please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pleasant pub midwaybetween V&A and Harrods. Beer perfectly drinkable but not spectacular. Think it is probably the only real pub in the area.
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Nice location, but the place is bad. My good advice is: Avoid!!!this pub. It could be so nice little pub, but its managed soooo badly. The old Landlady is very unprofessional, she forgot how to run a pub and make it attractive a long time ago. My boyfriend worked there a short period, they were always short of staff, ordering often messed up, cockroaches and mice running everywhere in the kitchen and even upstairs in the small dining room. He said the change of the management is really needed there. So, rating this pub: 1 out of 10, just because of the nice location.
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A traditionalfriendly London pub in an area dominated by tourist or designer bars
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I must say that the previous recent comments pretty much have this hostelry sized; its Victorianised interior appears at least to be reasonably authentic, and suits the style of the building and layout. The pub is certainly commodious and can easily accommodate larger numbers, even though I didn't feel too conspicuous as a single drinker on my recent brief drop-in following a thoroughly consuming 3 hours at the V & A.
It is somewhere that blatantly markets itself as one of London's innumerable "traditional" pubs that serves real ale and decent grub, and observational evidence from my experience suggested that this works, although with the result that there is a sense of impermanency in the clientele and I imagine it would be a tall order to become known as a "regular" here, if indeed one had such modest ambitions.
The ale is indeed Greene King and whilst they are a commercially widespread brand that rarely sets beer enthusiasts' palates ablaze, in fairness the beer I drank at the BOG was impeccably kept; indeed some of the best GK I've had of late, so well done on that. Food looked to be in good order, with hefty portions being dished up around me, but not being in need of solids I didn't partake myself so can say no more.
On balance a perfectly reasonable pub in which to take a quick pint, and certainly one that rises above many of its peers which plough a similar furrow. However, not somewhere one should necessarily seek out. If you've a dry mouth following the air-conditioned hermetic experiences of the museum or Harrods, it may do the job; otherwise, there's plenty more fish in the sea which conjure up a more lasting and authentic atmopshere and charisma.
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Given its location, its surprising that this type of old-fashioned (in the best sense) pub has survived without being gastro-ified. Rather splendid Victorian interior with snob screens and open door partitions around the island bar, engraved mirrors and some interesting art deco light fittings. The layout means that some of the furniture is a bit cramped but there is a separate dining room upstairs. Four real ales on from the Greene King stable - IPA (a decent pint at �3.10), Royal London, Abbot and OSH.
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For those of you that missed the report on TV regarding the activities of the kitchen staff behind closed doors should take heed and avoid this pub like the plague.
The staff were secretely filmed skidding across the kitchen floor on frozen burger patties which were later served up to the unsuspecting clients.
Should have been closed long time ago!!!
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Very mixed reviews about this pub. Two dykes complaining of being ejected for kissing each other on the lips - what about the rights of other drinkers who wish to have a pint without being forced to vomit at the sight of it. Flogging's too good for them, in my opinion. The "old managaress" is a fine lady from Ireland who won't stand any nonsense but who has forgotten more about running a pub than some of the people writing these articles. As always, its not the pub or the management that are the problem, its the punters
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There�s not much I can add to the accurate review that follows this one except that I found the bar staff to be very friendly, especially for a high street pub. The music was also very loud during my visit, but I put this down to it being the last Friday before Christmas and I have to admit that the seasonal songs did give the pub a very warm atmosphere.
There were too many tourists eating for my liking, but the pub itself is very nice and I would pop in again for a couple of pints if passing.
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Attractive looking, street corner pub on the Brompton Road situated close to Harrods and several popular well-known London museums.
Many Victorian features remain, including a number of painted mirrors, some original snob screens on the bar and an interesting carved partition with the bunch of grapes logo prominent. There's much woodwork and etched glass. The front part of the bar looks as though it was probably originally partitioned into different bars. The pub was built in 1777 and is listed in CAMRA's Regional Inventory for London.
Whilst retaining a traditional feel, there's a clear emphasis on providing meals to the many tourists who drop in and the seating layout largely reflects this. This creates a rather transient feel to the pub as people pop in and out, not starting after their meal / drink.
Unfortunately the background music was rather loud on my recent Sunday lunchtime visit. There's also a largish flat screen TV, which thankfully wasn't on.
The pub has recently been acquired by Greene King. Four real ales were on - IPA, Abbott, Speckled Hen and Royal London ( though they were an insurance company?). The IPA - � 3.05p - was as good a pint of that beer as you will get. The pub proudly displays Cask Marque accreditation.
You might want to call in if passing by - I will when I'm next round this way
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Very nice unspoilt Victorian interior and better than expected selection of ales. Not at all touristy which was a pleasant surprise given the proximity to H.A. Rodds. One to keep in mind if in the area again.
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A great pub!Bring back memories from 1972-73 when I was student in London.Always stop by for a pint of bitter, once my flat was at 40 Egerton Gardens just steps away from the pub!I hope to go again some time!
PANOS - 29 Apr 2009 22:30 |
This is quite a reasonable pub considering its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Harrod�s Store. But the Spirit Group pubco ambience is quite strong in here. They had Adnam�s bitter, GKIPA, Abbot Ale and Bombardier on. The Adnam�s was not particularly good, and at �3.10 a pint. On the plus side, it still has a lot of original Victorian features intact. It�s not a bad pub, but suffers somewhat from the pubco�s rather unimaginative ale selection. Nonetheless, I would be happy to drop in again for another pint if I was in the area.
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Beautiful atmosphere, good food. Mostly friendly staff.
Good beer choice, with the Greene King's "Abbott" certainly worth mentioning.
People who went there with me were also never disappointed.
Compared with other pubs nearby, perhaps a bit lacking in character. Otherwise all very fine.
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Not too bad Victorian boozer with some nice bits of interior interest. Not much else in the nearby vicinity so a worthwhile stop for a swift one, though getting a seat/standing spot is sometimes tricky.
Ale selection not much to write home about (Pride/GK IPA and Abbot/Youngs Ordinary). My Abbot and Pride were OK, if expensive (�3.25).
Not one to go out of the way for, but OK if you've just been to one of the museums on Exhibition Road and fancy a pint.
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angela dear, it's apparent you do not know much about pubs, food, staff or atmosphere. Get about more.
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Great pub
Great Staff
Great food
Great Atmosphere
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I think Rogue Restaurants broadcast on the 28th August 2008 says it all about this pub. Avoid like the plague
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A good example of "How not to do it". This is a fine old Victorian Boozer, trading on past glories,in terminal decline. The service was slow, surly, and patronising. The real ale portfoli consisted of Fullers, Greene King and Young's. That must of took some working-out eh? Bet they sweated hours over that.
Amlost as bad as McMullen's, who market a cask ale called "Cask Ale" can you believe? Is there a brain-cell left in this bloody country, or has it all emigrated? Spare me. And the Doris says that the Ladies Lavatory is "disgusting." Avoid.
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Went back - or better I've tried to - last friday: I confess, I did'nt know the rule of "children-not-allowed" (and I don't understand it), but it's OK. I accept. Unfairness I don't accept. We were sent away like thieves, from a lady who stared at my baby in stroller like it was a wild animal. That's whay I rate it 1. Not 0, just because they did'nt beat us...
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Horrendous during the daytime on Saturdays when it is mobbed by haggard refugees from the Knightsbridge shops.
The interior is impressive though and it's good value on a weeknight when the tourists have disappeared back to shitty 100 quid a night hotels in Victoria and Paddington
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I've been mugged by nicer people than the prize goons loitering behind the bar in this turd hole. Woe betide the hapless punter who expects to get served in the half hour leading up to closing. If you can't walk 2 minutes round the corner to the Beauchamp, get a can of Special from Lords next door, park yourself outside the Grapes and warn all potential customers of the horror that lurks within.
Offensive beyond comprarison.
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Interesting Victorian pub - like a film set, and very well maintained inside. Went on a Sunday evening - good atmosphere, about half full. No sign of the RAT mentioned previously - expect he's been promoted to an executive position in the brewery!
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This pub looks like so many others at first glance but take a walk around and you�ll see some of the outstanding features of this Victorian pub. The carved bunch of grapes, the revolving snob screens and behind you, magnificent back-painted mirrors. Beer�s good too.
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HOMOPHOBIC - Ended up in this pub to end a perfect easter sunday with my partner (we are a gay female couple). Having ordered two glasses of red wine, which the barperson had to spoon the cork out of, we sat down to enjoy the rest of the evening. However, only after a few minutes we were told to leave for not following the rules?? We asked why we were being forced to leave and the barperson told us that this establishment would not tolerate this type of beahviour and proceeded to take our drinks away. I still have no idea about the rules. My partner and I were talking, which was interspersed with kissing on the lips and can only think it was this that was not following the rules?! We were appalled!!!
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Went back here shortly after it was done-up and it was nice, fresh smell of paint, lots of friendly staff and I thought, "ah, here we go - this is how a lazy dump can be turned around....." Well, back again and it was back to how it used to fecking be......2 members of staff who took their bloody time, smelly, and crowded with tourists who've never been to a pub before and stand around ordering cokes (each person individually) and looking at maps. I'll give it a year before I darken these doors again.
anonymous - 28 Dec 2006 10:39 |
CRAP! I call it the Rat Arms - not out of spite, but due to an alarming experience I had in the gents there, a few years ago, when I entered the room to be faced with a real, live RAT staring up at me from the urinal!!! I didn't dare use the cubicle in case it followed me, and when I reported the incident to the staff (almost cross-legged by this point) they merely laughed and shrugged in, I felt, disbelief and complete indifference. Perhaps the impending refurb should include demolition?
anonymous - 8 Nov 2006 19:22 |
I recently had a very pleasant return to this pub. Obviously the interior is very nice but the quality of the service had improved no end. The staff were checking you were all right for drinks and remembered what you were drinking etc. The beer also tasted nicer. That said don't expect any unusual ales.
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I'd have to agree the original interior is the high point. Sadly one of the bar maids said it would shortly be closing for a refurb and they're running down the beer stocks. I somehow doubt it will retain it's present charm.
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Nice location and a nice interior (dark wood and smokey glass) ruined slightly by poor service (stroppy East European girls being shouted at by some old manageress) and by poor choice of drinks. I had a Guiness which tasted so off I had to complain (having never done so before in my life) and then a London Pride which came in a Stella glass and tasted of neither.
anonymous - 11 Jul 2006 10:58 |
They had Youngs, london Pride and I think Bombadier (typical selections I know) on my visit so perhaps jorrocks wasn't looking in enough vantage points. Took me a while to get served by the surly blonde eastern european girl behind the bar. Lovely mirrors and wood everywhere. I liked it and the rough types and Americans were fine by me.
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As seen in "Londons Historic Pubs"
Indeed, it's decor is great, a real example of a proper English pub. Sadly, it is let down by the cretininous service. Slow in the extreme, I waited at 4 different vantage points before being served. The barmaid disappeared for another 5 minutes and came back with an atrociously poured pint of guinness.
There were hoardes of staff milling about doing anything but serve customers.
There was a fair smattering of rough types in this pub, baffingly so for it's location. Fairly intimidating. Plus a lot of Yank tourists- they've found a good pub potentially, but I hope they don't judge all UK pubs by the crappy service in this joint.
A wasted opportunity.
TheGP - 26 Feb 2006 20:58 |
The pub could be so much more - Nice enough interior in the gin house style but there is nothing to back up the building. No real ale. No pub feel. Felt more like an airport bar than a pub.
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This pub has an excellent location. It is right on the edge of the Knightsbridge shopping district, dominated by Harrods. This road is covered with restaurants and caf�s. Whilst there are pubs of the road, this is the only real pub I can think of on that stretch of road. It has a good lay-out, with a central bar. The furniture and fittings are clearly designed to go for the 'traditional' feel.
Unfortunately the beer and food really lets down this great site. If you're happy with that standard Stella, Kronnenbourg 1664, Guinness and John Smith's Extra Smooth, then this is the place for you, if you actually want some range of beers - and some ales, then forget it. It's a shame. This place could be brilliant. The pub is aimed at tourists and is not really bothered with being attractive to real pub lovers. This leads to nitro-keg internationally branded beers and poor food.
Don't get me wrong, the place is still nice - and a great place to meet up to go on somewhere else - but it really could be so much better.
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A great and lovely place to stay for drinking and eating!
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Loved the Wexford mushrooms. Mmm.
ally - 18 Nov 2004 17:30 |
A very nice pub. Everyone's a little geriatric but hey, nice for a quiet pint and some great, and i mean great, nachos.
James - 18 Nov 2004 17:29 |
This is possibly the greatest pub i have ever been in. I love it like my son. Seriously, this is a god of a pub. (Nice nachos)
Imran - 18 Nov 2004 17:27 |
My wife and I visited this pub yesterday at 12.15 for lunch. The Resteraunt was advertised in the pub as having "Speciallity sausages" including vegetrarian ones. On being seated in the resteraunt (which was completely empty) we were told they did not have any of these sausages. The vehgetarian meal I had of Wexford Mushrooms on toast was the worse meal I have eaten in many many years.
John A Brett - 29 Oct 2004 05:20 |
Prior to this year I had not been to this excellent pub, or England, for 30 years. Still a great atmosphere but spoiled by flashing slot machines and dreadful warbling background music, which must only be for the entertainment of the bar staff.
Brian Wilmot - 8 Oct 2004 03:03 |
Very nicely appointed pub. Rich feel. Visited while I was in London last year. Would definately drink there again & aybe even try the food next time.
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I love this pub. It's in the heart of poshville, but retains snug and 'proper' pubness.
Luke - 22 Jul 2004 14:48 |
Been here a few times. Fish and chips is good. Good selection of bitters and the Guiness is always good
Bruce - 17 Nov 2003 19:41 |
