Pub in South Kensington
Anglesea Arms
15 Selwood Terrace, South Kensington, SW7 3QGClosest station: South Kensington, about 9 min walk4.2out of 5 on Google, from 1,365 ratings
Details last checked October 2024. Things may have changed since.
About Anglesea Arms
Traditional alehouse with gastropub menu and bar snacks, plus outdoor seating on front terrace.
This was one of the few free houses in London to sell cask ale in the early days of CAMRA and has appeared in many editions of the Good Beer Guide over the years. Built in 1827 and licensed two years later, it was reportedly frequented by authors Charles Dickens and DH Lawrence. For over a hundred years this was a Meux tied house but by the 1960s had become a family-owned free house, still later bought by Maxwell Joseph’s Lion Taverns. Now it is a Grade II-listed Greene King Metropolitan Pub Co establishment that looks like a country pub with its hanging baskets and benches outside.
Walk through the foliage and you discover a hidden gem. The bar you enter has much preserved from the pub's history, its previous division into smaller rooms being indicated by full-height raised-and-fielded panelling on one side and matchboarding to dado level on the other. These walls are decorated with a diverse collection of mirrors, prints, photographs and paintings, including a particularly large and striking one of a naked lady above the (non-working) fireplace. The room is furnished with a mixture of high tables and stools, dining tables and chairs and leather upholstered benches. Beside the side door leading to a narrow patio of tables and chairs are steps leading down to the panelled restaurant, with another fireplace, this one complete with a gas fire. The wooden bar counter and back bar are simply carved, the latter surmounted by a rather magnificent clock, in between two screens which occasionally show (terrestial broadcast) sporting events.
Post-pandemic the previous larger range of ales is reported reduced; further updates welcome.
The menu offers a tempting variety of food at reasonable prices for the area. At busy eating times many of the tables may be laid for dining though drinkers-only are always welcome. Listed in the Estrella Damm top 100 gastropub awards 2022; and prices may reflect the pub's status and location.
Description from WhatPub, CAMRA’s pub guide, with a summary from Google Maps.
Features
- Dog Friendly: But not in restaurant
- Outdoor Seating: Large terrace at the front and a few tables at the side
- Sports TV: Freeview for certain events, eg Six Nations and Wimbledon
- Family Friendly
- Quiet
- Serves Food
- Serves Lunch
- Serves Dinner
- Restaurant
- Real Ale
- Cask Marque
- Function Room: Whole restaurant can be booked
- WiFi: Cloud
- Reservable
- Good for Groups
- Newspapers
- Smoking: Front and side terraces
- Serves Coffee
- Accepts Credit Cards
- Accepts Debit Cards
- Accepts NFC
Opening times
- Monday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Thursday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
- Friday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Saturday
- 12:00 – 11:00 PM
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 10:00 PM
As listed in October 2024. Hours change, and bank holidays differ: check with the pub.
Good to know
- Operator
- Greene King
- Price
- 2 out of 4 (Google’s price level)
- Phone
- 020 7373 7960
Photos
Photos from Google Maps contributors, stored when the pub was last checked.
Google rating and reviews
4.2out of 5 on Google, from 1,365 ratings
5 out of 5Rory Beebeon Google, September 2024
Walked in and the server looked at us, came up to us and we had a table within five minutes. The server was excellent, he explained everything. Then the food was great. If we come to London again. I will be here also the Old Fashion was just like a Wisconsin Old Fashion.
5 out of 5Terry Johnsonon Google, September 2024
My wife and I are from Orlando, Florida. While in London for a few days before boarding our cruise ship in Southampton, we are lunch at this lovely English Pub. If and when I am near Buckingham Palace in the future, I would definitely eat the here again.
4 out of 5Sruthi Madabushion Google, September 2024
This place was on our list for a while and we went there on a Friday evening and it was packed to the rafters with a good buzz. We had a good time here and got a quick snack. I would definitely recommend this place for a good vibe.
1 out of 5Rebecca Haighon Google, October 2024
We came here to celebrate our friend’s pregnancy - all of us have eaten here before albeit a few years ago and we’re looking forward to a good meal. Unfortunately we were left incredibly disappointed by a poor meal and even worse service. Our mains arrived before our starter so we sent the mains back. We had to wait ages for the starter to arrive and then even longer for our mains after we have finished the starter. We had ordered two steaks which arrived at the table cold. Cold because they had simply returned our original mains to the kitchen when we sent them back and put them under a heat…
5 out of 5Catalina Parejaon Google, April 2024
First time in London and my friend took me to try the Sunday Roast! The only English dish I knew was Fish and Chips and this new plate was definitely a surprise, considering that UK cousine is quite limited. The meat was very good, the sider was a Yorkshire Puddin- which is a salty bread along with some vegetables. Staff was friendly, the pub had posh vibes, which I felt in Gossip Girl London version and prices were fair (considering how insanely expensive London is). Definitely recommend!
Rating and reviews are from Google Maps, as they stood in October 2024. See the latest on Google Maps.