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The Coal Hole, Strand, WC2

92 Strand
WC2
WC2R 0DW

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Pub Type

Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)
Page: 1 2 3

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about The Coal Hole

A good sized pub immediately adjacent to The Savoy which of course makes for a handy pit stop if you’re staying at the hotel and don’t want to pay £15 for a cocktail in their American bar (or up to £5,000 incidentally if you opt for one made with very rare vintage spirits...). The windows at the front of the pub are etched with “SWL” and according to a London Pubs book I have this is rumoured to stand for Savoy Wine Lodge hinting at a history more closely associated with the hotel than is the case today. However, that contradicts other learned posters below, so it may not be accurate!

It’s essentially an upside down L-shape bar with a high ceiling and the addition of a further mezzanine floor at the rear. Chequered tiling is on the floor and there are plenty of beams on the ceiling, although these look reasonably modern. The windows at the front are leaded glass, and an interesting feature was a plaster frieze running around the top of the room that looked to be Roman influenced with maiden’s eating bunches of grapes. There is some wood panelling on the walls, and a plasma was stuck slightly incongruously in one corner although this was not in use. An old stone fireplace was at the back. The music was slightly louder than would be my personal preference, but then it was a Friday evening so I suppose that’s excusable.

Some unusual beers on tap which were Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, World Top Bitter, London Pride, Nicholson’s Pale Ale and Brain’s Captain Cat. The solitary cider was Aspall’s Suffolk, unless you count the mulled one that was available.

On 12th February 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about The Coal Hole

Update – January 2013

Several recent visits have led me to conclude that this is one of Nicholsons better outlets, both in terms of beer quality and range, together with its traditional atmosphere. It’s listed in the 2013 CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Last Saturday, beers on included Wold Top Bitter, Lancaster Bomber, Thorbridge Jaipur IPA, Bristol Beer Factory Californian, Halfpenny London Stone, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, plus London Pride and Nicholsons ( St Austells )

One niggle – not sure if the heating had broken down, but it was distinctly nippy inside on my visit, with most people keeping their coats and scarves on. Let’s hope it’s warmer next time.



Original Review – February 2010

Well known Nicholsons pub situated half way down The Strand in the midst of theatreland – indeed it’s next door to The Savoy Theatre.

It’s a longish L shaped bar with a high beamed ceiling and fine plasterwork friezes high up around the walls featuring nubile young ladies picking grapes. Of note also are the unusual circular leaded windows where the letters SWL can be seen in places – this denotes the establishment’s former name of Strand Wine Lodge in days long gone.

At the far end of the pub – by the atmospheric and cosy Wolf Parlour – are some stairs to an upstairs mezzanine area, from where you can often sit in a bit more comfort watching the throng down below. Downstairs from the main bar is the Edmunds Ale and Wine Bar with a typical wine bar ambience, rather different from the main pub upstairs at ground level.

A former In Coope pub, it was absorbed into the Nicholsons chain a good many years ago. On my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, the usual Nicholsons suspects were on the pumps – TT Landlord, Pride, GK IPA and Thwaites Nutty Black. Also on was a beer called Organic Cragg Vale Bitter from the Little Valley Brewery in West Yorkshire, which I didn’t get to sample.

The pub is often busy with theatregoers or people from The Savoy next door and is a popular meeting up place, but it’s worth calling in if you get the chance

On 21st January 2013 - rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


paulof horsham left this review about The Coal Hole

Only ever visited this one in the early evening period, during which time it's generally packed. Service is pretty good, however, so I've never had a problem getting served. Beer is from the standard Nicholson's range and tends to be pretty good. I'm marking it down a notch, though, as it's one of those infuriating venues that seems to think that what a crowded pub, bustling with chatter, really needs is the music turned up loud. It doesn't.

On 10th January 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 449 recommendations about 421 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Nick Davies left this review about The Coal Hole

Given the havoc that most of M&B's brands wreak on their pubs it's always surprising that Nicholson's do such an excellent job of preserving and running some of the finest city pubs in the country. The Coal Hole is no exception, and is rightly listed in CAMRA's Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. No need to add much to the various accounts below. It's in tourist central and there are lots of offices around here too and get's fearfully crowded: however it does open early and a morning pint is the best way to appreciate both the architecture and fine range of beers.

On 18th November 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


. Wittenden left this review about The Coal Hole

Waiting for a train after a day with friends, I suddenly remembered the Coal Hole. A solid, Edwardian Nicholson’s pub, with chequered floor tiles, beamed ceilings and plenty of dark mahogany. A decent selection of beers at the bar, including Moor’s Natural Beauty, an unfined pale ale which intrigued me. Walking round to the back of the pub, admiring the imposing staircase, I was mortified to see Jaipur IPA from Thornbridge Hall, a beer that I’d been seeking for the last five or so years. Unfortunately, no time to try it.
Yes, one day I’ll come here first rather than last.

On 8th October 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Coal Hole

A short walk from Trafalgar Square and adjacent to the Savoy Theatre, Richard Harris’ old local is now part of the M&B Nicholson’s arm of historic and/or unusual London pubs. It has been taken up by them due to the grand two-floored interior, apparently dating from 1904, which boasts fantastic friezes, hanging tapestries, high ceilings, fabulous fireplaces, ornate bar back and chessboard floor. As befits Nicholson’s current policy, a number of ales are available with Pride and Doom Bar as standards. I plumped for a Jaipur which was in decent shape. It was relatively quiet on my mid-afternoon visit though I am reliably informed that it gets rammed with office workers and tourists at peak times, though apparently there is a basement bar that offers a degree of refuge from the throng – I didn’t notice it though, which perhaps underlines the point!

For those who appreciate their surroundings, this one is a definite must-visit.

On 21st August 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]


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Pub SignMan left this review about The Coal Hole

This is a prominent Nicholson's pub on the Strand, close to the Savoy. The pub's interior is well described in the review by Roger below and it is interesting to read that this was formerly a Wine Lodge, as many aspects of the interior seem to pay homage to the grape and vine, including an impressive painting at the rear of the pub and a frieze running below the ceiling. The room, and bar counter, follows a long L-shape, with some large windows on the wall opposite the bar and a fair few seats lining the wall. At the back there is a mezzanine level which seems perfectly suited to those wanting food, but I was able to sit there without feeling obliged to order anything.
There was a good ale selection, comprising of regulars London Pride and TT Landlord and a number of guests, detailed on a couple of blackboards - JW Lees Brewer's Dark, Thornbridge Jaipur and Lord Marples, Hook Norton Jackpot, Kelham Island Pale Rider and Sharp's Doom Bar. I had a pint of the Brewer's Dark, which was well kept, if not exactly to my taste. The service came with a smile and there were enough staff to cope with the large number of customers who had popped in presumably after seeing a nearby West End show.
A fine pub and one worth visiting for both the beer and the interior. It's in a great location too, which makes return visits almost inevitable.

On 22nd December 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Coal Hole

The current pub now known as the Coal Hole opened in 1904 as the New Strand Wine Lodge and is currently part of the Nicholsons chain. My visits these days are a bit more sporadic since I no longer work in the immediate area but it has always been one of my favourite West End pubs.

The L-shaped interior is designed in a way that makes it feel of a medieval lodge. The high beamed ceilings are mounted on corbels and a marble frieze surrounds the upper wall space. There are ornate paneled windows with coloured shields, a striking chessboard tiled floor and tucked away at the rear, an extremely ornate and handsome fireplace.

A well positioned plasma screen is mounted in one corner whilst a more basic TV stands above the stairwell near the front door alongside a heap of barrels and jugs although this isn’t really a pub where you would expect to have the screens showing on a regular basis. Music is played at a tolerable level.

Whilst it seems to be populated predominantly by office workers, it is a pub that would appeal to a wide range of people and does get very busy early evenings, especially when there is a convention or meeting in the adjoining Savoy Hotel. Table space is a bit limited and for the most part, drinking will be undertaken vertically, at a ledge or by way of stool at the bar. There is extra seating on the minstrel’s gallery at the rear of the pub.

There is usually a good selection with 8 ales across 11 hand pumps on my latest visit, the regular Landlord and Pride being supplemented by a good mix of national favourites and more unusual micro offerings. Mulled cider is also currently being advertised. The prices are pitched a bit lower than the average pub in the surrounding area with ales between £2.85 and £3.25. As per most Nicholsons establishments, the prices and tasting notes are clearly labeled on each pump. The ale pumps are in 2 groups and differ between them but the ales are all listed on a couple of tick list black boards to save you wandering up and down the bar in search of your preference. I have never had a problem with the beer quality or service.

There is also a downstairs cellar bar labeled as Edmunds Ale & Wine bar which, from a cursory glance, appears to be a candlelit cellar bar that I have never really fully explored, mainly because I find it hard to tear nmyself away from the main pub.

On 30th September 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


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Steve of N21 left this review about The Coal Hole

The Coal Hole is located on The Strand, occupying a corner of the Savoy Building, designed by Thomas Collcutt. As previous reviewers have mentioned this is a pub full of character and the theme of stone walls, heavy black wood beams , leaded light windows , hanging tapestries and some really nice marble friezes, one being of wistful maidens picking vines give a kind of medieval feel. However it’s all false as the pub was last decorated in 1904.
The pub is on three levels, with the main bar at street level and then a cellar bar which can be reached from the main bar but also has its own entrance from the Strand. And then there is a gallery above the main bar which increases the number of dining tables available.
I will support the previous reviewer that the beer tends to be good in here as it is a busy pub, and there is a good pull through. But this sometimes means that not all the six different options in the street level bar and four in the cellar bar are on.
It is very popular and sometimes difficult to get a seat if you are eating, but it wasn’t too bad during my lunchtime visit this week and I managed to get my favourite spot in the street level bar of the leather chesterfields at the back behind the bar. And although being opposite the toilets they back onto the magnificent fireplace, heavily decorated with reliefs of vines.
The TT Landlord was on very good form, but even better was The Leeds Brewery Midnight Bell which is on the Nicholsons Summer 2010 guest list.

On 17th July 2010 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


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Malden man left this review about The Coal Hole

There never seems to be anywhere to sit in this large Nicholson's pub, whenever I arrive its like the last seat has just been taken! Deservedly popular though and not a cause for complaint. The usual Nicholson's abundance of dark wood, this pub has very high ceilings, a tiled floor and bar edge, a huge and attractive feature fireplace with a frieze adjacent of women picking grapes. Above the fireplace is a gallery area which was full of diners on my visit, but I don't think it is exclusively for eating.
The pub name apparently came about due to the regular custom of the coal heavers from the nearby riverside. Previously it was known as the Strand Wine Lodge, the letters SWL are still picked out today in yellow glass in the leaded windows.
I received friendly and chatty service, beers on were Taylor's Landlord and Golden Best, Pride, GK IPA, and the guest was Daleside Autumn Leaves, at £2.85 good value for this part of town.
There is also a wine bar area downstairs in the basement but I have never ventured down there.
Definitely a pub worthy of custom, and it stands out with good beer choice and service in this area of town predominantly visited by tourists and one-off theatre visitors.

On 19th February 2010 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]

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