Elephant & Castle, Kensington, W8

Official pages of the Elephant and Castle, including menus and cask ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Official pages of the Elephant and Castle, including menus and cask ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

As mentioned below, a small but picturesque pub tucked away behind High Street Ken. Interior is well described by the reviewers below and had the benefit of not being as crowded as some of the other pubs on the main roads on this particular weekend afternoon. Four hand pumps as mentioned, which included Pride, TT Landlord, Pedigree and one other I can’t remember. My pint of Landlord was spot on. I liked this one and will search it out again when back in the area.

Lots of dark wood in the typical Nicholsons style, settles, stools and banquette seating. Wooden floor, old photos, several of the Indian Raj era, but more interestingly the small area to the rear of the bar has a number of framed copies probably facsimiles, of newspaper headlines from momentous days of times gone by, such as the 66 World Cup win. moon landings, D-day and more. Hops entwined above the bar, friendly but perhaps I was slightly unlucky today beer wise, four pumps, two serving Pride, plus Pedigree and Caledonian Top Banana. I am reliably informed that the late great Dave Allen used to drink here.

This small but quite picturesque corner pub in a back street but seems a mile away from the hustle & bustle of the nearby High Street and it was proabbaly my most visited Kenny pub when I spent 10 years working in the area. Recently had my first visit for several years and little seems to have changed apart from the fact that the old regular chatty and welcoming bar staff appear to have turned into an automaton barmaid incapable of speech or smile facilities. The interior is cosy but quite basic and simply furnished with panelled windows and a traditional style bar frame. To the rear is a small, dark paneled section containing reproduction Daily Mail / Evening Standard front pages of some of the more monumental days in history (the Associated Newspapers are based just off the High Street). There is some outside seating to the front and rear but the residents apparently get a bit narked if the customers spill on to the pavement. 4 Ales - Landlord, Badger, Pride and Broadside at what for Kensington, are reasonably priced. All my memories remained thankfully intact, but a point deducted for the dreary barmaid. A smile and a hello makes all the difference!

Good selection of Real Ales in cosy bar. Appetising food.