The Westminster Arms, SW1

Went in this donkey's years ago and honestly couldn't remember a thing. Shepherd Neame pub with 7 hand pumps, one not in use. Bishop's Finger went down well. Also a cellar bar and a first floor restaurant. Would return.

As described, there are 2 bars in this fine Shepherd and Neame pub, the one upstairs mainly for drinkers, with its array of 6 handpumps on the bar, and the basement kept for diners, although it is possible, as we proved, to eat upstairs if you can find somewhere to sit. Deciding which bar to eat in can result in a comedy situation as the two barmen bounce you back and forth. Several tourists wandered in and out while we were there, obviously confused about what a pub is, but the majority of the clients were indigenous and enjoyed, rather than endured, their time here. I had a portion of fish and chips which was served, rather naffly, on a piece of driftwood and a paper bag, but the pint of Whitstable Pale Ale with which I washed it down was excellent. It’s a surprisingly good pub given its location, and I’d be happy to return any time.

I remember visiting this pub as part of a school trip to the nearby Houses of Parliament back in the mid 1990’s, although we hadn’t managed to persuade our teachers to take us for a pint - we just popped in to see the division bell, which was even less exciting than it sounds. I’d never managed to return in the intervening years, partly because the pub seems to close at the weekend, but a recent mid-week trip into town gave me the chance to pop in for a quick pint and to reacquaint myself with the bell. The pub is a simple, single room affair with bare floorboards which are heavily scuffed around the bar area after years of use. The servery runs along the right hand wall and has a high bar back bearing the pub’s name and with a Shepherd Neame clock, as the pub is currently run by the Kent-based brewers. In fact, there is all manner of Shepherd Neame related stuff dotted around the place including a number of shelves displaying old Shep’s jugs, a large pub mirror opposite the bar and loads of old Shep’s adverts and photos dotted around the room. There is also a whole load of clutter above the front door, mainly a number of bottles and jugs of various shapes and sizes. Seating is very limited, with virtually no tables, just a few drinking ledges and high stools. There were TV screens at either end of the room showing two different rolling news channels. There appear to be two other areas which might offer somewhere to sit, although I suspect they are both more formal rooms, with the Queen Anne’s English Dining Room and Storey’s Wine Bar both signposted from the main bar. Four Shep’s ales – Master Brew, Spitfire, Kent’s Best and Bishop’s Finger – were, most unusually, supplemented by a guest beer in the shape of Osset Elizabeth Rose. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen a guest ale in a Shep’s house, so I thought I should give it a try, although you certainly have to pay for the privilege, as my pint of the Osset came in at £3.95. The keg range was fairly standard but included Oranjeboom and Ashai. This is a very basic pub with a potentially interesting range of drinks, but I quite liked the place and enjoyed supping my pint and watching the world go by from the front windows. There are several better pubs in the area, but I’d still consider a return.

Shepherd Neame pub opposite the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. Real ale and food served.

First time to visit this pub for a couple of years and the first time after its takeover by Sheps and good to see the mad French barman still gamefully employed. Also went to have a look at the downstairs bar for the first time and was pleasantly surprised to find it a decent space with comfortable individual booths around the side walls, almost in contrast to the vertical drinking open space of the upper bar. However still prefer the upstairs bar area for a beer session, must be something to do with the seven handpumps in a row in the middle of the bar. As previously mentioned these now dispense the entire range of Sheps beers plus at least one seasonal offering , which was still the Early Bird Spring Ale on this visit. All the beers we tried were in good condition and the Early Bird was particularly decent pint albeit the wrong side of £3.50 as mentioned below. Still a very good pub and will try not to leave it too long before returning this time.