The Westminster Arms, SW1

This was once the Red Lion, but was rebuilt in 1913. Being close to the Palace of Westminster, it’s one of at least three pubs in the area to feature a Division Bell. There’s much wood panelling in here for vertical drinking to ledges. One of the more interesting aspects of the pub are the bevelled mirrors inset into the extensive wood panelling, likewise the ornate ceiling cornice. The bar back is intriguing, visible on the pub’s website and featuring the phone number of Westminster 365; is this real? Lighting is Victorian style, there are knickknacks above the main window, which features bullseye glass and TVs broadcasting banality with the sound off. Customers were painfully few in number, especially when compared with the crowds at the Two Chairman round the corner and seemingly either local office workers, with a couple of lost foreign tourists. Not that I’m a great fan of SN beers, but there were five reversed clips, then Master Brew and Spitfire at £2.70 a half and surprisingly decent. This is quite a nice pub, but the beer range is poor and the ambience isn’t great. It’s worth a stop for a look, but I’d prefer not to spend an evening in here, though it’s better than the offerings in the Petty France area round the corner.

Official site of The Westminster Arms - www.westminsterarms.co.uk

Official site of The Westminster Arms - www.westminsterarms.co.uk

A Shepherd Neame tied house,so be prepared to suffer their dull ales if you venture inside.The ground floor will have a lot of vertical drinking,there is a shelf to the rear.Downstairs is a wine bar ,while upstairs there is a dining room.Despite lots of wood panelling ,the interior felt functional rather than interesting. There are 7 handpumps,some unused,some doubled up meaning a choice on my visit of Masterbrew,Bishops Finger,Crossfire and Whitstable Pale (A dull brew and NBSS 1.5 )There was inefficiency amongst the bar staff who seemed unable to serve folk in order.A till problem then brought serving to a virtual halt. It's a bit of a scum when busy.Unless you really like Shepherd Neame beer,one to avoid in future.

Went in this donkey's years ago and honestly couldn't remember a thing. Shepherd Neame pub with 7 hand pumps, one not in use. Bishop's Finger went down well. Also a cellar bar and a first floor restaurant. Would return.

As described, there are 2 bars in this fine Shepherd and Neame pub, the one upstairs mainly for drinkers, with its array of 6 handpumps on the bar, and the basement kept for diners, although it is possible, as we proved, to eat upstairs if you can find somewhere to sit. Deciding which bar to eat in can result in a comedy situation as the two barmen bounce you back and forth. Several tourists wandered in and out while we were there, obviously confused about what a pub is, but the majority of the clients were indigenous and enjoyed, rather than endured, their time here. I had a portion of fish and chips which was served, rather naffly, on a piece of driftwood and a paper bag, but the pint of Whitstable Pale Ale with which I washed it down was excellent. It’s a surprisingly good pub given its location, and I’d be happy to return any time.

I remember visiting this pub as part of a school trip to the nearby Houses of Parliament back in the mid 1990’s, although we hadn’t managed to persuade our teachers to take us for a pint - we just popped in to see the division bell, which was even less exciting than it sounds. I’d never managed to return in the intervening years, partly because the pub seems to close at the weekend, but a recent mid-week trip into town gave me the chance to pop in for a quick pint and to reacquaint myself with the bell. The pub is a simple, single room affair with bare floorboards which are heavily scuffed around the bar area after years of use. The servery runs along the right hand wall and has a high bar back bearing the pub’s name and with a Shepherd Neame clock, as the pub is currently run by the Kent-based brewers. In fact, there is all manner of Shepherd Neame related stuff dotted around the place including a number of shelves displaying old Shep’s jugs, a large pub mirror opposite the bar and loads of old Shep’s adverts and photos dotted around the room. There is also a whole load of clutter above the front door, mainly a number of bottles and jugs of various shapes and sizes. Seating is very limited, with virtually no tables, just a few drinking ledges and high stools. There were TV screens at either end of the room showing two different rolling news channels. There appear to be two other areas which might offer somewhere to sit, although I suspect they are both more formal rooms, with the Queen Anne’s English Dining Room and Storey’s Wine Bar both signposted from the main bar. Four Shep’s ales – Master Brew, Spitfire, Kent’s Best and Bishop’s Finger – were, most unusually, supplemented by a guest beer in the shape of Osset Elizabeth Rose. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen a guest ale in a Shep’s house, so I thought I should give it a try, although you certainly have to pay for the privilege, as my pint of the Osset came in at £3.95. The keg range was fairly standard but included Oranjeboom and Ashai. This is a very basic pub with a potentially interesting range of drinks, but I quite liked the place and enjoyed supping my pint and watching the world go by from the front windows. There are several better pubs in the area, but I’d still consider a return.

Shepherd Neame pub opposite the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. Real ale and food served.