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Recommended Reviews - Lamb & Flag
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History and beer alone make this trek worthwhile. Friendly locals, tourists and staff make it hard to say goodbye...
Lamb & Flag was on my to-do-list when visiting London. Dined here on our first night. I love the alley way location as it was just. 6 minute walk from our hotel. It's one of London's oldest pubs and has an interesting and sordid history. It bears the nickname "The Bucket of Blood" from its reputation for staging bare knuckle fights. The first mention of this pub in this area dates back to 1772 with a name change in 1833. It still has its original brickwork with updates. I loved the creaking sounds of the wood floors when walking up and down the narrow stairs. The first floor is where people would gather for drinks. Upstairs is where we sat and ate dinner. We ordered fish & chips with a side of curry and a couple of local beers. Hubby ordered a burger. Fish & chips were amazing. Tender fish with a flaky crispy batter. The curry was for dipping the chips in. First time ever eating fish & chips this way but I was told that's how Londoners do it. So do as the locals do!
When I think about pubs in London, I always compare against the Lamb & Flag. Oldest pub in Covent Garden, tons of outdoor drinking space in an secluded alleyway amidst the chaos of Covent Garden. I mean what more could you possibly want??
Enjoy a pint at the same place that Charles Dickens once frequented. Although in the heart of London's most touristy neighborhood, Lamb & Flag is a welcome reprieve. Tucked away on a quiet side street, you can sneak away from the craziness to grab a drink and some bites with both locals and tourists alike. The top floor requires a reservation but the bottom is open seating. People move quickly in and out so don't be discouraged if you don't immediately find a spot to sit. We ordered two pints to enjoy over a plate of fish and chips. The fish was gigantic but tender and tasty! We loved getting to experience an authentic British pub and a piece of English history!
Quite enjoyed our visit here. We were seeing a show around the corner and looking for a quick and filling meal and Lamb & Flag was the perfect spot! I opted for the Haddock and Chips and got a side of curry sauce. When I've had curry sauce in the past with fish and chips, it's been more of a curry mayo, so I was a little surprised that it was just straight curry. Serve it over rice and it's a whole meal on its own. It was delicious but not quite what I was looking for when I ordered it. The fish was huge and came out hot and flaky. I also got some malt vinegar which was delicious with the fish and the chips. The peas were peas haha. My friend got the steak pie and I loved it
Such a fun time! This pub definitely had the traditional vibe we were looking for, and the food was one of the best meals we had in London. The Mac and cheese ball appetizer was good but maybe not great, but the entrees of pie and sausage were both truly excellent. I highly recommend them. And definitely stay for dessert! The sticky toffee pudding was quite a treat. A booth seat opened up shortly after we got seated and they were so nice to switch us over to that seat. That did cause maybe a bit of confusion or lapse in our service, because it took honestly quite a while for someone to come help us, but once we flagged down a waiter the service was really good so I think it was just an honest mistake. We had time anyway, so we weren't fussed. We would absolutely go back! I've already recommended it to friends going to London soon
I stopped in here as part of a bike tour. The guide had mentioned that this was one of the oldest pubs in London at over 400 years old. I'm not a huge beer drinker but could still appreciate the sentiment. Pro tip, if you find yourself in here and aren't into beer, try their cider
Ordered the fish and chips with a pint of a local ale. Service was great. We visited the pub during the weekday and it was nice to retreat to a cooler space as the day was warm. Wish I had more tartar sauce.. might have been the best I've had. With capers, and the tender informed us that it's made in-house.
After a couple of pubs and pints we decided we needed some food and lucky we came across Lamb & Flag. It was very packed on the first floor but I went upstairs and they late us sit down and order food even though they would done taking orders within 15 minutes since they stopped at 9:00PM so we ordered quickly. A quick scan of the menu and we new what we wanted. We had to get a Scotch Egg, the Pigs in Blankets, and of course and order of the Beer Battered Haddock & Chips. We also saw they had a special Nutella Bread Pudding and we figured we needed something sweet with all the salty fried goodness. Our Scotch Egg and Pigs in Blanket came out first. I was a big fan of the Scotch Egg. The egg was soft-boiled so the yolk was still runny and that's how I like it. Makes it some much better. As Americans the Pigs in Blankets was different then we expected. Our normally come with sausage wrapped in a pasty but this was sausage wrapped in bacon. As an American I see nothing wrong there. Meat wrapped in more meat... Yes please. I will say the sausage was just OK though. Next out was our Beer Battered Haddock & Chips. The fish was great a lighter batter with great flavor and still perfectly crispy. We probably could have easily eaten another and once we were done we wished we had ordered 2. The chips were just fine but could have been a litter more crispy. The Nutella Bread Pudding was a great nightcap for us after all the salty fried goodness. Can't thank the friendly staff enough for taking us last minute. Make sure to check this pub out.
My mom and I went here twice on our holiday because we loved this place! Good service, helpful staff, ambiance is perfect for an older london pub. Food is delightful!!! Had pie of the day with a black& tan first; then wrapped up dinner with a pim drink and sticky toffee pudding (with salted caramel ice cream). Amazing history. Quite impressive food really! Will be back any time I'm visiting!
We visited Lamb & Flag for a traditional Sunday roast on our last afternoon in London and it was great! This pub feels very authentically British as the building itself has been around since the 1600s (and was allegedly one of Charles Dicken's favorite spots). I ordered the beef roast, and everything was delicious except the beef was a bit on the dry side. Loved the peas, cauliflower, gravy, and pastry! I got the sticky toffee pudding for dessert and although it was tasty, it definitely wasn't the best I've ever had. Overall, Lamb & Flag is a great dining experience or even just a fun place to grab a pint. Service was good too. I was glad I made a reservation because parties were getting turned away during the afternoon rush.
Stopped by The Lamb & Flag while walking around Covent Garden and immediately understood why people love this place. The history alone makes it worth visiting, and the location is perfect if you're exploring the area. It feels very classic London in the best way. We stopped in for a pint and honestly... the whole after-work beer culture over there is something I really need to bring back with me to the States. The beer was great, the atmosphere was lively without feeling overwhelming, and it just felt like one of those places where people naturally gather and stay awhile. Definitely worth stopping into if you're in the area. read more
4 days ago
Reservations can be made for upstairs or you can find unreserved seating downstairs and order at the bar! The kitchen serves both upstairs and downstairs. We didn't make a reservation and found seating for 3 easily. Service was quick and the food is great. read more
8 months ago
Historic London pub that I visited for lunch, at opening time. The bar actually opens before food is served so I grabbed a drink. Reservations recommended. Two story space - the ground floor feature the bar and handles walk in lunch; the upstairs is a dining room for those with reservations. Fun fact, as part of the history, the pub used to be the host of bare knuckle fights and had regulars like Charles Dickens. Wildfarmed sourdough - served with whipped salted butter and Guinness butter. Well toasted bread and the butters with salt were well made. Fuller's London Pride marinated steak and ale pie - served with seasonal veggies and red wine gravy, as well as either mash potatoes or triple cooked chips. If there is one dish London does really well, it's their pies. It was beautifully made and loaded with steak. The red wine gravy was decadent and added a perfect amount of moisture to the pie. Triple cooked chips were perfectly crispy but fluffy on the inside. Corn fed chicken breast - served with garlic and sage butter, mash potato, cavolo nero, and crispy onions. Only took a bite of this as it was my partner's dish but the bite of chicken I had was very juicy and well seasoned. read more
9 months ago
9 months ago
History and beer alone make this trek worthwhile. Friendly locals, tourists and staff make it hard to say goodbye... read more
11 months ago
Lamb & Flag was on my to-do-list when visiting London. Dined here on our first night. I love the alley way location as it was just. 6 minute walk from our hotel. It's one of London's oldest pubs and has an interesting and sordid history. It bears the nickname "The Bucket of Blood" from its reputation for staging bare knuckle fights. The first mention of this pub in this area dates back to 1772 with a name change in 1833. It still has its original brickwork with updates. I loved the creaking sounds of the wood floors when walking up and down the narrow stairs. The first floor is where people would gather for drinks. Upstairs is where we sat and ate dinner. We ordered fish & chips with a side of curry and a couple of local beers. Hubby ordered a burger. Fish & chips were amazing. Tender fish with a flaky crispy batter. The curry was for dipping the chips in. First time ever eating fish & chips this way but I was told that's how Londoners do it. So do as the locals do! read more
When I think about pubs in London, I always compare against the Lamb & Flag. Oldest pub in Covent Garden, tons of outdoor drinking space in an secluded alleyway amidst the chaos of Covent Garden. I mean what more could you possibly want?? read more
11 months ago
3 years ago
Enjoy a pint at the same place that Charles Dickens once frequented. Although in the heart of London's most touristy neighborhood, Lamb & Flag is a welcome reprieve. Tucked away on a quiet side street, you can sneak away from the craziness to grab a drink and some bites with both locals and tourists alike. The top floor requires a reservation but the bottom is open seating. People move quickly in and out so don't be discouraged if you don't immediately find a spot to sit. We ordered two pints to enjoy over a plate of fish and chips. The fish was gigantic but tender and tasty! We loved getting to experience an authentic British pub and a piece of English history! read more
1 year ago
Quite enjoyed our visit here. We were seeing a show around the corner and looking for a quick and filling meal and Lamb & Flag was the perfect spot! I opted for the Haddock and Chips and got a side of curry sauce. When I've had curry sauce in the past with fish and chips, it's been more of a curry mayo, so I was a little surprised that it was just straight curry. Serve it over rice and it's a whole meal on its own. It was delicious but not quite what I was looking for when I ordered it. The fish was huge and came out hot and flaky. I also got some malt vinegar which was delicious with the fish and the chips. The peas were peas haha. My friend got the steak pie and I loved it read more
Such a fun time! This pub definitely had the traditional vibe we were looking for, and the food was one of the best meals we had in London. The Mac and cheese ball appetizer was good but maybe not great, but the entrees of pie and sausage were both truly excellent. I highly recommend them. And definitely stay for dessert! The sticky toffee pudding was quite a treat. A booth seat opened up shortly after we got seated and they were so nice to switch us over to that seat. That did cause maybe a bit of confusion or lapse in our service, because it took honestly quite a while for someone to come help us, but once we flagged down a waiter the service was really good so I think it was just an honest mistake. We had time anyway, so we weren't fussed. We would absolutely go back! I've already recommended it to friends going to London soon read more
I stopped in here as part of a bike tour. The guide had mentioned that this was one of the oldest pubs in London at over 400 years old. I'm not a huge beer drinker but could still appreciate the sentiment. Pro tip, if you find yourself in here and aren't into beer, try their cider read more
1 year ago
Ordered the fish and chips with a pint of a local ale. Service was great. We visited the pub during the weekday and it was nice to retreat to a cooler space as the day was warm. Wish I had more tartar sauce.. might have been the best I've had. With capers, and the tender informed us that it's made in-house. read more
After a couple of pubs and pints we decided we needed some food and lucky we came across Lamb & Flag. It was very packed on the first floor but I went upstairs and they late us sit down and order food even though they would done taking orders within 15 minutes since they stopped at 9:00PM so we ordered quickly. A quick scan of the menu and we new what we wanted. We had to get a Scotch Egg, the Pigs in Blankets, and of course and order of the Beer Battered Haddock & Chips. We also saw they had a special Nutella Bread Pudding and we figured we needed something sweet with all the salty fried goodness. Our Scotch Egg and Pigs in Blanket came out first. I was a big fan of the Scotch Egg. The egg was soft-boiled so the yolk was still runny and that's how I like it. Makes it some much better. As Americans the Pigs in Blankets was different then we expected. Our normally come with sausage wrapped in a pasty but this was sausage wrapped in bacon. As an American I see nothing wrong there. Meat wrapped in more meat... Yes please. I will say the sausage was just OK though. Next out was our Beer Battered Haddock & Chips. The fish was great a lighter batter with great flavor and still perfectly crispy. We probably could have easily eaten another and once we were done we wished we had ordered 2. The chips were just fine but could have been a litter more crispy. The Nutella Bread Pudding was a great nightcap for us after all the salty fried goodness. Can't thank the friendly staff enough for taking us last minute. Make sure to check this pub out. read more
3 years ago
My mom and I went here twice on our holiday because we loved this place! Good service, helpful staff, ambiance is perfect for an older london pub. Food is delightful!!! Had pie of the day with a black& tan first; then wrapped up dinner with a pim drink and sticky toffee pudding (with salted caramel ice cream). Amazing history. Quite impressive food really! Will be back any time I'm visiting! read more
We visited Lamb & Flag for a traditional Sunday roast on our last afternoon in London and it was great! This pub feels very authentically British as the building itself has been around since the 1600s (and was allegedly one of Charles Dicken's favorite spots). I ordered the beef roast, and everything was delicious except the beef was a bit on the dry side. Loved the peas, cauliflower, gravy, and pastry! I got the sticky toffee pudding for dessert and although it was tasty, it definitely wasn't the best I've ever had. Overall, Lamb & Flag is a great dining experience or even just a fun place to grab a pint. Service was good too. I was glad I made a reservation because parties were getting turned away during the afternoon rush. read more
Came here after singing some tunes at a bar near by and even though the kitchen was nearly closed the staff was nice enough to stay open for us. We looked over the menu quickly, asked for some recommendations and put in our order before the kitchen was officially closed. Our group of four decided on an order of pigs in blankets, black pudding Scotch egg, two orders of fish n chips and the best bread pudding I've ever had. The pigs in blankets and the scotch egg were nothing special. In fact I actually wouldn't suggest the pigs in blankets at all, they would have been better with a stone ground mustard sauce or something. The fish and chips however were some of the best I ate. The batter was light and crispy, the fish wasn't fishy at all and the chips had a nice crunch. The bread pudding was a last minute decision we saw it on the specials board and the waiter highly suggested it. When the bread pudding came out I was a bit confused because I'm not used to such solid looking bread puddings but it was perfect! Now for the best kept secret of Lamb and Flag.... They have the cutest little mouse pal that comes out when the dining room isn't busy. We lovingly called him Peter (I'm not sure what his given name is) and he was the most welcome surprise. Check out the video to see how cute he was! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
Billed as the oldest pub in London ( a Charles dickens hangout?) this is a perfectly fine pub with a decent selection on tap. No outdoor seating but folks kinda hang out in the front/ it's set back on Rose la in a little nooc I suspect based on the accents more patronized by American tourists like ourselves than local. Nonetheless of fun place to have a few pints in the theater district with a friendly crowd and friendly staff. I think it's worth going for that read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Busy, but a fine example of British Pub food. Service was way better than average. Clientele is primarily local, but friendly. The food was fantastic. My son and I enjoyed the sausage roll, the Haddock, and the truffled Mac and cheese. Fantastic food and great selection of drinks, with traditional ambiance. Be sure to stop in. read more
I first visited this historic pub 20 years ago, and it was ancient then. I have been back several times since. Dicken's hung out here, some Earl had a poet beat up in the 18th century in the alley..... Needless to say I love this pub for all its rustic flavor and atmosphere. Tucked away in an alley near Covent Garden this place is very popular with the after work crowd during the week, so it's not unusual to see customers over flowing outside into the courtyard. Good selection of beer and Cask ales. Dining is Upstairs. Sunday Roast was excellent with a Red Wine Gravy Yorkshire Pudding and sides. In 2003 I'm sitting at the bar with my pint and strike up a conversation with some guys sitting by me. I eventually asked if they thought I could get a picture behind the bar or if management might not approve. The one fellow said, "Sure, let's take one". I said are you sure it's ok? To which another guy said, "Must be, he's the owner". So we all got behind the bar and took the picture I posted below. How could I not go back to this place. read more
3 years ago
Definitely a must-stop if visiting London! My best friend and I heard great things about this place and they definitely lived up to the hype, with both the food and ambiance. For those visiting for the first time, the pub is located on the first floor, which is always so lively and usually packed. If you are feeling more like enjoying a sit down dinner, head up the stairs inside, and the dine in area will be on the second floor. While the second floor is small, we were lucky to get a table for dinner. The staff was both friendly and attentive. The food was delicious! They have the classic traditional British dishes, and they were to die for. I ordered the steak and ale pie with mash and greens, while my friend ordered the fish and chips. We both enjoyed our meal, as well as the atmosphere. We also tried the toffee pudding, which was super delicious. Will definitely come back, once we are back in London! Definitely recommend! read more
2 years ago
Great spot for the classic pub experience! Ambience was great! The fish and chips were spot on and the sticky toffee pudding was a great way to cap it off. read more
2 years ago
Such a fun place tucked away from the street! Come here for a pint and watch the Euro or enjoy a drink outside! My husband and I shared the meat pie and loved it! Great pub atmosphere! read more
*One of the oldest pubs in London! Dates back to the early 1600s. This was the perfect spot to drop in on a c-c-c-cold Saturday afternoon. My hands were numb and nose was red, and thankfully there was an instant feeling of warmth, good energy and comfort as soon as we stepped in. Order some mulled wine or classic pint of beer, grab a seat (if you can find one) or just hang around and take it all in. There's a lot of history behind this pub -- from Charles Dickens rumored to be a patron to housing bare-knuckle prize fights... *Shot out to Lam & Flag GM Patrick who notified me that the oldest pub in London is Ye Olde Cheshire cheese pub on Fleet street. read more
Business owner information
Patrick L.
HI there…
Definitely the best pub we visited while in London. Great setting on a quiet side street where the pub itself makes a great photo-OP. Traditionally decorated interior, with dark wood, framed memorabilia, name plates for regulars and a front and back room with plenty of seating. Upstairs bar as well where they were holding a local comedy night when we visited Nice selection of beers on tap. I tried several and really enjoyed the pale ale the most. The wife really enjoyed the mulled apple juice which was braced with a pour of sloe gin. The warm apple juice made the whole place smell like Christmas. Bartenders were very friendly and helpful, they allowed me to sample a a sip of a few beers to find the ones I liked. Certainly worth visiting if you're in Covent Garden/Soho area. read more
Business owner information
Patrick L.
Thanks Greg,…
A traditional and authentic British Pub hidden in the side streets of Covent Garden. The first floor is filled with crowds of young professionals having a pint and spilling into the cobbled streets out front. The second floor has a few dining tables. I had the Black Pudding Scotch egg to start which was perfectly crunchy on the outside and packed with flavor on the inside. And the egg was cooked perfectly. The lamb sausages were heavy and fantastic and exactly what you'd expect from a British Pub. My partner had the pie of the day which was beef and he enjoyed that also. Lastly, the sticky toffee pudding was the perfect way to end a full, heavy meal. read more
A unique spot with lots of history. I think we would have enjoyed grabbing a beer and hanging out outside as it was more lively than being seated for a meal upstairs. I tried the lamb sausage and it was a bit too gamey for me. Beer was great and the service was friendly. read more
2 years ago
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More info about Lamb & Flag
33 Rose Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 9EB
United Kingdom
Covent Garden
Directions
020 7497 9504
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http://www.lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk
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