Zetland Arms, South Kensington, SW7

Just a short walk from South Kensington tube station and the museum district, this is a simple Greene King pub with a few nice features. The pub has a bare boarded interior which wraps itself around a centrally positioned servery, with checkerboard tiling around the floor of the whole bar area. The servery has an angular dark wood counter, smart bar back with modern dark wood panels and etched glass mirrors, plus contemporary-styled pot shelves hung from a high canopy which has been decorated with lincrusta. High tables and stools stand beneath the front windows, one of which has a particularly attractive curved pane bearing an etching of the pub’s name. More high tables and stools clutter the space behind the bar, but there is a decent seating area through a series of arches along the back wall, where comfier seating has been arranged under wood panelled walls decorated with traditional paintings. A few fine etched glass mirrors to the rear right part of the bar add to the pub’s traditional feel, but for every nice feature such as that, there are plenty of corporate promotional items to spoil the overall effect. Music was playing quietly in the background and there were a lot of people eating throughout the pub, despite the post-work crush of the crowd. There are six handpulls on the bar and these were dispensing Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale, Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter and Guardsman, Enfield Speculation and Old Rosie Cider. The staff were particularly friendly but served up a rotten pint of the Speculation, which, at £4.95, was undrinkable – too many ales on to match demand I suspect. I don’t think Greene King have done this place any favours. The corporate nonsense throughout this pub really detracts from what is otherwise quite an interesting building with some nice traditional features, whilst the expansion of the ale range seems to have adversely affected quality. Overall, this was a real let-down and has been struck off the list of potential watering holes when I’m in this part of town.

A good traditional pub with an island bar, a nice welcoming feel and not taken over too much by dining, although a fair stream of tourists looking for food. Upstairs bar and dining room not open at time of visit. Draught ales were IPA, Landlord, Wimbledon SW19 and Windsor Knights of the Garter. Happy to return if in area.

Official site of The Zetland Arms - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of The Zetland Arms - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Very close to South Ken tube ,this street corner pub was temporarily covered in scaffolding,so I didn't clock any interesting external features.Owned by Greene King,but still retaining a pub atmosphere ,the island bar is surrounded by differing sections,high tables to the front,a long red leather bench down the side,and a larger rear area with a mix of high tables,some banquettes in their own alcoves and a few dining type tables beneath an internal etched glass window.Corporate GK menus are everywhere on the numbered tables,so you may get punters eating next to you even if you just wanted a beer.However food doesn't dominate and there is an upstairs dining area.Given that it's dog friendly and has Wednesday live music,some community spirit exists. There are 6 handpumps with just GK IPA as part of the ties,one pump unused,leaving the four guests on my visit as Trumans Zephyr and Lazarus,Twickenham Strange Brew and a decent Wimbledon Copper Leaf (unreasonable £2.45 the half,but I missed the 10% CAMRA discount). I would pop in again,there aren't too many pubs in this neck of the woods and this is fine for a few jars.

The bar of the Zetland Arms is L shaped with high tables along one exterior wall and more conventional tables and chairs down the other. Around to the right of the bar is a flight of stairs that lead up to a dining area that was roped off during my recent 16:00 Thursday afternoon visit. To the left of the bar is a good sized seating area that was empty leaving myself, a Spanish couple and an old sleeping gentleman as the only customers. There was some background music playing and the television was off, although I did spot a live sport advertisement in the toilet. The bar supports standard and premium draught products and I counted four hand pumps on the bar. These were drawing Taylor Walker’s 1730, Fuller’s London Pride, St Austell’s Tribute and Sharp’s Doom Bar. This is a Taylor Walker pub so their traditional pub grub menu is used where a main of cod and chips is priced at £12.30. I found the service to be friendly and would have no problem returning in the future if passing.

Taylor Walker pub with a central horseshoe/island bar serving 4 real ales and food.