Our hotel was across the street so we stopped in for their Sunday roast. We don't have a reservation (offered for Sunday roast) and the place was packed so we had to wait for a table. We enjoyed a beer downstairs at the bar while we waited. They had a large selection of beers and full liquor service. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. When our table was ready we were led upstairs to the balcony and seated. Our waitress Sophia was amazing. She was friendly, fast and answered all our questions about the menu. We were able to secure the last two roast selections. We ended up with one beef, one chicken and the fish and chips. We were very pleased with everything. The fish was seasoned nicely with a hint of sea salt. The tartar sauce was great, tasted homemade. The chicken was my favorite. It was moist and delicious. We also had the sticky toffee pudding for dessert which was also very good. Great pub in the heart of Strand. Would visit again. read more

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During a London pub tour we ended up at The Coal Hole for some history lessons of the origins of this bar and some cold beer. Ordered the "Haze Machine" Signature Brew 4.8% and it was a great tasting craft beer. The the name was affixed to the front in red neon which was easy to see from across the street. The bathroom had a vintage trough style urinal which was perfect for the century old english bar. read more

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Cute little pub on one of our food & drink tours. Had a hazy beer which was nice a cold and served quickly. Didn't order food but will if I return. read more

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This pub gets crowded in the evenings so we decided to come in during the day when it was less lively. It's located just across the street from our hotel on Strand. We were on a mission to eat traditional British food so this was our choice. The bangers & mash were surprisingly good. I had pictured in my mind they were going to be greasy (because sausages typically are) but weren't at all. The gravy was perfectly seasoned. The steak & ale pie reminded me of a chicken pot pie but with steak and gravy. It was served with a side of mash and carrots. These two dishes were quite large so I would save this for a dinner meal versus lunch. The layout of this pub is quite interesting. Ladies. Be prepared to walk up and down a two flights of stairs to use the restroom. The steps are narrow. read more

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Another great stop on our pub crawl. Again, no food, but great beer, the Camden pale ale. Love the rustic old school interior and the history of the place. And, they were quick in getting the beers out. Also cold, bubbly and refreshing. read more

The Coal Hole - Bar - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Loved the-cauliflower, and the nachos , fish and chips were ok..self service. Cute space and great location

Great fish and chips! The mushy peas were good, and so were the fries. The service was relatively fast, and I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice bite to eat. read more

The Coal Hole - Nicholson's Fish and Chips - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Great food and service. Super friendly staff! Great first dinner on our London trip! Wish we could've seen a more extensive beer menu since it is a pub but still had some great local lager read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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The food tastes great. However the temperature of the potatoes wet not up to par. The service was okay, nothing spectacular. The ambiance was acceptable on a warm Friday afternoon. read more

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I stumbled here on accident. The decor is beautiful. dark wood. plenty of seating for a family of four. We Had chicken sandwich, burger fries, but the fish and chips were outstanding. Great beer too! I do recommend this place for a family or singles. The restrooms were also nice and clean. read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Atmosphere is great. I had the fish and chips and they were great. Service wasn't horrible. I'd go back.

Wow, what a fun spot for a good fish and chips! Stopped here for a quick dinner while in London, and found seating in the upstairs balcony within a few minutes. I ordered the Large order of Fish and chips and my husband did the Steak & Nicholsons Pale Ale pie. I did want to order the small order for my fish, but the restaurant told us that could not be accommodated on our date of visit? Not sure the reason there. The large was plenty of food, and the fish was super flaky and lightly battered, just how it should be! The side of mushy peas was well seasoned, and the fries perfectly salted. Only downside was the small serving of tartar sauce. My husbands ale pie was delicious, with a flaky pastry, and hearty stout sauce filling. His side of cabbage was under flavored sadly, but the potato was well cooked, with a fluffy and buttery texture. Lovey strong stout sauce accompany on the side. Overall, you can't beat the fun upbeat vibe inside nor the kind service. We would certainly return. read more

The Coal Hole - Steak & Nicholsons Pale Ale pie - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Oi, what a cheeky name! A London classic for a pint and some fish and chips. Lively crowd friendly staff great location, it was busy inside so we just took our beers outside and stood next to the sidewalk and people watched, come on by I'm sure I'll be there again tomorrow:-) read more

Still a nice little pub. Decent selection of real ales. Much less commercial feeling than many of Nicholson's other properties. Food is good (standard Nicholson fare) but service getting it to the table is pretty slow. Getting an ale at the bar is usually pretty quick but the bartenders seem to be rushed and flustered even when the place is pretty empty. When weather is decent, it's possible to smoke on the side street/alley outside the side door. read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Very attentive and dotting staff. Food came out pretty quickly (was here on a Thursday around 1400....after the lunch rush). Lancashire Hot Pot was steaming hot and VERY FLAVORFUL! read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Both my friend and I got sick after eating here. The food was terrible and bland and we had a bad feeling about it from the beginning. We should have trusted that feeling. We both had the meat pie thing and I'm pretty sure it was microwaved. The peas and carrots were dry and honestly the worst looking peas and carrots I've ever seen. We are only in London for a few days and this restaurant has put us out of commission for a day. read more

A lovely pub with excellent British pub food. We loved the beef pie and sausage and mash.

We were turned away by a frantic and harried-looking waiter, even though the restaurant was visibly less than half full; definitely not a good sign. We didn't end up eating so I can't speak for the food, but the service definitely left something to be desired... read more

I've been coming to this pub for 2 years now. Good selection of beers, amazing good with affordable prices.

Cozy! I like cozy british pubs! This used to be a coal storage. Good selection if draughts - several ales and IPAs. That will do it for me! Pale ale pint is £3.80. Wow! read more

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The Coal Hole is a great London pub. I love its décor and old worldy ambience. It feels as though it probably hasn't changed much for decades-not that it's old and worn-on the contrary it is very well looked after. There are plenty of beers and ales on offer and the pies here are really tasty. There is an outside area which is taken advantage of more so now because of the smoking ban but I think it creates a great atmosphere when the patrons spill out onto the street and alley way that runs alongside of it. The coal hole is just south of Covent Garden and as a result it is slightly out of the bustling touristy area so you'll often find regulars using this place rather than streams of tourists. However it is on the same road as a couple of theatres such as The Lyceum so it's a great place for a pre or post theatre drink. read more

The Coal Hole - The Coal Hole on The Strand - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This very traditional bar on the strand is a great place to take foreign tourists who want a good rink but with an Old Englandy feel. The interior is great, all wooden and with lots of little alcoves and spaces for groups. The bar stocks a wide range of beers and ales and your usual spirits. It gets very busy with the after-works crowd and in the Summer you can spill out of the back outside, though it's not that scenic. The place has character and is quite okay for one off drinks but I couldn't recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to start the night off or end up as it's bit too boring for that. read more

The Coal Hole - The Cole Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

It's classier than it sounds. Stopped in and liked the atmosphere. Relaxed vibe, there was an older after work crowd, but I wasn't there to pick up anybody, so I didn't mind. The bartenders are really nice as well. I also really like the name. It's just fun to say. Come on, say it out loud. Coal Hole. Good stuff. read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Love love love this place! My friends and I were doing a double decker open air bus tour around London, and stepped off almost directly in front of this place when we decided we were hungry. Boy am I glad we did! I had the fish and chips, an English bar food staple. I upgraded to the large, and I got two H-U-G-E pieces of battered fish, fries and a small serving of mushy peas (weird). Everything was delicious. There was so much food I couldn't finish it all. I also tried a strawberry-lime cider that was amazing and now my new favorite. Ironically, my friend kept talking about a pub with great pies, so we asked him to take us, and it ended up being this place! The pie was great, a warm flakey crust on top, with mashed potatoes and veggies on the side. The staff was great and attentive. Plus, how can you not love a place called The Coal Hole?! This will definitely be a stop if I ever make it back to London. read more

Although The Coal Hole once served the Savoy Hotel as a coal cellar there is nothing dirty or grimy about it these days. In fact this is probably one of the best looking boozers in London. There is a real sense of history to the Coal Hole, heightened by the decor which incorporates stained-glass windows, small wooden carvings and statues and worn wooden surfaces. The atmosphere is generally one of quiet joviality or reflection making this a great spot for a read of the newspaper or a quiet chat with a friend. The staff are laid back but friendly and always greet you with a smile. The drinks selection is mighty impressive with a varied range of bottled and draught beers, real ales, cider and a decent choice of wines. Generally these are served to a smattering of local workers who come in to enjoy a pint at lunchtime or after clocking off and various theatre-goers and tourists who come for its proximity to theatre-land and the opulent history. I love these quirky converted buildings, your eye is constantly dragged round the room to each of the many different features and there's a gret atmosphere to boot. read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This is probally one of the more famous pubs in the area. With dark wooden beams, flag stones floors and interesting lighting this place really sets the scene for a Victorian pint or three. Im fan of this place, mainly down to it deco and atmosphere. I wouldnt recommend it as a night out option, but it's a great place to go during the week, or for an afternoon drinking session. Also, because its a Nicholson's pub, you can try before you buy! read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Probably the most famous pub in the area, the Coal Hole is pretty much unchanged over the years, although it has had its ups and downs. Built in a corner of the Savoy Hotel complex, the pub has a medieval (circa 1904) style décor - dark beams, leaded lights, stone flag floors etc - lending it a theatrical air, which not only fits with the fact it's next door to the Savoy Theatre, but is doubly apt given the past clientele. The theme of stone, dark wood and leaded light windows , carries on into the street level bar. The ceiling is very high with heavy black beams. Hanging banners suggest something medieval, but no, it was decorated in 1904. Under the mock beams is a beautiful marble frieze of wistful maidens picking vines. The Coal Hole occupies a corner of the Savoy Building, designed by Thomas Collcutt. It was in the basement of the pub's former incarnation that the Wolf Club was founded, by actor and lush Edmund Kean. Supposedly a place where hen-pecked husbands could enjoy a sing-song, its real role was less innocent, and involved heavy drinking and loose women. But can you blame themnow the real ale is a pleasure to drink and the pub has a warm and welcoming feeling. One to visit then! The crowd factor and the perennially over-amped PA upstairs means quiet conversation is not feasible -so not for a romantic date. It's open till midnight Though. read more

The Coal Hole - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Needing a pint before going to see Kinky Boots we noticed this pub so popped in. Décor the same as years ago, not changed. Wood panelling everywhere, dark wood bar and stools. Old world comes to mind. Visions of centuries ago people sitting around in this packed London pub. Service was swift with hiked up prices. However, we are in the centre of London so what could be expected. Not a pub I would put myself out to visit but useful at the time, read more

I dined my last night in London down in the cellar - a lovely, cozy place to eat, and the pub grub was as good as it gets. But the service was awful: there was no one at the bar when I came in, and I must have waited almost five minutes until a very uninterested bar tender took the trouble to appear. She knew nothing about the beers on tap. I persisted, because I was too tired to go elsewhere, and my hotel (the Strand Palace) was just across the road. So: a very divided review: food (a pie) great; beer a mystery; service awful. read more

I could barely catch a break back in Manchester but I caught a wif of the beautiful food and was tasty too. Side Note: I can't even CATCH a cold in the Premier League. read more

Great London bar where you are just as likely to run into a Business Prof. from the London School of Economics as you are to see a Canadian tourist out to see a show or a stage hand or understudy working on a nearby show. Great place to start an evening out in London. Great selection of hard Cider. read more

The Coal Hole - The Coal Hole sign - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

In a handy location on the Strand, The Coal Hole has been an after-work watering hole for me on more than one occasion. I have never had a drink in the ground floor bar, instead opting for the basement bar which always seems to be much emptier (perhaps less people are aware it's there). It's a pub and it does what a pub does best - sells booze. It also has some decent albeit basic food - pub food - burgers, fish and chips, pies etc. I had a burger here once, not the most amazing meal I've ever had but it was tasty and I was hungover so was just what I needed! Pubs in this area will always be busy, being in such a central location and The Coal Hole can certainly fill up in peak hours after work and in the evenings, but I have still had some enjoyable times down here and can usually find a place to stand or perch without being too uncomfortable. In summary it's a basic no thrills pub but it's in a handy location and the food won't knock your socks off but it'll certainly do the job. read more

A loud pub located on the Strand - it attracts mostly London folk or local workers, the tourists opting for other pubs. Decent range of beers to be had here, and their ales are kept well. As with most Nicholsons pubs, you'll get mid level food, some of it better than the rest. Their pies are always a safe bet! Best bit about this pub is the downstairs basement bar. Head around the back of the building and sneak in. Tricky to find, but an even better hiding spot from the tourists! Lovely wine too. A Gordon's substitute when too lazy to walk to the other end of the road. read more

I was in London on vacation, and my friends and I decided on stopping by the place for obligatory pub fare. The atmosphere had a rugged, old-worldly feel, and I was pleased to learn that the restaurant had a bit of history, thanks to the back of the menu. We went on a beautiful, sunny Saturday in the early afternoon, and it wasn't too busy. I was impressed on how fast our food was served! I ordered Fish & Chips (typical, but a must have!) and they must have been the best I have ever tasted. The fish was HUGE and perfectly fried, not greasy like the junk I've had in the States. My friend had the Angus burger, and we all agreed that although it was nicely seasoned, it was too dry. My boyfriend enjoyed the Bangers and Mash, and he noted that the sausages were quite tasty. Overall, it was a great stop on my trip! I didn't realize it was so famous. read more

There's nothing especially outstanding about this place - it's a good old-skool pub in it's décor, layout and booze. It's a solid 3-star pub. But then we ordered some "chips" and snacks to accompany our many beers and they earned themselves another star. This is not your standard pub food fair - the chips were amazing, almost certainly a creation of duck fat. We also got some mini toad in the holes which came on a slab of wood with a small jug of deep gravy. Absolutely delicious. Come for a drink, stay for the food. read more

I expected more of this traditional pub. For all the dark wood and restored wall decor, it still had a bit of a chain pub feel to it. To be fair, it could be that I happened to be there during the after work crowd crush. However as much as I tried, still I found The Coal Hole strangely lacking. In spite of the crowds, the sprawling space did feel at least breathable, while the service was trying hard to serve quickly -and graciously- in the middle of being slammed by patrons. The beers were the usual variety, including foreign selections. While we didn't eat the food, it looked tempting, especially the savory pies passing by in front of us on a regular basis. It all seemed good enough, yet not amazing. Still something was just missing for me. I didn't really feel like I was in a pub, but more of a bar made to look like a pub. I wouldn't discourage anyone from going though. read more

For just drinks, I would recommend this place. However, if you're looking for food as well I would suggest going somewhere else. For the price you pay, the servings are tiny. At other pubs you would get more food for even less money. The service was very slow and there weren't enough staffers when it got really busy in the dining room. Again, for drinks - come here! (Summer shandy made with London Pride was great.) Food - keep walking... read more

The Coal Hole - Tiny serving size - steak frites - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I do not understand why my work colleagues, always want to come to this place after work. It's not that there's something really wrong about this place, it's just not like there's anything particularly good about it either. *Insert bland English pub review here* There are better pubs and bars especially in this area of town, but pop in if you must before going to see a play in the area or if your colleagues drag you here. read more

Sometimes my husband and I end a fun day of exploring a new city with a short pub hop, and this popular place right on the Strand seemed like the a good stop along the way. On a Saturday afternoon, the place was PACKED. Diners, drinkers and tag-alongers were all there - on the ground floor and upstairs - enjoying the selection of brews. I decided to try the Shark Bite / Shark Head? ale/lager/whatever it was - and I couldn't drink it! It was horrendous!!! BUT, the good news is that when I took it back to the bar and asked for a The Rev. James instead, they replaced it at no cost. I was willing to pay for the alternate beer, but they were cool about it. Nice. We had a good experience there, but I'm not sure that I'd go back for food. The upstairs dining area was sweltering (and it wasn't very warm outside), and the crowded conditions just aren't my favorite. On to the next pub! read more

Pretty good food. Pretty poor service. Sat for almost 30 minutes with no drink after walking up the dreaded spiral staircase at Covent Garden's underground stop. The fish & chips were pretty good, but obviously not what this place specializes in. The inside was a beautiful old-school bar with seating both upstairs and down. The beer selection was pretty much par for the course. Nothing spectacular, but a good selection nonetheless. I probably won't come back here, for fear of dehydration waiting for drinks. The prices were a bit higher than other places nearby, but you're paying for the atmosphere. read more