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The Speaker, Westminster, SW1
Westminster
SW1
SW1P 2HA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Speaker
While not a large pub, The Speaker never seems to get over-crowded, possibly helped by being a little out of the way. It's quite a relaxed sort of place with efficient and friendly service. Beer policy seems to be Youngs Ordinary (on offer at £3 or so per pint at the moment) plus a major (currently Landlord) along with a couple of micros. My pint of Franklins 1066 from the current Sussex-themed mini-festival wasn't likely to trouble any beer festival judges but hit the spot after work.
The major downside would seem to be the narrow bar area with a number of easily occupied bar stools and these combine to block easy sight of the pump-clips. Nevertheless, I've been in a few times and I daresay I'll be back for more.
On 19th February 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Speaker
A nice friendly corner pub near Parliament and the heart of the British Establishment, I visited in the afternoon so it wasn't too busy but still nicely ticking over. Four pulls with Youngs plus interesting and well kept guests, I lingered longer than I intended. As Rex says there are photos of the previous two Speakers and the current one, John Bercow. There are also caricatures of 20th century politcians just about recognisable to most people and on the stairs some of long forgotten 19th century politicos, that should be a salutory lesson to those modern day ones who use the pub. The GBG says it has a division bell but I didn't see it.
On 3rd October 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Speaker
There were a handful of ales on – Young’s Bitter; Spitfire; Coach House Brewing Co Taverners; and a wheat beer whose name I failed to note. I saw a menu lying around, although I didn’t scrutinise it, and there was nobody eating when I arrived at around 2.45. This is a very rare type of pub, in that it has no piped music, no games machines, no cash machines, and no one-armed bandits. There is no doubt that it is a real pub, even though it has a somewhat modern feel to it, perhaps due to the pine clad walls and bar counter. It’s carpeted throughout, giving it a warm feel and helping to suppress the sounds of conversation. The walls are covered with all manner of prints, caricatures of numerous parliamentary heavyweights from over the years, miscellaneous paraphernalia, and even framed photographs of ex-Speakers Betty Boothroyd and Mick Martin, and current incumbent John Bercow.
This is a delightful pub in which to enjoy a quiet(ish) pint or two, and I shall undoubtedly visit this little gem again.
On 21st October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Speaker
This is a small and tidy back street pub, not too far from the busy Victoria Street. The place was almost full and therefore very cramped when I arrived on a recent Friday evening, but I was fortunate enough to be able to get a stool at one of the small tables near the stairs. There is a surprising amount of seating available thanks to efficient use of the limited space and drinkers were also able to take their pints outside, albeit in plastic glasses, and drink on the pavement.
The interior benefits from the large windows which run along two sides of the building and provide a good amount of natural light. There are a large number of political caricatures on the walls, as you might expect in a Westminster pub, and I spotted a few display cases here and there, which I couldn't inspect properly due to the crowds. The place appears to have undergone a fairly modest refurb, and is in pretty good condition as a result.
Four ales were available - Young's Ordinary, Shep's Spitfire, Hop Back Entire Stout and Dark Star Paradise Weiss. I had an excellent pint of the Entire Stout and would have happily sunk a couple more had I not needed to move on. The service was quick and friendly despite the crowded bar area and the staff had propped the bar hatch open with a list of upcoming ales written on the underside. Posters listed upcoming themed weeks which focus on beers from specific breweries or certain types of beer (I had just missed a wheat beer week).
I quite enjoyed my time here and although it's not an outstanding pub, it has enough going for it to merit future visits.
On 16th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Speaker
Bit of a strange place this. Its very light inside, as there is lots of glass and the modern fittings are in pine. Small, light and airy, not what you would expect looking at it from the outside.
Part of the bar has been turned into a food display case which looks weird, but this is probably down to the lack of space.
Its not over friendly, I was served very gruffly, or particularly comfortable or interesting and not really a place I would want to go out of my way to revisit.
However, the saving grace for me here was the quality of the beer - absolutely spot on, and included a mild for May. I had a crawl of 9 pubs between Victoria and Westminster and the beer here was the best.
On 20th May 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Speaker
This is a nice enough boozer with an experienced governor and barman. Spitfire, Ordinary, Blessed Thistle and Helmsman were all available alongside Standard lagers, Guinness and Stowford Press Cider.
The food selection is very basic with sandwiches, ploughmans and baked potatoes making it a great pub with no sign of any jus drizzled anywhere. I had a packet of jalapeno pepper crisps which were fantastic, especially as they are from the Real Crisps Company and the last time I had some in another pub I was charged £2, but in here a mere 60p.
The pub is not very big and was barely comfortable on my visit, but that is the price that must be paid when finding a good pub and I would make an effort to revisit at a quieter time.
On 25th March 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Speaker
This is a welcoming and relaxing spot to spend an hour or so, a pleasant street corner single room pub, lots of wood panelling, caricatures of politicians in keeping with the location. A couple of more unusual display cases, one of a range of corkscrews and another more strangely of quarrying explosives! Perhaps this is a Guy Fawkes link....Large windows all round give a clear view of life passing by outside. Conversation rules here, no fruit machine, video games or juke box. Youngs Bitter, Spitfire, Marlow Rebellion Mutiny and Tring Jack o Legs on yesterday. Highly recommended.
On 14th February 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Speaker
This is my local in London when I visit the Home Office just across the road about once per month. Four handpumps, one is always Youngs Bitter and there are always at least 2 guest beers on. Very friendly place that is packed in the early evening, but quietens down after about 7.30. Has some interesting pictures on the walls as well. If you want to go to the toilets upstairs you need to check that no-one else is coming down as the stairs are certainly one at a time (unless you're a size 0 supermodel). It's a really good place. My only negative is that sometimes you simply can't get into the place as it's so small. Can't blame them for being popular though.
On 6th February 2009
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Speaker
Originally called the Elephant & Castle, the name is now more in keeping with the proximity of the Houses of Parliament a few hundred yards down the road. The interior consists of a quite small single carpeted room, comfortable, light. airy and welcoming but not really much to look at architecturally. From the newish wooden bar and furnishings, I would deduce that the pub has undergone a fairly extensive “sprucing up” in the not so distant past. They take great pains to let you know that there is no music, TV, big screens, fruit machines or the like, just beer and conversation, or in their words, a real pub. The beers are the main attraction with Spitfire & Youngs complimented by 2 constantly changing and interesting guest beers (sometimes a mild). Being close to our seat of government, there are political cartoons and prints and the façade depicts the history of the various Speakers and how the position came to be. There is a collection of books above the bar, a shelf of empty bottles where a TV once presumably sat, a few displays of clay pipes, packs of cards on the tables and, rather interestingly, a few sticks of quarry dynamite, presumably past their sell by date and no longer able to turn the pub into a mini Hemel Hempstead. In summer it can be a bit stifling and a few ceiling fans wouldn't go amiss. The customer base seems to be local office workers and presumably the odd MP (aren't they all?). Good friendly and helpful service and definitely one to seek out if in the area if you want a peaceful pint of decent beer.
On 5th December 2006
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Speaker
Very nice pub, just off Victoria Street. Gets very busy in the evenings. Has a varying range of real ale. very friendly staff.
On 4th December 2006
- rating: 10
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]