Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Bloomsbury Tavern, Bloomsbury, WC2
WC2
WC2H 8EG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Bloomsbury Tavern
Small Shepherd Neame street corner pub with a traditional interior and furniture with a row of bucket style comfy seats opposite the bar.All but one of the four pump clips was reversed and that produced an flacid Spitfire (NBSS 1.5)
Just after ordering and sitting down the bar staff announce the pub will close in 15 minutes (8.30pm) due to lack of custom.10 minutes later they were bringing in the external street furniture ,pushing tables into the corners,sweeping up and switching off lighting.We both felt harrassed but the Spitfire wasn't something you could down swiftly as it got worse the further down the pint you got.
Awful experience,not need to revisit and one to avoid .
On 24th December 2021
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
A smallish Shepherd Neame house at the top of Shaftesbury Avenue. A pleasantly furnished bar, wood panelled with leaded windows and a function room upstairs. There is one TV screen, but located up out of the way. Usual tables outside on the pavement.
On 3rd December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
Old style Shepherd Neame pub with stained glass windows. Didn't visit upstairs. 4 real ales and food served.
On 29th September 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
This pub apparently dates from 1856 and is rather attractive. There's pale wood panelling throughout with some very extensive stained glass windows and a bare boarded floor and furniture is conventional with some banquettes. There was a TV showing the news with the sound off, muted music played but sadly there's a games machine.
Being a Shep's pub the ales held no surprises with Spitfire, Spitfire Gold, Whitstable Bay Pale Ale and Early Bird at £2.10 a half. Cheap for the area and really rather nice too.
This is a decent enough pub for those who aren't allergic to this brewer's beers and I'd come again if on a crawl.
On 30th April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
Attractive Shepherd Neame pub, with a very small bar but more seating upstairs (not visited) plus a few patio tables out front. Traditional decor and furniture (what there is of it). Master Brew, Spitfire and Whitstable Bay (£3.75) available from the two banks of handpumps on the counter. Overall, worth popping in if in the area.
On 15th August 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
An attractive looking pub sort of invites you in. Small inside so I was luckily it wasn't mobbed, so got a seat at the bar. Worth popping in as I rate Sheppard Neame ales, bit pricey but it is central London. Pub dates from 1856 and has a resident ghost. I went for the Spitfire and Master brew. Will call again when I've saved up a bit more.
On 21st March 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
A very decent pub on New Oxford Street well described below. The exterior glass facade with the heraldic shields picked out as mentioned below is very inviting.
As said smaller inside than you would imagine, but a good place to enjoy the Sheps beer range.
The bar supports four handpumps and on my visit this week they had the 4-4-2 ale, brewed especially for the World Cup, which is a very refreshing summer pint.
On 27th June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
This place is so much smaller than it looks from outside, where there are 3 entrances. A fairly unremarkable but not unpleasant interior with a single room having the bar along the inside wall with seating opposite, plus bar stools. Further space available upstairs, where there are sofas amongst other seating. Nice stained glass windows with heraldic shields picked out. Wood panelling on the walls. Sky Sports on mute.
A Shepherd Neame house now, Nicholsons picked out in the glazing over one door but not any more I think. Good to see the Late Red still available at this time of year, my favourite SN beer.
On 18th March 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
Spitfire & Late Red were very good but, be warned, 3 pints came to £9.50 – make sure you get a top up if sold short!! Masterbrew was the other option. Attractive wood panelled downstairs room, nice lead light windows with heraldic stained glass centre-pieces. Solid wood barstools but not much table seating; we therefore ventured upstairs where chesterfield sofas are arranged around a fireplace, supplemented by a couple of regular wood tables around the room. Small leaded arch windows give the room light, & a feel of being slightly older than it is (I read 1895), but the other small group up there had unfortunately commandeered it as a 2-kiddie-creche, so we headed back to the bar to finish our drinks.
On 28th October 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Bloomsbury Tavern
My first visit to this pub for a good two or three years, but it's not changed as far as I can see. Easily the best pub in New Oxford Street – but there is really little competition. It retains the distinctive stained glass façade; has a couple of tables on the pavement; and a handful of tables/chairs/stools inside. So, fairly small as pubs go, but a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area. Decent pint of Master Brew as well.
On 26th February 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]