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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Star & Garter, Soho, W1
W1
W1F 7NX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about Star & Garter
Another pub revisited after a couple of decades have past and pleasingly little has changed. Just a couple of other blokes in whilst I was there but this is a pub that doesn't have to be full to feel like a proper pub. The Landlord was in good shape, the beer ,not the geezer behind the jump. I'll not leave it so long next time before looking in again.
On 28th April 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Star & Garter
Having stayed in London overnight after a Luton Town midweek game, I was at a bit of a loose end until the pubs opened. This one was promising, with 11am opening mentioned on WhatPub, but when I arrived there was no sign of life so I went and bought something at the nearby Pret. A young man with keys eventually let himself in at about 11:15 and at 11:23 he invited me in too, though he was still setting up for the day's business. So I guess the 11am is more of a guide than a promise. This is a lovely mid-terrace pub with dark brown wood panelling and loads of pictures and paraphernalia on the walls, and an impressive Star & Garter mirror on the back wall (see photos). The small bar counter has Timothy Taylor Landlord and Harveys Sussex Best. The latter was probably NBSS 3.25, except that quarter marks are not allowed, so I gave it a slightly generous 3.5. I would be happy to return, but I'd try to find something else to do before 11:30 next time.
Date of visit: 15th September 2022
On 14th April 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3734 recommendations about 3471 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Star & Garter
Long, Long time since I was last in this one and as I was taking friends to a restaurant relatively round the corner, I searched this one out hoping it has remained a real old school Soho Boozer. Well, very happy to concur with Tris below that it has. Virtually unchanged from PubSignMan’s 2017 review its all wood panelling, black and white period photo’s and the Star and Garter mirror really is a thing of beauty. Yes there is one flat screen, squeezed in high up opposite the bar, but when it is not on you don’t notice it, and it wasn’t for our visit and we didn’t. And when there is nothing to get in the way of the sound of general conversation from the assembled punters this pub wraps round you like a well-worn pair of slippers.
Three ale pumps on the bar with TT Landlord, Marstons Pedigree and Harveys Sussex Best, but for our visit the Sussex Best clip was reversed. We went for the TT Landlord and apart from being served a tad too cold it was perfectly fine. Some days it’s not all about interesting beer choice, or worrying about token flat screens, it’s about being comfortable, and this was one of those.
On 31st March 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Star & Garter
Dating from 1816 this is probably the only remaining real boozer in Soho; no gastropub leanings here, as all there is for food are hot snacks.
There are hanging flower baskets with some fine Courage branding in gold letters to the picture windows.
The interior is much more old-school: the floor’s modern bare boarded with linenfold-style wall panelling to three-quarter height, full-height in some places. The bar front and ceiling are some type of matchboard. Furniture is traditional with some banquettes. Décor features mirrors, brass knickknacks, framed prints, mirrors, hanging copper pans and willow pattern plates, balanced atop the picture rail. Lighting comes from Victorian-style brass and tulip lamps, with matching sconces. Period rock music played over the stereo and at least one TV was showing the football, with no one remotely interested. Customers were much older than most in the area and probably heterosexual.
On arrival, the barmaid was outside smokin’ a fag, but extinguished it to serve me. Two unused pumps, then one dispensing Harvey’s Sussex at a reasonable £4.90 (I actually asked for only a half) and ok.
This is a decent pub for what it is, but is let down by the all-dominating TV and one adequate ale; I agree with BF about the questionable GBG listing, which if improved – and assuming the TV were chucked in the builders’ skip outside – could be a destination pub.
On 16th October 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Star & Garter
A charming small Soho pub with lots of original features,it's open plan these days with a bar to the left side serving from three sides.There is lots of light leather bound bench seating,a wooden ceiling,traditional ephemera and well chosen light muzak giving a timeless feel to the interior.Worth a visit for that alone.
There are 3 handpumps offering on my trip London Pride,Wadworth (in tiny letters!) Horizon and St Austell Tribute (NBSS 1.5 ,flat).
Badly let down by poor ale and a poor selection,can't understand why it's in the 2020 GBG unless it's the old story of a CAMRA branch that knows nothing about beer.
On 6th October 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Star & Garter
Just when you think you've visited every pub worth knowing in Soho, you stumble across somewhere like this - a fine little traditional pub in the heart of the neighbourhood. The pub has a pretty impressive facade thanks in part to the excellent Courage livery including some excellent branded windows. There are two doors at the front, only one of which is still in action, but the compact interior does make you wonder how these could possibly have once led into different rooms. The room has scuffed bare boards which run around a U-shaped servery on the left hand side. The bar has an angular counter, mirrored bar back and a very smart wood and glass gantry plus an unusual rail hung from the ceiling from which all the spirit bottles are suspended. The gantry has a load of old radios, whisky boxes and other such accumulated bits on top. There is dark wood panelling throughout with a number of drinking ledges squeezed in between the various fixed benches and low stools that run around the perimeter of the room. The walls have been decorated with loads of old photos and paintings in military, seafaring and theatrical themed groups plus a huge Star and Garter mirror on the back wall, which is the real focal point for this part of the room. There are also a lot of old taps, beer engines and other items related to beer dispense, including one antique looking set of pumps that were apparently taken from the bar in the mid-1980's. Elsewhere, a high shelf displays a collection of plates, the ceiling beams are hung with tankards, pans, jugs and the like and there was a framed photo of a chap playing the spoons, with the spoons beside it in the same frame. I did notice a large TV screen in one corner, although I have to say it's hard to imagine it getting much use. Stairs lead up to a first floor bar, unexplored on this visit, which can be used for private functions.
A simple ale range comprised Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA and Shepherd Neame Spitfire. I decided to try the Pride, which came in at £4.30 - about par for the course in Soho - and was in absolutely tip-top condition, so full marks to the cellarmanship of the owners, who have apparently been in-situ for over thirty years now.
The previous three reviewers have all used the term 'Old School' to define this place and I think that is probably a fitting summation of this fine old pub. With only one change of landlord in over fifty years, consistency and resisting the urge to overhaul has been key to allowing this place to develop plenty of character and charm. I really liked the atmosphere in here and was very pleased to enjoy an outstanding pint of a beer so often poorly presented. A good find in a part of London it is easy to feel a little jaded about and I'm sure I'll be back fairly soon.
On 7th March 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Star & Garter
Proper old school pub with a bare boarded interior. 3 real ales served. Characterful interior that's a little rough round the edges.
On 1st November 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Star & Garter
Old school - in a beautiful way.
Everything about this pub is perfect.
Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2dAN8k3
On 30th September 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Star & Garter
Old skool, family-run pub (30 years, apparently) with plenty of character and a homely feel. Relatively unspoilt interior, L-shaped with dark varnish tongue and groove wood panelling on walls and ceiling plus glass inlay upper bar gantry. Of note is the large Star & Garter mirror to the rear, as well as a collection of hanging jugs. Apparently an upstairs bar but I failed to spot it on a busy Friday evening. Three ales on; Spitfire (very good nick), GK IPA and Pride. A dull selection which was a shame but at least it was a choice. I liked this place a lot, it felt like a nice authentic pub and had the ale selection been more adventurous, it’d be destination venue. 7.5
On 22nd March 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Star & Garter
A right old-fashioned (in a good way) pub retaining two entrance doors just one seat-width apart. Compact rectangular bar with the counter set against one wall and a smattering of furniture on the other three sides. Benefits from just the sort of traditional decor that you would expect having seen the attractive baskets of hanging flowers on the façade. Three real ales on handpump: the never-changing Greene King IPA, Pride and Spitfire (£4.10, but in fine form).
On 23rd August 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]