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Detail Pages
Stags Head, Fitzrovia, W1
W1
W1W 6XW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Stags Head
A locals pub with some original wood panelling, bar counter and pillars which give it a place in Camra's heritage inventory with two stars for its historic interest. Unusually in my experience, there were two beers from Tring brewery and no other cask beers on. Not that I'm bothered, as Tring Side Pocket for a Toad can be a very nice beer when well kept.
Date of visit: 8th January 2024
On 25th February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Stags Head
Dating from the mid-18th century and rebuilt in 1940 for Younger's, but appears to have some Charrington's lanterns and listed on CAMRA's inventory of pubs with historic interiors, this being listed of Regional Importance.
The interior features much wood, notably the fluted columns. The floor is carpeted but it's gloomy in here, most of the light coming from sconces with orange bulbs; otherwise it comes from the two TVs showing the footie and darts simultaneously customers who weren't interested in watching. Décor seemed to come mainly from a huge number of Union Jacks fixed to the ceiling and dangling Union Jack bunting.
The barmaid was very friendly and unusually for an Irish pub, there were two real ales on: Tring's Sidepocket and Moongazing at £2.55 and really quite nice.
This isn't a bad place for a decent half, but the gloom, orange glow and bright TV (not to mention the rather jingoistic adornments) mean I doubt I'd rush back.
On 10th October 2021
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Stags Head
On the ground floor of an art deco buildings,the curved end and crittal windows give the exterior lots of character.The oak framed doors give way to an open plan carpeted lounge with a banquette built into the curved end.Elsewhere a drinking shelf has peninsular extensions ,as does one end of the bar which is a pleasing feature and allows vertical drinkers to prop themselves up.Lots of 30's wood panelling everywhere.Away from the bar area there are a series of small dining type tables,while flatscreens will play Sky tv but mute on my trip.
There are just two handpumps serving regulars London Pride and Tring Sidepocket (NBSS 3 but topped up from glass in the drip tray,bad practice).It's in the 2020 GBG,but hadly justified by such a small ale selection.Close to BBC House which probably explained why Craig Charles was drinking some diet coke while chatting to a mate.
A decent boozer but hardly a destination pub.
On 3rd November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Stags Head
Interesting pub towards Marylebone, small outside seating on roadside.
On 1st October 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Stags Head
Just off Great Portland Street, the Stag's Head is a fine looking art deco pub with an attractive curved corner facade and unusual stag's head sculpture sign. The entrance porch to the right leads you into a carpeted bar area with a lovely sturdy looking servery along the rear wall which has an unusual peninsula protrusion at the left hand end. The front of the pub has a long, continuous drinking shelf with some similar protrusions, around which a number of high stools have been arranged. Some banquette seating is fitted along the right hand wall whilst standard tables and chairs fill a fairly open area to the left of the bar. There is some great wood panelling throughout the room, most notably in the rear left area, but decor is limited to various bits of bunting and promotional sporting event tat which was a bit disappointing. The landlord is presumably a Leicester City fan as there is a blue plaque on the bar back which reads 'On this site in 2016 we witnessed the fairytale become reality'. A couple of screens at either end of the room were showing muted coverage of an African Cup of Nations fixture whilst music quietly played in the background. Blackboards list a decent selection of food options, with all of the main meals clocking in at £8.75, which seems reasonable for Central London. A good mix of customers were in on a midweek evening, generating a nice buzz through low level conversation.
The pub is a reliable outlet for Hertfordshire's Tring Brewery, with their Side Pocket For A Toad beer being a permanent fixture on the handpulls along with the somewhat more ubiquitous Fullers London Pride. On this visit, there was one guest ale - Tring Black Hawk - which I was offered a taster of before forking out £3.95 for a well kept pint of it - a pretty good price for this part of the city. The staff were very friendly and happy to have a chat - again, not always a given in the heart of London.
I thought this was a pretty good pub in a part of the city I've not really explored properly. The beer quality and service were major plus points and I found it was quite a comfortable pub with some moderately interesting features that make a visit worthwhile. Drinking in Central London can be a very hit and miss affair, so I'll certainly bear this reliable looking pub in mind for the future.
On 8th March 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Stags Head
Attractive Art Deco pub exterior, retaining original metal-framed windows and entrance. Also some decent inter-war decor in the staple shape bar with carpet, oak wood panelling and traditional fittings – other people say it’s characterless but I personally think it has a bit of period charm, I’d take it over a Youngs refit any day. Three ales on a decent selection too; Pride, Tring Side Pocket and Tring Drop Bar. The Side Pocket was in great form, the Drop Bar less so. Already filling up with early office bunk-offs well-before 5pm so must be a popular haunt and to be fair I can see why, I’d be happy to do this one again. Also, look out for the metal of sculpture of the Stags Head outside. 7.5
On 22nd March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Stags Head
Single-room pub with mid-shade wood panelling around the walls. Otherwise, fairly plainly furnished and decorated but enlivened on this visit by Rugby World Cup bunting. Also has a number of wooden benches out on the pavement. Pride and Tring Side Pocket (£3.80) available from two of three handpumps. OK for a 'quick one', I suppose, and better choice of beer than my last visit six years ago so rating increased slightly.
On 20th September 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Stags Head
Pretty much an after work pub but they do sell a superb pint of London Pride. Sometimes closed at the weekends, unless there is a big sporting event on and then they have TV's showing the match. Wandered past today and they were opening for Sunday lunch from 12 till 5pm. Great place for a no frills pint on a friday tea time.
On 28th May 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Stags Head
Popped in for the first time the other evening but thought this place was largely devoid of any character. Probably OK if you work next door, but can't see myself bypassing the Dover Castle again to pop in here. Only the two beers on but fortunately the Yellowhammer was a nice pint.
On 25th July 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Stags Head
There were two ales on during my recent visit – O’Hanlon’s Yellowhammer and the ubiquitous London Pride. At £3.20 a pint for the Pride, it was as much as I would want to pay for this ale. I saw food being served (I was in there at lunchtime on Wednesday) but didn’t get to look at the menu. This is now a carpeted single room pub with mainly normal tables accompanied by normal chairs and small stools, but with some high stools at a ledge by the window. The walls are wood panelled, in the style of an inter-war but fitting. The bar counter is unusual in that at one end it is a peninsula jutting out into the room, and is possibly where the panelling dividing the room into the inevitable two bars of an inter war pub would have been. They were playing some soul tracks as background music; the inevitable flatscreen TV was on showing Sky Sports (but muted); there was a hideous games machine, but no one-armed bandit. Various prints and cartoon decorate the walls, and numerous banknotes of the world are pinned behind the bar.
Actually I found this to be a fairly nice little pub. It’s not so good that it’s the sort of place that I would make a beeline for, but I would be happy to drop in for another pint sometime if I was in the area.
On 16th July 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]