Anglesea Arms, South Kensington

This was one of the few free houses in London to sell real 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.