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St Stephens Tavern, Westminster, SW1
SW1
SW1A 2JR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Located in a prime spot directly opposite Big Ben and the House of Parliament, this is unsurprisingly something of a tourist magnet and was pretty much full to capacity on our Sunday lunchtime visit. As far as I could make out, all punters were dining and the eastern European (?) landlady made it fairly clear that you weren’t welcome to take a table if you weren’t planning on eating. We weren’t, but did manage to stand in the middle of the small back room, clustered around a high table provided for this purpose. We did feel a little in the way though, with waitresses and punters continually squeezing past.
The ground floor of the pub consists of two rooms, an impressive high-ceilinged room at the front and a smaller bar at the rear. The front bar has tall windows with red drape curtains giving good views over Parliament square, some very impressive carved wood panelling on the ceiling and black Chesterfield style fitted bench seating around the permitter. An elaborately carved backdrop behind the bar ran right around the corner and this was interspersed with etched mirrors, and behind this was red flock wallpaper. A number of old black and white portrait photographs were on the wall, as well as an old wooden clock. It really was quite an impressive room, although difficult to fully appreciate given that you could really only just poke your head in the door without getting in the way. The rear room was somewhat cosier with lower ceilings and wood strip on the floor, although still quite elegant in places with more wood panelling filling an entire wall, elaborately carved and filled with arched mirrors.
Beers on tap were all from Hall & Woodhouse with their Fursty Ferret, Badger and Tangle Foot. The solitary cider meanwhile was Mortimer’s Orchard. Overall, I was a little disappointed with this given it’s highly regard reputation, but perhaps if I’d visited at a quieter time when I could sit down and appreciate it a little more I may have felt differently.
On 24th February 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about St Stephens Tavern
A grade II-listed building and a CAMRA listed interior of Regional Importance, this pub dates from 1875 and is situated in the shadow of the Palace of Westminster and especially St. Stephen’s Tower, home to Big Ben. Having been renamed Elizabeth Tower, I’m surprised the pub hasn’t followed suit, but there are plenty of existing Queen’s Head hostelries.
There’s a massive amount of spectacular wood carving with much etched and cut mirrors and glass; the carpeted floor is now modern bare boarded. There’s a lot of avocado green studded banquettes, with low Britannia-style tables and matching chairs - perfect for smashing your knee against - and a lot of dark wood field panelling to walls; lighting comes from an extraordinary amount of hanging brassware. A unique point is that the pub has a remote Division Bell, so MPs can neck their pints in time to vote.
Ales: clumsy staff were dishing out Tanglefoot, Fursty Ferret and Badger Best at a decent £5.15 and as good as one has any right to expect.
The interior is clearly spectacular, warranting a visit in its own right, but service is poor as is the bar staffs’ English. The beers aren’t to my taste really, agreeing with BF. With all the noisy tourists and restless children, I doubt I’d return.
On 2nd October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Badger ales on hand pumps - I had Tanglefoot. More bottles in the fridge. Very busy with both bars being full of diners, most of whom were tucking into very nice looking fish and chips. Would return.
On 1st March 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Right opposite Big Ben, but quite easy to walk past without really noticing it and thus most customers seem to be local office workers rather than tourists. Two traditional (if small) bars, richly decorated with a host of interesting features to look at. If too crowded downstairs, it is usually worth looking for a seat in the balcony area. One bank of four handpumps in each bar, usually offering the regulars Badger and Tanglefoot plus a seasonal (Glorious Game, £4.05, on my last visit) and sometimes Sussex or First Call. Overall, well worth a visit (even if, like me, you are not a particular fan of Hall & Woodhouse).
On 8th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Hall and Woodhouse tied house very close to Big Ben and with an interesting interior.The front public bar is small and has an attractive bar back with etched glass .There is limited seating around the periphery.The rear lounge is only marginally larger and has mirror cabinet design on the walls and a small flatscreen playing BBC Parliament,not surprising given the location.The high ceiling in the public bar gives a feel of oppulance,but both bars can get hectic at popular times.Up a staircase adorned with framed newspaper cuttings of political landmarks is a restaurant,although I didnt explore up there.
The four handpumps were dispensing H&W Badger First Call (OK condition £3.65),Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot.I find their brews too malty and hop-lite ,and I suspect that may also be the reason for a very transient trade,folk dont seem to base themselves here for a session.I certainly wouldnt ,but it's fine for a quick one and a chance to look around.
On 22nd September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about St Stephens Tavern
One of my LDN favourites, with a superb view of the Houses of Parliament from the front of the pub.
Also, home of Badger Beer - so a decent pint of Tanglefoot to boot.
Worth checking out.
On 9th July 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about St Stephens Tavern
A superb late Victorian pub, with lots of original features, especially the back bar panels containing etched and gilded mirrors. The bar counter is heavily embellished along the front with carved corbels and panels. The brass lamp holders and crystal lamps are another stunning feature, which were added by the pubs new owners Hall and Woodhouse in 2003 after the pub was closed for a long period. A choice of three Badger beers on our visit, Tangle Foot, First Call and Sussex Bitter.
On 5th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about St Stephens Tavern
A Hall and Woodhouse bar located close to big ben. Real ale and food served.
On 7th November 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about St Stephens Tavern
I'm afraid I wasn't as impressed by this pub as I had hoped - the comments about the building are all true, it is a gem and well worth a visit for its architecture. This includes the subterranean toilets which are worth seeing. However, the staff were extremely unhelpful this time, and it took a lot longer to get served than necessary - although that was partly due to the belligerent malignant dwarf who was giving them a hard time about the standard of his coffee. Four beers on, all Badgers - I had Hare which was served too cold and only after a very long wait. There are better pubs nearby, so I'm tempted to leave this one to the tourists in future.
On 13th June 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Having moved to London from Dorset, my heart always sinks when I enter a pub in the capital only to discover it's owned by Hall and Woodhouse. It was therefore a surprise and disappointment to discover that this is the case with the St Stephen’s Tavern, a wonderful late-Victorian pub positioned directly opposite the tower of the same name, more commonly referred to as Big Ben. The interior comprises of two ground floor rooms and a mezzanine area towards the rear. The main bar is fairly compact, but somehow feels bigger than it is, perhaps because it's so often packed that it's hard to gauge the size, but more likely because of the high ceilings and the grand bar-back, with its intricate carved woodwork and large etched mirrors. The bar counter is also pretty special, curving appealingly around the room with some tall brass lamps dotted along its length. In the heart of tourist land, it really is a sight worth seeing and H&W should be commended for the fine work they have done to restore the place. In comparison, the small bar to the right is somewhat over-shadowed, but there is still a fairly impressive servery area here as well and the room seemed to be the best bet for grabbing a seat on my recent early evening visit.
Having taken in the surroundings, the beer choice comes as something of a letdown. Just the three H&W ales available - Badger Best, Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot. I thought the Ferret was a bit below par, but the Best was on good form and we were served by a well drilled team of bar staff who dealt admirably with the cramped conditions and crowded bar area.
I imagine that the passing trade means that there are certain times when this place is best avoided, but it is well worth making a bit of effort to fight through the crowds in order to admire this fine bit of Victorian pub architecture.
On 9th February 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]