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Picture of The Sydney Arms
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Wednesday, 1st January 2020
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The Sydney Arms, Chelsea, SW3

70 Sydney Street
SW3
SW3 6NJ
Correct details

Served areas

Tweets by The Sydney Arms
Sydney Arms Chelsea Sydney Arms Chelsea Please respect us and our staff / team at the Sydney as we continue to work within the government guidelines as to… https://t.co/namzBMmND8 7:10 PM Jun 18th 2021 from Twitter for iPhone
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Reviews of The Sydney Arms (Average Rating: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Sydney Arms

My friends and I were regulars here in the mid- ‘80s, as ID checking wasn’t this pub’s strongpoint. At this time, it was still trading under its original name, the Wellesley Arms, named after Arthur Wellesley, AKA the Duke of Wellington. Then it was very much a locals’ boozer, catering primarily for people from the nearby Peabody estate. There was carpeting, plum-coloured banquettes and we drank Ben Truman on keg. Back then, pub grub was [cheap] sausages, budget baked beans and chips, accompanied by tubes of red sauce (not ketchup) and brown sauce; we spent New Year’s Eve 1986 in here. That was until around a year later, when meeting a friend, he arrived with an unknown, who insisted on buying orange juice, then surreptitiously mixing it with his own vodka; the barman spotted this and we were promptly banned.
Despite my embargo, I returned around 10 years ago to find a gastropub, patronised by typical Chelsea types. Still barred and another visit the other night and what a change - an upmarket gastropub this certainly is not. The place boasts that it’s the best venue in the area to watch horseracing, but other than that it really looks a bit flat. The floor is now bare and furniture is just ordinary but in a bland way: tall to the front, then normal height to the rear, with a royal blue vinyl banquette; the bar array looks unchanged. There’s dark wood wainscoting to the dado, then duck egg blue walls (some with mirror panels), then a white Anaglypta ceiling. There were a couple of TVs showing nothing of interest, with the sound down, whilst indeterminate muzak played. Customers certainly weren’t typical Chelsea types from any mould, seemingly being foul mouthed Italians, but maybe I couldn’t identify the language. Bar staff periodically joined them at tables in between service, otherwise two members of staff decided to arse about by running round the bar and bar front, near colliding with only three other customers, who weren’t part of this group.
A dreary selection of ales was on offer, with Doom (reversed), Landlord (reversed) and an unused pump, me plumping for a half of Neck Oil at £3.50.
This is a very poor pub, which seems to exist for the entertainment of the staff and their friends; referring to the loos as ‘Restrooms’ doesn’t help. Although hardly a traditional boozer, the Builder’s Arms down the road offers a far more serene, professional experience, with a basic half pint costing £1.10 less; I know where I’ll be drinking if around here in future.

On 2nd December 2021 - rating: 3
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Sydney Arms

'Pub & Brasserie' & bar, with a 'U'-shaped bar counter and a dining area to the rear. Fairly plain furniture and decor. Café-style seating out front under awnings. Easy listening background music and silent sports TVs. Four handpumps, offering the regular Pride, Doom Bar, TT Landlord and something from Sharps re-badged as SW3 (£3.50).

On 7th April 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Nick Davies left this review about The Sydney Arms

Situated in the heart of Chelsea just round the corner form the town hall (renowned in the sixties for showbiz weddings) it's difficult to expect too much pubbiness: indeed if it were someone else you'd discount it completely. It was obviously once a traditional double-fronted boozer, split done the middle with central servery to public bar on one side and saloon on the other, now long knocked through. The front part is OK, the usual high tables and stools you get in London these days, Sky Sport on the TV (but not the Test match, recorded football) and a fair selection of ales including TT Landlord. It goes downhill quickly further back, red leather banquettes and tables all laid up with wine glasses but, on a Friday lunchtime, completely unused. It gets more traditional pub custom than its management would perhaps like, possibly due to the nearby hospital and the constant residential building work going on in the area. Service a bit grumpy.

If you want a pint down the King's Road you could do far worse.

On 22nd August 2011 - rating: 5
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]


View more reviews of The Sydney Arms (5)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Imperial Wharf, 1.42 miles, 27 min walk (show)
West Brompton, 1.44 miles, 27 min walk (show)
London Victoria, 1.49 miles, 28 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Sydney Arms, SW3
2nd Dec 2021, 18:08
Review submitted by Tris C amended by Tris C
 
1st Dec 2021, 19:37
Review submitted by Tris C amended by Tris C

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Car Park : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Darts : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Function Room : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Jukebox : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Live TV Sports : Yes - Horse racing. - last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Pinball : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Pool Table : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Real Cider : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
  • WiFi : No last updated 01 December 2021 by Tris C
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