It was 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday night in London. The autumn sun was making itself scarce and the rain had begun to fall. So, naturally the pub was full. After we asked if there was a table available for the four of us, the waitress went around and kindly asked a couple who was already seated (with drinks), to take the last available table for two and leave us the larger table. (Thank you to that couple for making it possible.)
Inside, the fancy decor wasn't what I expected from a pub, though it was very nice (Victorian style?). Large chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, and richly-framed photos of kings, queens, and famous nobles adorned the walls.
There seemed to be some kind of misunderstanding between the servers who would be waiting on us, but the one who'd got us our seat "won the battle", and continued to serve us.
The menu emphasized pies, which I took to be a specialty of the house, especially with an item called "house pie" which changes regularly. But there was something for all tastes, and a children's menu as well. (FYI: My 12 year old was very disappointed with his chicken salad, which turned out to be plain chicken served over watery mixed lettuce, but didn't seem to have dressing and had very little flavour.) Overall, the pies were very good, though not so much the chips or mashed potatoes.
Overall, I give this pub four and a half pints out of six.
Incidentally, this pub is owned by Fuller's Brewery. My husband recommended their London Pride ale which I very much enjoyed—it has a light but full flavour, and the tang keeps everything fresh. I bet a cold bottle of this on a hot summer day would be just perfect.
If you're in the neighbourhood, and are looking for somewhere to eat, I would certainly suggest the Hung Drawn & Quartered for it's overall charm, service and menu.
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