Great food, excellent location, and staff are very friendly. I highly recommend this pub for lunch or a drink read more

The Volunteer - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Popped in for a quick lunch while sightseeing and it did not disappoint. Typical pub setting but open and plenty of natural light. Service was quick and waitress was helpful. The food was a very pleasant surprise. The bangers and mash were so very good. The fish and chips were flaky, crispy, and very tasty. Overall, great experience. read more

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Stopped here while sightseeing and we were pleased. We were seated right away despite the relatively small place. Service was quick and friendly. We got the sausage and mash, fish and chips, a Guinness and a couple specialty sodas. The food was good and felt representative of the area. The decor was very fun and felt authentic for a local pub. read more

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After exploring the Sherlock Holmes Museum, we decided to eat here, next door. I ordered some Fish n Chips because... well, duh. It's only right. This fish n chips in particular was some of my favorite from my England trip. The flakey salt was perfect. The aesthetic was great. Clean, blue pub. Very casual. We sat with a great view at a bar top, facing the outside. Nice view, especially seeing the rain. Ample ample ample seating, even outdoor seating when the weather allows. read more

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That was awesome!! Fantastic fish n chips, really crispy and super tasty tartar sauce and malt vinegar. This wasn't one we had been told about and took a chance since it was right next door to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Highly recommend! Really close to Regents Park. Elizabeth was awesome!! read more

The Volunteer - Fish n Chips - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

There are 4 tokens missing from 4 in a row! . . . . . . This Is edited : I would like to politely reclin my previous statement because I lost a game of 4 in a row, so you deserve 3 more read more

The Volunteer - THERE ARE 4 MISSING - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This is a pretty standard pub next door to the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street. We walked in around 4PM and were able to quickly find a table near the bar. As we were reviewing the menu, a group of probably 25 people walked in that were all wearing a lanyard signifying they were part of a tour group or conference or something. They did not ever sit down, so it really filled the entire bar area enough that we had to maneuver around to order drinks. I'm not sure it this was just an unlucky experience, or if this is a popular spot for people leaving work early on a Tuesday to visit, but it became too cramped and we ended up leaving soon after. read more

The Volunteer - Interior - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

We were waiting in queue for the Sherlock Holmes Museum and all I wanted was a beer. This amazing pub was conveniently a few doors down and it did not disappoint! The decor is on point with the light teal painted wood, the scuffed hardwood floors, and the charming bartender and waitstaff that are clearly used to tourists. We came for a pint and stayed for the food. The calamari was perfection and it tempted us to stay for the Rosemary & Garlic Camembert baked in Sourdough and the Fried Chicken with Chili Honey. read more

The Volunteer - Cider while we wait! - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

The BEST fish & chips weve ever had! This place knocked Andrias in Ventura to #2 for fish n chips. Great location in London. Next to Baker St. Station & many cool shops. Will definitely come back! read more

Ordered fish and chips. It was delicious! Comparing it to the other fish and chips in the area The only reason I'm leaving a 3/5 is due to the staff. It's as the other comments point out. The ambiance is welcoming, but the bartender is not. For anyone unfamiliar with classic English pub culture, you might be treated harshly if you ask questions before grabbing your table. This was our first dinner after flying in from the US. It seemed very busy so I walked in, stood by the bar and asked if there was a waitlist for the tables in the other room. The bartender rolled his eyes at me and said "what do you mean? What are you talking about" I repeated myself and he literally yelled "take any table over there!" He did a hand motion that was clearly shooing me away. He spoke perfect English so I don't think it was a language barrier. He was just rude. Once we were seated, the women who served us was really nice! I was alittle worried for her because it seemed like the man at the bar was yelling at her too. read more

This was the local pub where we stayed for about a week while in London. It was conveniently located between our flat and the tube station, so it was a perfect place to stop after a long day walking around London. The staff was very friendly, and for you tourists out there, it's a great example of a British pub. I got the chicken schnitzel and an order of broccoli, and my daughter got the truffle fries. Both dishes were very tasty, and we had a very good experience overall. Can definitely recommend it if you're in the neighborhood. read more

The Volunteer - Chicken schnitzel- really tasty! - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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After walking around London, went to see the famous Sherlock Holmes area at Baker street. As we got hungry, decided to try a local tradition, fish and chips! Very good portion of a nice and juice fish fillet well breaded, fries and green peas puree! Very nice pub atmosphere and with a great variety of drafts but of course I ended up with Guiness and fish and chips... read more

Food's good, classic English pub. Decent choice of beer. A bit on the pricey side but that's ok considering the location. Good service. read more

The Volunteer - Steak pie - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

The Volunteer is totally unexpected a great pub! The location next to the very touristy Sherlock Holmes museum means that you possibly have to wrestle yourself through a queue but inside it is not touristy at all. Excellent pub food for a very decent price and of course some local but also some not very local favourite beers. The pub is very close to the Regents Park and recommended to finish your walk in the park with a well deserved drink. Outside seating is rather small but a nice extra if you'll manage to get a table. read more

The Volunteer - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

My friends and I stopped by the Volunteer twice in my trip to London. The first time was late on a Friday, and the pub was closing and we were booted. The second time, we sat and chatted for a while on a Tuesday evening. The place was really near our hotel, so perhaps I am biased, but I liked the location. Otherwise, I'm pretty indifferent about the place. It had a decent crowd on both occasions, and there was comfortable seating and easy access to the bar. The place did seem kind of run-down and unattended, though, with gross leftovers and sticky liquids on many of the tables. I suppose, though, that if you just want a pub with a little atmosphere to grab a drink on a weekday night, the Volunteer is there to take the position. read more

3 stars for the vibe. It's a pretty decent pub. Good to relax on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Prices aren't too bad for drinks although we didn't have food so I cannot comment on that. Toilets are ok. read more

Close bar to London Business School and a staple place to grab a couple drinks after class. Not a lot of selection on the alcohol and the food is pretty average. Found the service to be pretty poor, but can't really blame them given the amount of traffic. If you are visiting London, take a look at other bars, but if you are looking for a quick place to grab a pint then this place might be worth dropping by. read more

I came here with my colleagues from around the world for drinks and dinner. It was nice to have a place to go and meet some of them face-to-face. The Volunteer was walking distance from The Landmark hotel (review completed) and packed upon arrival. I was excited to go to my first pub overseas. As a dark beer drinker, I asked for a recommendation from the staff. I also wanted to get something local since I was there as a tourist - get the local stuff, right? The staff was super friendly and I was genuinely surprised at how large the space was. As for dinner, I opted for chicken and french fries. I genuinely thought I was back in the states at how large the chicken portion was haha. Kudos for keeping the calories up for all the beer people consume. My fries were lacking though. They were cold and oddly over cooked - womp womp. As a large group, we ordered ahead. The food came pretty quickly and we had one person from out group take turns to shuttle back-and-forth to get the drinks. I'm sure this is a great spot to pop in for a drink or two but I wouldn't suggest going as a large group. And since my fries were cold that affected my rating. read more

Three of us had amazing lunch: Korean BBQ ribs, mushroom toast, fish n chips, risotto, and it about three doors down from 221 b Baker's Street ( Sherlock Fans). You go to the bar to place your order. read more

Good fish n chips and pretty good British burger. Having extra cold Guinness will always get you at least 4 stars. You order at the bar and they bring your food to your table. Great atmosphere. Plenty of space and friendly staff. read more

The Volunteer - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Nice Pub! The location is great. I was waiting for someone to come into central London on the bus from Stanstead. It unloads right across the street! This is at the beginning of Baker street and only like 2 doors down from 221b of Sherlock Holmes fame (which is now a crappy shop and museum). It' right across the street from the U station and really easy to get in and out of. I think it's part of the Greene pub chain, as it has the same menus that you see around advertising 'Great British Pub Food.' Standard fare. The pints were cold, the place alive and a good after work transit crowd. Cool vibe. The bartender noticed right away that I was not English and told me my accent was 'cool', which made me laugh. I told him that I was from San Francisco, and he was really pleasant. Brought the beers to the table. Totally recommended. read more

Something I never realized I valued until I moved to London: Pricing consistency. While I enjoy the (relatively) cheap prices here, it would be nice if they stayed consistent throughout the night. First drink is 3 pounds, next is 4 pounds. Same drink. Same bartender. Makes no sense. Putting that aside, the Volunteer is a comfortable, upbeat spot for a drink with friends. The seating arrangements are conducive to large groups, with plenty of couches and chairs. The bar snacks are great (wasabi peas, peanuts, & olives), but watch out: they're free one minute and 5 pounds the next. read more

It is a nice pub. I have been there twice, as it is just next to my flat. Once i ordered mulled wine and fish and chips. The mulled wine was nice...quite strong but lovely. It was not so full of cinnamon and there was a little piece of orange (you have to know that i love mullex wine, i start drinking it in italy in november untill march, and i know the recipe to make it). Fish and chips was nice but nothing special. It is fried, i know, but i ate fish and chips more "lighty" in the sens that this time it took me two days to digest it . Furthermore the place is a little dark and sometimes music is too high. On saturday me and my housemates tried to get ther for a beer and the music was too laud to make us talk Anyhow it is a nice place to spend one hour of your time if you are around! read more

It's a pretty huge pub, once you're inside! Catching a seat can be tough after work, but in general there is a big seating area, downstairs as well as upstairs with nice little couches. I'm quiet impressed by the variety of international beers they have on tap as well as in bottles. Loooved the Delirium from Belgium! Other than that: Very nice staff, great atmosphere, i'll be back! read more

This place used to be our after work venue for a few beers on a Friday - fairly decent prices, fair selection of beers, reasonably lady friendly. Then there were a few instances of the place smelling like a festival toilet block and questionable leakages coming from the ceiling (where the ladies wc's are). Service is variable, sometimes can be fantastic and others the most irritating, slow and incomprehensible service pattern in the world. Seems to have got a little better recently (new beers and less poo-smell) but still isn't back as our Friday pint place. read more

Our go to for a nice, easy Sunday lunch; mainly as it's just around the corner from us. Never a disappointment, good standard food, but nothing outstanding which is the reason for the rating. The staff are super friendly. The place is nicely laid out but can get busy pretty quickly. read more

I had dinner at the restaurant here and they were extremely busy with only one waitress. The atmosphere is actually nice and cosy with wood accents and a nice homely feel - albeit a little bit noisy. Unfortunately the food was nothing short of disappointing - a real shame for the location and friendly service. The steak I had ordered as 'medium to well' came out with only about 20% of the steak cooked to order and at £15.95 it was not nearly the quality I was expecting... then again we say in Australia never expect a steak to be anything less than well done at a pub. The worst part was when my dinner guest ordered a vegetarian salad, and a chicken salad was brought out. After this was sent back the correct salad came back but it was missing ingredients from the menu. I have been to the pub for a drink and would highly recommend it for any occasion that isn't on a match day (it's on the walk back from Lords). However, overall for a meal I was disappointed. read more

Delicious beer and sausage with mashed potatoes. A perfect spot to go to after a walk in the park. read more

The Volunteer - Amazing sausage and mash - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

A quick pint is all you need in Baker Str.! Or a good old mulled wine, season permitting. Gathered around a shaky table that took four napkins to stabilise, I had a glass of mulled wine to celebrate my friend's birthday. She treated us with food as well, so I went for the gniocchi with spinach, pumpkin and beans. Fortunately, the staff was kind enough to take care of the beans. The dish was well cooked, thoughtfully portioned and well-seasoned. The birthday girl got a sun-dried tomato and ricotta risotto. Absolutely tasty and the portion was enough for two people to dine. The third friend got chips to go with her mulled wine. Decent and well-portioned. Vinegar and ketchup on the side. *That would be a four star review, if the following wouldn't have happened.* --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Right after we finished our meal, the waitress came to ask if we needed anything else. We answered no, however one of us was still drinking her mulled wine. Less than a minute later, the bill in a thank you pouch landed on the table. We had not asked for that yet. Absolutely disrespectful and rude. It is common sense that you have to pay when occupying a table at a restaurant/pub/bar. However, one of us not having finished her drink was still 'paying' for it. We had no intention to sit there for another forty minutes and no drinks. And we know that staff hovers over your table asking you every five minutes if you're all-right or need anything else if they spot your glass empty. This is logical, caring and they have to do their job, earning from their 'tables'. However, such behaviour is unacceptable and marks one of the worst customer services I've experienced. The fact that they took care of the beans from my dish was about to give 'em their five stars. But, the unexpected bill landing was out of the line. UP: - Taking care of a dietary requirement while cooking my dish. No beans with pasta, please. Done! - Mulled wine was well spiced and not too sweet. Kudos for that! DOWN: - Extremely shaky table. - Bill is thrown to you the moment you put your glass and fork down. Rude. VERDICT: Give it a go only if "The Globe" opposite of the Baker Str. tube is closed! read more

You can't beat the location - right next to Baker St tube and Regents Park. If you're in the area, it's a decent option. The food is a bit hit and miss, but really quite good when they get it right. It's usually very relaxed in here - youngish office workers grabbing post-work drinks, mixed with sports teams from the park during the warmer months. Their beer and cider selection is good too - I always enjoy a Red Stripe or Symonds cider here. They do what they can with their limited outside space, which the definitely need in the summer. read more

I think The Volunteer should re-name itself as the London Business School bar, because majority of the people who you see there are the students from this top notch neighboring school. I have obviously been there courtesy my friend who is a student in LBS (yeah that's what the kool kats call it!). It is a very chilled out, casual bar with a good selection of beers and spirits and food as well (Never had the food here though, not the biggest fan of pub food). There is nothing extraordinary about this place worth talking about besides the crowd -- the cool business school grad crowd (if you are into that kind of thing). I believe this place could be very good for networking as I have heard that some of the top professors of London hang out here. I did sit here and work one day so which means they have free wi-fi (I am such a sucker for free wi-fi). It is not a very overpriced place either which is not very surprising because this place mainly caters to the students. Volunteer is situated very close to Baker Street station so if you are waiting for a friend at baker street who did not turn up on time (happens to me all the time, hate being overtly punctual) then you definitely could pop in for a drink. Verdict : A decent London bar close to Baker Street tube station! read more

Have you been looking for a bar that is nice inside but makes you feel slightly crazy? One that does not maximize its table space by keeping bar patrons from sitting there in hopes that someone will turn up and eat food? A place where it feels like Lewis and Clark's expedition anytime you need to navigate the crowd to get another round or go to the loo? Then this place is for you, my friend! Pints of Aspalls were cheap, and for that I would return if I were in the area. There aren't many better options in the general vicinity. It gets rammed with people pretty early in the evening. If you sit at a table, you have to eat food. When we were there, most of the tables were empty. This sort of thing drives me insane. I can understand it, I guess. It just...grates. read more

Hard to decide how I feel about this place. It is obviously popular as when walking in there was a wall of noise coming from the swathes of international bright young things. I prefer my pubs a bit less riotous than this barnyard, but my eyes lit up at a good ale selection, including the best pint of tribute that I have sunk in a while. The toilets are so far apart that a minor essay is required on the wall, high in the air between here and there, to divert the fellas away from the ladies. The seating is a mixture of low comfy tables and high tables read more

This is a college ("university") establishment. It's not a dive bar per se but it comes close. They have decent food and a great number of ciders on tap so I have a good time here. It's one of those places where you bring the fun with you. read more

It depends what you're looking for in a pub. The Volunteer is very popular with the Touch Rugby crowds in the weekday summer evenings and is very chilled and friendly. There's a good range of beers on offer, including lagers and ales. The food isn't all that good, however - a bit slow and pricey with a rapid chef turnover. But if you're looking for a drink in a friendly boozer near Regent's Park, it's absolutely fine. read more

This is a good pub close to Baker Street tube station and Regent's Park. It's got typical ales and lagers, but always seems to have a few rarer guests beers rotating through as well. Lots of wine on offer. The food here is quite good. It's a very popular place after work during the week, so good luck getting a table. It has some outdoor, uncovered seating on the pavement. read more

Not recommended unless you're in a very small group as this place gets far too busy most evenings and the staff service is always slow and they can be very rude. The decor itself was probably quite nice several years ago but it could do with a refurb now. It does have a relaxing atmosphere Monday-Thursday though. Must watch your change in that pub too, four times now we have been short-changed by a tenner and haven't always got it back! The manager wasn't even apologetic when she (eventually) counted the till and returned our money. read more

I've been to this place three times now, and I have to wonder why I ever went back after the initial visit. The staff are incredibly lazy and rubbish at their jobs - very rude, unhelpful, and unconcerned that dishes turn up 10 minutes after everyone else has finished eating. The kitchen staff must be even worse - the food is horrendous, and going as a group is a nightmare - the dishes are always so staggered, you're often left starting your meal over 10 minutes after everyone else has finished. I've bought the fishfinger sandwich in the past, which is ok, but the chicken sandwich is a big AVOID. It's described as a chargrilled chicken dish with tarragon mayo, baby gem lettuce in a baguette, for around £5. What you get is so horrendous, it sums up the whole experience to this pub - it's a half sawn off baguette, drowning with mayonnaise (no tarragon) which has tiny bits of chicken mixed in. Not chargrilled, not fresh - it's blatantly a chicken and mayo mix from a jar. We once complained to the waitress, she shrugged and said that's the dish, sorry, and walked away. Very overpriced, the staff are so rude, and whilst the location and actual decor is nice, I would avoid this bar with a ten foot pole. read more

Just what a Swiss guy in the UK expects from a nice pub: - Great crowd - Delicious pub food (some of the best fries I recently had) - Great selection of beers - Friendly and quick staff I'll be back of I ever get the chance read more

Nice pub for a quiet drink. The pub is near Baker Street tube and Marylebone station, but tucked down a side road so it does not get full of tourists and you can often get a seat. The staff are pretty cheerful and they have the usual beers on tap, and the ladies with us found a good wine to drink there. Its not a posh place in terms of decor but has a warm feel to it and seems very welcoming. Some people had food a bit later on saying it was fairly tasty. If your looking for a pub for a beer and a chat without the loud music and people bumping into you I would recommend this. read more