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New pub visits 2025 with ETA
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Submitted on Wednesday, 28th August 2024
With picture contributions to 5694 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Friend at Hand, WC1
WC1
WC1N 1HX
Reviews of Friend at Hand (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Friend at Hand
After the joy of finding the nearby Queens Larder now free from the hand of GK and independently run, I had a small hope of finding something similar here. Sadly not, and the average Taylor Walker run pub of my previous visit some nine years ago has been replaced with an average Green King run pub of today, which seemed to be focussing more on the food trade than wet sales.
One room space wrapped around the serving area it is all dark wood and Axminister carpet with plenty of light chandeliers and brass fittings that appeal to tourists and get copied by faux mock English pub designs around the world (Rose and Crown chain to be found in Japan, I’m thinking of you), its pleasant and comfortable enough, just nothing special.
On the ale front four pumps on the bar that had GK IPA and London Glory alongside Portobello Brewing It’s the Hope that Kills you with TT Landlord on the fourth with a dreaded coming soon clip draped over it. I went for the Portobello Brewing Pale Ale which, like the pub itself, was largely inoffensive but nothing special and just left you wishing for a bit more out of it.
On 13th October 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Friend at Hand
Tucked away in a side street behind the Principal Hotel, this pub seems to be geared to providing tourists with a 'London pub experience' and certainly attracts a lot of them. The one traditionally-furnished room has a slightly dark feel, being overshadowed by surrounding buildings, but is cheered up by various brass light fittings. Three large sports TVs are a bit out of place however. Being a Greene King pub it offered the usual Abbot and IPA but also a couple of guests in the shape of Vale Boom Boom and Truman Captain Lockwood, and condition seemed fine.
On 4th June 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Friend at Hand
Haven't been in here for maybe thirty years or so, so have little recollection of the place. Cannot recommend it at all though. No ale to speak of, a nothing pub in all fairness.
On 25th October 2016
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
View more reviews of Friend at Hand (15)
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- Friend At Hand page at t he Taylor Walker site - taylor-walker.co.uk
- Facebook - Friend At Hand
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Friend at Hand - whatpub.com
London St Pancras International, 0.78 miles, 14 min walk (show)
London St Pancras International, 0.78 miles, 14 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10% - last updated 16 October 2015 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 04 June 2019 by Graham Coombs
- Darts : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 04 June 2019 by Graham Coombs
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 04 June 2019 by Graham Coombs
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 March 2016 by Tris C
