Museum Tavern, Bloomsbury, WC1

Randomness Guide to London - Museum Tavern entry

Randomness Guide to London - Museum Tavern entry

As reported below, a solid pub dead opposite the British Museum. Formerly a two roomed establishment , but now a single room with the bar area at the front and a mix of seating in the rest. The beers on during my visit this week were unfortunately the usual suspects to be found in the capital (with the exception of the house regular Old Peculiar of course) and included Pride, Harveys Sussex Best, Youngs London Gold and St Austels Tribute alongside the Doombar. But in saying that The Tribute was well kept on my early evening visit and the service was fine, especially as most of the tourists had already left to head back to their hotels.

Absolutely lovely pub both inside and out. Excellent service, tasty food and good selection of Real Ales on tap. Spent New Years Eve here and had a wonderful time with locals and visitors. Thanks for the late night sandwiches after midnight!

I'm always surprised how good the Museum Tavern is considering its location and who owns it. Spirit Group can get it right when they set their minds to it. On a midweek evening the tourists have all gone back for dinner by around seven and you're left with a very pleasant, typically atmospheric London pub with a broad mix of customers. And a broad mix of beers too, Doombar and Otter both in fine fettle lately. If you're in the area at the right time of day you won't do much better.

Immediate warm and convivial feel on entering, a really relaxed feel. Some tourists as referred elsewhere but as museum types clearly a better class. No crass behavior observed! A single room now with a mix of seating but a quick check of the etched windows suggest earlier there was a saloon, public and private bar. The bar along the internal wall has an elegant carved back with mirrors. 6 pumps (5 on at the time) serving Skinners Betty Stogs, Cairngorm Autumn Nights, Pride, Theakston Old P, Sharps Doombar, and Morrissey Fox Blonde Ale. A very pleasant visit, well recommended.

Full of tourists, of course, being opposite the British Museum. But it has retained many original Victorian features – solid wood bar, carved bar back, cut and etched glass. It now comprises just one bar, but like so many Victorian pubs it was clearly subdivided originally. There are doors extant not currently in use, one leading to what was apparently a Private Bar. There‘s always several decent ales on – the Otter Amber looked to be the pick of the bunch when I was in there yesterday. Definitely worth the effort of finding if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of the British Museum.