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Detail Pages
The Elgin, Notting Hill, W11
W11
W11 1PY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Elgin
This Young's house has a listed interior and featured in a scene from The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,where under the direction of Control,the recently sacked MI6 spy Alex Lemas begins to create a legend of an embittered alcoholic who could be turned.Apart from the more gastro furniture,the scene is little changed from the late 1964 filming.
The larger room these days has a rank of high tables and more modern lighting but still retains a wooden bar .Up some stairs is the Market Room ,set for dining but extending the full length of the building.The most impressive section has the awful name "The El Gin Bar" but it is here that you can appreciate the bar back,stained glass mosaic in the room divider,the etched glass in both the entrance door and in the mirrors lining the wall .The carved wood panelling is impressive,as are the globes hanging above the servery.It's all very grand.There is a small beer garden to the side pavement.
Three ales are sometimes offered in Youngs Original and Special together with St Austell Proper Job.Only the Original clip was not turned and on drawing the pint the barman noticed it was out of condition and told me it would take 20 minutes to replace,so a Beavertown Gamma Ray it was at £6.40.
There is a chain vibe here and the lack of ale showed a lack of care.It's worth a visit for the interior alone however and that's the reason for the marks.
On 18th June 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Elgin
Popped in due to the heritage factor. The main bar is as many are in London; a stripped-out gin palace with high ceilings, big windows and not a huge amount else. The left bar, which was inexplicably empty, is where the high Victorian intricacies remain, including a wonderful dark wood and picked glass screen entrance…which some moron has labelled 'El Gin Bar' ho bloody ho. Lining the far wall is a lovely set of etched mirrors and tiles inset into what looks like mahogany. There's also an exquisite bar back. I'm guessing these must be listed as the upper and ceiling have, inevitably, been stripped and hipsterfied and looking pretty terrible into the bargain. Three ales were hidden away; Youngs Bitter, St Austell Proper Job and a warm Redemption Big Chief (NBSS 2) which would have been much better if anyone else was actually drinking it. Still, this one is worth a visit for the history factor. 6.5
On 1st July 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Elgin
The heritage features have been well described in previous review and as a Camra National Inventory (et al) boozer, I was looking forward to this visit. So, the plus points: well, the etched glass, woody surrounds and efficient, friendly service (the incidences of being acknowledged whilst you're waiting seems to decrease over the years). The minuses: a two ale line-up of Sharp's Doom Bar and Young's Bitter is pedestrian at best (a third stump offered Hawkes Urban Orchard Berry Cider), overloud muzak, slightly out of keeping with the surrounds, and the ghastly stripped-back ceiling. My score of seven, reflects more the style over the substance.
On 14th May 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1075 recommendations about 1075 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Elgin
A good Heritage pub that is definitely worth seeking out. One of the first interesting features I found here, apart from the splendid etched and coloured glass partition, was the hatch in the front bar. In most pubs, the bar hatch lifts up for access, here the hatch is constructed to swivel on a horizontal plane. This is a large pub and on this visit it was good to spend a bit of time and have a good look around. Another feature here are the large windows along the front and side. Three ales to choose from on this visit, two from Twickenham Brewery and one from Sambrooks. I had the Twickenham Naked Ladies.
On 4th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Elgin
This is a huge corner Victorian pub retaining some superb interior features. The bare boarded front room has some good quality dark wood panelling and a suspended station style clock while at the end of the room there is an ornate screen in dark wood with lots of etched and coloured glass. A door opening in the screen leads to a carpeted side room which has full height dark wood panelling with tiled and mirror inlay pieces and a central feature fireplace. The bar back here is elaborately carved. From the side room a few steps lead up to a long rear room with floral wallpaper which seemed to be more geared up as a dining area. The pub is Grade II listed and has clearly been well looked after by Geronimo since it's acquisition, the pub was once part of the Firkin chain.
There are a few more modern artefacts, a couple of sofas in the front bar, a modern dividing unit between the side and back rooms containing a collection of tea pots and a few Readers' Digest volumes plus large bowls on the bar containing lemons and limes and preserved chilli peppers. Apart from the sofas most other seating is traditional in style.
I didn't see any menu sheets as there wasn't one on my table and most others were occupied on Saturday lunchtime but the food I saw looked to be good quality.
A TV above the entrance in the front bar had some sports channel on while music played at a sensible volume in the side room.
There are handpumps aplenty but only clipped in the front bar so I'm not convinced they are all in use. Sharps Doom Bar and Cornish Coaster, Young's Bitter, Twickenham Grandstand and Adnams Ghost Ship being a fairly reasonable selection. The Grandstand was in decent shape.
Very busy at the time with a mixed clientele including a few larger than life colourful characters. The large rooms and high ceilings make for a noisy environment but overall the pub atmosphere was good. Live music advertised. Some outdoor seating fenced off from the pavement.
On 23rd March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Elgin
Another good pub in this area. Bright inside and outside seating. 3 real ales on including a superb pint of Twickenham -grandstand.2 keg beers from Camden brewery as well.Impressed.
On 2nd November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Elgin
On a corner site this is a typical large city pub, but its most interesting aspect comes with retaining much of its superb Victorian interior. Visited on Saturday lunchtime. No welcome from the barman to speak of and the atmosphere was distinctly flat but at least managed to get a couple of seats after escaping the Portobello Road crowds. London Pride was in good condition if a tad expensive. Overall above average if only for the interior.
On 16th July 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Elgin
A huge and ornate pub with a myriad Victorian features: cut and etched screens with stained glass, mirrors, tiling and high ceilings. To the rear is an enormous drawing room. Outside is a spacious beer patio with quality furniture; the choice of beers is impressive.
My only real complaint is that this pub tolerates rowdy drinkers who have clearly drunk too much which spoils the experience for others. That said, I'd come here again and would suggest that if you're in the area then it's definitely worth a visit.
On 5th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Elgin
Been taken over by Geronimo Inns.
On 14th July 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Elgin
The ales on were London Pride (at £3 a pint) and GKIPA. The Pride was OK – tastes the way it usually does. Some superb original Victorian features remain – in particular the ornate screen between the bars; the tiling; etched and cut glass mirrors; and the bar back in the “back” bar. It occupies a large corner site. This is a big ornate pub, typical of a prosperous Victorian area. It's so big, with such a high ceiling that voices were echoing round it during a quiet(ish) mid-afternoon session. This is still a very impressive pub, and Worthing dropping in for a pint if you're in the area.
On 26th November 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]