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Detail Pages
The Royal Exchange, W2
W2
W2 1PU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Royal Exchange
The pub’s history and origin of its interesting name are well covered on What?ub, but otherwise this is as mentioned, a very basic backstreet pub, the furthest of the local clutch from Paddington railway station, closer to Edgware Road tube.
The first thing you notice on approach, is that the pub is at a marked incline, which according to CAMRA, is due to subsidence requiring underpinning. The interior is very plain indeed, with a bare floor, white walls, but a fairly attractive bar back and array, with a microwave at right for heating bar snacks; beneath the bar was an infuriatingly noisy fridge. Furniture comprises fairly ordinary tables and chairs, with green velour banquettes to part of the periphery, which probably date back to at least the ‘60s. There’s a rear snug with a TV with the sound off. This features off-white walls and trendy spun metal sconces. Décor is minimal, with some Belgian beer propaganda to the rear snug’s walls, then a few pot plants, the only items of interest being a model U-boat and frigate (Spanish galleon?) to the window ledges. One plus point was the quality soundtrack which played throughout my stay. This is no longer an Irish pub; indeed, it would appear to be a no one pub, as there was only one customer in during my midweek visit, on first name terms with the Spanish landlord.
There were two pumps with clips reversed, but no clip faces so I assume real ale has been abandoned, a sensible decision given the lack of customers, me plumping for a half of Paulaner at £3.00.
It’s not just this deathly pub that needs underpinning; the customer base needs this too, the Royal Exchange being more sad than bad; with some atmosphere and good real ale, it could be worth a visit, but sadly not at present.
On 27th January 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Royal Exchange
Just off Praed St, this is a basic Irish-run street corner boozer with a fairly attractive brown glazed tile frontage. Two rooms knocked back into one inside. Little of note beyond a fistful of fittings from a 40 year old refurb (leatherette benches, gold light fittings etc), lots of equine prints and a number of old champers magnums on display. Two pumps with Brakspear and Doom Bar. The Brakspear went off so I ended up with a flat Doom Bar in a goblet Aspalls glass and was relieved of £2.40 for the privilege. I'll leave this one to the locals in future.
On 10th October 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Royal Exchange
Occupying a street corner position in a Paddington side street is The Royal Exchange, a small single bar locals pub with a part tiled frontage. First licensed in 1841, the pub name refers to the exchange of the Royal Mail when it was still transported by coaches before the start of the railway era.
The main bar area is small and features stools at the bar and several tables and chairs around the edge of the room. At the back is a slightly larger more comfortable area with banquette seating. Locals seem to prefer the front area and tend to occupy the bar stools so that they can easily converse with the friendly and helpful staff.
Reflecting the landlords Irish roots, the walls are decorated with numerous paintings and framed pictures of famous racehorses. Note the fine imaginative painting of a racehorse galloping down the road outside the pub. Several framed newspaper sports pages record for posterity occasions when Ireland won the Six Nations Rugby.
My visit last week brought another first – a first sighting of a do it yourself breathalyser kit on the wall just inside the front door. This seemed a bit odd – you would expect to be more likely to find this in a remote country pub inaccessible by public transport, not in a pub a few minutes walk away from Paddington Station. I can’t imagine many, if any, of the regulars drive to get to the pub.
In recent years, the pub management seem to have stared to realise that they need to widen their customer base. Hence, without compromising the traditional, unpretentious feel to any real extent, we have champagne bottles on the window ledge and a food menu that includes a good value Sunday roast.
Real ales are Greene King IPA and Brakspears – the seemingly permanent range. Based on my infrequent visits over the years, real ale trade is minimal, but the Brakspears is usually in good nick.
The Royal Exchange is not a showstopper by any means, but if you like unpretentious back street locals, you could do much worse than seek this one out when in the area.
On 14th February 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Royal Exchange
Came across this corner pub by chance, and was glad that I did. The customers around the little bar and in the small extra seating area beyond were a mixture of students and older Irish regulars, but very noticeable was the calm and friendly atmosphere at a busy time on Friday night when most other pubs around Paddington would have been worth avoiding. The regular Greene King IPA and rare Brakspeare Bitter were available on handpump, with the former being a reasonable pint (if a bit cold) at £3.00. Worth the short walk from the station to seek out this traditional backstreet boozer.
On 6th November 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Royal Exchange
Functional one bar pub with the bar on one wall and seating opposite, opens up to a slightly raised area to the rear with copper topped circular tables where a TV is located at the time showing England's capitulation to the Aussies. I am unsure the mainly Irish locals were too concerned.
Lots of horse racing pictures, empty champagne bottles on shelves.
GK IPA and Brakspears Bitter on handpump. Braks ok and drinkable.
A decent bet for a pint close to Paddington Station.
On 9th August 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Royal Exchange
Located in a side street off Praed St, just a stone's throw from Paddington Station, this pub nevertheless remains what I would regard as an unpretentious backstreet boozer. It appears to be very much a locals' pub, with what was obviously a group of regulars sitting at stools at the bar. Nonetheless, we got served straightaway and had no difficulty seeing the two handpumps that were dispensing GKIPA, and the more rarely seen Brakspear's Bitter. I had the latter, which tasted fine, although a little too chilled. It's a smallish corner pub; as you enter you are in the main bar area, and there is another small seating area at the rear, containing two or three tables with banquette seating and small stools.
This is the best pub in the vicinity of Paddington Station. Definitely worth dropping in for a pint if you're in the area – as long as you appreciate the honest, down to earth pub and are not looking for a tarted-up gastro pub in which to enjoy an exquisite gastronomic experience!
On 7th August 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Royal Exchange
comfortable single bar corner local with 3 real ales on tap on our visit . 10 minutes from Edgware Road Station
On 14th March 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]