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Submitted on Thursday, 11^th June 2009
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Buckingham Arms

62 Petty France
Westminster (SW1A, SW1E, SW1H, SW1P & SW1Y)
SW1H 9EU

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Phone: Search Yell

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Average Rating: 6 average rating

Not too sure on the refurb - on one hand it's lost the traditional look, but on the other it is a nice-enough modern interior if judged on its own merits (even if the back of the bar still seemed to smell of wood glue). Reasonable pint of Bombardier, if served a little on the cold side. (NB - Review dates from May 2008.)

Reviewed by Just a quick pint, then I'm off on 3^rd March 2010 - 6 star rating

[User has posted 770 recommendations]

Traditional Victorian pub close to St James Park. A very busy Youngs pub serving a selection of their beers plus some guests. Good food is served all day at reasonable prices.

Reviewed by Michael Boyes on 11^th October 2009 - 6 star rating

[User has posted 42 recommendations]

I didn't think this place to be anything special and some of the other punters left a lot to be desired. It's a large pub and the staff were nice enough, but the Ordinary and Deuchars were off leaving only Bombardier. Standard and premium lagers were also available, but I think I'll walk past next time.

Reviewed by Steve C on 26^th March 2009 - 5 star rating

[User has posted 1211 recommendations]

Originally called the Black Horse, the pub was renamed when the current building was built in 1901. Today the pub is a Youngs house and noted for being one of the few pubs that has featured in every edition of the Good Beer Guide since its inception. The interior has recently been refurbished and, in my books (and many others looking at the previous posters), the pub has definitely lost some its previous character. The carpets have been ripped up and replaced with a shiny new bare wooden floor, the walls painted a plain cream with numerous quotes from the likes of Oscar Wilde & Samuel Johnson (nothing original in this) and pictures / photos of local London landmarks. At the rear the tables seem to have grown an extra 18 inches in height and attracted some high padded benches to go alongside them. Much of the old pots, pans, tankards, jugs and urns have disappeared which would no doubt please the cleaner. The basic TV has been upgraded to a fancy new flat screen although this isn't really a TV kind of place. On the plus side, the piped music was pretty sedate on my recent visits and certainly not loud or intrusive. The spacious open bar remains with its wonderful patterned mirror back and the ornate seating in the latticed bay windows are almost stately homish. Most importantly, the beers (Ordinary, Special and Bombardier) are still fine although a bit limited in choice and they seem to have taken an inflation busting leap in price along with the food. The ambience has always been very civilized (despite it being the haunt of many politicians) but the place has been virtually empty on my 2 recent lunchtime visits. The most interesting feature is at least untouched - the hidden corridor that runs behind the bar where some of the more secretive drinkers have shied away from prying eyes over the years. Despite its obvious partial demise, to call it ruined is perhaps going a little too far and I would still recommend it as one of the better pubs in the area, especially if you didn't know it pre-refurb.

Reviewed by Roger Button on 12^th September 2008 - 6 star rating

[User has posted 535 recommendations]

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