Masons Arms, Mayfair, W1

An interesting Mayfair pub in full 1930's Brewers' Tudor. The single room interior is a bit dark, with wood panelling and hop bine coving round the ceiling, augmented by dried hops over the substantial bar. A function room with its own bar is signed upstairs. Another Greene King house, with Abbot, IPA and the standard house ale on pump, plus TT Landlord as guest.

Dating from the early 18th century, this was rebuilt in 1934 in some form of baronial Brewers’ Tudor. The interior is also rather baronial, notably the polychromatic cornice depicting bunches of grapes and accompanying vine leaves. There’s a lot of wood panelling to three quarter height with a white Anaglypta ceiling. The floor is modern bare boarded with a tiled bar apron. The bar front is similarly panelled and the rear bar structure is also rather ornate, featuring an Art Nouveau etched and cut mirror; wood to the banquettes is quite refined too. Lighting is brass and glass lamps and sconces and moderate music played. Décor comes in the form of framed prints and hop bines. Polite staff presided over two unused pumps, GK IPA, Abbot, something called Sandy’s Blonde (named after the pub’s inhouse hound!) and Neck Oil at £3.00 a half. This is quite nice, but it’s got to get some beer on that appeals to the more discerning ale drinker, but it’s worth a punt if in the area.

An attractive Mock Tudor frontage. Long and narrow inside with wood floor and attractive coloured grapevine coving. Three quarter length wood panelling, which has had the old dark varnish inexpertly sanded away to much detriment all round. Three pumps, all Greene King; rebadged house grot, a Chris Kamara beer (WTF?!) and GK IPA. Out of desperation I went for the IPA which was bearable. Another one to file under ‘it exists to fill a void’ heading of Zone 1 pubs.

Official site of Masons Arms - www.masonsarms-mayfair.co.uk

Official site of Masons Arms - www.masonsarms-mayfair.co.uk

One room place with 4/5 real ales. Nothing of any strength; however. Nothing special, I'm afraid.

Greene King pub with a bare boarded interior (lighter variety than Taylor Walker pubs). 5 real ales and food served.

A pleasant and fairly small pub located just a stone’s throw from Regent Street, it consists of a single room with quite a traditional feel to it. A wood panelled bar counter was to the right, with some low hanging globe lamps suspended above it. We didn’t inspect the menu, but a chalk board offered a few pub staples such as fish & chips or a steak & ale pie at around the £10/£11 mark. Décor wise it’s quite traditional with a largely wood strip floor along with some chequered tiles by the bar. Much of the walls were covered in oak wood panelling and this had been painted sage green on the rear wall. Elsewhere was cream plasterwork and some elaborate coloured cornice work around the ceiling was detailed with bunches of grapes. An old fire-place was off to one side. Beers on tap were Greene King IPA, Scrum Down, Ale’aha, London Glory and St. George’s Best Bitter, as well as a few keg options including something from Camden and Brew Dog’s Punk IPA. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately.