My sister and I were visiting London from Los Angeles and stumbled by this place. Good atmosphere. But the food and drinks were beyond terrible. And to top it, the bartender was extremely unfriendly, blatantly rude. My sister asked for a cocktail without the simple syrup and the bartender had a problem with that. He's soooo rude. I would pass on this place. So many other options. GO ELSEWHERE read more

The Porter House - This bartender is on another level awful - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Overall great spot for drink with awesome ambiance, beer, and a social place but the food left something to be desired. Pros: Ambiance, beers, packed and social nature of the place Cons: Lack of seating, food was just ok Food/ Drink: Beers- as you as you're going to get, a lot of imported and German beers which is great Spice bag 3.5/5: Good chicken but light on the portion and have better bags elsewhere Fish n chips 3/5: Nice piece of haddock but not as flavorful or memorable read more

The Porter House - Fish n chips - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Did the fish and chips after a long flight and just trying to get lost in London. While walking through Covent Garden came across this place and was not disappointed. Staff was great and live music on a Friday night!!! read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Such a great place to gather and drink/eat or BOTH. Some many drinks to choose from and the food is plentiful and tasty. The outdoor area was filled with people gathering and having fun. All the dishes to include the appetizers were delicious. Went here twice during my London trip. A must place ! read more

This is the best bar for a night out in the Covent Garden area. The inside is very large and I love the brass/cooper piping throughout the staircases. It's very warm & inviting. read more

Discovered Porterhouse almost by accident. Great bar for a night out - many distinct areas mean you could have your whole night here without ever leaving. With some tables and better dining area on the top floor. The first floor has some TVs and great open space with better service once you go past the bar by the door. As we went on a Saturday, there was a band playing in the basement which had a great set list. Huge garden out front as well. Honestly, the beers were fine. One or two good ones that were unique but otherwise mostly variations of pilseners and lagers. None of the beers were bad but from a craft-styled brewery I might've hoped for a bit more. Definitely recommend Porterhouse for an awesome night out. read more

We really enjoyed The Porter House. We tried three house beers and they were very good. The chicken bbq pizza was outstanding. The bartenders and wait staff were friendly and polite. It is a spacious place with an outdoor patio and three levels. We would return in a heartbeat. read more

Well..saw this on tv... I was expecting a huge tourist trap.. Lots of people..crowded..we had dinner and as few pints.. The oyster porter is the best of the lot..but not earth shaking..kinda disappointing..for a huge British pub to have ok..but not great beer... Food was ok.. Had a roast beef..and roast lamb dinner.. but nothing to write home..good enough..it had lots of parsnips in the veggie mix..so points added.. It was overall ok..but with all the hype..should be better read more

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My friend brought me to the Porterhouse Brewing Co. to give me a real pub dining experience while in London.Honestly I think moreso than anything else we just stumbled upon it. Most people were stood 'round the bar having their brews but we grabbed a table as we were also grabbing a bite. The usual thing with similar establishments in England is you order your food & drinks up at the bar and then they will usually bring your food to your table for you. I tried their Porterhouse Red Ale and loved it! Served at room temp from the tap, as most beers in England. Had a twinge of fruit with malt plus it was a pretty bright red - I'm a girl after all and it doesn't hurt for my beer to look pretty. Although, my friend informed me that everyone would think I was a lesbian because ladies in the UK just do not drink beer. I assure you I like the fellas but I also do enjoy the pints. The interior is very cool with hidden seating spots, awesome woodwork abound, just a really nice looking place and super chill. It was a mix of families and drinkers on a Friday afternoon. I'd definitely return to The Porterhouse! read more

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There online hours are not what they say we went 2 hours before they closed and the security sent us away saying they're not open and not taking anyone even though we told them their online hours say they were open for 2 more hours. Would not recommend the security was actually the first rude person we met in England. read more

The Porter House is your typical Covent Garden pub. It's very loud and crowded and a bit messy. Beers and food are pretty standard. Nothing to write home about, but it works as a place to hang with mates, as long as you're not hard of hearing. read more

Very cool place. Dim lit, cozy, a decent amount of beers on tap and liquor. The fish and chips is amazing (I am from the USA). The tables and chairs are very low to the ground so if you're extra tall it may be a bother. It was weird because the waitstaff wanted to ring our drinks up separately from our food- more work for him. read more

The Porter House - 5 pounds for 3 tasters - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

It's a very large place, with 3 levels and 3 or 4 bars. Even though it's huge, though, the tables are stuffed in little cozy corners with lower ceilings and not in view of every other part of the establishment. In short, it's not like a warehouse, but more like a maze. After visiting, I felt like the design and decor was the star, and not the food. My dish was just OK. I had a pastry pie with meat in it which was decent enough. It was more like a traditional pot pie from the states, and not something distinctly UK. My wife had a so-so steak. She reported that it was nothing to write home about. Our sever was very good though. We made her split our check in a detailed way. It was obviously a pain for her, but she was extremely nice about it. Another thing we didn't like was that it's obviously a pickup joint. It was a busy weekend night, so I get it, but still it gave our dinner an unwelcome vibe. I would suggest going on a weekday, or perhaps just choosing another place if it bothers you to have people hitting on each other, or doing the match.com thing. read more

The Porter House - Chix & ham pastry pie and onion rings - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Good beers, nice onion rings, hard to get a place to sit even on 5pm. Service is ok. In the photo - the only guy who really knows how to work here. read more

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I'd say overall the staff is nice and the drinks are standard with a good selection of beers however the food leaves a lot to be desired. The schnitzel is maybe a 2/5 with overpowering raw onion and wanting for flavor. The fish and chips is 3.5/5, average and ok, a safe order but nothing to stop in for. The vegan pizza and the gluten free base was 0/5 at best. The base was undercooked and chewy and the pizza overall has a strange combination of ingredients that leads to an unappealing smell almost like soured cream along with a vile taste and bad texture to eat. 2 marines and myself wouldn't even finish it after my girlfriend called it "vile" and went to leon after one bite. read more

The Porter House - The vegan pizza - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Massive, fairly new-ish pub, at least if compared to some of the traditional Victorian era boozers in the ares ... The beer garden out front is definitely a major selling point, especially as there is hardly and traffic on Maiden Lane. Perfect meeting place to start a Friday pub crawl ... Also the first place I have ever tasted rose made from Malbec - my favourite red ... Frequented by office workers, inoffence but not particularly exciting either. read more

The Porter House - Malbec rosé :-) - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Amazed by how huge Porterhouse really is!!! Literally the place to be in Covent Garden. Even if you walk up and it looks too crowded, don't be afraid to go in anyways. This Irish pub has to hold at least thousand people in its 4 levels. Porterhouse is a great place to find a corner seat, have a few pints and people watch. Excellent Oyster Stout!! Loved this place!! read more

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The Porterhouse is a huge pub located in between the strand and Covent Garden. It feels like a maze more than pub since it is divided into many rooms and many levels. The Porterhouse specializes in beers. The beer menu is extensive and includes beers from everywhere: Belgium, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic, Irish... you name it, it's there. They also sell a selection of beers on tap that are exclusive to the Porterhouse. These include 3 stouts, 2 ales, and 2 lagers. It also serves some good pub grub and occasionally invites some live bands to perform. The Porterhouse boasts a big screen downstairs to show the football. It is clear that because of this and the beer lists, this pub is inevitably populated by the male sex. Perfect to bring your mates and growl in your bearish ways. Grrrr... read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

They should rename this place Labyrinth as, as soon as you enter, you are faced with a myriad of choices. do you go straight ahead to the bar or down one of two stairwells to two other bars. Then, when you've actually managed to get a drink, where the hell do you seat? Honestly, unless you enter as a complete group you must meet outside or somewhere else beforehand. The bar itself is great though! It's large and attracts an attractive afterworks crowd. The range of beers and ales are quite unique to the bar. The downstairs bar sometimes has bands playing and so can be hit or miss but there are plenty of alcoves to hide away with mates and have a good old chinwag. Great prices for the central location as well and well worth a visit. read more

The Porter House - The Porterhouse - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

The porterhouse is a Irish bar, and the food is also delicious. It is best to come here after work, it is chill. But, it is really many people after work. Nice drink and great environment. read more

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Spacious beer house in Covent Garden! Not overcrowded! Plenty of beer choices :) and outdoor heated tables is a huge plus. There is live music, which is refreshing, and plenty of seating/tables if you feel like sitting and chatting as opposed to standing on the floor in front of the band. Only negative is it closes sooooooo early (midnight) even on a Saturday!!! read more

I can see why the Porterhouse is soo popular with tourists. It's pretty awesome. It's got the wow-factor. Pink neon lights and bottle after bottle decoratively donning the walls. There's a great selection on draft on all bars. It just makes a nice change not to have the choice of C arlsberg or Carling. I had a little dram of them all, as is the custom and settled on a nice Chiller. Yum Yum Yum. On my visit I had a little explore, up and down the stairs I go. The toilets are hilarious. Small doors, and that's coming from a shortie like me. Despite its vast size, its reliably busy most of the time. Even if it doesn't feel crammed due to the spaciousness, good luck getting a table or somewhere to sit. Standing around can be a problem too, not many places to perch you drink on and far too many staff doors appearing from nowhere. As there was no where to sit or comfortably stand, the Mrs and I had a swift pint and left. I think it would be a fun place to go with a small group when some sort of match is on. Of course the Irish heritage is what makes the PorterHouse, and of course even though I've never visited the Dublin pub I know that this little tribute in Covent Garden doesn't hold a candle to it. However it is a lovely lively pub and would definitely recommend having a little tipple there if you're about. read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Porterhouse is a complete maze of floors and stairs but once you've worked out how to get from your table to the bar you're fine! A couple of friends were visiting London and staying in Covent Garden a few weekends ago and we met up for Sunday lunch. Whilst deciding where to go I found it really hard to find somewhere that did a good Sunday roast and wasn't ridiculously expensive close to Covent Garden. Until we came across Porterhouse and decided to give it a go. It was really dark inside so we sat outside on the tables in front of the building. It was just about warm enough whilst we ate. The Sunday roast was good and it was great value for money for central London. It wasn't as hot as I would have liked but didn't say anything as I imagine it would have just been blasted in the microwave! It was better than some roasts I've paid double the amount for though. There is a special offer if you order two courses. We failed to order dessert at the same time to get the offer but after a little gentle persuasion they did let us order our desserts at the cheaper price afterwards which was great. I had the sticky toffee pudding and it was fairly moist and wasn't too sweet. We then moved inside as it got colder out and had a drink in the bar. Football was on one screen and gailic football was on another so it's probably a good place to watch sports if you're into that. I'd finally go again. You get a decent meal, good portion size and very reasonably priced, especially for being in Covent Garden. read more

The Porter House - Sample tray with three beers of your choice! - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I need to be honest before I start the review. I am a bit biased here as my buddy's cousin runs the joint. HOWEVER, I LOATHE bars that brew their own beer and peddle their mediocre swill to you like some gourmet aged beef that was grain fed and massaged. Gordon Biersch, yes, I am directing this at you!! I go to the Porterhouse late one Friday before hitting Fabric for an evening of DnB. It is crowded and super hot inside (summertime), but the ladies are lovely and the crowd has a low douchebag factor so that's good. Looking for his cousin (Irish from Belfast) was like looking for a leprechaun in some 1000 year old tree's trunk. it's a labyrinth of bars, stairs, dumb waiters, back offices, and bathrooms. It literally took us 5 minutes to traverse the place and find him. The whole time we're searching, you pass cabinet after cabinet of beer bottles form around the world. It's like a museum of beers. We finally meet up and get a beer. My buddy tells me they brew their own in Ireland so I say "here we go; act like you like it" to myself. I taste it and am very happy with the flavor and aftertaste. they know how to make a great beer. Their selection is amazing! To another reviewer's point, in the heat of battle, the staff is struggling to tend to all the customers so no, they don't have time to even make eye contact but with beer like this, who cares!! Didn't taste the food so I can't judge. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 is due to the intense heat inside. I was rather uncomfortable with the number of people there, but, for being in London where they aren't used to this heat, I need to be nice. I would rather give it 4.5 stars, but I can't. read more

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A good place to go on a Friday or Saturday night when the pubs shut. This place is huge, cavernous even. Interesting selection of lagers on tap. I found myself drinking one called "chiller". I was tied in by the picture of the angry looking polar bear on the tap. Try "Temple Brau" or "Weiss" too if you are into wheat beers. This place gets really packed late in the evening. Particularly if there is a band playing. It's a great place to pull though. Popular with the ameican tourists and foreign language students. Everyone seems to be up for a good time. Reminds me alot of university! read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Large attractive & sprawling pub venue, has many different levels meaning it can pack in the crowds & makes it very hard to find people within! Very loud & noisy on weekends & bit of a meat market then too! Serves food (a bit on the pricey side) with standard menu offering burgers (approx £8.50), pizzas, stews etc.Does have a very big selection of beers on offer including the beloved Fruli fruit beer - mmmmm - don't knock it till you've tried it! Has live music at night from thurs - sun. read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I was introduced to this pub by my friend Ian, it is a large attractively decorated bar, with many different seating levels, and interesting nooks & a large beer garden area. The drinks are, fairly reasonably priced, for London, depending on what you choose to drink. The staff are friendly & the clientele boisterous & good natured, the atmosphere has a high energy buzz about it & everyone seems to be on a mission to have a great night. The outside area is spacious & clean & a wash with people chatting & having fun & from a few looks I got from a few guys, I reckon if I was with a gal pal & not a male pal, I might of pulled by the end of the night. read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

So, you know that M.C. Escher painting 'Relativity'? The one with the crazy staircases? No? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relativity_(M._C._Escher) Go on, then. Take a look at it. Have you looked yet? Okay, well the Porter House is almost exactly like that. There are stairwells EVERYWHERE. There are three levels (I think... it's hard to say, really), and each level has various mezzanine levels thrown about on it higgledy piggledy for fun. Or to confuse the bejebus out of drunk people. Whichever. When I visited, it was quite calm, not too busy. My companions and I found it easy to grab some chairs and tables. Because of all the mezzanine floors and crazy staircases, the Porter House has quite a few little nooks and enclaves that make really great areas for small gatherings of friends. It creates a real sense of intimacy. I can't say how many toilets the place has, as I'm pretty sure I saw a couple spotted on various levels and mezzanine floors. However, walking around was so disorienting that it could have been the same toilet facility and I would have been none the wiser. Oh yeah, and the drinks menu is ginormous. Absolutely huge. Go, enjoy the crazy atmosphere, drink too much of the beer on offer and then get completely lost on your way back to your companions from the toilet after you walk up and down about five staircases. P.S. The Porter House used to be a microbrewery, which actually might explain the craziness of its layout and which also adds to its cool factor. read more

The extensive craft beer menu and fun atmosphere make this place a worthwhile visit for the tourist and local alike. The Porterhouse is a multi-story, high-capacity Irish pub in a trendy area of London. Curse my American bias, but I'll be damned if this place's labyrinth-like interior didn't remind me of something out of Harry Potter. Although the maze of the place can be a little frustrating at times, it is also really fun. The dimly lit and crowded space supplies the charm and vigor someone looking to kick back a pint or two with friends might be looking for. If you manage to find a seat or an area to kick back and relax, you'll find that this place's extensive beer and spirits menu has something for most to enjoy. I'm partial to craft beer and high-end whiskey, so The Porterhouse's menu was right up my alley. I enjoyed a few craft beers and a wonderful, discounted glass of Macallan. What would've been a double-digit price was only 6 pounds when the bartender indicated that they were out of their whiskey of the week. The courtesy was not lost on me. I thoroughly enjoyed the drink and it helped make my afternoon with friends a delight. Overall, The Porterhouse is an energetic and quirky spot that is certainly worth your time and curiosity. Highly recommend. read more

You know the famous 'impossible staircase' puzzle, the one where several figures are moving up and down different staircase but never meet at the same point? That's the Porter House for me. Not only is it huge and confusing with all it's nooks and in-between levels but it's always so busy in here that it's just impossible to find anyone. Don't think you can rely on your phone signal to help you out in here either...reach for your mobile and all you will see is a sad diagonal line across your reception bars indicating that there really is no way out from here. It's kind of like Hotel California. Still, if you're in a big crowd looking to watch the rugby then I would recommend the Porter House. Drink prices are what you would expect for Covent Garden but they do have a good selection of beers. If you're there early enough then you can make it up to the top floor and get a good seat with a view of one of the TV screens. Too late and you'll be stuck behind some corner listening to the cheers but not knowing who scored! read more

TOS spot is really cool. Fun bar with loads of places to sit and enjoy a drink. Didn't eat but o will come back to try. read more

The Porter House - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I'm not even sure if I was actually living in reality or sleepwalking through some strange dream state when I visited the Porterhouse with a group of yelpers over the weekend, but Larissa D is spot on when she describes this drinking den as that M.C. Escher painting 'Relativity'. Beers and nooks and crannies and beers and tables and staircases and beers and tvs and nooks and beers.., If fact, I'll take your M.C. Escher 'Relativity" and I'll raise you David Bowie's strange staircase/inflated cup/staircase/reminds me of the babe Labyrinth final scene as seen in this rare footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQaNfeBooH4&feature=related With Beer. Toby, unfortunately was nowhere to be found. read more

We visited the Porterhouse to watch a Rugby World Cup quarter final game. Outside is a decent sized smoking area with umbrellas, tables, chairs and a screen. Outdoor heaters would be a pleasant addition for the winter! Inside the Irish pub is like a rabbit warren - split over three or four floors, there are multiple bars, ante-rooms, nooks and crannies. It was well set-up for the rugby, with a huge number of screens of all different sizes in various areas. We found a bench tucked into a corner which did us nicely (although we would have struggled for a seat if we'd turned up less than 20 mins before the game). I've walked past the Porterhouse many times and always thought it looked somewhat intimidating. Having actually ventured inside though, I would definitely return, particularly to watch a game. read more

Very nice and old skool bar/pub. Got a very big list of beers/ ales, spirits and wine list. You should find most of the good things inside. Really worth going many times at all time. Haven't tried the food, but they aren't that attractive... Not like the drink list at least. read more

A. Packed and loud as hell...outside B. Packed and loud as purgatory...inside C. The architect was sick, the place is a gem in terms of the seating arrangement and spacing D. Taking 20 pics seems excessive especially after drinking 5 pints of London Pride and falling down stairs proved as much E. A must see and drink-at spot I will hit again, especially when a match is on. read more

One word best describes this place for me "Labyrinth" but the David Bowie version rather than Pans. This pub which is located in Covent Garden has more levels and various stairwells pointing out to different directions like a maze. One of the big misconception that I found before going to The Porterhouse is that the outside does not justify what can be found on the inside. There is seating avalible outside for those who like to induldge in their nicotine fix. I found this pub to be very open and friendly. Even though it gets very loud and busy there will always be some corner that you can sit and just chat without being disturbed by the other patrons. They have a acceptable selection of wine and a huge selection of foreign and local beers. I have yet to try out the food but have always stolen a glimpse of the typical yet fulfilling pub food served on the other tables. I intend to try this out upon my next visit. read more

It's like a maze of levels and I swear there are certain areas and staircases I can only seem to find when drunk leading me to believe Porterhouse is some kind of closet to Narnia. I fully expect one day to take the wrong set of stairs and meet a centaur in a snow-filled forest...at least I hope I do! I have been here many times over the years and I'm not the least bit shamed to admit I don't think I've ever left without being at least a little tipsy. It's just not the sort of place you come for a diet coke! They have all manner of beers including some lovely fruity ones that I love. They often have live music and I've always been impressed by their selection of bands playing some cracking well-known folky and rock tunes. I accidentally visited Porterhouse in Dublin last time I was over there. I say accidentally because we arrived after visiting a long line of other pubs and upon commenting 'this place reminds me of Porterhouse on Maiden Lane' my weary-friend rolled her eyes and pointed out we were in a Porterhouse. Well how was I to know there was more than one? read more

If you're a bit of a beer snob (as in you drink other beers other than Fosters and Carling or - god forbid - CORONA) you're probably a bit starved for places to go in Covent Garden. And when someone suggests The Porter House, you probably crap your pants a little. Yes! It's an entire HOUSE of BEER. International beers that no one has ever heard of! SWEET! However, when you get there, you're probably going to be a bit disappointed. Why? Because it's littered with shouty, suity men with pointy shoes eating over-priced chips with their PAs who are drinking large glasses of rosé. (Don't get me wrong, I like rosé, too. But not at THE PORTER HOUSE.) Sure, they sell a lot of beer. Sure, they have Anchor Steam. Sure, they have Casablanca. But they just don't strike me as being an establishment of beer lovers. The staff will let you try out an ale you've never had before, but they don't want to talk to you about it. They're not passionate about beer. If their staff can't even get excited about what they have on tap, why go there? I'm always disappointed by The Porter House. There's never anywhere to sit, despite there being 3 - 4 levels. The staff is never that nice. It's dark, and not in the sexy way... And most of the interesting beers seem to be behind glass on display rather than behind the bar. Get thee to The Rake instead, and don't waste you time with this place! read more

Not a good place for a blind date for the following reason: The Porterhouse is vast, ridiculously huge with multiple levels and all sorts of nooks and crannies. There is not a chance in hell you would ever find someone you have never met before in here unless it was completely empty, and even then, you would struggle. I ended up phoning my friends about three times just to find them. I would however, recommend this place for a lads night or for watching sports. The bar offers a huge range of different beers, both on tap and bottled. You could while away a happy hour or two trying as many of them as possible and getting truly sozzled. read more

If i didn't have the memory of a gold fish i would have come here months ago, as i came here years ago but could never really remember where it was, then by chance on Sunday my friend wanted to take me to a good pub he knows, and it turned out to be this place. I came in the winter before and it's a really nice place to be inside as it dark and cosy with lots of little areas to sit, in the summer it has quite a large area outside, though we had to stand for a bit. Really large selection of beers and ales. Really good way to escape the crowds and horrors of average street performers of Covent Garden and put your feet up for a bit. read more