Embankment pubs
This is one of London’s most beautiful districts, especially at night when the view across the Thames is at its most enchanting. It inspires feelings of pride in being a Londoner.
| Gordon's Wine Bar, 47 Villiers St, WC2N 6NE |
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The entrance to Gordon's on Villiers Street is shabby and uninviting, and looks much like a closed-down 1950s stationary store. I stepped in, descended a flight of stairs and found myself in a wholly unexpected world. Set in a Victorian basement, it has two areas: one clad in old wooden panelling, which continues the slightly down-at-heel mood set by the upstairs entrance; and a long cellar room lit only by candles and the odd bulb, with a vaulted ceiling so low even I had trouble standing in it. It's this room that is so special; an original Victorian wine cellar left pretty much untouched (the walls even ooze damp after a prolonged spell of rain outside.) Sitting in the cramped half-darkness drinking excellent wine and listening to the peculiar sound distortions, with no TV, music or gaming machines, it was easy to imagine this was one of the beer cellars so popular in 18th century London. Good food and a superb choice of wines only increased my good mood. Very, very popular, and busy at just about all times of day, it's well worth getting here early enough to nab a seat in the cellar and relax over a bottle of wine or two. One of the best establishments in the West End.
Reviewed by Fred Flange, Jan 2005
Telephone: 020 7930 1408
Nearby pubs: Nell Gwynne, 1-2 Bull Inn Court (off Strand) (260 metres),
Ship and Shovell, 2-3 Craven Passage (140 metres),
Walkers of Whitehall, 15 Craigs Court, Whitehall (280 metres),
The Silver Cross, 33 Whitehall (300 metres),
The Coal Hole, 91-92 The Strand (280 metres),
The Harp, 47 Chandos Place (260 metres),
The Theodore Bullfrog, 28 John Adam Street (110 metres)
Nearest station: Embankment, Zone 1 (100 metres)
| Ship and Shovell, 2-3 Craven Passage, WC2N 5PH |
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"Blimey, its not crowded!"...is my first impression on entering this establishment at lunchtime. I approached the bar and was acknowledged straight away, chose from a wonderous variety of beer, the selection of which would have most ale fanciers creaming in their pants. That unpleasant image aside, the service was friendly and the ambience relaxing: bluesy tunes playing on the jukebox and people chatting quietly. If all this isn't enough, the second half of this pub is directly opposite - across a narrow road. A unique pub and a memorable experience
Reviewed by Paul Melton, Dec 2003
Telephone: 020 7839 1311
Nearest station: Charing Cross, Zone 1 (110 metres)
| T.S. Queen Mary, Waterloo Pier, Victoria Embankment, WC2R 2PP |
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This review begins with me standing in the gents at the urinal – swaying. Normally, this is quite an alarming sign after only 1 pint, but on this occasion there is another reason for the rocking motion – I am on a boat moored on the Thames. This particular vessel was built in Scotland in 1933 and was used for pleasure cruises on the Clyde until 1978. Bass bought the ship in the ‘80s and transformed it into a pub and restaurant. As pubs go, if you were to ignore the fact you are floating on the Thames, it is quite ordinary: the beer is limited to a selection of lagers or the ubiquitous Guinness. However it does have some compensations: 1) the gentle rolling motion which gives an impression of mild drunkenness that is only remedied by the consumption of more alcohol, 2) its weird ability to draw in attractive ladies which has earned it the nickname among certain circles as the “good ship totty”. Incidentally the aforementioned totty are particularly evident on Friday or Saturday nights when 3) the nightclub opens or on warm summer’s evenings when 4) you can lounge about on the sun deck with a cold beer. A sign at the entrance to the gents toilets advertises that various parts of the boat can be hired out for functions, although the positioning of this sign suggests that the gents toilets themselves could be hired out. I wonder whether George Michael knows about this possibility?
Reviewed by Paul Melton, Jan 2008
Telephone: 020 7240 9404
Nearest station: Temple, Zone 1 (80 metres)
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