The service is surly but the pub is pretty damn cool. It's like stepping back in time to another era! Old fashioned everything and you can really imagine what it was like back in the 1950s. Come here on a rainy day when you'll be forced to sit inside and absorb the atmosphere! read more

We popped in this off the path, quaint little neighborhood pub with friends late one evening, and luckily got a table. The people were friendly the wait staff courteous and the atmosphere was pure English pub. Enjoyed it immensely. Did not have anything to eat just a few Gin & tonics. read more

Miserable owner! He lives in the past and treats tourists as if they are an annoyance. Only guests to arrive in the pub and he treated us with such contempt. Shame! Do not waste your time. A pub should be a happy place! read more

Great place in Knightsbridge. Cash only and no mobile phones. A great place for a pint.

We saw this on yelp and the menu looked great and when we got there the bartender said they only had sandwiches. Quite a disappointment.

Pretty ironic they have a sign on the door that states "Proud to be a member of Equity." Did not feel so welcomed by a ( owner) sitting by the door who told us we couldn't come in. Mind you he's saying this while there are other guests in the bar. Bartender was great, customers on the other hand not so much. Just received cringy stares. read more

If you are in London, you'll notice something pretty interesting ... there are very few pubs which are actually independent pubs owned by an actual owner and not a management company or brewery. You'll see names like 'The Kings Head', 'The Green Man', etc. but almost always you'll notice that the menus look conspicuously like Applebees or TGIFriday's menus with photos of the food ... the same old traditional English staples and boasts of 'The Best Fish and Chips in London'. The corporate pubs have a traditional, cozy feel ... right down to the pattered wallpaper, dark wood and spotlessly clean bar with framed corporate photos. THIS pub ... The Nag's Head ... is an independently owned neighborhood pub. I guess you'd call this a 'dive bar' if it were in the United States. It smells vaguely like a wet saddle blanket, could certainly use a dusting and there are police patches from all over the United States tacked up with various old bric-a-brac behind the bar. The owner (I presume) is an older dude ... kind of crotchety with an 'I don't give a fuck ... it's my joint' kind of attitude. Without the British accent, he reminds me of a crusty old NYC or Brooklyn bar owner. Things here are done his way, or no way. Yet if you follow the rules, don't say stupid stuff and try not to take your cell phone out and use it while sitting there ... you're in good. The pints are a bit on the pricey side and the food didn't look phenomenal to a tourist (sandwiches mostly) but this pub is run for the locals vs. the tourists and that makes is a nice spot to see what pubs from 10 years ago before the corporatization and craft beer revolution took over the pub scene of London. (I literally couldn't find a Fullers London Pride or Boddingtons on draft in the entire city of London!) One of the things we noticed (and were told by the owner) is that traditionally, Brits preferred 'non fizzy' beer ... you can watch the bartender pull a lever several times which pumps the beer out lukewarm and with no head. This is the traditional way beer was served ... tasting flat and lukewarm. However, due to changing tastes, The Nag's Head also has cold beer on draft which is expelled from a keg with a turn of a tap. We chose the old school 'flat/warm' beer for the traditional experience. It was all fresh and tasty ... although a bit more expensive and served in a smaller glass than other places we went. There is a 10 gbp limit on credit cards and the owner mentions he'd rather you pay in cash, so try to find an ATM before you arrive. South Kensington is a beautiful area ... kind of like the Brentwood or Beverly Hills of London. Very sleepy and quiet ... not too many banks to be found. We would certainly come back because we understand neighborhood pubs like this are few and far between these days in London. It was nice to experience what it used to be like before the pubs went corporate. However, I would recommend an air freshener or two for the inside as it smelled kind of 'gymnasium-like' which was the only part of the 'charm' of a small pub we didn't care for. read more

Good food , good pints and good people! Great place to hangout for some fun. read more

great service, welcoming food is mediocre at best. price of the food was ridiculous! very over priced, wont be choosing this establishment for food ever again the beer was nice though read more

My wife and I popped in today for a quick pre-flight session. Chatted with the proprietor, drank and sampled the cheese and roast sandwiches. In short, this place is excellent. Classically warren laden, nonsense layout with mega charm and authenticity. Incredible. I am going to be back and forth to London and cannot wait to stop by many times. So much better than a Fuller establishment - ugh. Support, what I believe to be, the last independent pub in London! read more

Small quaint , holds about 20 people please hang up your coat and hide your phone or you may be asked to leave. Welcoming.

The problem with cool little pubs in London is that if they are really good, friendly, local pubs, then they get written up on American web sites like Yelp and become filled with us Americans taking pictures of us being in local pubs drinking with local Londoners and thus are no longer really good, friendly and local. Been here twice, the second time there was one other American there - but she knows the owner and acts like a local. A young woman walked in talking on her cell phone and they made her go back outside. I like that rule. She argued in her thick cockney accent, but she lost the argument and hung up. Next time I am coming for the Sunday Roast. The food smelled great, but I already had dinner so it was just a pint and some conversation for me this time. The owner and the others there are grumpy, mean, and snarly. Don't go here :). and if you do go, leave quietly else you will disturb the neighbors. read more

Before you search out The Nag's Head...before you read any further... Let this sink in... THIS IS A PUB. This is not a restaurant passing it's self off as a pub. This is a pub. This is not a club passing its self off as a pub. It is a pub. This is not a coffee shop passing its self off as a pub. It is a pub. This is not a tourist destination passing itself off as a pub. It is a pub. This is a PRIVATELY owned English pub. Meaning it is not Fridays, or Applebees, or some other cookie cutter chain. The owner can do as he sees fit when he likes and he can change his mind if he is so inclined. (This pub is not affiliated with other "nags heads".) I am a tourist when I visit The Nag's Head. As such, I respect their local customs becuase it is not my home where I take off my shoes and put my feet on the furniture. If you expect an extensive menu, that's not a pub requirement. The food is simple, nourishing, and English. People go to pubs primarily to have a beer and socialize with friends. If you are ethnocentric and are lacking social skills, I wouldn't expect any staff to feel obliged to go out of their way to hold my hand. I have never had a negative experience in the handful of times I have been to this pub. In fact, I seek out this destination because it has character and the people are real. I treat them with courtesy and I have always found that I have received more than I gave. If this review seems rough around the edges and dissuades you from coming to The Nag's Head, that just makes it easier for me to find a seat... read more

The Nag's Head - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I'm not going to lie: I used my phone. Maybe it was the thrill of inconspicuously snapping a photo for Instagram while knowing it was frowned upon. Maybe it was the heavy-handed pouring skills of our friendly bartender who gave me a cocktail that was 80% Red Label and 10% ginger ale (+ 10% ice #Math) that clouded my judgment. Hard to say, really. My undoubtedly sexy rebelliousness aside, this pub is great. It's small, cozy, appropriately decorated with lackadaisical charm, with a friendly staff (even to a tourist such as myself) and they make a decent drink to boot. Personally, I embrace the no cell phone philosophy, albeit not enforced, despite my use of my own. If I were I local, I'd come here often. read more

Great traditional, historic, and authentic English pub! The food was great (for the price range, about 10 quid or less), and the beer was perfect. I love and applaud the owners for enforcing the no cell phone rule (they say that if pure caught talking on your phone then you will be asked to take it outside... Not sure how the rule applies to checking your phone for text messages, etc.). The pub also has a rule that you must hang your coats, in order to make more room for others. I went on a Sunday morning so it was virtually empty. But, I would love to visit this place on a Friday or Saturday evening and see/meet any locals that frequent there. Overall, for someone visiting or living here from another country like myself, I'd highly recommend making a stop for a pint and the daily roast special at this pub. read more

The Nag's Head - Exterior - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Great pub in London! It's on a side side street tucked away and reminds you of a neighborhood pub. The pub has been around for 200 years! Took the family and they seated us in the downstairs back room. I had a Guinness and the roast chicken and vegetables for lunch. It was great. Highly recommend this fine pub if you are in London. read more

The Nag's Head - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

My new favourite pub in london!! Tiny, cosy and very friendly staff. A good ol' local pub down a quaint little side street. read more

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I have to admit, the final stop on my tour de pubs date was my favorite. The place was practically cleared out -- potentially due to the fact that it was nearing a late hour for a Wednesday. Another historic pub, but this one had a great feel to the entire place. The main floor gave the feeling of sitting on an old pirate ship. They didn't carry my now standard order of Rekorderlig Strawberry Lime Cider, so I ordered the Aspall Suffolk Cyder on tap. Jolly good choice. We made friends with a trio of very drunk and chatty Brits who wanted to know "our story". No question was apparently off limits, and though it was very intrusive, it was also a witty cherry on top of a great night. This pub was amongst my favorite places in London. Maybe the company I was in didn't hurt, but the venue was awesome on its own. read more

This is my favorite pub in London. Everytime I have gone there we were the only tourist and now when we go there is always a local that actually remembers us from previous visits. The homes in the area are more like condo's/apartments but they are very very expensive...like a million GBP...which is almost $2 million USD. I tried to take a photo of some people we recently met but apparently he must be someone of importance I was told because he didn't allow us to take his photo. It is hard to find unless you are really looking for it. Since they started the smoking ban in London they have put tables outside including a roped off area on the street. read more

We went here because it was included in a tourist guide, but it was one of the worst experiences, fortunately it only lasted like 5 minutes, before we were kind of: kicked out? We were asking for a table, and even tough there was plenty room on the upper floor, (and below by the way) a chinese lady said there was no space, suddenly an old man appeared while we were trying to decide, or ask again. He was SO RUDE, asking if we were going to stay, he didn't let us speak, or let us explain our concerns, he just made a very rude expression as he pointed the door!!! RUDE RUDE RUDE... there are plenty of nice and traditional pubs in London, just because it has a fireplace or it is privately owned it doesn't make this one better, or give them an excuse for being SOOOOOOOOOOO RUDE. read more

A quirky little pub with tons of character, this is a local watering hole; one can tell by the familiar banter between the bartenders and the guests. A wee old-fashioned for the new generation in that it does not allow use of mobile phones on its premises, but it certainly maintains a charm not to be found in new-age pub chains. I noticed several reviewers on other websites take umbrage to the no-phone rule, but I see no reason for it. The walls are lined with several sports-related cartoons, photographs, posters and other curios. If you look above the bar, you'll notice lots of caps stacks up, displaying various sports club badges and such - one can easily amuse oneself for a long time appreciating the ambience. Unfortunately, we couldn't stay very long at this pub as it was part of a pre-Xmas charity pub crawl but that's OK, it was enough time to appreciate the fine cider on tap. The name of the cider shall remain a mystery to me until the next time I visit, a friend had bought me the pint. The landlord seemed friendly enough to our fairly raucous bunch. I highly recommend this pub for a round of hearty and authentic British pub goodness. read more

Charming pub hidden away in a back street near Knightsbridge station. The old fashioned décor and paraphernalia like an old till really add to the feel here. Here they insist you hang up your coats and switch off your mobile phones (although I didn't see this enforced at any point). I like this though, because the feel of this pub would be seriously disrupted by posh blokes chorusing 'yah yah yah' into their pocket microwaves. The barmaid was excellent, twice the average speed I reckon and laughing most of the time too. There are a few tables up front, with a larger cosy area down the stairs to the left of the bar. The only downsides were the lack of ale choice for a free house (just Adnams..bitter or broadside) and the price (think I paid £3.60!), but this is a lovely old fashioned pub (300+ year history) that I would recommend a visit to read more

A friend brought us here in the afternoon. It's a super low key local place. I love the decor and chill vibe here. Since it was the middle of the afternoon, it felt almost like a private room downstairs. It's a free house pub - I didn't even know what that was until I came here (i.e. not owned by a brewery). We had a few pints from Adnams, which was surprisingly easy to drink (I'm not usually a beer person). It's definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a good local pub. Bonus: bathrooms are clean! read more

This is a great pub. Very much one of a dying breed of British pubs that are full of character and charm. They really don't make them like this any more. As other reviewers have said, they do not allow mobile phones. Cherish the quiet - and lack of yobbos! No one has mentioned the food, which is not bad at all. The prices ain't cheap but then, I suppose, where is these days? The customer service will not be to everyone's liking. It is brusque and direct and the landlord will (as mentioned above) tell people to "get out" if they're using a mobile phone. I must say though that I rather enjoy their brusqueness. It really does feel like a traditional local and not merely some modern clone pub like a thousand identical others. I would certainly recommend trying it, if only once to know what pubs used to be like. read more

The nag's head! ah, my second vacation day in London after 3 years. so we stopped there, my cousin and i, because i felt like having a real british pub experience. note that I am from Montreal and am very much used to the hundreds of irish pubs out there and a certain standard of service. first things first, it's a cool looking bar, seriously. nice chandeliers, warm atmosphere, and some quite good beers too. yes, quite good. brits aren't that great at making beers. now the downside: the service. i dunno if it's the british thing to do but wow, the girls working there were not that friendly at all. mind you, i was there around 7pm, which usually means end of happy hour and it wasn't that busy. 4 people standing around, chatting and completely oblivious to my presence. i mean, i am a pretty good looking dude and waiting at a bar to be served is acceptable only if the bartenders are doing something. other thing to note if you are not from here, pay at the bar then go get a seat, on and on it goes. therefore, don't just go sit and expect to be served. apart form that it was a cool place to have a pint. just try to get their nicest waitress, the one who likes her job. there is always at least one in every bar. Cheers. read more

Nice pub and staff. The food isn't the best but for a pint or two this pub is a hit read more

Love this place. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and definitely worth taking the effort to find this place. The food is definitely standard 'pub grub' - what you would expect to find in any well run pub. The selling point of this place atmosphere and service. You feel right at home. read more

This place is an institution. Went for a couple pints of Guinness today and had a lovely time. The decor is definitely what you would expect from an authentic old pub, appropriately themed with saddles and horse stuff (nag = horse). They have old photographs, poetry, letters, and newspaper clippings covering for nearly every inch of the walls and ceilings. The service was pub-like, to-the-point but friendly. Had a great chat with both bar tenders. The prices were a bit steep, 5 pounds for a pint of Guinness, but it's not out of the usual for what we've paid elsewhere. **No cell phones are allowed inside!** Loved this. The owner said he wants people to simply BE when they're here. Drink, connect, don't worry. How great is that?! We got clarity that people can check their phones bee idly but shouldn't make or recieve phone calls inside, and pictures are allowed if you ask first. Wish more places did this. We sat for a couple of hours looking through the books have laying around as part of the ambiance and chatted with thee locals. They also have homemade food you can order. We only had drinks. Great place to hang for a bit! read more

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OK, I will only write this review if you promise not to tell ANYONE about this pub. Save it for yourself and your favourite people only. Deal? OK. I paid my first visit to the Nag's Head having just spent twenty quid on one (yummy) drink at the Intercontinental Hotel bar in Mayfair. I guess this contrast of venues could be described as going from the sublime to the ridiculous, but I'd prefer to say from the sublime to the fabulous. Before we got to the Nag's Head we were informed that this particular pub has two strict rules. 1: You HAVE to hang your coat up. 2: Mobile phones are BANNED. And, lo and behold, when we entered the most charming pub I've ever laid my eyes upon, there are coat hooks in every available nook, and little polite notices reminding patrons to switch off their mobile devices; a rule which I was delighted to comply with. Service was the friendliest you'll ever find in London. There are two small rooms, both cosy and welcoming with roaring fireplaces. But what made the night for me was the clientele, and the classic 'London pub' atmosphere. One table in the corner was occupied by some dapper-looking chaps in their 70s. And, all of a sudden, one of the gentlemen whipped out a pair of drumsticks from his jacket pockets and started drumming rock 'n' roll rhythms on tables, glasses and - at one points - our heads (gently!) whilst singing the songs. Before long the entire pub was partaking in a singalong of 'rock around the clock'. It was magical. And a moment I'll always remember. I can't promise that the drumming fellow will be there if and when you decide to give this pub a whirl, but the charming staff, the cosy atmosphere and unbeatable secret-mews location should be more than enough to encourage you to pay the Nag's Head a visit. I cannot WAIT to take people there. read more

For photos and more please visit my blog: http://hungryinlondon.com/2011/04/the-nags-head-belgravia/ I really feel though that I should give The Nag's Head in Belgravia, a short walk from Knightbsridge tube station, a mention, because I have spent some time in this area desperately searching for a drinking hole which is neither extremely posh and expensive nor a tourist trap. Correct me if I am wrong, but The Nag's Head must be the only place in this area that fits these criteria. So now that I have finally found such a pub, it would be very mean not to share it with you. You find it after you have passed a couple of overpriced and equally underwhelming restaurants in the bend of a small mews, which is interestingly called Groom Place.There must have been a lot of grooming going on in the olden times. The pub is old fashioned, traditional and very cute. I think this is how pubs used to look like before the pub chains took over and it appears to not have changed in 50 years. The publican looks like he's worked there since the beginning which gives the place some added charm. I can't comment on the beer as I have only ever drunk whiskey there (yes I am a lush) and they do have my favourite, Lagavulin. I don't know anything about the food either (I did see some plates being carried past me which did not look very promising), what I know though is that the staff is very friendly, the patrons a very non-Knightsbridge/Belgravia appearing mixture (meaning not wearing Prada and Gucci and looking like coming straight from hairdresser/sytlist) of young and old and the atmosphere is very pleasant and convivial. So, should you need some break after you have stormed the sales at Harvey Nicks (or is any of my readers shopping there WITHOUT sale? good for you!), this is the calm and invigorating oasis you need to regain your strength. Cheers! read more

Nice little backstreet pub, only a few steps - but a world away - from the bustle of Knightsbridge. It's very small inside with only room for a dozen people or so in the first upper room (and only then if half of them are standing), though the lower room (reached by steps to the left of the bar) has tables that can hold about as many again sitting. There's a bit of space on the pavement outside, but because it's quiet and residential you usually just get crowds of people standing in the street with their pints. It's very much a small independently owned and operated pub. No fruit machines here, no modern furnishings. They've got a couple Adnam's brews and a few other ales. The atmosphere's very relaxed, cosy, and neighbourly. I like this pub and the nearby Grenadier (http://www.qype.co.uk/place/29311-The-Grenadier-London) best in this area. read more

This is what I would term a traditional watering hole. I arrived here for after work drinks on a Friday evening and I was the only woman in there. There were lots of blokes drinking. It's quite small but after 15 minutes or so we managed to secure a table. It seems to be a pub that people visit on their way to somewhere else. Loved the assorted paraphernalia that adorns the walls. There doesn't seem to be a common theme. In one corner there were old skis and skates. Another wall has a couple of those cane poles that are used for beating rugs. The No Mobile Phones rule is enforced. A lady walked in while on her phone and was told firmly that she could not use her phone in the pub. You have been warned. This pub is the perfect place to take someone to if they are looking to drink in a real English pub. read more

I generally agree with the prior reviews. This is what a pub should be (and the "no mobile telephones" policy helps). I had an Adnams Broadside..... http://www.beerfromthecoast.co.uk/beers_broadside.html .....followed by an Adnams Bitter..... http://www.beerfromthecoast.co.uk/beers_bitter.html Both were very nice (3.50 GBP each), showing that this real pub knows how to properly keep real ales. I was there on Sunday, 9th March 2009 and I found it very quiet at around 4:30 pm, picking up just a bit by 5:30. read more

Went here for lunch with my family. Grumpy old bloke shuffled down stairs then had the audacity to charge £3.5 each for a thimble of lemonade for the kids and almost £7 each for a white bread sandwich with one slice of ham and cheese... combined with being served Forster's after asked my for a different beer this was an overpriced underwhelming experience. Not surprised they are the last of the independent pubs can't see anyone with business prowess snapping up this lemon. read more

Stumbled upon this pub while wandering around London by myself. It looked like a real authentic pub so I went in and the owner was the only other one inside. I told him I was looking for some lunch and he listed off just a couple of items and I went with the venison stew. Also got a half pint of the blonde. He told me the venison came from the barmaid's father who shot the deer. It was delicious and came with a cool story. I loved hearing his story about the bar and his family's ski trips around Europe. He told me how it was one of the only private bars in London that isn't owned by a specific brewery and he can choose whatever beer he wants on tap. He also told me he has a live jazz band the 1st Sunday of every month. I was super bummed I had missed it by a day! I'm so glad I found this place and can't wait to go back! read more

Awesome pub. Visiting London, found on yelp. Had a couple lagers and cheese tray. Very delicious. Great experience, friendly staff, and good service. read more

Looked like a great pub, went in looking for drinks and food but service was awful - lady behind the bar was staring us down and making the group feel extremely uncomfortable. We weren't allowed to order food and was rudely told to leave when 3 out of the 7 of us didn't order a drink straight away. read more

The most authentic English pub experience I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy! The zero tolerance on the no electronics rule is welcome, and it brings about the lost art of talking to people ! From the moment I walked in the Bartender Noreen was welcoming and had such a straightforward way about her that she had me laughing and part of the ongoing conversation almost immediately. The regulars are some of the most interesting people you'll ever meet with stories that will amaze! Was seranaded by a 90 year old war vet, singing songs over a hundred years old ! The walls are covered in relics and memorabilia and the atmosphere is exactly what a proper pub should be- dimly lit, cozy seating and a take no prisoners owner. if you want to forget your manners and are the type to complain while a guest in anyone's home then this place is not for you! Hang up your coat ! Turn off your phone order a drink and join the conversation ! I will go back every time I am in town. Wonderful experience that I couldn't have paid for. read more

We had a great pint and some crisps at this cozy pub. The staff were friendly, and the crowd was lovely. Great after work and after shopping pub in Knightsbridge! read more

We went to this pub because of Yelp's recommendation. The place have history written on the walls (old pictures and decoration), a proper English pub but I totally disappoint the good critics. The staff was so rude with us, small selection of food and guess what... The beer prices were different just because we looked like tourist! (Same beer £5 for us, £4.5 for another customers behind us) On the top of that, the "No mobile phones" policy is only for clients as the waiter was checking her smartphone constantly. If you want to go to a nice pub in this area, avoid this crappy one. read more