Covent Garden to Bond Street.
The Cross Keys
Street: 31 Endell Street
Operator: Independent
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
No homepage
Underground: Covent Garden (3min)
Piccadilly
About the pub:
1848 grade II listed pub. The striking exterior, with its elaborate decoration obscured by extensive foliage, forms an immediate impression upon approaching this pub. Inside is a fascinating collection of bric-a-brac, ranging from copper kettles to musical instruments and even a diving helmet. There are also brewery mirrors, a large collection of portraits and pictures, including a good watercolour landscape, and two notable clocks.
Leased by East London "brewers" Brodie's, who used to brew their beer in the capital but are currently (as of Feb 2019) having their beers brewed elsewhere at Rhymney brewery in Blaenavon, Torfaen, Wales. . When busy (which is often) drinkers can spill out onto the pavement in front of the pub.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Top Secret Comedy Club (2min)
The Top Secret Comedy club
Forbidden Planet (3min)
Forbidden planet
Seven Dials Market (3min)
Seven Dials Market
Coach and Horses
Street: 42 Wellington Street
Operator: Independent
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
No homepage
Underground: Covent Garden (4min)
Piccadilly
About the pub:
One of the smaller pubs in Covent Garden, it's a one room drinkers pub yet comfortable and warm. Mostly standing room though there are tall chairs of varying heights to sit on - at the one round table, around the side of the room, or in front of the main window etched with 'Watney Combe Reid'. One large mirror. etched 'Coach and Horses', overlooks the table and is adorned with a generous vase of fresh exotic blooms.
The back bar is recessed with a mirror in a moulded surround, highlighting the various spirits etc., available. Blogged as one of the best traditional pubs in central London. An independent pub with a lot of Irish influence and hence big Guinness sales (and the claim to be the best in London, probably, as evidenced by the Irish Post), very much used by locals, office workers, and occasional visitors. There's always plenty of good, odd characters in the corner who've been here since whenever!
Whatever the day, there's always for some a reason to have a bottle of 'shampoo' on the go - as if you really needed an excuse. In the heart of Theatreland, and close to the Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal, Bow Street Police Museum and London Transport Museum, the many retired stars of back-stage and back-screen drink here in the corner to the left of the bar counter. There are of course the inevitable theatre-goers in the evening, when the pub can get very busy.
This house has a fantastic collection of about 70 Irish whiskeys and gin, and Scotch whiskies. There are photos and posters for Gaelic football and Irish hurling, plus theatre posters, on the walls. Run by the same Irish family for around forty years now, when you visit, say hullo to the bar team: Jodie, Michael and Sean. And if you need a newspaper ask Michael for a borrow of his. All music is selected by the establishment - no musak here! - so expect an eclectic play list with some good golden oldies thrown in among Oasis and others of the more recent era.
According to the Survey of London there's been a pub on this site with the name of the Coach and Horses since 1753, the present building probably preserving the elevational pattern of a rebuilding of 1775–6.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Covent Garden (4min)
Covent Garden
London Transport Museum
London Royal Opera House
ST Pauls Church
The French House
Street: 49 Dean Street
Operator: Independent
Open:
12:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
Hompage
Underground: Leicester Square (5min)
Northern
Piccadilly
About the pub:
Originally 16th century but rebuilt in 1936/7 by Alfred W Blomfield who specialised in pub architecture. One of the most iconic Soho pubs, landlady Lesley Lewis celebrated 33 years here in mid-2022. It has been described as "a bustling boozer absolutely oozing atmosphere, character and history." And recently Time Out said "one of the best spots in town for striking up enlightening chats with interesting strangers".
Wine outsells beer and it is claimed that more Ricard sells here than any other UK outlet. You come here for the atmosphere not the beer choice; there is no real ale but house lager is available on keg; half-pints only are served, except once a year at the pub spring annual fundraiser when you can get a pint!
The venue is a famous one and often becomes crowded but the bar staff are good at spotting waiting customers. Occasional art exhibitions are held in the bar.
The upstairs restaurant is small and reservation is advisable; meal prices reflect the very central location. The restaurant contains an interesting collection of black & white photos of regulars past and present. The French House was listed in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 in the Estrella Damm national Top 50 Gastropubs awards and has also been in the Estrella Damm restaurant awards.
NB mobile phones are banned in the venue!
Historic Interest
Famous as the unofficial headquarters of the Free French in World War 2, and for its long-serving landlord Gaston Berlemont. On VE Night near the end of World War 2, more sophisticated revellers headed here as other central pubs were rapidly running out of beer and here the "red wine was flowing in torrents" and "a French sailor kissed Mummy and changed hats with her" according to diarist Joan Wyndham! The pub was featured in the famous Maurice Gorham postwar book about London pubs, "Back to the Local". Subsequently the usual Soho list of boozers including such as Dylan Thomas, Francis Bacon and Peter O'Toole are reputed to have drunk here. Francis Bacon performed a useful service here by introducing the artists Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach, leading to a subsequent fruitful artistic relationship.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Chinatown (2min)
Chinatown
Leicester Square (5min)
Leicester Square
The Devonshire
Street: 17 Denman Street
Operator: Independent
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 22:00 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
Hompage
Underground: Piccadilly Circus (1min)
Bakerloo
Piccadilly
About the pub:
Opened november 2023.
He's probably one of the best-known pub landlords in London and when he left The Guinea Grill last summer it's fair to say that lots of folk wondered what would be next for Oisin Rogers. It turns out that he was going into business with Flat Iron founder Charlie Carroll.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Piccadilly Circus (2min)
wikipedia
Regent Street (2min)
wikipedia
Soho
Shakespeare´s Head
Street: 29 Great Marlborough Street
Operator: Green King
Open:
11:00 - 00:00 Monday-Thursday
09:00 - 00:00 Friday - Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
Hompage
Underground: Oxford Circus (4min)
Bakerloo
Central
Victoria
About the pub:
Comfortable and smart pub frequented by tourists and shoppers from the adjacent Carnaby Street. Rebuilt in 1927, it was first licensed in 1743 to John Shakespeare, a distant relative of the bard. There is often an unusual cask ale on offer.
The food menu includes Sunday roasts.
Note that the licence does not permit sale of alcohol before 10am Monday to Saturday or noon on Sunday.
NB this pub is more easily found in Carnaby Street than Great Marlborough Street!
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
Carnaby Street
Soho
The Great Frog (1min)
The Great Frog
Liberty (2min)
Liberty
Cahoots (3min)
Cahoots
Oxford Street (4min)
Oxford Street
John Lewis (7min)
John Lewis
Coach & Horses
Street: 5 Bruton Street
Operator: Green King
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
11:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
Hompage
Underground: Bond Street (8min)
Central
Jubilee
Train: Bond Street (8min)
Elizabeth
About the pub:
An excellent refuge from the nearby Bond Street shopping area. First licensed in 1738, it was rebuilt in 1933 and has an imposing mock-Tudor exterior contrasting sharply with its surroundings. This is thought to be London's narrowest pub and inside it is tiny; the atmosphere is traditional, with wooden beams and panelling; pictures on the walls feature caricatures of 19th-century politicians and clerics. Four handpumps although not all are always in use. The small dining room with bar upstairs is available for private functions.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
New Bond Street (1min)
wikipedia
The Beatles Savile Row roof concert (6min)
wikipedia
Hamleys Toy Shop (7min)
Hamleys
Green Park (8min)
Green Park
Guinea Grill
Street: 30 Bruton Place
Operator: Youngs
Open:
11:00 - 23:00 Monday-Saturday
12:00 - 23:00 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
Hompage
Underground: Bond Street (9min)
Central
Jubilee
Train: Bond Street (8min)
Elizabeth
About the pub:
This is a small mews pub with its own renowned “Guinea Grill” restaurant, which has become a destination pub restaurant and for which booking is advisable; the restaurant has a meat fridge from which customers can select their own cuts as they enter. The bar area itself has limited seating and can get a bit cramped when busy. Unsurprisingly in this area the clientele tends to be upmarket and ale prices reflect this.
Second-placed in the Evening Standard Top 50 Pubs 2019, and within the top 25 in 2020, 2021 2022 and 2023 in the Estrella Damm national Top 50 Gastropubs awards. Also listed in the ED National Restaurant Awards and one of only seven pubs nationally to appear in the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards 2022.
As at August 2023 it was reported that Youngs, who have run the Guinea since 1888, have renewed their lease for a further 30 years. Also that the site is now expanding next door into what was the Sladmore Gallery, to increase dining capacity.
The name refers to a pre-decimalisation currency unit of one old pound and one shilling, much favoured by up-market establishments and professionals; the pub used to have a fascia showing "Ye Olde One Pound One". It's reputed there has been an inn on this site since 1473 (highly unlikely). The present pub was built in 1741,licensed in 1754 and altered over the years; it now shows interesting evidence of how a Victorian pub would have been subdivided by class.
Nearby point of interest:
Blue plaques -Westminster
The Audley Public House
Street: 41-43 Mount Street
Operator: Artfarm
Open:
11:00 - 23:30 Monday-Friday
11:00 - 00:00 Saturday
11:00 - 22:30 Sunday
Map: Covent Garden to Bond Street crawl
Hompage
Underground: Bond Street (10min)
Central
Jubilee
Train: Bond Street (10min)
Elizabeth
About the pub:
This is a marvellous late Victorian edifice faced in red brick and pink terracotta. The splendid interior boasts polished wood and plasterwork; note the double faced clock. Many original features remain or have been superbly replaced after WW2 bomb damage but the windowpanes are more recent, having been blown out by another bomb attack in 1975 on a nearby restaurant.
Iwan and Manuela Wirth, the Swiss owners of the Fife Arms, in Braemar, Scotland, took on the pub lease via their hospitality company Artfarm and substantial renovation took place. The Audley Public House is at ground level and Mount St. Restaurant is on the first floor. The remaining three floors have rooms available for hire; the Swiss Room, the Scottish Room, and the Games Room. All the areas are designed to showcase art from the Hauser & Wirth art galleries. The spectacular pub ceiling is a specially commissioned work by the late British artist Dame Phyllida Barlow. According to the venue website, she created a collaged mosaic of hand painted paper in a range of hot colours, inspired by the curvature of the pub windows. Above the bar is a neon ‘FRIENDS’ sign by Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, and on the wall at the back of the room hangs an artwork by Mark Campbell.
The upstairs restaurant has gained a very good reputation since it opened, and it is stated that King Charles and the Queen have dined here.
Grade II listed, Historic England reference 1264595. Licensed in 1730 as the Bricklayers Arms and rebuilt by 1889 by James Watney & Co to the plans of Thomas Verity (who designed the exterior of the pavilion at Lord’s Cricket Ground) on condition imposed by the first Duke of Westminster, that it be renamed the Audley Hotel.
It is close to the old American embassy in Grosvenor Square and Michelle Obama once ate here to give her children an authentic English pub experience.
