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Coach & Horses, WC2
WC2
WC2E 7BD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Coach & Horses
GBG entry, so I was here to get my tick.
A locals pub in the heart of Covent Garden - complete with dog walkers.
Amazing.
Irish pub with plenty of whiskies, "the best Guinness in London" and a decent pint of Tribute. Only other ale was Adnams.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kkezym
On 2nd February 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Coach & Horses
No real ale of any type for my visit. Had to have Guinness instead. This is an Irish type bar which did nothing for me.
On 1st February 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Coach & Horses
A perfectly good boozer and one I would be happy to use on a regular basis apart from the restricted beer choice mentioned in the last couple of reviews.
On 18th April 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Coach & Horses
I used to be a bit of a regular here about 15 years ago, but until yesterday hadn't been in for an age. Perfectly described below, this is something of an oddity as it attracts an appreciable Irish crowd, despite the fact that there's no Irish community around here, perhaps drawn by the pub boasting that it serves the best Guinness in all of Christendom.
This is a fairly basic though very pleasant boozer which makes a surprising change from all the other surrounding pubs. Service is friendly and there's a good atmosphere. I'd give the place a higher mark if it weren't for the poor ale selection: St. Austell's Tribute and Courage Best.
On balance, worth seeking out.
On 18th April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Coach & Horses
A compact and traditional looking pub in the heart of Covent Garden with etched glass windows to the front, although it’s not overtly an Irish themed pub it does nonetheless appear to have some Irish influences and a notice outside proclaimed that they had won some award or other for serving the best pint of Guinness.
Internally it didn’t quite have the same appeal as many pubs in the vicinity, although there was certainly nothing wrong with it. Seating is fairly limited due to the available space and this was predominantly stools around the perimeter where there was a wooden shelf with a mirrored backdrop to rest your pint, and stools at the bar which made getting there to order somewhat difficult. Carpet covered the floor and there was some interesting carved plasterwork on the ceiling. A number of photographs were on the wall, mostly either old black and white ones or sports teams, and there was a large Guinness mirror.
Beers on tap were just Courage Best and Tribute whilst the solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately. There were apparently though around 70 different whiskies available if that’s more your thing.
On 27th January 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Coach & Horses
Small old style pub handy for the Royal opera house. 2 real ales.
On 9th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Coach & Horses
Tiny pub near theatres & opera house. Small bar & food servery on the left as you enter. Stools around the outside of the room, no room for any other type of chairs. Various perching posts around. Very small and traditional. Spitfire & Courage beers, rather standard, but of high quality. Pub is worth a visit.
On 25th November 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Coach & Horses
Located opposite Covent Garden Market and just a short walk from the Strand, the Coach and Horses is a small, welcoming single room pub. The carpeted room has very little space, so tables and chairs have been replaced by high stools and a few drinking ledges around the perimeter. There are several features worth keeping an eye out for, such as the lovely windows at the front of the pub and the impressive ceiling. Plenty of old photos of the market through the years line the walls and a huge pub mirror takes pride of place near the end of the bar. The far end of the bar has a short food counter, but this was empty on my recent late night visit, although signs suggest that hot and cold sandwiches are normally available. Music was playing quietly in the background, just audible beneath the chatter of the customers, although many had spilled out onto the pavement outside, which thankfully made it easier to get to the bar.
Courage Best and Shepherd Neame Spitfire are still the two ale choices (as others have mentioned, Guinness is the big seller here) and my pint of Best was at least in good shape. The barman was a very friendly chap who was happy to have a chat with those at the bar whilst getting through the orders.
Sitting in here, it’s sometimes hard to believe that the tourist masses are milling around just a short distance away outside, as there’s something of a local’s feel to this place that nearby pubs struggle to replicate. It’s not the most exciting place for beer choice but it is a welcoming spot that is well worth knowing about.
On 20th June 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Coach & Horses
Roger has nailed the key points and I agree that even on a Friday afterwork session the pub is not overrun and the bar service is polite and efficient.I was led to believe that the USP was a vast array of whiskies and indeed there is a sign saying that 70 are available.However there is no more info or menu about the range on offer,so you have to have prior knowledge to seek out something unusual.Surprisingly,I didn't see any whisky being served during my trip.
There are two handpumps with Courage Best and Spitfire (both £3.50) ,which proved a dull selection and little incentive to have an extended stay.
On 28th April 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Coach & Horses
Despite being situated in the bustling heart of tourist Covent Garden and Theatre land, this small Irish run pub still manages to retain a bit of a “locals” feel.
Behind the floral laden façade and Watney Combe Reid windows is a surprisingly small, carpeted, single room interior with barely enough room to gyrate the proverbial feline. Table space is limited so you will more than likely find yourself perched on a stool at one of the ledges. The wallspace contains several Irish themed pictures, photos cartoons and various curios as well as a quite impressive Coach and Horses personalised mirror. The patterned ceiling shows no sgns of any breaks suggesting that the interior layout has remained unchanged for some time.
The traditional style bar has a canopy crowned by various urns and ornaments and the bar back is surprisingly well stocked with bottles and optics filling every available nook and cranny. There are a couple of mainstream ales (Courage Best (£3.40) and Sheps Sopitfire on my latest call) alongside the usual kegs and lagers. The food selection is fairly basic but decent enough value. Service has always been good on my occasional visits even when busy and the generakl ambience quite friendly and civilized.
This is basically a no thrills pub that doesn’t pander to the general tourist feel of the area and is certainly worth popping in if it is not too crowded.
On 8th September 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]