please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A solid, if unspectacular (architecturally) Sam Smith's pub. Ideal for a relaxed sunday afternoon pint or two. Not good for large groups as others have said, as it's a small pub, but there's plenty of large pubs in central london for big groups so this isn't an issue. Friendly bar staff made visiting this pub worthwhile. Overall a decent pub that I'd come back to again.
|
popped in last Friday. Warm day - pint of lager. Nothing special, but nice location and worth a visit.
|
Probably my favourite pub in Fitzrovia. The Yorkshire Grey is a great place to go for a few pints and a catch up with a couple of mates. It's not ideal for big groups as its fairly small inside and can get quite busy, but it does have a good atmosphere and a cosy fireplace! It's a Sam Smith's pub so the beers are reasonably priced and the last few times I've been there the bar staff have been very pleasant.
|
Hseemed quiet for a Saturday evening but there were a good few regulars in. Seemed pricy for a Sam Smiths pub so maybe they've succumbed to economic realities.
|
Went to this Sam Smith's pub last week to avoid spending too much money on a night out. Was surprised when one bottle of their own beer set me back �5.20 (Sam Smith's Nut Brown Ale) - this is almost twice as much as I paid for the same pint in a nearby Sam Smith's pub. Nice enough pub, just a bit pricey.
|
Good but small Sam Smith's pub, if you've drunk in a Sam Smith's before you'll know the rub and all the usual hallmarks of the brewery's pubs are present and correct. The roped area outside on the alley is a very pleasant place for an al fresco pint if you're happy standing and the weather is clement, but I can imagine the place being a tad cramped when all the customers are forced to drink inside in less favourable conditions. Prices as ever, very good for Central London. Beer in very good nick indeed, cheers!
|
Perfect little tucked away Sam smiths.
|
ok, point made; please, now stop glogging up the site for users.
|
Nice small pub, only been here mid week so it hasn't been overly busy. No problems with service at all.
|
Like Strongers, I can imagine this small Sam Smith's pub becoming uncomfortably crowded with the presence of relatively few people. There's a bit of seating - stools mainly, but most drinkers were standing.
The OBB was decent enough, and my pint was topped up without fuss when I asked. Still a bland beer however.
We planned on eating, but were told there was no food Friday evenings.
|
I am afraid that I have to agree with reddrinker. I have tended to frequent thi splace at les busy times due to the fact that the service is slightly less dreadful then. However, I recently needed to reserve and rea for a group of peaople meeting up. When I phoned to place the booking I was told by the staff memeber that they did not reserve either tables or the upstairs on Thursday evenings due to the place being too busy. I accepted the explaniation although I doubted its veracity and my friends and I met there anyway. Imagine my surprise when I arrived on said Thursday evening to see that the whole upstairs bar was closed for a private party. There are far better places in the area including Sam Smiths pubs.
They need to get beter staff who actually want to work in the hospitality industry.
|
This is a fantastic pub. It is a gorgeous little oasis in the streets of London and an absolute pleasure to visit. The beer is fantastic. The old brewery bitter is on top form all the time and presented very well. The staff are, well just great. Really friendly and hard working. I would recommend this pub to anyone.
|
Not a great fan of Sam Smith pubs, but I liked this one. One long narrow room downstairs and another room upstairs. BBC radio paraphanalia adorn the walls. Friendly attentive staff. Cant abide SS bitter , and although not normally a lager drinker the pure brewed lager went down a treat. Nice.
|
I liked this small Sam Smiths establishment and I was a little surprised to read on here that the staff are regarded as rude and slow as I found both of the barmaids on duty to be very friendly and I was served promptly.
OBB is on hand pump and although I�m not its biggest fan it was still as good as the pint I had later in the highly regarded Dover Castle up the road.
I though it pleasant enough in here, but I can imagine it getting uncomfortable if too many people are present, not that I have ever been into a rammed Sam Smiths pub before.
|
Went here on a busy Thursday night, had rather a good vibe, and a lot better than the typical commercial london pubs in this area, nice pint and very cheap for centre of london.
|
I used to go in here a while ago when the staff were really nice and the beer always good. Then the staff changed and the beer went downhill from there. It used to be service with a smile but now it's service with a scowl im afraid. There is one barmaid in there with the biggest chip on her shoulder it's unreal. If you don't like the job then leave woman. Won't be going back here as there are plenty of better pubs within 1 minute walking distance. You have been warned.
|
OK pub this in a nice little location near broadcasting house. Not my favourite Sams pub but it usually is dependable for drinks which are very keen priced as at all Sams boozers.
|
This is another Sam Smith�s pub, in an area where they are not exactly in short supply. However, the Old Brewery Bitter was on handpump but the pint I had was not good. The pub itself looks very attractive, both inside and out. The photograph above is exactly how it looks, with some well-tended hanging baskets and an attractive frontage. The leaded windows also look to be original features. Inside there is a main bar which is fairly Spartan, but nonetheless quite attractive in a Sam Smith�s kind of way, leading to a slightly more comfortable seating area at the back. There are some snob screens at the back, between the main bar and the seating area. They look good, but may well be modern reproductions in keeping with Sam Smith�s policy of retaining, and in cases restoring, their pubs� original features. But placed between two areas of the pub, like some sort of screen, they must be a decoration instead of being where they might originally have been placed above the bar counter in order to afford drinkers there some measure of anonymity.
This is a pretty decent little pub. But it could be a very good pub if not for the fact that it is a Sam Smith�s pub and thus denies drinkers a decent ale choice.
|
Popped in last night for a quick drink - nice place, decent pint of OBB, and reasonably priced (as are all Sam Smiths pubs). Not too crowded, but still ended up waiting nearly 10mins to be served (one member of staff seemed more concerned with preventing people standing outside neighbouring businesses than serving customers).
|
tidy little boozer.
sam smiths , cheap & old skool.
|
nice pub, 4 pints and change from a tenner.
what's not to like?
|
Dipping out of the bustle of Oxford Circus, here's yet another tremendous Sam Smiths house. Interestingly adorned with photographs of 1930s BBC Radio presenters (even Tommy Woodruff!), the condition of all the Sam Smiths favourites is as excellent as you'd expect. And of course, it's no real strain on your pocket either.
|
An excellent Sam Smiths pub: very good service, interesting decor, quite cosy and most importantly of all well-pulled beers and ciders along with a decent bottled selection. Reasonably priced for the area too. It's encouraging to find that pubs like this one still exist.
|
Very quiet for a Saturday evening, very clean and tidy - worth a visit.
|
Not over impressed with this Sam Smiths pub which is unusual as they are usually really well maintained. It was unwelcoming and functional and it could be such a cosy nook. The lights were too bright and harsh and the staff uncaring and gave short measure although they did top the drinks up when asked. Prefer the other Sam Smith's Dover Castle 5 mins away.
chick - 19 Feb 2009 11:30 |
I was looking forward to visiting this pub, particularly as it has a charming exterior and a cracking location. I left disappointed. Although the OBB is fine, the interior is, for Samuel Smiths, plain and unkempt. Fine on its own, but compare it to some of its contemporaries (The Cock, The Champion) it comes off much worse.
|
best in the area , we drink in here quite ofen , always a smile by the staff, may not be the widest choice but always in good condition , food was fine, nice outside seating, million miles better than the crown and sceptre rathouse across the road.
|
I agree with the last post, probably the best Sam Smith in the area.
|
Charming and well cared for corner boozer. Quiet and friendly clientele, chatty bar staff proffering homemade pickled eggs and a very good pint of Old Brewery. Well worth seeking out - the Yorkshire Grey is definately one of the best of Sam Smith's London estate.
|
Nice little corner pub, somewhat lighter and brighter than most Sam Smiths outlets in London (and none the worse for that). Usual low, low prices and OBB on handpump. Really rather good.
|
Feels nicely Fitzrovia, whatever that means to you. The place clearly attracts a BBC crowd and, in such a narrow little spot, can feel crowded when busy (where doesn't?!) but the lager's good, there's atmosphere and, ignoring the geeks, there's little to fault.
|
You insensitive clod! I breathe through my mouth due to an obstruction of my nasal passages. What's the problem?
|
Ace lager. 10/10.
|
I noticed, on my trip last Saturday, lots of oily boys playing their portable nintendo thingies in the pub. Freaks.
Good pub though.
|
Nice little pub tucked away in Fitzrovia. So tucked away in fact that I live the other side of the block of buildings and never realised it was there. What a relief though. �1.99 for a beer and plentiful outside seating. Can get eerily quiet if it's not a Friday or Saturday night, and it's not a pub for a fun night out, but great for cheap beer and a natter. Oh, the staff are very friendly too.
|
That bunch of gamers used to frequent the Angel near Centrepoint. They all looked like they breathe through their mouths.
|
Nice old Sam Smith's pub in Fitzrovia, ruined by a large group of people playing Bomberman very loudly on their Nintendo DS's. Queue contstant screams "OHHHHHHHHHH! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! PHEWWWWWWWWWWW! AHHHHHHHHHHH! CRIKES!!!!!!!" Seems to be a regular meeting between the social outcasts, so I won't be rushing back anytime soon. It was like trying to enjoy a pint at Funland in the Trocadero.
|
Cracking little boozer in a rather unspoilt part of town. Architecturally a glorious looking tippling house, the stuff that dreams are made of. Surrounding properties are equally attractive. Fair prices, albeit for keg bitter. This pub forms part of my Fitrovia crawl and is one of the better ones on it.
|
A great Sam Smiths pub and a decent crowd considering the area.
|
Always preferred this place to the Crown and Sceptre. A decent Sam Smiths pub.
|
Nice little pub. small with nice partitioning around the wall tables. Usual SS drinks. The back area around the fire is very pleasant, with some nice tiles and random snob screens. I've been a few times and it's never been too busy. This means you can get a good look at the pub and get a seat but it probably lacks a bit of atmosphere.
|
Deserted on a Saturday afternoon, but I had a great Taddy Porter - what else do you expect from a Sam Smith's pub?
|
Pub seems not to know what it wants to be..trying TOO hard to be everything..succeeds in nothing. Swapped my T Shirt in here with one of the members of 'Queen' So one moment it's a haunt of the rich and famous...the next it's a haunt of the wannabe rich and famous (BBC types) In the evening it tries just to be a 'local' type pub...but in the West End. They obviously feel they need to do food...but seem to do it begrudgingly.
The best thing about the Yorkshire used to be the fine old Victorian Urinals outside in the street. (Down below the pavement)
anonymous - 19 Jul 2006 23:48 |
Typically traditional Sam Smiths pub - sadly the place was almost deserted on Saturday afternoon when I popped in. Not as though it was a day to be outside as it was raining. Well worth popping in if you like the Sam's "feel" to pubs
|
Have only been upstairs - but that was very pleasant. Food is served in the evening from about 6 till 9, I think, and they don't skimp on the sausages or the chips! Wasn't busy on a Thursday, although I could imagine it might be a nightmare if it was because of the layout. Has an outside bit too.
|
Absolutely lovely. At the back there's a lovely open fire with leather snugs. Barman was really, really friendly if a bit odd. Sam Smith's Old Brewery Bitter was (a) cask (b) very nice and (c) �1.70 a pint.
Definitely worth several squirts.
anonymous - 4 Feb 2006 23:19 |
The pub time forgot - especially random given how close to Oxford Circus it is.. if you like collecting pub experiences, go and have a drink and revel in its randomness, it will be a cheap experience if nothing else. Probably at its best in summer when you can sit outside.
|
This used to be my favourate pub, but it has changed. The last 2 times i have been the wheat beer has been vinegary and when you mention this to the staff they say the beer is fine....in a very rude and defensive manner (as if they get alot of complaints!).
Perhaps you will be lucky and visit the pub when they have changed the wheat beer keg that day, but the day after and the wheat beer will be off.
|
a big No!! , 2nd visit for me and 3rd pub of our afternoon. crap beers, no atmosphere. wont bother again.
|
Quiet little pub off the beaten track, plenty of room upstairs and good beer. Good change of scenery if you're bored of the Blue Posts and the many other Sam Smiths' in the area.
|
Not a bad pub at all, cheap enough, must be worth a visit when west end shopping, gets busy with BBC types.
|
Tom Coombs. you sir may poke it. This pub is rubbish. I have also had the wedge before and they were vile. Stay away from here.
|
Used to be a good boozer according to some my older colleagues, but its clientele makes it a charmless venue. Perhaps I was expecting too much.
Seems to be priding itself on being a haunt for radio people (in other words too ugly to be on TV).
|
Typical low priced Sam Smith's pub with original features and traditional charm. BBC broadcasters use this one. I think the nearby Dover Castle is a slightly more quirky and atmospheric Sam Smith's - but some people will prefer this one.
I had the Sovereign Best at �1.70 a pint. It's an inoffensively typical keg bitter of no merit. The cask Old Brewery is a better choice for ale drinkers.
|
Fantastic pub. A real gem! Always quieter than other nearby pubs. No complaints whatsoever :) Pay it a visit (but not too many of you because I like it quiet).
Rock botton Sam Smith's prices, nice traditional decor, BBC themed, fireplaces upstairs and downstairs, airconditioning upstairs in the summer...
Hurrah for Sam Smith's
|
lovely pub pikey is and idiot - the potatoe wedges are amazing and the beer is pretty good to - brilliant for a monday lunchtime
|
What a load of rubbish. Just got back from there and the food was rubbish and over priced. The portion of fish and chips I had wouldn't even fill a small rodent and I paid �5 or so for the privilege. Do not eat here of you are hungry, otherwise like me you'll end up attempting to eat the furniture. Absolute rubbish, and will never go back there even if you pay me.
Pikey - 21 Oct 2004 13:32 |
Marvellous Sam Smiths ales, a decent pub, but there are better pubs from this brewery in the area.
There was a very odd smell in the main bar.
TheGP - 21 Sep 2004 13:59 |
I think it was only me and my mates here on Saturday night. There were all the Sam Smith's faves, although they didn't seem to have any of the super-dooper new organic ale.
Nice floral exterior, trad pub interior. Great for a quiet drink just a few steps away from the madness of Oxford Street.
|
Lovely pub. Have been going there for my birthday for the last 5 years. Staff turnover is fairly regular, but have always been very friendly and helpful. Anyone who appreciates the finer points of Ayingebrau D Pils will love this boozer.
Chris Goodman - 16 Mar 2004 15:27 |
Nice, if tiny, pub. Lovely and warm in winter with the open fire going in the back and a fine range of Sam Smiths beers.
anonymous - 13 Jan 2004 21:35 |
major disappointment - the barmaid (who didn't appear to be on her first day in the job) thought it fine that our stout was literally 45% head, and after 2nd topping up was still 30% head, vinegary taste too!
andy - 20 Aug 2003 13:46 |
Pleasant little Sam Smith's boozer - nice beer and good prices too.
(nice to see someone else calls their white beer "world cup" too - it's served in a glass which looks like it...)
Darryl - 3 Aug 2003 12:00 |
As all Yorkshiremen will know, 1 August is Yorkshire day. I for one will be meeting a few of my Yorkshire ex-patriots in this pub, complete with flat cap and tweed jacket to enjoy a cheeky pint...and perhaps one for my whippet too!
Matt Ford - 18 Jul 2003 13:44 |
great pub. beer was good. staff excellent. definitely will return next time I am in london
Jk - 14 Jul 2003 21:02 |
great pub, and nice staff.
Good atmosphere and excellet beer.
james - 10 Jul 2003 12:43 |
Ask for a pint of "man-in-a-box" for good lager, and "world cup" for weiss beer. At crazy, crazy prices, especially for the area.
Tom - 16 Jun 2003 23:10 |
Nice! A laid-back place, friendly bar-staff. Ideal for meeting your mates for a chat in the summer.
Also some decent beers (or so my boyfriend tells me!).
My favourite central london pub.
Tam - 9 May 2003 10:28 |
best pub in london...so cheap too
angry of harrow - 20 Dec 2002 12:27 |
