The Builders Arms, Chelsea, SW3

A return visit since the late 1980s and what was once a rather traditional backstreet pub, just off King’s Road dating from the 1820s and now rather modernised. Back then, it was a Whitbread pub, now under the stewardship of Hippo Inns. It has clearly had a massive interior designer makeover; the result looks more like a restaurant or wine bar; nothing from the original pub seems to remain. There’s a polished floor, mixed furniture including sofas with scatter cushions in the ‘snug’. Walls are white to the dado, then grey green rag washed with a white ceiling; there’s also some bare brick too. There’s an attractive zinc bar top, though no real bar back and hop bines dangle from on high. Customers are what you would expect, but are not the inaccurate stereotypes often portrayed in this area. In the ale department, one pump was off, then Landlord and Naked Ladies at £2.45 a half, which his good value for London, let alone SW3 and in excellent condition too. Although it would be a tall order to call this a ‘pub’. It’s a pleasant place to have a decent drink, at prices which represent good value for anywhere north of the Thames in Zones 1 – 2 and certainly a better bet than the Sydney Arms next door.

Official site of The Builders Arms - www.thebuildersarmschelsea.co.uk

Official site of The Builders Arms - www.thebuildersarmschelsea.co.uk

The Builders Arms is a decent enough looking back street pub. Once inside there is single L shaped room with the bar to the front left,the room is bare boarded,the seating settees and normal tables and chairs,the rear left area is down one step,this area is carpeted and has bench seating and chairs,tables in this area were laid out for diners. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of London Beer Factory Chelsea Blonde,which was a decent drink,the other beers were Sambrooks Lavender Hill and Doom Bar. The background music playing was crap in my opinion. This seemed a decent enough pub to have a couple of drinks in. Pub visited 1/7/2015

Attractive, traditional-looking pub, somewhat hidden away in a Chelsea back street. Partly opened out inside to leave a 'U'-shaped bar with one part awkwardly down a single step. Fully made over, with all sorts different furniture and arty decor. Small patio seating area out front. Three handpumps on the counter, with a fairly dull selection of Doom Bar, Bombardier and Flowers IPA (£3.65, and served in a jug). NB - Table service if you are not careful; and, given the genteel surroundings, a wholly unnecessary doorman.

Pride, Cornish Coaster and Adnam's Bitter on. This place is all sofas and luxury, but with a few tables and chairs outside mainly for the smokers. Not much like the sort of pub I grew up with; par for the course in this area I suppose. But it seems like a popular place, so there is obviously room for this type of pub in the capital.