Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most good pubs serve at least two or three
real ales
(see p.389), as well as the usual array of
drinks. The rise of
gastropubs
, where the food is as important as the booze, if not more so,
has had a knock-on effect on all pubs, improving the overall standard of cooking as well as
increasing the amount pubs can charge for food. We've also reviewed some of the capital's
bars, which go in and out of fashion with incredible speed. London also boasts numerous
pubs that are primarily live music venues (see p.400), and gay and lesbian pubs and bars
(see p.405).
Prices
can be steep, with the £4 pint common, and bottled beers almost as
much. A good cocktail, meanwhile, could set you back more than £8. However, prices
drop a little out of the centre, while many bars run weekday happy hours, usually 5-7pm,
when drinks are either half-price or discounted.
WHITEHALL, WESTMINSTER AND ST JAMES'S
The Chandos
29 St Martin's Lane, WC2
T
020 7836
1401;
!
Charing Cross; map, p.46.
If you can get one of
the booths downstairs, or the leather sofas upstairs in the
more relaxed Opera Room Bar, then you'll find it di
cult to
leave this Sam Smith's pub.
Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun
noon-10.30pm.
ICA Bar
The Mall, SW1
T
020 7930 3647,
W
ica.org.uk;
!
Piccadilly Circus or Charing Cross; map p.66.
Cool,
minimal drinking venue in this excellent gallery/arts
centre/cinema.
Tues-Sun 11am-11pm.
Red Lion
23 Crown Passage, SW1
T
020 7930 4141;
25
!
Green Park; map p.66.
Hidden away in a passageway
off Pall Mall, this is a warm and cosy local, with super
friendly bar staff, well-kept beer and good sandwiches.
Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm.
St Stephen's Tavern
10 Bridge St, SW1
T
020 7925
2286,
W
ststephenstavern.co.uk;
!
Westminster;
map p.46.
Opulent Victorian pub opposite the Houses of
Parliament and wall to wall with civil servants and MPs.
Good real ales, plus fish and chips and pies.
Mon-Thurs &
Sat
10am-11.30pm,
Fri
10am-midnight,
Sun
noon-10.30pm.
MAYFAIR
Audley
41 Mount St, W1
T
020 7499 1843;
!
Hyde
Park Corner or Bond Street; map p.78.
A grand Mayfair
pub, with original Victorian lincrusta ceiling, beautiful
wood-panelled walls, chandeliers and clocks.
Mon-Sat
11am-11pm, Sun noon-10.30pm.
The Windmill
6-8 Mill St, W1
T
020 7491 8050,
W
windmillmayfair.co.uk;
!
Oxford Circus; map p.78.
Convivial pub just off Regent St, and a perfect retreat for
exhausted shoppers. The Young's beers are top-notch, as
are the traditional pies, which have won numerous awards.
Its sister pub,
The Guinea
, nearby on Bruton Place is also
good.
Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat noon-4.30pm.
Ye Grapes
16 Shepherd Market, W1
T
020 7493 4216;
!
Green Park or Hyde Park Corner; map p.78.
Ver y
popular pub in Shepherd Market, a charming corner of
Mayfair hidden away to the north of Piccadilly. If the
Grapes
is too busy, try the
King's Arms
, also in Shepherd Market.
Mon-Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-10pm.
MARYLEBONE
Golden Eagle
59 Marylebone Lane, W1
T
020 7935
3228;
!
Bond Street; map p.89.
Proper old one-room,
neighbourhood pub - a delight in this swanky area - with
a good range of real ales, and regular singalongs on the old
Joanna.
Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun noon-7pm.
Gunmakers
33 Aybrook St, W1
T
020 7487 4937;
!
Bond Street; map p.89.
Tucked away to the west of
Marylebone's high street, this is a characterful joint, all
wood panelling and Churchill memorabilia. Good pub grub,
too. Can get very busy on Saturdays, and avoid if you're
bothered by sport on the TV.
Mon-Sat 11am-midnight,
Sun 11am-10.30pm.
SOHO
Blue Posts
28 Rupert St, W1
T
020 7437 1415;
!
Leicester Square; map p.100.
Soho boasts no less
than six
Blue Posts
; this is our favourite, a ra
sh, shabby
and convivial bolthole on the area's less trendy fringes. This
is definitively not a gastropub; you can soak up the real ales
with their trademark salt beef sandwiches and enjoy live
jazz on Sundays.
Mon-Thurs 11am-11.30pm, Fri & Sat
11am-midnight, Sun noon-10.30pm.
Dog & Duck
18 Bateman St, W1
T
020 7494 0697;
!
Tottenham Court Road; map p.100.
Tiny Nicholson's
pub that retains much of its old character, beautiful
Victorian tiling and mosaics, a good range of real ales and
a loyal clientele. If it gets too busy downstairs, head
upstairs to the George Orwell Bar (he used to drink here).
Daily 10am-11pm.
Ì
French House
49 Dean St, W1
T
020 7437 2799,
W
frenchhousesoho.com;
!
Leicester Square; map
p.100.
This cosy French pub has been a boho Soho
institution since Belgian Victor Berlemont bought the place
shortly before World War I. Free French and literary
