knowledgeable staff on hand to serve what you want, if you get overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of ale on offer.
Tried a number of beers I'd never heard of and all were perfectly kept; my friend had Guinness, and said it was the best he'd had in central London for a long time.
Seeing as this is only a stone's throw away from my office, I'll be back and dragging along anyone who'll let me.

29 Nov 2011 09:27

This might be heresy, but I wasn't that bowled over by The Harp. Clearly to have a pub with a wide range of ale located right in the centre of London is a fantastic thing. It certainly deserves a visit and you could spend all day in here. But it's the pub itself that left me a bit non-plussed. It is very small and now that everybody knows about it, it's completely rammed! But I hope its success continues - to have decent ale available a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square has got to be a good thing. And I must admit that it must be very handy if you come in or leave from Charing Cross.

27 Sep 2011 20:15

Justifiably the 2011 national pub of the year award winner, still serving a splendid range and quality of ale, proudly. No other reason to re-review, other than to raise the score to 9 from 8, and to give prettiest barmaid of the year award to one of the staff here. The young lady with dark hair, worn up tonight, in jeans and long cardigan. Don't know the name, but she was - is - truly a thing of beauty. It's not just beer that makes pubs!

24 Sep 2011 21:18

The Craft Beer Co, City of London

Address: 82 Leather Lane, City of London, London, EC1N 7TR
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Nearest tube stations: Farringdon (0.2 miles), Chancery Lane (0.2 miles), Barbican (0.5 miles)

Nearest train stations: Farringdon (0.2 miles), London Barbican (0.6 miles), City Thameslink (0.6 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Loved the Avalanche....thanks Pat for taking me to this gem of a pub.

26 Nov 2011 10:57

Very very impressive beer range - about 14 handpumps of which 5 were Stouts & Porters. I tried an Arbor ales bitter then a couple of the Stouts - all were well kept. Eventually found our way upstairs where there was plenty of space ( until about 8pm). Well worth a visit; a superb beer emporium. Yes it is expensive & my Arbor ales beer at 3.9% was £3.70 - the stronger beers (around 5%) were £3.90. Nonetheless the wide range of ales at a variety of styles & strengths (quite a few were about 5% and the strongest was 7.5%) make it a must visit. Just bite your lip & enjoy the beer!!

6 Nov 2011 20:22

Great great selection of beer. I didn't try any of the keg but the real ales I had were very nice. Quite small but with a bit of an upstairs that is worth a look if it crowded, plus there's always the option to stand outside. You could say it is "characterless" but I think it's simple layout works well, I certainly didn't find it pretentious in any way. Great to see a beer being sold at 3% alcohol too, it was a lovely Pale Ale - if they have it on give it a try, you'll be surprised how good it is!

24 Sep 2011 22:50

The Bree Louise, Euston

Address: 69 Cobourg Street, London, NW1 2HH
Phone: 020 7681 4930
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Nearest tube stations: Euston (0.1 miles), Euston Square (0.1 miles), Warren Street (0.2 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Euston (0.2 miles), London St Pancras (0.5 miles), London Kings Cross - Thameslink (0.6 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

The positives first: excellent range of beers and ciders, no background music: just conversation interspersed with the hammering of opening a new cask! Negatives: very dirty, no atmosphere, unimaginative layout of interior, too bright, overpriced (unless you join CAMRA!), the toilets are dreadful but the customer does have their responsibility in this field! This pub could be so much better with a bit of effort.

4 Dec 2011 08:50

In here last night. Walked in the door and the smell from the toilets was foul. They had a problem and were fixing it. Yes it did get fixed but the smell remained. Sat at a table full of chairs that could do with replacing. One chair that everybody avoided looked like it was Farther Jacks, disgusting. I had only ever been here a lunctimes before and it seemed ok, but in the evening it just so bright. The beer was good though.

27 Nov 2011 10:41

Bounded into the Bree with two friends at 1930 on 25/11/11. Convivial atmosphere and friendly customers engaged in lively conversation. Phenomenal half of Dark Star Festival. Keep it up guys!

26 Nov 2011 23:37

CASK Pub and Kitchen, Pimlico

Address: 6 Charlwood Street, Pimlico, London, SW1V 2EE
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Nearest tube stations: Pimlico (0.2 miles), Victoria (0.5 miles), St James's Park (0.6 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Victoria (0.4 miles), Vauxhall (0.8 miles), Battersea Park (1 mile)

Reviews by BITE users:

What a grumpy bunch of people get on here. I was drinking Dark Star Hophead and American Pale Ale last night which were on tip top form and £3.70 a pint. I agree expensive, but for a pub in central London (no doubt paying top whack business rates and rent) and near Victoria Station, actually about right. And yes it was packed when we left, unlike many of the pubs nearby, so must be doing something right.

3 Dec 2011 11:05

The only good thing about this place is the choice of beer, which I guess is all that really matters. Or is it!
The façade of the building is awful. The interior isn’t much better. The bar service area is cramped.
In busy times this place is terrible, but if you want to experience the huge selection of bottled beers then I suggest you grab yourself a table when it is quiet like mid afternoon Monday to Wednesday.
And take plenty of cash, it isn’t cheap!

14 Nov 2011 15:10

expensive but you cant complain about the choice. Looks horrid from the outside and too many blokes called Guy and Hugo for my liking (if you get my meaning) but definitely a must for the Ale drinkers among us.

It was mobbed when i went there at 7ish on a Friday night. will try to revisit mid week.

9 Nov 2011 13:46

Ye Old Mitre, Holborn

Address: 1 Ely Court, Ely Place, Holborn, London, EC1N 6SJ
Phone: 020 7405 4751
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Nearest tube stations: Chancery Lane (0.2 miles), Farringdon (0.2 miles), Barbican (0.5 miles)

Nearest DLR station: Bank (1 mile)

Nearest train stations: Farringdon (0.2 miles), City Thameslink (0.4 miles), London Barbican (0.5 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

I'm pleased that the beer range has been kept with guest beers still available (even though it is now a Fullers pub) as this is another of London's little gems and is a classic of its kind. I shall say no more as you should make the effort to find and enjoy it yourselves.

5 Jan 2012 12:58

Spent a very pleasant hour or so in here. Had a lovely pint of Discovery - not really a winter beer but very refreshing, and then a bottle of Fullers London Porter I saw hiding at the back of the fridge. Service was good, the clientele was varied and friendly and the pub itself is really warm and atmospheric. I wish I lived next door rather than a long train ride away.

3 Dec 2011 09:35

just been in after footie, had some Oakham JHB then tried a new beer for me Exmoor Dark -brill
Been coming in here for a while now read the posting below -Troll
If you want to upset the Jock, ask about SNP party, do a Taggart impression or say is that all you've got on tonight !!, he's making a fotrtune for Fullers

15 Nov 2011 22:58

The Captain Kidd, Wapping

Address: 108 Wapping High Street, Wapping, London, E1W 2NE
Phone: 020 7480 5759
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Nearest tube stations: Wapping (0.2 miles), Rotherhithe (0.4 miles), Rotherithe (0.4 miles)

Nearest DLR stations: Shadwell (0.7 miles), Tower Gateway (0.9 miles)

Nearest train stations: South Bermondsey (1 mile), Fenchurch Street (1 mile), Limehouse (1.2 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Visited here as the 6th and last pub on a friday night crawl

A good honest Sam Smiths pub, young staff, a fairly young crowd, nice enough atmosphere if not a bit nothing'ness for me.

The lighting was quite dark and i know it's probably good for the ambiance, but i could of done with it being a little bit brighter.

Good selection of Sam Smith ales & the Stout that i had was very well kept.

Worth a visit but not as good or charming as the Town of Ramsgate

7 Dec 2011 18:32

A group of us popped in here yesterday as part of a pub crawl from Tower Hill to Canary Wharf. We found the bar staff to be very friendly and the pub had a good atmosphere for a Saturday afternoon in early December. Excellent view of the river. The upstairs restauarnt was the only place where you could eat. We didn't, we just drank!

4 Dec 2011 13:17

Returned to the Kidd (one of my favourite pubs) on Saturday 22nd October after an absence of a couple of months. Sadly I found following a change of management it has gone down hill. Unfriendly and slow bar staff and the upstairs room with amazing views of the river closed. This could be forgiven if not for the behaviour of manager at the end of the night. He called time at 10:45pm and then at 11:10pm proceeded to 'encourage' people to leave by aggressively snatching away their unfinished drinks. In one case a snatch resulted in throwing beer over a number of patrons who were getting up to leave. Given the nature of the clientele who drink in the Kidd on a Saturday night this was completely unnecessary and quite unsettling. I won't be in any hurry to return again soon. Sad news for a once great pub.

28 Oct 2011 18:42

The Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden

Address: 33, Rose St, London, WC2E 9EB
Phone: 020 7497 9504
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Nearest tube stations: Covent Garden (0.1 miles), Leicester Square (0.1 miles), Charing Cross (0.3 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Charing Cross (0.3 miles), London Waterloo (0.9 miles), London Waterloo East (0.9 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

I take the point about keeping it in the (brewing) family and the full range of Fullers beers - which sadly many of their pubs do not seem to stock - is pretty impresssive. During a recent visit to the Lamb I had a couple of pints of the excellent Bengal Lancer, though 4 quid a pint begins to make a hole in the pocket. I dread to think what a refurbishment will do to this old gem. Too many pubs start off as part of the heritage and end up as some twat's idea of what a trendy Miami bar would look like. What's that sad wreck in Neil Street? The Crown & Anchor? A terrible warning.

The one thing I hope it will do is finally get rid of the ghastly smell about which many BITE-ers have commented and which on my last visit was as persistent as ever. This is probably the reason why my intake at the L and F is always liquid and I have never had the urge to eat there.

18 Dec 2011 16:08

Dear Browntrout, I have to say your 'horror' is a little overdone. The Lamb & Flag was for many years tied to Courage (a brewery which in the seventies was not noted for being good with old pubs or real ale. Yet Courage's management did not do the pub any harm and Fuller's track record all over London and the south east speaks for itself. Fuller's will keep all that is worth keeping. I'm sure the dear old pub can do with a bit of redecoration.
As for tourists, I think they are already the majority of the clientele and love them or hate them, they do bring money into the country.
And no, I don't work for Fuller's. I just love their ales and I enjoy visiting their new pubs and re-visiting old haunts.

12 Dec 2011 13:10

Made a rare visit to old london town...so had to go to my wonderful local of 35 years ago....was pleased to see it had'nt been buggered up.......but horrified to learn that it was no longer a free house and that Fulllers, the new owners, were planning a ten week ''refurbishment'' early in 2012.....so visit while you can before it's heart and soul are ripped out.......Fullers being a family run business really should know better......And for all you folk who want a clean, sterile, corporate run pub.....go and drink with the tourists!!!!!!

8 Dec 2011 10:42

Yates's, Leicester Square

Address: 29-30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7JZ
Phone: 020 7839 7967
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Nearest tube stations: Leicester Square (0.1 miles), Piccadilly Circus (0.2 miles), Charing Cross (0.3 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Charing Cross (0.2 miles), London Waterloo (0.9 miles), London Waterloo East (1 mile)

Reviews by BITE users:

Had a beer and a burger after work last night, was not overly crowded, the food was good for the price there are a lot of staff not from england which sometimes had an impact on ordering, but they were nice enough with it. Will prob go again next time i am in the area!

21 Jan 2012 12:58

Hey, Last night for the first time went to Yates in Leicester sq, and to be quite honest I really enjoy myself like I haven't for a long time, a nice envoirement, not to cheap not to expensive! Appart the fact that was bit crowded, the service was great, the staff was super friendly not compared to some other pubs in the area with a very smily NOT faces and not really sympathetic. Summarising I really I a good time.
Appart from the nasty comments surronding this place, I think people shouldn't make a pre-concepted ideas or stade of mind, which or not really pleasant, they should check it by themselfs, I like my oppinion Its an A+.
P.s: I am not a employee from yates, just costumer, and I know how to write in perfect English!!!

13 Jan 2012 12:40

PAT - clearly you dont have a life!!!!!! so what you have had a bad experience there, get over it!!! you have nothing better to do than slate this place, why not let people go and experience it themselves..........judging by your one review and your constant irrelvant comments you dont get out much! this is not face book this is a place for people to put a review down, i will not reply after this, as i have ALREADY written my review, just thought someone should let you know, that you should do the same!!!!

13 Jan 2012 12:15

The Peacock, Tower Hill

Address: 41, Minories, London, EC3N 1DT
Phone: 020 7488 3630
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Nearest tube stations: Tower Hill (0.2 miles), Aldgate (0.2 miles), Aldgate East (0.3 miles)

Nearest DLR stations: Tower Gateway (0.1 miles), Bank (0.6 miles), Shadwell (0.9 miles)

Nearest train stations: Fenchurch Street (0.1 miles), London Liverpool Street (0.6 miles), Cannon Street (0.7 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

In here for an evening session in early December, and it did the job. A couple of unusual ales on tap plus a couple of standards, good range, excellent jukebox (free, if I remember rightly) and the place was unexpectedly not filled with pillocks in suits. A good pub in an uninspiring area.

9 Jan 2012 09:42

Been there once or twice, OK when you've got the upstairs to yourself for a game of darts, despite the lack of proper oches and sub-standard lighting compared to other venues, but as soon as someone gets on the pool table you might as well not bother. Also a bit irritating to be going up and down stairs every ten minutes.

8 Jul 2011 01:37

Excellent pints, worthy of the Camra awards. Ringwood, Wads 6 and Redemption all on top form.

30 Mar 2011 11:20

The Cardinal, Victoria

Address: 23 Francis St, London, SW1P 1DN
Phone: 020 7834 7260
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Nearest tube stations: Victoria (0.3 miles), St James's Park (0.4 miles), Pimlico (0.5 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Victoria (0.3 miles), Vauxhall (1 mile), London Charing Cross (1.2 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

I was also in here on Thursday afternoon, from 12.00 till 16.30. There were a few noisy groups in (mine was older and a bit more sedate). The OBB was pleasant and the food OK, but I wouldn't make a bee line for here for either the food or beer. Getting served was indeed a problem- there was only one person serving and another doing the food.

19 Dec 2011 12:34

Typical Sam smiths pub. If you like the beer its great if you dont too bad. i do and as usual place was "cheap as chips" easily the cheapest on my travels in the local area

9 Nov 2011 13:55

Fantastic venue, a round of 6 beers cost us less than £13.50! Friendly barstaff and a good atmosphere. And as if that wasn't enough to attract you to the venue, it's even Phil Collins' local - and we saw him in there with a half pint of Taddy lager!

30 Sep 2011 09:39

The John Snow, Soho

Address: 39 Broadwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 9QP
Phone: 02074371344
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Nearest tube stations: Oxford Circus (0.3 miles), Piccadilly Circus (0.3 miles), Tottenham Court Road (0.4 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Charing Cross (0.7 miles), London Euston (1.3 miles), London Waterloo (1.3 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Was here in October again with another top chap like last year. Maybe because the barstaff know him, I never had any problems getting served. Pluses are cheap pints. 2 quid and change for a pint ain't too bad in these shite times.

Cheers,
Joe
USA

8 Nov 2011 17:30

Not the best of the sam smiths pubs about but i do like there pubs and this one is worth adding to any soho pub crawl.

Pubman Twitter

28 Jul 2011 09:30

I have to give a low rating to this place for no reason other than as a Samuel Smith pub you cant get a decent/recognisable branded pint.

They are the Apple of the pub world... I only drink there when I am too embarrassed to walk out once I realise that it is a Sam S joint

20 May 2011 17:16

The Porters Lodge, Monument

Address: 17 Arthur St, London, EC4R 9AY
Phone: 020 7283 6599
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Nearest tube stations: Monument (0.1 miles), Cannon Street (0.1 miles), Bank (0.2 miles)

Nearest DLR stations: Bank (0.2 miles), Tower Gateway (0.6 miles)

Nearest train stations: Cannon Street (0.1 miles), London Bridge (0.4 miles), Fenchurch Street (0.4 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Feb 2011 great place to play darts - not many places left now and serves Pride or Bombadier cheers

10 Feb 2011 14:12

Since my last comments on this pub, which were some time ago, the place has changed somewhat, and the management too. This is now one of the finest places to play darts in the city, though it does get particularly busy at times. Food is always good and staff are exceptional. Rarely run out of anything I want to drink and quality of drinks are always good. Only downside for me is that, being underground, I get no signal on my phone. That said, that can also be a bonus :-) Quality of the darts players in the pub is variable, from people who hardly know one end of a dart from another through to the occasional pro from the PDC come for a practice before a tournament.

9 Feb 2011 13:49

Our Company had our Internal Darts Competition last night @ The Porter's Lodge, EC4, superb venue, food was excellent, Rob & Lesley superb hosts, we had a gr8 time, and will be returning again.
I recommend this pub to anybody, nick

20 Jan 2011 15:53

Euston Tap, Euston

Address: 190 Euston Road, Euston, London, NW1 2EF
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Nearest tube stations: Euston (0.1 miles), Euston Square (0.2 miles), Warren Street (0.3 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Euston (0.3 miles), London St Pancras (0.4 miles), London Kings Cross - Thameslink (0.5 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Bounded into the Tap with two friends at 2143 on 25/11/11. A BENCHMARK half of Tring Side Pocket closed one of those evenings that can't be planned - they just happen! Superb.

26 Nov 2011 23:42

Outstanding beer. No atmosphere. Hit and miss service from behind the bar. When are they going to sort out the toilet, so that the men do not have to stand in a pool of urine when emptying the bladder? The Doric has seen better days - Fullers ruined the place.

24 Nov 2011 12:26

We always visit this tiny bar when we are in town and once again we were not disappointed. Great range of beers at very reasonable prices (my Bristol Brewery Independance was brilliant and only £3.10) Because it is so small it can get packed but once we found a corner at the bar we stayed put and had a couple more beers (Ossett Brewery; Rat Brewery; Dorking Brewery to name but three). Toilets and more seating are upsatirs and even on a chilly november night there were loads of drinkers outside. The Cider Bar (the other gatehouse opposite) is due to open before Christmas. I always recommend the Euston Tap to friends and they all praise it highly.

17 Nov 2011 10:58

The Coach Makers, Marylebone

Address: 88 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone, London, W1U 2PY
Phone: 020 7224 4022
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Nearest tube stations: Bond Street (0.2 miles), Oxford Circus (0.5 miles), Marble Arch (0.5 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Marylebone (0.7 miles), London Paddington (1.2 miles), London Euston (1.2 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Held an afternoon party in the upstairs room - very helpful staff and our instructions about food and drink were all followed. Room was shabby chic and perfect for grown ups and big enough for the 3 or 4 children to play.

20 Feb 2011 14:37

Seemed liked a nice pub. They advertised their upstairs bar as a 'gin palace' but was shocked that they didnt have any slimline tonic...they served me a gin and regular tonic which was flat and quite horroble. The nice girl upstairs said they'd had the issue all day, i suggested they nip out and buy some tonic as it's fairly fundamental to the key way of drinking gin, i.e. a gin and tonic??!! I was told this wasnt possible and to have something else. I ordered an alternative and nipped down to ask the manager, who said "alright luv, its only just happened, we'll go out and get some" in a really rude way. Then they didnt even bother to get slimline either. Far from ideal, wont be going back!!

17 Feb 2011 12:08

MMMMM, reasonable all round, just reasonable. nothing very exciting

11 Feb 2011 17:53

The Pride of Pimlico, Pimlico

Address: 85 Tachbrook St, London, SW1V 2QA
Phone: 020 7834 3031
See full pub details

Nearest tube stations: Pimlico (0.1 miles), Vauxhall (0.5 miles), Victoria (0.7 miles)

Nearest train stations: London Victoria (0.6 miles), Vauxhall (0.6 miles), Battersea Park (1 mile)

Reviews by BITE users:

Popped in on a Saturday morning, we planned to go to the Cask (just up the road) but it didn't open until midday so tried this one instead. Unfortunately they had no ale at all so we didn't stay. Landlord looked somewhat put out by us leaving but he had nothing to offer us.

15 Feb 2011 00:11

It's not often I say this, but I walked in once and turned straight around and walked out. This pub should be bulldosed down and buried, and if you want to save the tax payer some benefit fraud, then do it with the punters in it!
The curtains are still nicotine stained from before the smoking ban!
The customers sit outside drinking cans of super in the mornings while they wait for it to open!
The people sitting around have plastic pipes in their arms, oxygen masks and crutches, or are obese tatooed thugs propping up the bar. Rough, Ugly, Smelly, Sickening, take your pick. The only thing I'll say for it is the NHS should do a documentary there to put people off drinking.

14 Feb 2011 17:41

This is my local and one I choose ahead of all others in the area for its lack of pretension and because its easy-going to the extent of being a law unto itself.. It is quite grotty - the gents is truly grim- and it doesn't have any ales but it is a serious old-fashioned boozer with a hard core of alkies, a guvnor who is fond -maybe too fond- of the gee-gees and a regular loyal crowd who are at the older end of the scale. Anyone who reckons it is lairy or even dangerous is truly a big girl and should go up the street to the Cask - an excellent pub by the way- which is full to the gunnels with Jeremys and Tims. But if you suffer from inverted snobbery then stay in the Pride. I remember not so many years ago being in the Pride when then minister of defence and the hopme secretary (Des Brown and John Reid) and a shower of other jock politicos were in there watching Celtic play. Don't know what that means but it must mean something.

5 Feb 2011 23:12

More information

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