The Nags Head, Belgravia, SW1

Tucked away down a private mews, this isn’t somewhere you’re likely to stumble across by accident, but it was worth preserving though and seemed to be very popular with more punters outside than in on our recent Saturday evening visit. The landlady was very efficient and certainly took no messing, giving short shrift to a rather boisterous Hooray Henry type trying to order both a bottle of champagne and a round of brandies. The street level bar is quite small with only a limited amount of seating at the front and the bar counter taking up a good proportion of the space at the rear. Dark wood panelling was on much of the walls with some type of lino on the floor, and every square was covered with something, numerous photographs, portraits and posters but also all sorts of other bits and bobs including a bugle, wooden model aeroplanes, miner’s lamps, old bottles…..the list is endless. An old sewing machine table was off to one side as well as a couple of old fireplaces with wooden surrounds. One of these contained an old iron stove of some sort and was liberally adorned with horse brasses. A shelf above the bar contained a large collection of peaked caps, all piled up one on top another. A further bar down a few steps at the rear had flagstones on the floor but was otherwise broadly similar in terms of décor. Another bar was up a few steps, although we did not investigate this. Beers on tap were all from Adnams with their Southwold, Lighthouse and Ghost Ship, whilst the ciders were Wild Wave from the same brewery which is a new one on me, and Aspall’s Suffolk. All in all, a great little pub and well worth taking the effort to track it down.

Splendid little pub of character with a strong local following and which has changed little over many years. As mentioned before, the surprisingly-low bar in the front room is because the serving side is even lower, although it does boast a splendid brass beer engine. Down some narrow steps behind the bar is a lower room, while there is a another corner up a step or two by the toilets, generally =giving the impression that every space has been pressed into use. The aged wooden panelling throughout is liberally covered in pictures and assorted bric-a-brac. Fine weather outdoor drinking is provided by some tables (literally) in the road. Draught beers are from Adnams, with Bitter, Ghost Ship and Lighthouse available at time of visit. Alcohol-free Ghost Ship and Dry-hopped Lager were also badged but were on keg. Oh, and be warned, mobile phone users are not favoured.

Pleasing pub which had the bar staff on a lower level than me. The pub was also on various levels and the walls were crammed with memorabilia. Adnam's beer on hand pump. There was a nice fire which wasn't lit.