Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Churchill Arms, W8
W8
W8 7LN
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Churchill Arms
Imagine you were taking guests to a pub in London and wanted to go somewhere special. It would have to be here, wouldn't it.
Somehow, a tourist destination for the flora and fauna - and lit Xmas trees - manages to feel like a decent locals bar. Fullers pub, so you would expect expensive ESB but in great condition. In contrast, the Thai food - run unobtrusively in a rear dining area - seemed quite reasonable with mains at around £13.
On 8th January 2025
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Churchill Arms
About 15 years since my only previous visit, so it's hard to say what has changed, though the interior was immediately familiar on entering. It was pretty busy, and we struggled to find somewhere to sit, though there were free tables aplenty in the Thai restaurant. I had the new version of Dark Star Hophead, the 3.4% one that several regular hopheads have sworn not to drink now that it's been emasculated. I thought it was well kept (NBSS 3.5) and quite a decent drink, though it tasted different from how I remember it. I won't be boycotting it as I was never a big fan of the beer.
On 12th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Churchill Arms
First time in here for many years and virtually nothing has changed apart from the Thai food offering and prices of course. A couple of Fullers beers and a couple of guests were on including a very nice Park Saw Pit. The chat and general ambiance were good at 11.30 on a Saturday Morning. Top pub.
On 23rd March 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Churchill Arms
I suspect I was in a day or two after Blackthorn, as the only change to the beer list was Fuller's Wild River on for Butcombe Haka. The Wild River had just come on and was in good condition.
The Churchill Arms is a pub I hadn't visited for at least 15 years until Thursday this week. It doesn't appear to have changed much since our last visit. The exterior still has a wonderful array of greenery, whilst the interior is still just as cluttered with knick knacks as before. We sat on the left-hand side of the pub close to the gents toilets, where there are pictures of Irish football and rugby teams, along with pictures of every US president until around 1970, amongst soda bottles and plenty of other ephemera.
We did wander around to the far right-hand side of the room to place an order for some Thai food. In this corner, is the kitchen itself and a desk with the restaurant staff. Beyond there is a separate restaurant for diners. I believe this is in a conservatory. Although you can choose to eat the food you have ordered in the pub itself, as we did.
This is still a classic London pub and attracts both locals and tourists searching for that quintessential pub experience. Whilst the beer and cider range lacks a little, due to the tie with Fuller's, there's still plenty here to admire. It still rates as one of my favourite pubs in the capital.
On 18th February 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Churchill Arms
A prominent street corner pub that regular pops up in guide books due to it’s striking exterior covered in foliage, this changes to hanging baskets later in the year and Christmas trees in December. It really is quite a spectacle, and fortunately the inside doesn’t disappoint either.
The pub is arranged in to a U shape internally with the bar counter in the middle. The right hand leg of the U seems to extend further back, possibly in to a restaurant and/or conservatory, although I did not fully investigate this. The remainder of the pub is very traditional, attractive, and crammed full of bric-à-brac. There is red patterned carpet on the floor with dark wood panelling on much of the walls, leaded windows on two sides and a surprising amount of standing area at the front of the pub as well as a selection of tables. It makes a pleasant change to find up a pub not cramming in as many tables as possible for diners. The main feature though is undoubdetebly all the knick-knacks that fill every square inch of space on the walls and the ceiling. These include a large selection of chamber pots, buckets, watering cans and wicker baskets hanging from the ceiling, strings of flags as well as larger flags on the walls, plenty of pictures of Churchill, a model post box, a toucan Guinness advert, a cricket club notice board and trophy cabinet, all manner of pictures and newspaper cutting, many WWII related, lanterns, further foliage on the window sills… I could go on all day. There was also a small fire blazing away to one side which was a nice touch, and this added to what was already a very cosy ambience.
Beers on tap were ESB and London Pride from Fullers, along with Twickenham American Nut Brown, Butcombe haka and Siren Yu Lu. The only negative about the whole place was the cider selection, which was just a disappointing Cornish Orchards. Other than that though, a cracking pub and well worth a visit.
On 17th February 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Churchill Arms
Lively and popular traditional pub, with a great atmosphere and chatty clientele on a Saturday night. I’ll have to try it again when slightly more sober, it seemed like a real gem. Fullers ales plus guests, I stuck with the Pride which was on top form.
On 25th September 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Churchill Arms
A shrine to Churchill and WW II,the external floral display is outstanding and brings in a lot of visitors.Just after the Platinum Jubilee ,the union jacks were still on full dispay and the interior is very authentic,carpeted throughout with lots of dark wood panelling and two wings either side of the main bar.The ceiling is full of war time bric a brac which adds to the atmosphere ,and with lots of photos hanging in the windows,panes full of books and frosted glass the interior is slightly dark but not gloomy.The Irish theme has been toned down,it's there if you are very observent.
At the far end of the right leg is a wait to be seated restaurant called the Operations Room with hanging foliage throughout.The food is Thai and can be consumed anywhere,yet most of the bar area was taken up by drinkers,a mix of tourists and older regulars.Very friendly barmaids always helps.
Tied to Fullers so featuring their London Pride and ESB but with guests on my trip of Mad Squirrel Red Dawn,Siren Yulu Pale and Adnams Eastern Edge (NBSS 3,but malty and not to my taste).However thats a decent line up,I can see why it's a GBG regular and it's worthy of a longish stay.Very comfortable and traditional,it's well worth investigating and should not be missed for the interior.
On 18th June 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Churchill Arms
Really nice exterior with numerous hanging baskets. The interior is covered in bric a brac with a British/Irish vibe going on. Pretty standard Fuller's beer selection.
On 27th October 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Churchill Arms
This pub was built in 1824 as The Bedford Arms and by just 1826 was renamed The Churchill Arms, not as is claimed on the website that it was named after World War II in honour of Winnie, whose countenance looms large wherever you look; I suspect that this has been suggested to drum up foreign tourist custom. I only came here once before and that was in the summer of 1994 - the pub hasn't been out of the GBG since - and I recall a vast collection of mounted butterflies, a collection which seems to have diminished in size quite markedly since. As mentioned, this pub has a quite traditional interior with a carpet, patterned stained leaded windows and enough bric-a-brac to shame The Hemingford Arms. Crowds here - crowds being the operative word - are drawn from locals and tourists. With the massed hoards and ceilings festooned with everything, it's all a bit claustrophobic in here and the smell of Thai food is really a bit pervasive; great in a Thai restaurant but really not in a pub. With all the hurling sticks and Emerald Isle memorabilia, the place must also be an avowedly Irish-themed venue which couldn't be more incongruous given the name, images of the Queen and red, white and blue bunting proclaiming 'British!' about the place. It must then be a Unionist pub? Service came with a much-welcomed charming smile.
Ales: Fuller's ESB, London Pride, Summer Ale and Oliver's Island Golden Ale at a typical £2.20 a half and on good form.
This jolly pub has many charms, but as mentioned it really does provide something of a claustrophobic sensory overload, combined with the piscean whiff of nam pla. We also weren't charmed by the screaming child at the next table. This place is certainly worth a visit, but I just can't like it enough to become a regular if in the area.
On 17th June 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Churchill Arms
Top-notch Fuller's pub, and very attractive both outside (with its cascades of hanging baskets) and within (with almost every type of memorabilia one can imagine). Various seating areas around and beyond the staple-shaped bar. Usually very busy, with a good atmosphere. Chiswick, Pride, ESB and Spring Sprinter (£4.10) available on this visit from a total of seven handpumps in two banks. Located a short walk south of Notting Hill Gate underground station and well worth seeking out.
On 8th March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]