George (South Bank)
We went to this converted galleried inn for dinner. Tucked away in an alley in the South Bank, we walked through its gates into an expansive courtyard which now serves as the restaurant’s outdoor bar area. Given the mild May weather, the courtyard was uncomfortably packed with people. With multiple entry doors lining the building, we couldn’t figure out how to access the restaurant. After asking directions from the bartender, we made our way through the crowd to a door that led to a small restaurant upstairs. It was exactly what I wanted: a restaurant with a Dickensian feel, with exposed beams, white walls, wood-framed pictures, and a gallery that spanned the building’s exterior. Adding to the charm was our bartender/server, Dean. Though he seemed to be running most of the upstairs restaurant area by himself, he still managed to be cheerful and fun. Despite the charm of the building and the waitstaff, I give this restaurant only a middling review because of the food. The most I can say about it is that it was fine. Not bad, not great. Fine. That may be because the complex is part of a restaurant chain, which are generally not known for inventive, transcendent fare. Go for the ambience but don’t expect much of the food.
The Prince’s Head (Richmond)
As the Ted Lasso pub, this place draws a crowd, and much of that crowd is American. If you are looking for a pub with a British feel, this fits the bill: a long bar with a row of taps, sports on the telly, lots of wood furniture, and football paraphernalia on the walls. If you are looking for a pub with a British clientele, this isn’t it. We went for Sunday roast, which my partner described as “fine.” They forgot our Yorkshire pudding, which I had to ask for, and our roast didn’t come with gravy. These seem like big oversights for a Sunday roast. The servers seemed indifferent to our presence. Not unfriendly, just a bit put out. Again, this is a chain pub—this one owned by Fuller’s—which may explain the average food. I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here again, and if I found myself in Richmond again, I’d probably try a different pub.
Queen’s Arms (Pimlico)
We wound up here after learning The Jugged Hare didn’t serve food on Mondays. The bartenders there directed us to this pub, and we’re glad they did! This was a proper British corner pub. With high ceilings and an open floor plan, the bar felt spacious and inviting. We were quickly seated and served. My partner had a burger, and I had macaroni and cheese, standard pub fare. We both enjoyed our meals, which were such large portions that I had no room left for dessert. The bar seemed to be populated mostly with locals, as it was a little out of the way. I’d seek this place out to eat here again, as the food was above average for pub grub and the ambience was top-notch.
The Coach & Horses (Covent Garden)
We stopped here after an evening show for a pint of Guinness. This is a proper British pub, small and cozy, with a perfect pour of Guinness. The clientele seemed to be exclusively locals except us. We chose a seat along the wall to enjoy our beverages and chat. The decor was nothing flashy, but when you think “small British pub”, you’ll probably conjure an image that looks something like the Coach & Horses. You can probably find plenty of similar pubs across London, but if you’re looking for one that locals visit, seek out this one. Edited: There seem to be many pubs with this name. This particular Coach & Horses is on Wellington Street.