The Grosvenor, Pimlico, SW1

Dating from at least 1881, but rebuilt in the 1920s, the pub was originally called the Spread Eagle, with a suitably spatchcocked bird as part of the old sign. The current name is recent, being the family name of the Dukes of Westminster, who own this land. It’s summed up well by BF, indeed there are a multitude of ship related items and a kilim to the carpeted floor, the interior being traditional, despite the age, being a little like a village pub. Further décor includes miniature pub signs, one for the Sherlock Holmes made me feel slightly ill. There’s a snug of sorts to the right, with a real fire and very cosy feel, with normal furniture for once. The left side is dominated by a pool table with a discreet – for once – TV showing sport with the sound off; an otherwise good compilation soundtrack played at an agreeable volume during my stay, though the upright piano gives a clue to the live jazz played on occasion. Customers were very much locals, the ones playing pool perhaps being delegates from the Tourette’s Society. Now we come to the ales: there was a bank of three pumps to the right side of the bar, clips reversed. There was then a fourth pump to the front of the bar with, promisingly, a Proper Job clip, reversed, but given that it was partially obscured by a charity collection shaker, when was it last used? I opted for a half of Guinness (£2.50 and good), served by a very friendly barmaid. This is a very nice pub, well worth a visit as part of an SW1 crawl, but the grade reflects the pub itself, not the ale – or lack of – selection which, if good in quality, could make this a minor Pimlico destination. Rated 6.5.

This is a proper pub with a decent exterior,badly let down by very poor ale.The interior is fully carpeted while the left side has a darts board,pool table ,upright piano and a Sky flatscreen,while to the right there is much more seating around a three sided bar,with a side section having a restaurant feel.There are seats outside to the front and a small walled beer garden to the rear.There is a ship theme,with many model ships dotted about.There is also a second upright piano on the right side and live jazz is played occasionally.The muzak was well chosen 80's classics ,and the customer base was local drinkers with a few diners. As you enter the pub ,it looks like a keg only selection at the bar until you notice three handpumps relagated to one end of the bar,with a further two situated on a different side by a column.Reversed clips dominated and only the ubiquitous and dull Doom Bar was on,clear but with a vinegar tang as I struggled through my half,£2.40. If only someone here care about serving a decent pint of ale,this pub would then deserve much higher marks,but as it stands defeat has been grasped from the jaws of victory.

One big room split by the bar. Two weak real ales and keg offerings. There was a piano to the right and a TV and pool table to the left.

They had just the two ales on when I visited – GKIPA dispensed from those shiny new fonts we see more of these days, and Sharp’s Doom Bar. The Doom Bar was dull and lifeless, but maybe I just caught it on a bad day. This certainly does seem like an old-fashioned pub. The management have gone to considerable effort to make the interior really interesting. On the left they have the standard features of a pool table and dartboard, but the main bar area on the right, as well as the room leading off it at the back, have been decorated to a high standard. There are a couple of sofas on the right, but although I’m not a great fan of them in pubs as they generally take up too much space, they work quite well in here. The rest of the furnishings are standard issue tables and chairs. The miscellany of decor in here is quite fascinating. There is something of an equine and maritime theme (an unusual combination) with a couple of saddles on display, and numerous model ships (one being of HMS Victory) on the walls. There’s an old mirror from its Spread Eagle days, and a piece of decor that I haven’t seen before is the miniature pub signs on the wall at the front above the windows. If this pub did a decent ale or two I would regard it as a very good pub indeed. Even if the Doom Bar had been better when I visited I wouldn’t regard it as good enough to raise it above the average. But I liked the pub enough to say that I would drop in again if I was in the area just in case the ale selection had improved.