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The Carpenters Arms, W1

12 Seymour Place
W1
W1H 7NE

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Carpenters Arms

Yet again, a place dating from the late 18th century, rebuilt around 100 years later.
In many ways, this pub is light years different from the Beehive up the road but in some ways it’s just the same, or at least finds favour with similar – if not more dreadful – customers; they had all dumped their belongings on the studded banquette booths, depriving others of their use, so they could crowd around the bar, blocking it from other customers, shouting at the tops of their voices. I lost count of the number of times I was jostled by the overenthusiastic $%^&*; around four of them came perilously close to getting decked. The experience wasn’t improved by the slow service, made slower by one of the barmaids doing shots with a customer, whilst supposedly serving from behind the bar, which U-shaped, is one of the interior’s most attractive features. There are some tall stools to the bar, unused. Lighting is normal and Victorian in style, décor comprising wall mounted rusty carpentry tools, then dozens of pump clip faces, decorating the rear wall.
Ales: three unused pumps, Adnams Old Ale, Harvey’s Sussex and Vale’s VPA at a reasonable £2.25 a half and nice.
My drink was probably the only redeeming feature of this place. It may be ok at quieter times, but if I were to return and find the same – or similar – crowd in attendance, I’d turn and run; the Portman across the road, whilst lacking in character, is a far more restful experience.

Rated 3.5.

On 22nd October 2021 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


E TA left this review about The Carpenters Arms

This traditional town pub is well described by others, particularly PSM’s review below. Now it’s a card-only establishment, and no food was on offer when we visited. The young staff were functional but not terribly friendly or interested. On the plus side it is a busy, lively local, with a good mix of customers. Three pumps were dry, the others were dispensing Vale VPA and Harvey’s Sussex Best; the beer was well-kept and enjoyable. It’s a decent boozer, not expensive for the area, and I’d be happy to come back for a few pints.

On 30th September 2021 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


custodian 42 left this review about The Carpenters Arms

Busy pub on Tuesday evening. Bar in the middle with five real ales but nothing of any strength.

On 28th February 2018 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Mark Davey left this review about The Carpenters Arms

A mate of mine has just taken a flat round the corner from the Carpenters and its now his local. Really well kept mainstream brews and nice chatty staff make it a decent place for an after work pint or a couple on a Sunday lunch. well worth a visit. They had Harvey's and Atlantic on the day we visited, both perfect.

On 9th January 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Carpenters Arms

Closest GBG pub to my hotel.

Amazing locals feel to a place just off one of the busiest high streets in any City in the world.

Decent pint. Football. Darts!

Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2doSoWX

On 23rd September 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Carpenters Arms

An easy five minute walk from Marble Arch tube station, the Carpenters Arms is a pleasant traditional boozer and sister pub to the Market Porter in Borough Market. The pub has a single room layout with bare floorboards and a central U-shaped servery with a dark wood bar back, pump clip collection and large pillar midway around the counter with a decorative capital. The right hand wall has plain tiles with a decorative border and there is a nice mosaic tile floor which bears the pub's name in front of the entrance. Low back padded banquettes run underneath the modern, frosted front windows whilst there is a drinking ledge with high stools and the day's papers along the left wall, with some decorative lamps and another entrance with a disused curtain rail. To the rear, a long button backed banquette and standard chairs run under some carpentry themed wallpaper which has been enhanced with a collection of carpentry tools. The room extends slightly to the rear in a space with tongue and groove panelled walls with lots more tools on display, a dartboard and a few additional comfy seating options. Several screens throughout the pub were showing the evening's Premier League fixture with the commentary just about audible. The pub doesn't offer hot food, but I did notice pork pies and scotch eggs advertised on small blackboards.
There are six handpulls on the bar, but only three of them were in operation on this visit, offering Harvey's Best and Bonfire Boy and Wychwood Hobgoblin. I went for a pint of the Best, which was in pretty decent shape. There was a good mixed crowd in on a Saturday early evening and I found it a relaxing spot to read my paper and watch the football.
This is a nice, welcoming pub of the sort where you can easily settle down for an hour or two. A stronger ale line up might make the place a more essential destination, but it remains a strong option should you find yourself in this part of town.

On 23rd November 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Carpenters Arms

Quietish side road pub close to Marble Arch and not far from Oxford St either. Plenty of external flora, large windows and it looks inviting. Internally it’s a fairly tight layout, the main room wrapped around the curved bar with an extra area beyond (darts here). There’s a small amount of historic tiling to the right of entrance as well as some nice raised burgundy leatherette seating. I also spotted some mechanical prints of some old contraption. Six pumps, four beers from Truman's (fair), Ringwood, Harveys and Sunny Republic. Decent little place I’d be happy to re-do.

On 7th October 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about Carpenters Arms

One of the better pubs in this area for beer choice. Nice friendly pub when quiet. Been here numerous times but like Moby cant say I have had a great beer. My Vale -Good King Senseless was okay.

On 21st December 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about Carpenters Arms

A very nice looking pub of the traditional persuasion,one U shaped room with the bar in front of you as you walk in from either door,there were four beers available,Cottage Nimrod,Okham Inferno,the other two slip my mind for as soon as I saw the Inferno my choice was made,unfortunately this is where the positive's end,this was my second visit to the Carpenter's
the first being two years ago and unlike the previous review I haven't had a good beer yet,in 2010 in a group of three we tried four different beers between us and not one was sensibly drinkable, I can understand one being off as long as it is changed when noticed but not four,and on this occasion to add insult to injury there was a lack of concern or comprehension from the Eastern European barmaid.However giving the pub another chance yesterday I was sorry to find that although drinkable the my beer was not in good condition with the slight smell of apples,a green pint,poor cellarmanship? Its a shame because this could be a very nice pub,maybe it is but not in my two experiences .Poor beer=poor pub.

On 8th September 2012 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


BobOs . left this review about Carpenters Arms

Excellent pub with fine selection of ales - I've never had a bad one here. Well worth seeking out if you've had enough of being dragged around the Oxford Street shops - she can always call you on your mobile when she's had enough of shopping! (Well, that's what I do!). Only pub worth visiting at this end of Oxford Street now that The Mason's Arms has gone.

On 16th July 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]

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