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The Harp, WC2
WC2
WC2N 4HS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Harp
One of the best real ale pubs in Central London and very convenient if you are visiting Theatreland.This was my first visit since the landlady Binnie bought out the Punch Tavern tie,and the ale selection from the eight handpumps has greatly improved.Sambrook's ale is always available,Wandle and Junction on my trip and there is also a good selection from The Dark Star Brewery with Hophead,Paradise Weiss,American Pale ale and Over the Moon all available.The other two handpumps had White Horse Village Idiot(later replaced by Sharp's Proper Job) and Boggart's Dark Mild,so there was an excellent range of beer styles,something for everybody.All beers sampled were in excellent condition and around the £3.10-£3.20 mark very reasonable for the location.The decision to feature a lot of brews from Dark Star was spot on IMHO ,as this is a small brewery which produces excellent ales across a wide variety of styles with many seasonal offerings.The barmaids were,as always, uber efficient and no long wait at the bar even at 6pm on a hot Friday evening and there is room to spill out of the front door and at the rear where a passage leads between Chandos Place and St Martins Lane,a good place for vertical exterior drinking free from traffic fumes.As mentioned below the interior is small with bar stools and drinking shelves and three breakfast bar type tables but up the steep stairs past the loos there is a quiet upstairs room with small leather chairs and some tables overlooking the front.Sometimes reserved for private function but worth checking out if your legs are giving out.This is a pub worthy of an extended session and has a friendly and homely atmosphere.A good selection of real cider and perry this is drinking heaven.An absolute gem and a must visit in Central London.
On 19th July 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Harp
I had an excellent pint of Sambrook’s Wandle here earlier this week, which was one of eight ales that they had on. This is a smallish pub with seating consisting mainly of stools round the bar and shelves, plus a few high tables. As it was a warm-ish sunny day the entire front of the window area was open, giving the place a welcoming feel. This is something that you don't see too often (the Lamb and Flag is one other that has the facility) and is in contrast to most pubs which turn their back on, or provide an escape from, the outside world. Anyway, there are lots of original paintings and the like adorning the walls that add to the atmosphere. I remember this place from the 60s when it was the Welsh Harp and it does not appear to have changed very much since then. It's a decent, welcoming pub with good beer and definitely worth a visit.
On 13th May 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Harp
Situated on a side street between Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and Charing Cross station, this lovely real ale pub is easily incorporated into any London sightseeing day out.
A small single room offers limited seating, mostly in the form of stools along drinking shelves, although there are a few tables towards the rear.
There are eight hand pumps and my recent visit saw two Dark Star beers, two Sambrooks, Ascot Alligator, Harvey’s Best and H&H Olde Trip on offer - the last of which ran out whilst I was there, the clip being turned immediately. One fridge was full of various ciders and I noticed a certificate on the wall naming this the Greater London Cider Pub of the Year for 2008.
Staff are very nice and helpful and were enjoying a good laugh with the punters stood at the bar. It can get a bit busy in here at times and the cramped layout can make it hard to move around, but it's a small gripe against what is otherwise an excellent little pub.
On 30th March 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Harp
Very busy, narrow single-bar pub. Excellent range of ales - 8 in total from breweries like Sambrooks, Dark Star, Timothy Taylor. You'll probably have to stand for a while till a seat becomes available (if it does - folk seem to settle in for a long session here).
The pub website listed below (harpbarcoventgarden.com) is currently invalid.
On 1st January 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 561 recommendations about 523 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Harp
On Friday night I was served a nice pint of unknown ale by a very friendly barmaid. I smoked a cigarette in the alley out back and then climbed the treacherous stairs to the tiny bog. I had great fun; I just wish that I could remember some more of the night!
One thing that I will say is that even though it looked heaving there was room at the back and although I couldn't get to the bar I was informed of the ale selection by the barmaid and then served instantly.
Well worth going out of your way for!
On 25th June 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6134 recommendations about 6100 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Harp
Full of character and welcoming. Regulars are Black Sheep, Taylors Landlord and Harveys Sussex. Good enough without the guests, on this occasion, Harviestown Bitter and Twisted, Adnams Explorer and Batemans Valiant. The top of the bar is full of clips and mats from previous guest ales. Spotted the intimate upstairs parlour style room I've never noticed before. The main area opposite the bar is very narrow so seating here is limited to stools along a shelf.
Only one minor gripe, the front windows fold back to allow in air and light, and also smoke. It seems de riguer for smokers to stand outside chatting through the opening to friends inside so a lot of smoke blows back in.
On 19th May 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Harp
It's all been said, but my tuppence-worth would add that my smoking pals were impressed with the (previously undiscovered) provision of ashtrays and little half-barrel beer tables in the ginnel out back. Got a table to the rear Sat nt & enjoyed some extra beers, rather greedy after a Reading crawl but the Saltaire Amarillo Gold was outstanding.
On 24th March 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Harp
Very friendly pub with one long narrow bar.Try the sausage rolls.Not cheap (well,this is the West End)but very very good.All washed down with a fine pint of Landlord.Three real ales on.2 mins from Charing X station.
On 16th November 2006
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]