Nell of Old Drury, Covent Garden, WC2

Official site of Nell of Old Drury - www.bestcitypubs.co.uk

Formerly the Sir John Falstaff and renamed in 1965, no doubt to try and capitalise on the erstwhile orange seller’s former residency here. There’s now a partially modernised interior, with the likes of white glazed tiling to the bar back and suspended tubular steel gantry; the aforementioned window offers a settle for drinkers. A drink amounted to just keg Westway Pale Ale (£2.35 a half) and an experience which perfectly matches the previous review. However, I left, hairstyle unaltered.

Official site of Nell of Old Drury - www.bestcitypubs.co.uk

Any associations with Charles II seem very remote, and now there's not even any real ale! The sole feature of interest now is the front window, and there's no need to pay for a drink to see that. It was quiet at the time of my lunchtime Friday visit, with no other customers for the time it took me to order and drink a half of Guinness. (There are still two hand pumps on the bar, but I guess the decreased throughput since the Covid-19 lockdowns has put paid to those beers which, according to a previous review, not many were drinking anyway.) Service was friendly and efficient, and I got a nice parting too, so there's nothing wrong with the place, just nothing to really encourage another visit.

This is a very compact little pub opposite the Royal Drury Theatre, famed for its tunnel connecting it to the theatre which was allegedly used by Charles II to visit Nell Gwynn. The pub has a small rectangular ground floor area with dark floorboards, white painted walls with lincrusta uppers and ceiling and a rather small frontage which lets minimal light in. The servery runs down the right-hand wall and has a wood panelled counter with a kink part-way along to allow it to pass the dumb waiter, and a smart, geometric bar back with a modest pump clip collection and a nice pub mirror. A drinking ledge with bar stools extends down the left-hand wall, opposite the servery and beneath windows that look out to a corridor lined with various old paintings and photos. Low stools serve a couple of tables under the front windows and there is a small snug-like space at the far end of the bar which was roped off and being used by the bar staff, forcing many customers to follow the corridor to the staircase which leads up to the first-floor overspill/function room, although I didn’t make it up there myself. The pub understandably has a theatrical theme, with lots of old posters for past productions around the walls, some theatrical masks behinds the bar and the somewhat unique feature of a collection of ‘Full House’ boards signed by the casts of the respective productions and now stuck to the ceiling of the pub. Just two cask ales to choose between – Shepherd Neame Spitfire and St Austell Proper Job. The latter clocked in at £4.70 a pint, which seems about par for the course in this part of London, although it was only really in middling condition and I didn’t spot anyone else order either ale during the course of my visit. This is quite a quirky little pub that makes the most of its connections to the theatre to create something that stands out from the many other compact Central London pubs you can find in the area. I quite enjoyed my time here but the lack of interesting beer and questions over quality/throughput, would give me pause for thought about returning. I also imagine it’s a nightmare after work on a weekday or in the hours before a show, so be sure to time your visit accordingly.

This place must open around five o' clock. Not a bad pub with some real ale on which was halfway decent.

Small bar across the road from the Theatre Royal. Walls and ceiling covered in show posters. 2 real ales.