The Grenadier, Belgravia

This is a small pub hidden away in a mews in Belgravia, which perhaps is a good thing as it will save many the displeasure of poor and often very rude service from the staff of this pub.

The pub itself is really quite a nice place to be and has some interesting bits of history to it. Regardless of it not having a beer garden, the front area is nice to stand outside in on a summers evening, though some effort could be made to provide more seating.

However nice and interesting the building is though, this is completely spoilt by the level of service provided - or not provided as the case can be. Understandably any pub can be busy on a Friday or Saturday evening, though with this in mind why on earth is there only one member of staff behind the bar as I have witnessed on more than one occasion? This of course leads to an avoidable crowd of people clamouring to be served and then being treated to a member of staff who looks like they couldn't care any less about the customers they are serving.

Another gripe about this pub I am sure to share with others is their ridiculous list of rules, and importantly, how these are enforced. I can appreciate the need to abide by licensing rules by not allowing glasses outside, but their handling of this is often intolerable, as I have seen the staff demanding the use of plastic glasses in a rude and sometimes aggressive manner. Their no mobile phone rule is quite a bone of contention as well, does it matter in a crowded pub someone using their phone? These rules are upheld in a shocking manner and I've seen many customers look quite disgusted by the way they are told they are 'breaking the rules', its like your commiting a heinous crime. In particular, the man who I believe is the landlord has no qualms about deafeningly shouting across his pub, with some of his displays I'm surprised they have any regulars at all.

Overall a lovely little pub and it does actually do a good pint (if its not served with too much of a head) but unless you want to spend a good while trying to find it, and then to be greeted by some very rude staff its not worth the effort, better leave this one alone really.

18 Jan 2010 01:35