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Skinners Arms, WC1
WC1
WC1H 9NT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Skinners Arms
Pretty much as I recall from back in the day, but seems to have had a scrub and the impressive Skinners Arms bar topper above the impressive wood and glass bar back is now more prominent. Fairly homely feel, what with the heavy drape curtains, William Morris wallpaper, carpets, dark brown wood and low wattage lamps, though the music choice left a bit to be desired. Six ales on, GK heavy with their Fireside, Belhaven IPA and Morlands Original. Of more interest were Adnams Lighthouse, St Austell Cornish Best and local Southwark Routemaster Red which was decent and at £3.70 refreshingly cheap. It's certainly a better place now than it was and worth a look-in.
November 2006
A single room (with raised area to the rear) wood-panelled pub close to both the British Library and Kings Cross/St Pancras stations. Not impressed upon entering, asking for a pint of TT Landlord (advertised on a big placard by the bar) only to be told it was 'unavailable'. Bah. Had a couple of enjoyable pints of Abbot though and this appears to be a Greene King house. A decent place but very, very smoky and not helped by having fans at ceiling height blowing all the smoke back down towards the punters - what's that about? If you need ventilation, open the damned door. An OK, if relatively underwhelming experience. Rated 6
On 1st December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Skinners Arms
Impressive large bar gantry serving 2 real ales( 6 taps) and food during my visit. Doors suggest it was once a bar and saloon now one large area.
On 29th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Skinners Arms
A well run traditional Victorian pub, which always has a couple of interesting guests ales on handpump. We went for the Siren Love of Work, which was top notch. The pub has William Morris wallpaper and Lincrusta putty paper under dado height. The original bar and back servery in mahogany also adds interest to the pub.
On 26th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Skinners Arms
The Skinners Arms is a nice looking corner pub that is quite close to St Pancrass Station,this is one of the few pubs in this area of London that has eluded me for quite a few years.
Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room with the bar on the right side,there is a raised area to the left,the seating is mainly normal tables and chairs,the room is carpeted and looked quite smart in my opinion.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Vale Best bitter which went down well,the other beers i noted were GK IPA and a beer from Longship.
This was a very pleasant pub to end my pub crawl in.
Pub visited 2/8/2014
On 2nd August 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Skinners Arms
This pub may well be independently owned as John says, but the link to Greene King runs very deep with the trademark GK plaque on the outside wall near the door, and of course both Abbot and GKIPA were on during my visit. The Skinners is one of the great twelve livery companies, and manages an estate around the area of this pub on behalf of Judd School in Tonbridge – hence the name of this pub.
Although I didn’t see any food or menus when I was in at around 3.0 PM on Wednesday, I’m sure they do food as condiments and cutlery were languishing at one end of the bar counter. This is another Victorian corner site pub. Doors are still signed to the public bar and saloon bar (now unused) but of course it’s been completely opened up now of course. But it’s fairly comfortable inside, being carpeted throughout and furnished with normal chairs, small round metal-framed tables and plenty of small stools. It’s been extended a bit at the back, making it a larger pub than it looks from the outside. The walls are covered with miscellaneous prints.
As well as the GK offerings, they also had on a couple of guest ales – Robinson’s Enigma and O’Hanlon’s Firefly. This is a decent enough pub in which to stop for a pint or two, although the main negative point for me was the banal pop music being played at louder than background levels. The presence of two guest ales ranks it a notch or two above the majority of GK pubs. I would visit again if I was passing.
On 7th April 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Skinners Arms
Situated close to Kings Cross St Pancras Station down a side street is The Skinners Arms, an attractive looking street corner pub.
It’s a largish comfortably furnished and carpeted pub, with much dark wood and a long single bar. A cosy snug like corner at the far end of the pub contains a framed print telling us that The Skinners Livery Company obtained its Royal Charter from Edward III in 1327, although it’s not clear whether there’s any connection with the pub, aside from the name.
The pub retains some original features and some attractive looking coloured stained glass tells us that this was originally a multi room pub with separate entrances.
The 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide, in which this pub is listed , tells us that the pub is “independently owned, although Greene King products can predominate”. Well they’re not kidding ! On my 2 recent visits, only Greene King IPA and Abbott have been on, with other real ales conspicuous by their absence. Notably, on the second of the two visits, the guest beers blackboard was blank, from which I deduced that no guest beer was imminent.
I quite like this pub as a pub in that it’s cosy, comfortable and more welcoming that some other pubs in the immediate vicinity, but until management start to show more initiative on the real ale front, I don’t feel inclined to revisit any time soon
On 15th April 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Skinners Arms
This is a Greene King pub situated down a side street off the busy Euston Road, close to the British Library and Kings Cross/St Pancras stations.
The pub comprises of one large room, although the 'Saloon Bar' insert in one of the frosted windows suggests that it was previously partitioned in some way. There is a raised area opposite the bar, delineated by rails that double up as a drinking shelf for those on the lower level, with plenty of bar stools arranged along its length. Standard tables and chairs make up the remainder of available seating. The decor is mostly attractive dark wood panels and features and there is a nice carpet throughout the room, all of which conspires to create a cosy and warm environment.
GK IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen are seemingly permanent fixtures at the bar, but there is also a guest ale (Saltaire Copper Ale on my recent visit) for those who prefer to avoid GK beer. Staff were welcoming and attentive and the beer was well kept.
Certainly worth a look if you’re in the area of waiting for a train.
On 13th May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Skinners Arms
This is a really nice, large, London back street, close to St Pancras and Kings Cross stations.
Its traditional and comfortable, including a raised seating area opposite the bar, traditional pub carpet, typical pub carttons and pipped music and a very pleasant real fire going adjacent to the bar.
Beer quality was also very good, if not a spectacular choice.
The bloke behind the bar was a miserable grouch, but here it seemed to add to the nice feel of the place, if that makes sence!
Lovely place.
On 13th November 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Skinners Arms
This is a Greene King pub so unsurprisingly IPA, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen were all available, but I was surprised to see some Landlord which was very nice. There is also a selection of standard lagers alongside San Miguel.
I noticed that this place is more of a local's pub, but not exclusively as I wasn't made to feel at all unwelcome. The barman seemed OK, but the music channel being played on the couple of screens was a bit out of place. I found the pub to be clean and I liked the decoration, but maybe some more light could be generated as it is a little dark.
I've been to far worse pubs and wouldn't mind returning here if passing.
On 6th April 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Skinners Arms
Very nice pub, sells real ale and food. Seating outside. Popular with staff from the British Library nearby.
On 14th March 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]