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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Flying Horse, Fitzrovia, W1
W1
W1D 1AN
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Tottenham
This fine Nicholson’s establishment first opened as a pub back in 1826, when it was known as the Flying Horse before being rebuilt in 1892, and now has the somewhat sad distinction of being the only remaining pub on Oxford Street. The main part of the pub is made up of a single narrow room which has the bar running along the front half of the left hand wall. The servery is fairly impressive, with lots of dark wood and what seems to be a comparatively recent mirrored bar back. There are some high stools at the front of the room, near the bar, which give you an opportunity to do a bit of people watching out onto the busy street outside. Wooden floorboards lead you into the mid section of the pub where there is a mix of high tables and stools and some nice leather banquettes. Perhaps the most striking feature of the pub is the large coloured mirror set into an elaborately carved wooden frame and flanked by several other mirrors. The look is completed by a series of large paintings depicting three of the four seasons on the mahogany paneled walls, as well as a number of circular pictures on the ceiling. There are a couple of ceramic tile rails running around the room, with some skirting around an impressive skylight. Music was playing quite loudly, but this wasn’t too irritating as the general hubbub of the customers dampened the sound enough. The traditional look is spoilt somewhat by a slot machine opposite the bar, although I didn’t spot any TV screens. There is a restaurant downstairs called the Astoria, which looked closed on my visit, but had a good number of formally arranged tables.
Disappointingly, there were just three ales available on my visit – Fullers London Pride, St Austell Nicholson’s Pale Ale and Windsor and Eton Knight of the Garter (3.70) – although there were two ‘coming soon’ clips and a sixth pump unused. My Knight of the Garter was in good condition as went down very well.
This pub is well worth taking a look and not just because it’s a handy bolt hole from an afternoon of shopping. The pleasing interior is undoubtedly the main attraction and with a slightly broader ale selection, this would be somewhere well worth spending some time.
On 11th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Tottenham
The only remaining Oxford Street pub boasts a superb brick and stone front elevation above the ground floor dating to the 1892 rebuild. Inside the well-preserved Victorian interior enjoys a wealth of carved wood, tiles, mirrors and murals as well as a lantern to the rear with post-WW2 glass. The welcome was warm but the pub was almost empty (mid-afternoon on a Thursday). Five ales on - London Pride for me at this stop, delicious and well kept without being too cold.
On 23rd March 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Tottenham
Another of London’s Nicholsons houses, this one located in close proximity to Tottenham Court Road tube. This one had five handpulls on the go (Pride, Adnams Ghost, Doom Bar, Hobgoblin and a turned Cropton clip on my visit; my Doom was fairly good and came in a pint pot). Like many-a-Nicholsons there’s a nice interior, though the layout is basically a small narrow room lacking seating. Look upwards and there’s an interesting ceiling and lower down the wall décor (wood and tiled) with some old paintings behind glass panels is very pretty. Noticed a working dumb waiter for food orders, which I always think is a nice touch. Clientele were quite touristy (unsurprising, as this is now the only pub on Oxford Street). The woman behind the bar (who I took to be the manageress) was quite switched-on which is a good sign, she wasn’t taking any gyp but in a good-natured way. Maybe things have moved on here since Roger’s review in 2008.
I’d say it’s worth calling in for a pint to take in the visuals on a quiet afternoon based on this visit.
On 30th November 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Tottenham
Definitely worth popping in here before disappearing down the tube to head home.
Splendid interior as covered very well in the reviews below, and a Nicholsons house with up to six ales on the go.
And I can’t better Rex’s description of these being the usual suspects (Pride, Doombar and Landlord) and then a couple of guests.
Unfortunately there was only one guest left on by the time I got there late evening, but it was Jaipur IPA, so all was well..
On 26th June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Tottenham
It’s worth dropping into this pub for a butcher’s at the superb original Victorian features, if you like that sort of thing. They really are something special. In particular, there is artwork by Felix de Jong; tiling by Millington, Windsor & Co; and back-painted mirrors by Jones & Finch, a process that was new back in 1892. There had been a pub on this site in the 19th Century called the Flying Horse, but it was bought by the Baker brothers, then rebuilt (incorporating a tobacconists) in 1892 and renamed The Tottenham.
There were about five ales on, but for some reason I failed to make a note of them. As I recall three were the usual suspects and a couple were less frequently seen what I would regard as “guest” ales. It was surprisingly quiet in there at around 1400 on a Wednesday afternoon. Only a dozen or so punters presumably seeking refuge from the hell of Oxford St. It is now the only pub in Oxford St, and is definitely worth dropping in to, if you can get to the Tottenham Ct Rd end unscathed.
On 8th February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Tottenham
Underrated street corner pub,probably better known as the only pub on Oxford Street. It is part of the Nicholson's chain. Splendid original interior, large stained glass oriel rooflight at the rear, Rubenesque ceiling murals, ornate tiled ceiling frieze/cornice, and large carved wood framed mirrors along the side wall. Wood flooring, the lengthy bar is along the side wall of this deep narrow room.
Six handpumps, five on when I visited in January. Thwaites Nutty Black, Caledonian Auld Acquaintance, Sharps Doom Bar, TT Landlord and Pride.
Yes, due to its location, it gets a bit rammed with tourists, and the clientele are mostly transient but the service was still good, and it was pleasing to see the barman taking the time to describe the beer types to a group of tourists who had ducked in out of the snow.
On 3rd February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Tottenham
This is a well kept Victorian boozer on Oxford Street that is run by Nicholson’s. I counted six ales alongside a decent selection of premium lagers and standard draught from which I enjoyed a nice pint of Guinness. I didn’t find the staff to be that accommodating, but that may have just been the language barrier.
There is a plasma screen which was turned off and I spotted no advertisements for any sport, which was no surprise.
There is a bar and restaurant upstairs which I didn't visit, maybe I'll have a look next time I'm passing.
On 6th September 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]