Fleet Street pubs

Not reviewed yet.

Want to review it? The tastefully decorated interior in this Greene King pub is a clever mix of the traditional and the modern. Elegant and slender lighting suspended from the ceiling and a plasma screen on the wall do not overwhelm the feel of the place. Upstairs there is a generously sized games room containing two pool tables. It is not crowded - why? Sadly the beer was not as well kept as it could have been. Perhaps people have cottoned on and prefer to stay away. A shame really. Despite the address, this is not actually on Fleet Street but is tucked away just to one side. The front of the pub is nothing but a wall of very elegant Victorian windows, still with their original mottled glass intact, whilst the interior is a Baroque delight, with a tiled floor, wood panelling and engraved mirrors all sitting underneath an exquisitely plastered ceiling. It has a real wood fire as well. Despite being rather small it sports a decent number of tables, and the extremely pleasant staff contribute greatly to a sense of cheerful intimacy (if they didn't, the place could be a nightmare as there really is nowhere to hide). It's a Sam Smith's pub, with all the usual restrictions that entails (own-brand beers only). No TV, not open weekends. The dusty judge's wig and ballot box high up by the TV are a reminder of this area's legal heritage, so it comes as no surprise to see the pub slowly fill up with middle class, middle aged male drinkers. The lunchtime tunes were so middle of the road the pub should have been pulled over by the music police and charged with crimes against humanity. The whole law theme is perpetuated by the pub's rules and regulations. Most tables were reserved by person or persons unknown who failed to even bother to turn up and claim them. Smoking at the tables was also forbidden, although some would see this as a bonus. Regulatory matters aside, the pub offers a fine range of seasonal guest ales which sit nicely alongside the familiar favourites. That is its saving grace. Ghostly goings on at The Harrow. A phantom tailor toils on his sewing machine in the small hours and a woman climbs a flight of stairs that have long since been demolished. Not many pubs can boast two resident ghosts, frankly its enough to make you choke on your Adnams. Thankfully, the atmosphere was warm enough on our visit to ward off clientele from the spirit world. People chatted idly whilst tucking into traditional pub grub. The tiny basement bar is a relic from the original 18th century establishment and all that you see on the ground floor used to be part of a tailors shop. In the old days, the place was frequented by Fleet Street hacks. Nowadays, it's well used by local office workers escaping from the boss. This Fullers pub is easily recognised by the line of olympic oil lamps outside. The inside is impressive: high ceilings, painted frescoes, a wooden gallery and small ante-rooms which are available for hire. It's rather like a cross between the Sistine Chapel and the bank in Mary Poppins. On the downside, the pub is a victim of its own success and gets packed most weeknights with people from a certain local profession. There is a dirth of seating, so instead you have to stand with your pint and be buffeted by passing lawyers. Despite this it is definitely worth a visit outside peak hours for its sheer beauty. The Old Bell was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1678 for the workers building his nearby St Brides Church. If the place was only half as good back in those days as it is now it is a wonder the church was ever built! The cosy interior retains much of its original charm and the beer is good too. There is at least three real ales plus a guest ale in addition to the usual lagers and Guinness. I opted for the Tiger bitter (not to be confused with the gassy oriental lager) - which was lovely. This is the epitome of what a good pub should be and judging by the lunchtime crowds it must be one of the best pubs in the area. Thank you Mr Wren, I'll definitely be back! Not to be confused with another pub of the same name hiding just outside the precincts of the Temple. This pub is truly magnificent, with a vast array of bars, an underground labyrinth, stairs to smash your head on, both football and food opportunities that need not impinge upon the non-participating multitudes. Dr Johnson's local, if ever more inducement was needed to make people visit it. Not as old as the name suggests. There has been a pub on this site for centuries. The first one burnt down in the Great Fire, the second pub was demolished in 1887 and the current building was severely damaged by fire in 1990. Some historic features have been salvaged and they now stand out proudly from the neutral coloured walls and contemporary lighting. It's not to everybody's taste but it does seem to attract more women than many of the surrounding pubs. There is plenty of seating to be found in the booths on ground floor, the mezzanine at the back or on the 1st floor. The selection of beers, wines and spirits won't win any prizes; however the Bombadier ale was tasty and refreshing. The lurid display of day-glo coloured alcopops behind the bar is a bit suspect though and could put off serious drinkers. I'd give it 6.5 out of 10. Beautiful and historic central London pub!

Located in the heart of London’s EC district, The Punch Tavern has battled the pressure to conform and has kept its unique and mysterious history and venue alive.

This charming venue is filled with ornate mirrors that reflect the flickering light of candles and dim lights, the 16th century décor fills the room with an air of respect and beauty and the Punch & Judy paintings (left from Fleet Street's journalistic past) liven up the atmosphere and give the pub a character and personality that sets the scene for the friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere.

Today the smell of fresh, home style cooking fills the air, while people chat and sip from an extensive wine list and staple beers.

The burger went down particularly well! Not to be confused with the hideous establishment in Covent Garden. This is altogether a different kettle of fish, with a bizarre entrance, deep dark furnishings and the occasional free snacks on Friday. The sign outside proudly proclaims this Greene King establishment as "London's Original Irish Pub". It also purports to be the first pub in the whole world outside Ireland to serve Guinness. These are bold claims. There is plenty of history here, the current building dates back to 1605 and managed to survive the Great Fire largely intact thanks to its masonry construction. The original name, The Boars Head survived until just after the First World War when the Irish print workers returning from the trenches renamed it after the popular song. The narrow interior is flanked by dark wood panelling and this helps to evoke a kind of olde world charm. The Boars Head bar upstairs is an ideal vantage point for watching the world rush by. Guinness and Irish whiskies feature strongly behind the bar, however the "Oirish" theme isn't pushed too far as is the case with a certain popular pub chain. A thoroughly pleasant and charming place to while away a couple of hours. It's open at weekends too, which is always a bonus for this part of town.

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