Shakespeares Head Pub is a must when trotting along this neighborhood and if your like me trying to battled jet lag after landing then this is my suggestion for your first Oder of fish & chips. Seating is abundant but I prefer the bar itself if there is room. They have big portions of food to share and happy staff to recommend new items, as well. read more

Actually, this pub felt somewhat fancier than a lot of the ones I've been to, more a restaurant than a pub. Then again, as far as I'm concerned there is little difference between a British restaurant and a pub. Well, what I can say is that will serve you a beer if you want one without having to purchase anything else which, as far as I'm concerned, makes it a pub. Yeah, I rather liked it, though I can't say that it was one of the greatest out. Still, it's good for a beer. read more

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Horrible, aggressive staff who are the very definition of jobsworths. Last time I was there, the bouncer shoved my arm whilst checking my ID, and when I reported him to the manager for it he responded with "you should feel lucky that I touched you". The manager then defended the perpetrator and did absolutely nothing to help me whilst I was standing there crying and shaken up. On a separate occasion they refused to let my friend in without an ID despite the fact that she is almost 50. Don't come here unless you fancy being treated like shit at best and being physically assaulted at worst. read more

My family and I had our first traditional English breakfast here and it did not disappoint! The food came out quick and was plentiful. There was also free refills on coffee, making it a perfect start to our day. read more

Shakespeares Head - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Good pub food and great value This is a really good option for a cheap night out in London. There is a large selection of beer on tap, the menu has something on it to please everyone, the service is fast and the prices are very reasonable. read more

This place was packed on a Tuesday night. The bar let you sample any drink you wanted before ordering. They have great deals. I got a burger meal with a drink for like 8 pounds. The food was ok but a great deal no less. Great for a cheap night out. read more

For a Weatherspoons this was a little lush!! The wine list certainly exceeded our expectations. If you're looking for something fab to drink, go with the Villa Maria, it's such amaing value for money here! Atmosphere isn't bad at all, and the decor is pretty decent! read more

Shakespeares Head - Good wine here!! - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This place was meh. They had a few vegan options... I got the vegan roasted vegetable pizza which was good. It wasn't anything remarkable. I thought the service here was odd... you'd seat yourself and then go up to the bar to order your food? I haven't encountered any other restaurant like that in London so I'm not sure if it's normal procedure here... My dad (non vegan) got the mushroom pizza which he enjoyed. Another person (non vegan) in my party got the spicy tikka masala which she really enjoyed. Another vegan in my group got the gourmet vegan burger. She really liked it, although she thinks it's weird that burgers come with salsa here! read more

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It is the best Wetherspoons I have been, too. The atmosphere is nice and the food is good. The place is huge so there is a high chance at finding seats even at peak times. This was our go to place when we required decent food and drinks at a good price. We've gotten burgers, pizza, nachos, mushy peas, and a few other things on the menu. It good to have a reliable place to go to in the Holburn area when you're feeling peckish. read more

I've been here twice since it's close to the LSE campus. The first time, my friends and I stopped by on the way to the Library before working on a group project. I got a glass of PIMM's, which was only 2.50 pounds! I wasn't too hungry so I went for the smoked haddock and mozzarella fishcake appetizer. I never thought fish would go well with mozzarella, but it was really good! It came hot, so the cheese was melted; the fish tasted fresh as well. Both items came out to just under 5 pounds, what a deal. The second time I took a friend here for lunch. I got the fish and chips with a glass of PIMM's. I was disappointed with the fish and chips; for 5 pounds, I've had better elsewhere in London. I didn't like the batter too much and the chips could have been better too. FYI, the lunch specials are only available during the week, Monday through Friday. This place is good to have group gatherings; there's plenty of seating inside. Although it's a pub, it has a bit of a restaurant feel to it. There's TVs around the place as well; when I was there they had the horse races on. read more

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Wetherspoon pub. Large menu with affordable food options. Burgers, fish and chips, pizza, chicken tikka masala. Deceivingly large inside. Old style pub - when you aren't in the mood for over-complicated gastropub dining. Greta approves of the paper straws for the drinks. Otherwise, you would have ruined my hopes and dreams! read more

Not much to say about this place really. Being a Weatherspoons bar I'm sure many of you will be able to guess what it will be like even before venturing inside. Located just a short walk from Holborn tube station, The Shakespeare's Head is a pretty drab and dull affair. The decor is absurdly outdated and uninteresting as you might expect from a place that prizes profit above all else. Food wise you will find a range of offers and deals most days of the week including beer and burger, sunday roasts, curry nights and steak night. Unfortunately though the food is relatively inexpensive it tastes like it was zapped in a microwave, which, in all probability, it was. For drinks you have wide selection on offer from different continents but, owing to weatherspoons insistence on buying cheap produce at the end of its shelf life, you will generally find they are of pretty poor quality. All in all it's exactly what you'd expect and only appeals for the price-tag. read more

Shakespeares Head - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I don't often venture to Weatherspoons unless my bank account is running low and I am in need of cheap drinks and food. This weatherspoon is pretty acceptable if this is indeed what you are looking for. It is quite a big pub, with a children's section as well. It offers your standard weatherspoons drink selection and food including burgers, curries, and Sunday roasts. There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary in the pub, so I would say that you should only come here if you are meeting friends before a night out. You will be able to stock up on double vodka red bulls which will keep you going all night. Trust me. read more

Shakespeares Head - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Right next to Holborn Station. Just down the street from the LSE campus. Students are frequently seen there. I discovered Shakespeare's in the first week as a student at LSE. I keep coming back because it's cheap, and there are tons of drink and food options. The English breakfast can be beat at other places, but it's quick here. Lively atmosphere. Closes early on the weekends. So, come for a few pre-game drinks and then head elsewhere if you are in the area. read more

Shakespeares Head - Traditional English Breakfast - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

worst nachos ever. literally unflavored doritos + fake green sauce + "salsa" and sour cream. barely any cheese. read more

Shakespeares Head - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Close to my London work hotel and the Holborn chube (that's how Brits pronounce "tube"). Nice decor, lively patrons with the funny accents, helpful barkeep, tasty cask ales...what else would I expect of a London pub? Its not a Free house but a Wetherspoons so it is pretty popular. I stood up while drinking (no seats to be found) and this is just how locals roll...until they fall down, drunk. "We know what we are, but know not what we may be." So true, Bill Shakes. So true. read more

I went to the Shakespeare's Head (SH) aka JD Wetherspoons a couple of times in the past few months. Although it is a pub, SH is family friendly, with comfortable tables and a cheery, if slightly dark ambiance. The first time I went, I came with a friend for lunch. We were both hungry and wanted some good quality comfort food at reasonable prices. Upon entering, we were shown to one of the lower tables near the entrance and given a menu each. (a PDF copy can be viewed here: http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/resource/documents/food-and-drink/new-food-menu.pdf After some deliberation, I decided on the Salmon Fillet (£6.79) and my friend chose the Large Mixed Grill (£9.19) and went over to the bar to place our order, as well as two glasses of tap water (hey, we're students). It wasn't long before our food arrived. I had chosen a jacket potato and steamed vegetables on the side. Presentation-wise, everything looked good (maybe it was the hunger) - the veggies looked colourful and the jacket potato was browned. However, what let me down slightly was the taste. The salmon was slightly bland and it appeared like too much was leaning on the Hollandaise sauce, which made the fish creamy - but in a slightly sickening way. The sour cream on the jacket potato didn't help matters either. The veggies were overcooked and too buttery. My friend's large mixed grill certainly was large, and came with pork, lamb, and beef variations of steak with a sausage, fried egg and onion rings. She had fries and peas on the side. Her dish was much better than mine as the steaks were juicy and tender and the sausage flavourful. Her only complaint was that the lamb had more fat than meat. Overall, for less than £10 a head, and with reasonable portions, it is always worth it to come to JD Wetherspoons for a hearty meal. The location of SH near our school makes it ideal for a quick lunch. Note that the value menu meals of £2.99 and £3.99 are worth trying as well. The second time I came with a group of 7 of us for breakfast. We requested a larger table but since there wasn't any we just joined two tables of 4 (luckily the two gentlemen in the table next to us kindly left early so we could grab our table - I have to state here that the waitress was extremely rude and not only made snide comments about us disrupting the seating arrangements but refused to help us at all). As usual, we got our menus and ordered at the bar. Ten minutes later, our food came. Between the 7 of us, we ordered 2 Large Breakfasts (£3.89 each), 2 Traditional Breakfasts and 1 Vegetarian Breakfast (all £2.69 each). It turns out that despite our growling stomachs, that proved to be a large breakfast to tackle. Each plate certainly lived up to their descriptions and pictures as shown in the menu. We all agreed that the bacon, mushrooms, hashbrowns, baked beans and tomato were all satisfactory. We weren't a big fan of the accompanying thick slices of bread as they were stale and crumbly. The sausages were fried until crispy, which wouldn't be a bad thing, but these were dried out. Overall, we were pleased as all the grease filled our stomachs at a reasonably low price. In short, JD Wetherspoons in SH is a decent place to go. By no means does it serve posh or terribly high-quality cuisine, but if you are looking for a fast, hearty British meal at low prices, you should definitely give SH a try. read more

The Shakespeares Head is perfecty located just round the corner from Holborn station. Yes it's a Wetherspoons but ask yourself 'are there really any problems with Wetherspoons?' Cheap alcohol (£11 bottle of wine), standard food AND always a lively but relaxing atmosphere - they do exactly what they're meant to do and for me it is a go to if I'm looking for a cheap night out (don't judge me!) This was the first time I'd visited this particular weatherspoons and as expected it was buzzing - not a spare seat in site. I shared a bottle of rose with a friend and we chatted stood up by a wooden drinking area. To be honest in this environment it didn't really bother me that we didn't have a seat and we had an enjoyable hour or so here. read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch and Shakespeare's Head has a large selection with really great prices--sandwiches and other casual meals include a drink (£6 for non-alcoholic, £7.50 for alcohol). The meal itself (I got the skinny grilled chicken "burger" that came with a salad and lemon San Pellegrino) was pretty average. The chicken and salad were fine, but I'm not sure if I'd call it a full side salad--just some lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes in a tiny bowl. The restaurant was large with lots of different table sizes, including more private round tables that could probably fit 8 people (all were taken by groups of 2, annoyingly). Service was friendly enough and incredibly fast. All in all it was nothing outrageous, but will probably return for the convenient location, lots of options, and great prices. read more

As a not-terribly-well-off (read: broke as f) student, The Shakespeare's Head/Wetherspoons always seems to fit the bill -- cheap and cheerful, and close to my university. I can't tell you the number of times my coursemates and I have flocked here after a long day of graduate seminars, too tired to think of anywhere else to go and too reluctant to experiment with other pubs in the business-y Holborn/Kingsway area, lest our bank accounts regret it later. No, it's not particularly clean, yes, there are always large groups of Polish builders menacingly crowding around the front door while having a cigarette, making it super awkward when you try and walk in, and yes, you will annoyingly always be asked for your ID when buying a drink (you can't pull a fast one on the guys at 'Spoons, no siree). However, for £2 a pint in a place that's not a student bar, I can deal with it...over and over and over again. See you next week, 'Spoons. read more

I think the reason I like this Wetherspoons as a much as I do is because it's near two of my favourite places in London; Sir John Soane's museum and Lincoln's Inn Fields. It's affordable (lots of food + drink cobination offers) there is usally a table free which and they cater for larger groups, perfect if you're coming here after an afternoon picnic at Lincoln's Inn Fields. read more

This is a great place to gather and hang out, drinking beer or just watch a game. This pub is spacious with lots of seating. The food, however, is not so great. I ordered an appetizers of nachos and what came out was that the cheese was baked into the chips. I tried pulling one out and ended up picking up the entire thing!!! But Shakespeare's Head redeems itself with a great menu of drinks. This is a cool place to hang out and have a drink or three before heading out to dinner. read more

Good cold beer, but the food was ok. I had their award winning Sausages and Mash couldn't finish it. The portion was large and you get kinda of bored after a couple of bits. read more

An average Wetherspoons with a layout like an airport waiting area. The atmosphere at times can be similar! Due to its location near the tube station, it can get very busy. Have eaten here a few times and found it to be not too bad. Drinkwise, usual wetherspoons cheapness and some interesting guest ales. Theres not much else to say..I wouldn't recommend it due to its layout and lack of atmosphere but nor would I advise anyone to avoid it because its alright for a cheap feed/drink. read more

Shakespeare's Head is your standard Weatherspoons. Cheap drinks, decent pub food, lots of space. We went for predrinks before a night out at Sway and it did make for a good meeting point. The pub itself does not have anything in particular to make it special except its location close to the tube and a few other venues you can continue your night out at. However it can also serve a good 'quick pint' destination after work before you hop on the tube in if you are in the area. If you are a small group I would probably recommend some other pubs up the road which are small but much more unique, but this one caters to big groups so if you are planning a night or an event for 30-60 people (probably even more if you book ahead) they can easily accommodate them. To be honest I don't have any desire to visit again but I don't particularly mind going again either. It is pretty much the perfect pub to have a completely neutral attitude towards. read more

This place is fine... It a Whetherspoons so you cant expect a red carpet, and don't wear your diamonds. The good thing about it is its situ on the map, being based between Central Saint Martins and LSE, it is a fab option for students, I know I used to spend too much time here as it was cheaper than my uni's canteen. However the most unpleasant smell comes from the Girls loo's. Over the past five years i have been going, its like a burst sewage pipe has erupted beneath the cysterns... oh and the carpets are kinda sticky. Just come equipped with a clothes peg, and down that cheap vodka tonic.... read more

This is the only Weatherspoons in the area and you do know what to expect from this chain of pubs. As far as weatherspoons compares this one is abit rough in decor and not one of my favourites. At least you know what to expect, cheap food and specials on the prices of booze. I found quite a few young student looking types in this place along with some what I thought were older looking regulars. This is one of the cheapest boozers in the area so go here if you want a cheap night in a usually more expensive area. If you want a nice atmosphere or nice decor, avoid Shakespeare's Head. read more

This was my first Wetherspoons experience and I don't understand the stigma its received. This was the perfect venue for a night out the week before payday. Shakespeares Head was a buzzing pub, great food portions and close to Holborn station. Definitely will go again for a when in need of meal and pint before pay day. read more

Wetherspoons pubs seem to pop up like mushrooms after a rain storm. This is an especially large example of the type situated next to Holborn Station. It is extremely popular, and on a Friday night is absolutely heaving with local workers having a not so quiet pint after work. As is typical of Weatherspoons, it is very cheap, and has a large selection, though they don't always have huge quantities of the large selection (I went through three different real ales last night, including one fairly vile plum one, because they ran out). The real ale isn't bad, though isn't kept perfectly. They also have a selection of wine and spirits, all very reasonably priced. They never have enough staff, and had an additional problem last night, as they had no female staff on duty. This meant the ladies' rooms were vile and had no toilet paper. When I complained, I was told it was the fault of the lack of female staff. As mentioned, the pub does get heaving, thus it is a bag snatchers paradise. I should know. My rucksack was stolen last night - fortunately with few valuables. I'm not a fan of Weatherspoons. Although there is a selection of ales, they are not kept wonderfully, and it is utterly charmless. If you want to meet up for cheap drinks, have at it. If you'd like a quiet pint with mates, find somewhere else. read more

Nice huge pub in the middle of London with cheap drinks and food - and open till 1am Friday and Saturday (rest of the week they close midnight). Staff is friendly and the food is ok for the price. I had chicken pasta Alfredo with a side salad which was quite good actually. The pub has wheelchair access (side entrance) and a disabled toilet. read more

Very large pub. Doesn't appear so on the outside but really is. You won't have trouble finding seating here, even on a busy Friday night. About 12 of us were able to all fit on a booth with some added chairs. Didn't eat, but drink prices are reasonable. You'll even get cucumbers in your g+t if you get the right bartender. I heard they were delicious. Overall, a bit loud and not creative, but good for groups on a late night out. read more

I'm not usually a fan of chain pubs, Shakespeare's head is part of the JD Wetherspoon corporate group but I was pleasantly surprised during my visit there. This pub has a warm ambiance and is also quite large, providing ample tables and seating. It's a good place to go for a large gathering of friends. It's also very popular, centrally located in Holborn and has good food and very competitive prices, especially on Tuesday when they have the "Steak Club" special. Deals in London are hard to find, and this one is amazing! For £7.75 you have a choice of either 8oz rump or sirloin steak, or a mixed grill, or Scottish salmon including chips, peas and either a pint, wine or soft drink! Or if two people are dining they have a 2 steak special with a bottle of wine for £17.99! I ordered the salmon fillet and it was delicious! Perfectly seasoned with hollandaise on the side. the chips were crispy and the wine was good. I was a very happy camper indeed! read more

Great team. Great values. Great incentives. Great morning coffee 49p. Can you beat it??? And they`re always having promotions....free small Pimms.....free coffees and teas....coffee/tea and bacon buttie for £1.49. I mean, come on.... They are fab and it`s not just the food! read more

A friendly pub, ideal for a quick drink, pub-grub style meal or a night out with friends. One of my favourite wetherspoons, it is spacious and all set on one level. The staff are usually friendly and curteous and the toilets clean. The one downside is the waiting time during rush hour makes it less than ideal for a quick bite to eat and it gets cold near the door as the smokers leave it open. Everything else is good though and the coffee is really good and one of the cheapest you'll find in London! read more

Apart from being noisy,packed out with large groups - students,tourists,office workers- the place usually smells of sick. The ale is cheapish for the area,but poorly kept & often seems a bit off,& i've usually felt sick after drinking here. The service is random,sometimes polite,sometimes rude & ignorant. Positive points being the good location (right next to a tube),& cheap ok ish food. But for a decent pint with a friend,go to the Princess Louise down the road,its a traditional pub,fantastic decor & the beer is actually alot cheaper!!! read more

This is a very large Wetherspoons, and generally also a very busy one. The bar can get rammed on weekend nights, but it's so long you won't often be waiting for a drink. As with all pubs in this chain, it is very cheap, and given its size, the food can sometimes be a little lack lustre. However, the one thing this pub really does cater for is large work parties or internet meet ups, as they have huge meeting tables at the back of the pub. Given the size of the pub they could do with a few more toilets in the ladies, but again, the size of this place is its real asset. Given the area as well, the Shakespeare's Head functions as a good landmark meeting place, as it is just a few doors down from Holborn tube station. read more

Despite knowing fully well that, when entering a Wetherspoons establishment, the stale ambient odour mixture of sweat, alcohol-infused upholstery and shame is very quickly forgotten when the price list is seen and suddenly you're three rounds down, I was surprised to be further disappointed by the service. With the exception of the bar manager who was indeed very competent (especially when he took over from his colleagues to serve when they were inundated), the remaining staff were rather hopeless, treated their guests like cattle that are to be herded, which induced much more of a nightclub atmosphere, with a very controlling, trustless and condescending attitude, than a pub where one would want to enjoy a few casual drinks. This could be a consequence of my visit being on a Saturday night (13/06/2015), however a well-managed establishment should be able to cope with the expected weekly fluctuations of customer numbers, which I have to say was unfortunately not the case at the Shakespeares Head. If you're the type of patron who prioritises low-cost over enjoyment, then by all means please do come to this establishment, but as far as Wetherspoons pubs go, there are far more enjoyable venues where you can spend your pound. read more

Food was okay and not that expensive. This place has a nice atmosphere... bin there several times during language study. If you'd like to drink a Beer and eat something small with a Friend, have a look. read more

This is probably one of the worst Wetherspoons in London!!! Used to go here with the work crowd on Friday lunchtimes till it went further downhill and we started drinking elsewhere! The booze may be cheap but the food and atmosphere are awful - this place is best avoided. read more

Very spacious with a great wine selection at a very reasonable price. A great place to stop pre or post theatre