Hollywood Arms, Chelsea, SW10

The history’s on CAMRA’s site, the photos on the pub’s and the description’s below. The gothic elements of the pub are very attractive: etched and cut-glass windows, room dividers, the bar back and front. There’s a smart function room upstairs, along with attractive lavs, with two cubicles no less. Some of the customers were annoyingly drunk, others a bit twattish and probably office workers; the Cure played at an agreeable level. The only ale on offer was a very good pint of London Original at £5.15, which is actually very reasonable for these parts, but then again this isn’t the most desirable part for these climes. I would love to have seen this place in its heyday. It’s just about ok and certainly better than the King’s Arms down the road; worth popping in for a swift one.

This pub has had an internal makeover since my previous visit. The "butcher's block" tables have gone, with armchairs and sofas being the furnishings of choice. Everything has now been painted that ubiquitous Chelsea grey, including the Gothic arches dividing the room. The right hand wall has on it a sort of tree-themed wallpaper, and is dominated by an enormous, and apparently old, clock. Being a Young's pub the ales on are unadventurous, with just Young's Bitter and Bombardier available. I didn't see a menu, but I would be surprised if food wasn't available. Young's have succeeded in achieving the hotel lounge look, and I don't think the makeove has improved it. But then I can count on the fingers of one hand the makeovers that I consider to be an improvement. But it is a spaceous, light pub that is worthing visiting to have a look at a rare Gothic style pub.

Official site of the Hollywood Arms with menu and cocktail list - www.hollywoodarmschelsea.com

Official site of the Hollywood Arms with menu and cocktail list - www.hollywoodarmschelsea.com

This is now a Young’s pub (in the past it has been a Chef & Brewer pub and a Watney’s house), but with just Bitter and Bombardier on during my visit. The food was par for the course for this very affluent area – fish and chips at £10.95, sausage and mash at £9.50. The pub itself is early to mid-Victorian, with the gable proclaiming it to be from 1865. In fact it is the best remaining London example of the short-lived “Gothic” phase of pub architecture, as evidenced by the trademark arched windows. Inside it’s really a different story. When you enter you are in a seating area containing mainly normal tables and chairs, and with wall decor comprising black and white photos as well as black and white stylised portraits. There’s also a small bit of what looks like the original Victorian tiling by the door. The bar counter is in a room at the back, reached via entranceways surrounded and topped by wooden archways. These look like more modern embellishments, but if so they are sympathetic to the original design of the pub with the Gothic tops to the glass panels by the archways. There are some old butchers’ blocks now doing duty as tall tables accompanied by tall stools, as well as a sofa or two at the back and to the right of the bar counter. On the whole this is a madeover upmarket Young’s pub. It’s certainly not one to be avoided, but it’s not for you if you’re looking for a traditional backstreet pub. Indeed, if that’s what you’re looking for you really shouldn’t be in this part of London.