Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom

Smithy's Wine Bar - Victoriana by chrisp

chrisp — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:41:04 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7278 5949

Website: http://www.smithyslondon.com

Tags: live music, young professionals, gastro pub

Deservedly popular, this attractive and historic space near Kings Cross serves a good selection of wines and some well kept ales. A full review will have to wait until I've tried the food, but the signs were encouraging from what I could gather from a quick read of the chalk board menu. There's some decent competition in this part of town, but Smithy's stands out as a unique and characterful place for a drink.Deservedly popular, this attractive and historic space near Kings Cross serves a good selection of wines and some well kept ales. A full review will have to wait until I've tried the food, but the signs were encouraging from what I could gather from a quick read of the chalk board menu. There's some decent competition in this part of town, but Smithy's stands out as a unique and characterful place for a drink.

The Queen's Larder - A new entry in the Top 5! Best ploughman's in town by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:33:39 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 5627

Website: http://www.laurelpubco.com

Tags: relaxed, friendly, food

I wrote this review, below, some time ago after quite a long, boozey lunch in the Queen's Larder (is that a euphemism?) and decided that it was probably drunken nonsense and best not to post it. Having reread it, and revisited the pub many times I've decided to post it! There is not a word of a lie, not a single exaggeration in that review. One of the best pubs in London!

"I donâ¬"t know how often you go to a restaurant or pub, or meet a new friend that you just love SO much that you want to tell everyone you know about it. But what then?! All of a sudden everyone knows about your new favourite place, everyone wants to hang out there, it gets busy, the place tarnishes, itâ¬"s no longer special, and beautiful and ALL YOUR VERY OWN! So, Phil and I donâ¬"t really talk to each other any moreâ¬¦.

On a less creepy note, The Queens Larder is much like my former-friend Phil. Quite simply, itâ¬"s perfect. Tucked away off Southampton Row, Queenâ¬"s Square is like the Secret Garden, just with out any locked doors or creepy Franciscine boys conversing with robins â¬ a little haven of peace and tranquillity, flowers and trees, complete with market squarette and the wrought iron gated Queenâ¬"s Square Gardens. Seriously, if Peter Pan had been a little less ambitious he could well have ended up by here instead. And, by Zeusâ¬"s beard! Is that a Green King boozer I spy?!

Now, you may have realised from the timbre of my musings that I have just been enjoying a rather lengthy and boozy lunch there. As a consequence I am in much trouble at work (despite a LARGE box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts to apologise for my late return and the delicate bouquet of ale and pickled onions I brought along) but I would gladly suffer the indignity all over again for the pleasure of sitting outside this charming old town boozer, in the sunshine, with the best Ploughmanâ¬"s I have had in a long time, a good pint or two of Green Kingâ¬"s finest, and a facefull of sunshine.

On to some less abstract information â¬ to drink. There is the standard selection of lagers, cider, etc plus a couple of Belgium â¬Sponcyâ¬

The Lamb - nice traditional pub by mark56

mark56 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:10:02 +0000

Review by mark56

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7405 0713

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk

Tags: traditional pub, beer garden, standard pub food

The lamb is a traditional nineteenth century pub with a few tables out the front in the summer and a few in the yard at the back (is ideal for the smokers). Inside is cosy in the winter and not unpleasantly hot in the summer. Young's beer is served as well as a variety of European lagers. I've enjoyed many a pint of Young's Special in here.

It has a section of the bar with wood framing frosted glass from bar to ceiling where you don't get service; I particularly like the little six-inch opening windows that it has (I believe these may be called 'snob screens').

Theres only one bad point about this place in my opinion and that is that the toilets could do with an overhaul!The lamb is a traditional nineteenth century pub with a few tables out the front in the summer and a few in the yard at the back (is ideal for the smokers). Inside is cosy in the winter and not unpleasantly hot in the summer. Young's beer is served as well as a variety of European lagers. I've enjoyed many a pint of Young's Special in here.

It has a section of the bar with wood framing frosted glass from bar to ceiling where you don't get service; I particularly like the little six-inch opening windows that it has (I believe these may be called 'snob screens').

Theres only one bad point about this place in my opinion and that is that the toilets could do with an overhaul!

Lord John Russell - The qiuet is welcome by haydenwhite2003

haydenwhite2003 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:54:12 +0000

Review by haydenwhite2003

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7388 0500

Tags: friendly, standard pub food, relaxed

I mostly agree with the other reviewers- good selection of beers at acceptable prices. I spend my summers in Bloomsbury and have found LJR to be about the friendliest pub in London.

Others have remarked on the lack of music or the low volume level when music is playing. This is one of my favorite things about LJR. If I want to rock out, I go to the Rocket.I mostly agree with the other reviewers- good selection of beers at acceptable prices. I spend my summers in Bloomsbury and have found LJR to be about the friendliest pub in London.

Others have remarked on the lack of music or the low volume level when music is playing. This is one of my favorite things about LJR. If I want to rock out, I go to the Rocket.

Vats Wine Bar - Vats Wine Bar by hungry_camper

hungry_camper — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:51:22 +0000

Review by hungry_camper

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7242 8963

Tags: posh, cool & smart, mature

This is an reward winning wine bar above all that Iâ¬"ve been to before! I can't highly say I like anywhere else anymore than this establishment. The wine bar serves a wide variety of wines/spirits and bubbly, at the usual wine type prices. They serve a wide range of wines from various countries across the world, and is obviously sold by the glass and obviously bottle too. Prices are high, but defiantly worth it. The seating area is really cosy, a great place to socialise for various occasions, e.g with friends or as a business thing and is a really nice atmospheric areaâ¬¦ the staff are also of a great nature.This is an reward winning wine bar above all that Iâ¬"ve been to before! I can't highly say I like anywhere else anymore than this establishment. The wine bar serves a wide variety of wines/spirits and bubbly, at the usual wine type prices. They serve a wide range of wines from various countries across the world, and is obviously sold by the glass and obviously bottle too. Prices are high, but defiantly worth it. The seating area is really cosy, a great place to socialise for various occasions, e.g with friends or as a business thing and is a really nice atmospheric areaâ¬¦ the staff are also of a great nature.

King Charles I - King of Greasy Spoon Pub Lunches by Niamheen

Niamheen — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:58:28 +0000

Review by Niamheen

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7837 7758

Tags: traditional pub, relaxed, friendly

The King Charles was a regular lunch time haunt for me for many years. As k_thrn says - it's a pub and it's grim BUT they've a good jukebox, a fire in the winter, even a cat at times. But what really makes it for me is that you can order in food from anywhere you like, you can bring your packed lunch in if you wish!

Recommended if you fancy a drink and any of the cheap and cheerful food from the area - be it African, Thai, Malaysian or some fried eggs and chips from the Blue River Cafe across the road. There's seats outside too. I always found the staff really friendly and I enjoyed those occasional Friday lunches. Be warned, it's only open for lunch on Fridays, otherwise go in the evening.The King Charles was a regular lunch time haunt for me for many years. As k_thrn says - it's a pub and it's grim BUT they've a good jukebox, a fire in the winter, even a cat at times. But what really makes it for me is that you can order in food from anywhere you like, you can bring your packed lunch in if you wish!

Recommended if you fancy a drink and any of the cheap and cheerful food from the area - be it African, Thai, Malaysian or some fried eggs and chips from the Blue River Cafe across the road. There's seats outside too. I always found the staff really friendly and I enjoyed those occasional Friday lunches. Be warned, it's only open for lunch on Fridays, otherwise go in the evening.

The Intrepid Fox - Louder by ross

ross — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:21:28 +0000

Review by ross

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7836 8956

Tags: live music, black, music

That rating's two for the booze, five for the atmosphere, clientele.

The Intrepid Fox is a metal, goth, punk (real, not American boy band) and rock pub at the very core of London.

The actual booze on offer in this new locale is, as before in the Soho days, pretty uninspiring. You'd be missing the point though, if it was purely for the quality of alcohol that you were to attend. There is always more to a pub than the booze, and the booze is definitely not why people come here. And anyway, after a few in good company, it all becomes so much more palatable... The barstaff however are often a delight and very much an active part of the whole.

The iFox retains semi-legendary status amongst the rawk community but is often completely unknown outside of that, regardless of having been sat in the middle of London for decades. People have literally travelled thousands of miles to go to the iFox. True most of those were on holiday, but if they were metal/gofff/punk fans they KNEW of this place and made a bee-line for it. Girls from Brazil, Guys from Norway. The Intrepid Fox exudes a particular earthy splendour that has attracted its tribe from wherever they be, whomsoever they may be.

Friday and Saturday nights can be severely oversubscribed and, central London or not, it becomes a bit of a regulars-only thing. Though not strictly. But the door-staff used on these occasions have been known to be stupid enough to turn people away if they don't recognise them, or for 'not looking metal enough.' Which would mean I probably wouldn't get in on a Saturday night, regardless of infrequent but joyous attendance for half a decade now. the bar staff may recognise me but the bouncers wouldn't. It's a bit crap that the door policy should be style over content at the weekends. Daytimes mid-week however are less hectic and anyone is welcome. However there is an ironic dress code. No football colours (yay! anti-chav action!) and no ties. Well, not around one's neck anyway.

Named for the 18th century Whig member of Parliament Charles James Fox - a noted defender of liberal values and human rights and wearer of loud, unconventional clothing; a tad before his time - there was a pub of that name standing on the site of 97-99 wardour Street, Soho for over two hundred years. Then overnight, the blight of the post-Thatcher era fell upon this haven of rock history and stately debauchery; the property developers moved in...

Things looked bad. With less than a month's notice, the landlord, staff and regulars and supporters of the iFox were left flustered and angry, but not disheartened. Pat, the landlord wasn't going to let it go completely. The property, the original historic site, may have already been stolen out from under the feet of the cognoscenti in favour of ever-more yuppie flats in the ever-more sanitised and over-priced Soho, but that didn't mean the IDEAL of the iFox had to die as well. Within a few short months Pat and the core staff had acquired the license for the former Conservatory, a physically very different tri-level bar in St Giles High Street, under the shadow of Centre Point. Formerly a LGB bar, the central location and extra space made it ideal to encourage the old crowd back and to indeed bring in more casual trade. The larger size even meant there might be a chance of getting a seat of an evening...

It doesn't look the same from the outside. The old iFox was a definite dark-room pub. This is a glass, glass, and more glass-fronted bar externally (hence the old name). However inside, it's adopted the gravitas, ambience and soul of the original, as the clientele has slid right in, like a well-lubed rat up a drainpipe, with alacrity and eagerness. Bringing along the key decor and furnishings of the original helped; can't live without a ten-legged spider. Fittingly, it also boasts it's very own Hammer-House-Of-Horror church directly opposite; St Giles.

So if you like long hair, death-by-cleavage corsetry and stilettos (and that's just the blokes) accompanied by LOUD rawk music and a happily drunk heaving throng of metalheads and goth girls then look no further than the multi-floored crazed and contused iFox.That rating's two for the booze, five for the atmosphere, clientele.

The Intrepid Fox is a metal, goth, punk (real, not American boy band) and rock pub at the very core of London.

The actual booze on offer in this new locale is, as before in the Soho days, pretty uninspiring. You'd be missing the point though, if it was purely for the quality of alcohol that you were to attend. There is always more to a pub than the booze, and the booze is definitely not why people come here. And anyway, after a few in good company, it all becomes so much more palatable... The barstaff however are often a delight and very much an active part of the whole.

The iFox retains semi-legendary status amongst the rawk community but is often completely unknown outside of that, regardless of having been sat in the middle of London for decades. People have literally travelled thousands of miles to go to the iFox. True most of those were on holiday, but if they were metal/gofff/punk fans they KNEW of this place and made a bee-line for it. Girls from Brazil, Guys from Norway. The Intrepid Fox exudes a particular earthy splendour that has attracted its tribe from wherever they be, whomsoever they may be.

Friday and Saturday nights can be severely oversubscribed and, central London or not, it becomes a bit of a regulars-only thing. Though not strictly. But the door-staff used on these occasions have been known to be stupid enough to turn people away if they don't recognise them, or for 'not looking metal enough.' Which would mean I probably wouldn't get in on a Saturday night, regardless of infrequent but joyous attendance for half a decade now. the bar staff may recognise me but the bouncers wouldn't. It's a bit crap that the door policy should be style over content at the weekends. Daytimes mid-week however are less hectic and anyone is welcome. However there is an ironic dress code. No football colours (yay! anti-chav action!) and no ties. Well, not around one's neck anyway.

Named for the 18th century Whig member of Parliament Charles James Fox - a noted defender of liberal values and human rights and wearer of loud, unconventional clothing; a tad before his time - there was a pub of that name standing on the site of 97-99 wardour Street, Soho for over two hundred years. Then overnight, the blight of the post-Thatcher era fell upon this haven of rock history and stately debauchery; the property developers moved in...

Things looked bad. With less than a month's notice, the landlord, staff and regulars and supporters of the iFox were left flustered and angry, but not disheartened. Pat, the landlord wasn't going to let it go completely. The property, the original historic site, may have already been stolen out from under the feet of the cognoscenti in favour of ever-more yuppie flats in the ever-more sanitised and over-priced Soho, but that didn't mean the IDEAL of the iFox had to die as well. Within a few short months Pat and the core staff had acquired the license for the former Conservatory, a physically very different tri-level bar in St Giles High Street, under the shadow of Centre Point. Formerly a LGB bar, the central location and extra space made it ideal to encourage the old crowd back and to indeed bring in more casual trade. The larger size even meant there might be a chance of getting a seat of an evening...

It doesn't look the same from the outside. The old iFox was a definite dark-room pub. This is a glass, glass, and more glass-fronted bar externally (hence the old name). However inside, it's adopted the gravitas, ambience and soul of the original, as the clientele has slid right in, like a well-lubed rat up a drainpipe, with alacrity and eagerness. Bringing along the key decor and furnishings of the original helped; can't live without a ten-legged spider. Fittingly, it also boasts it's very own Hammer-House-Of-Horror church directly opposite; St Giles.

So if you like long hair, death-by-cleavage corsetry and stilettos (and that's just the blokes) accompanied by LOUD rawk music and a happily drunk heaving throng of metalheads and goth girls then look no further than the multi-floored crazed and contused iFox.

The Marquis Of Cornwallis - Marquis of Chains by mazphd

mazphd — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:47:24 +0000

Review by mazphd

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7923 5961

Tags: standard pub food, pub chain, food

Like Janie_lou mentioned what you have here is a indeed a chain pub... BUT the scope and range of wines that is available on tap is a marked improvement on the dross being served just over the road.

Also there's a more than competent range of pub foods, from the pub-centric fish n chips, to nicer range of tapas style nibbles.

Ive been here with a range of people and it fits with various crowds, from the 'uni lot', to after workers over drinkers to even my father. So a fits for all place.

The leather sofa's give things a cosy and its not without atmosphere, even if this is artificially created. Sometimes artificial can work though and in this case it provides a 'nice' backdrop to the 'nice' bar area and 'nice' food. But thats as exciting as it gets!

So if you want to play it 'nice' and safe, and to avoid O'Neils etc over the road, you may as well drop in here - you won't be disappointed and youll be sure to have a 'nice' evening.

Like Janie_lou mentioned what you have here is a indeed a chain pub... BUT the scope and range of wines that is available on tap is a marked improvement on the dross being served just over the road.

Also there's a more than competent range of pub foods, from the pub-centric fish n chips, to nicer range of tapas style nibbles.

Ive been here with a range of people and it fits with various crowds, from the 'uni lot', to after workers over drinkers to even my father. So a fits for all place.

The leather sofa's give things a cosy and its not without atmosphere, even if this is artificially created. Sometimes artificial can work though and in this case it provides a 'nice' backdrop to the 'nice' bar area and 'nice' food. But thats as exciting as it gets!

So if you want to play it 'nice' and safe, and to avoid O'Neils etc over the road, you may as well drop in here - you won't be disappointed and youll be sure to have a 'nice' evening.

Harrison Arms - great little pub with live music on sundays by janie_lou

janie_lou — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:44:13 +0000

Review by janie_lou

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7916 3113

Tags: live music, outdoor seating, food

The Harrison is a bit of a newcomer to the area. We'd probably have missed it had it not been on our jogging route. Its worth seeking out though.

Its one of these wooden floored, leather sofa and brushed down table sort of places. And yet it doesn't feel like the refit consisted of an Ikea-gastro-pub-kit sent down from the brewery HQ - so I would urge you not to think of it as a gastro pub. That said, it does a cracking roast dinner and some pretty tasty food at other times. In fact, it sets standards for food that other pubs in the area ought to aspire to and yet this place is no more expensive.

They've got a good selection of music playing at all times, and there is a DJ on Friday nights so I'm told. The highlight, though, is their Sunday afternoon music sessions. Check out their myspace site or put 'In the Pines' into Google. They had King Creosote and Euros Child play last year, and it was only about £3 to get it.

The staff are friendly and fun, and its a really relaxed sort of place. Cozy in the evenings with lots of candles and low lighting. I should go here more often but laziness kicks in and I end up going to the pubs which are a bit closer (not much though, we're talking a few minutes walk here) and yet this place is a lot more deserving of the business.The Harrison is a bit of a newcomer to the area. We'd probably have missed it had it not been on our jogging route. Its worth seeking out though.

Its one of these wooden floored, leather sofa and brushed down table sort of places. And yet it doesn't feel like the refit consisted of an Ikea-gastro-pub-kit sent down from the brewery HQ - so I would urge you not to think of it as a gastro pub. That said, it does a cracking roast dinner and some pretty tasty food at other times. In fact, it sets standards for food that other pubs in the area ought to aspire to and yet this place is no more expensive.

They've got a good selection of music playing at all times, and there is a DJ on Friday nights so I'm told. The highlight, though, is their Sunday afternoon music sessions. Check out their myspace site or put 'In the Pines' into Google. They had King Creosote and Euros Child play last year, and it was only about £3 to get it.

The staff are friendly and fun, and its a really relaxed sort of place. Cozy in the evenings with lots of candles and low lighting. I should go here more often but laziness kicks in and I end up going to the pubs which are a bit closer (not much though, we're talking a few minutes walk here) and yet this place is a lot more deserving of the business.

Ruby Lounge - Cute but nothing special by Sami

Sami — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:22:00 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7837 9558

Website: http://www.ruby.uk.com

Tags: relaxed, small, food

I've been here twice so far; once to meet up with some people I had gone traveling with, and the second time was this past week-end as a friend of mine from Canada was djing there.

Ruby Lounge is part of the Ruby family of lounges scattered across the city; I've been to Ruby Lo (a sister bar in the West End) before and quite liked it, so I was interested to see what it would be like when I went.

For once I really don't have much to say about a place I've visited; it struck me as a boring, standard, London watering hole... dark wood, a few cozy benches, and of the course the centrepiece of the venue being the bar, but there wasn't really much to Ruby that drew me in.

It's unfortunate because the location is great, being a 5 minute walk away from King's Cross, and the space itself is a nice size which generally tends to generate a vibe or some warmth to the bar, but it didn't seem to be happening here.

On Friday and Saturday nights they generally bring in a DJ to liven up the place and give it a bit of week-end "glamour," if you will, but there seem to be too many places in London that try for the exact same thing and end up coming across as a nondescript bar with boring music and a terrible soundsystem to boot.

Drinks are standard London prices and the bartenders can be pretty rude; while I do have sympathy for the pint pullers who deal with drunkards all night long, there's no reason to be rude to someone who understands your pain and approaches you with a smile on their face!

http://www.ruby.uk.com/ is their website if you're interested in taking a look - but if you decide to go to any of their bars, try Ruby Lo for after-work drinks one day. It's pretty cute and sometimes they have hot female DJs which is always a bonus!I've been here twice so far; once to meet up with some people I had gone traveling with, and the second time was this past week-end as a friend of mine from Canada was djing there.

Ruby Lounge is part of the Ruby family of lounges scattered across the city; I've been to Ruby Lo (a sister bar in the West End) before and quite liked it, so I was interested to see what it would be like when I went.

For once I really don't have much to say about a place I've visited; it struck me as a boring, standard, London watering hole... dark wood, a few cozy benches, and of the course the centrepiece of the venue being the bar, but there wasn't really much to Ruby that drew me in.

It's unfortunate because the location is great, being a 5 minute walk away from King's Cross, and the space itself is a nice size which generally tends to generate a vibe or some warmth to the bar, but it didn't seem to be happening here.

On Friday and Saturday nights they generally bring in a DJ to liven up the place and give it a bit of week-end "glamour," if you will, but there seem to be too many places in London that try for the exact same thing and end up coming across as a nondescript bar with boring music and a terrible soundsystem to boot.

Drinks are standard London prices and the bartenders can be pretty rude; while I do have sympathy for the pint pullers who deal with drunkards all night long, there's no reason to be rude to someone who understands your pain and approaches you with a smile on their face!

http://www.ruby.uk.com/ is their website if you're interested in taking a look - but if you decide to go to any of their bars, try Ruby Lo for after-work drinks one day. It's pretty cute and sometimes they have hot female DJs which is always a bonus!