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The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar), Soho, WC2
WC2
WC2H 0DT
Pub Type
Lloyds No. 1 (J D Wetherspoon)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar)
This is a large Wetherspoons pub converted from an old cinema which was built by pioneering cinema entrepreneur Montagu Pyke from whom the pub takes its name. The pub is very long, stretching from its main entrance on Charing Cross Road all the way back to a small exit onto Greek Street. In between there are at least three fairly well defined areas. At the Charing Cross Road end there is a comparatively narrow carpeted area with very little of interest except for a number of tables and chairs. Steps lead down to the main part of the room – a bare boarded area with the servery on the left hand side and a fairly open area with the odd high table with stools opposite. This main bar area also has a raised platform with the bulk of the seating options and a huge screen showing rolling news. The final section of the pub is a rather modern looking, ale free rear bar which boasts laminate flooring and a few plasma screen TVs. It’s quite narrow here and there is only room for some high tables and a couple of drinking ledges. I didn’t really warm to this part of the pub, but it seemed fairly popular for some reason. A final seating area can be found on a small gallery area which I only noticed when I went upstairs to use the toilet. It gives you a good view over the rest of the pub, but seating is limited, so you’d have to get fairly lucky to bag a spot.
I counted six hand pumps with four guest ales including TSA Black Gold and Adnams Flame Runner. I went for a pint of Roosters Yankee which was rather disappointingly past its best. It’s a few years since I was last in here, but I seem to recall the beer wasn’t great then either.
I’m normally a fan of Spoons’ cinema and theatre conversions, but this one lacks the visual splendor that you often associate with such pubs and instead feels more akin to a drinking barn. I’d return, but more for convenience than excellence.
On 12th October 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar)
This pub has been ably described by others – it’s a typical ‘spoons conversion. The narrow frontage belies the typically large ‘spoons pub that lies within. The large framed plaque just inside the main Charing Cross Rd entrance proclaims it as the last home of the famous Marquee Club – but the photographs are mainly of stars (such as Manfred Mann, The Stones, Yardbirds, Hendrix) who won’t have played at this venue, although of course they did play at the previous home of the Marquee Club in Wardour St.
Standard guest ales were all £2.99 a pint when I was in on Saturday, but with London Pride at £3.45 a pint. I’m not sure why anyone would pay this for Pride when an interesting range of guest ales are considerably cheaper. It’s a ‘spoons – and jolly useful they are when you need a quick one, possibly to wash down a breakfast, when other pubs are yet to open their doors.
On 9th September 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar)
I ducked in here out of the rain yesterday having been to Foyle's bookshop next door. This is a very long 'spoons/Lloyds with a second entrance way back leading to Greek St. Originally a cinema with some evidence retained, it then became an incarnation of the Marquee and acknowledgement remains in the guise of a drum kit, wall mounted guitar and posters for The Who, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix gigs.
The main bar area at the Charing Cross Rd end was very busy with people watching the RL Challenge Cup final on the big screen, the smaller bar at the Greek St end being quieter, however unlike previous reviewers I couldn't see any handpumps on this bar, perhaps there were, I don't know.
Unusually for the chain only five handpumps on the main bar too, and of these only one I would consider a guest or non-mainstream. This was Celt Native Storm which was ok if not life changing at £2.99, most others being well over £3.
There is a gallery with limited seating above the bar which looks to be the best option if you can secure a seat there. I felt generally that the place looked tired, shabby even and in need of a bit of attention, but I suppose being where it is it gets a lot of through traffic.
In all a bit mediocre, and without the usual 'spoons benefits of cheaper and interesting beers.
There are steps at both ends before you reach the main facilities but there are platform lifts to give access to wheelchair users.
On 26th August 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar)
OK for a quick pint if you manage to get a seat upstairs, otherwise it tends to be a bit chaotic. Normal good range of ales and microwaved frozen pre-pack food of the chain. There are much better pubs in the area.
On 12th July 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar)
Remaining somewhat soulless, and sill a Lloyds No1, the Pyke was too loud, too dark and too crowded for my liking. The modern image doesn't work for me. Six ales on, I tried Union Best which was OK but not brilliant. Other than using its two entrances as a shortcut between Charing Cross Road and Covent Garden, or to use my CAMRA vouchers, I don't see any reason to come back to the current incarnation when there are so many better pubs serving better beer nearby.
On 31st March 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Montagu Pyke (Lloyds No.1 Bar)
This place is so big that the front entrance is on Charing Cross Road and the back entrance comes out on Greek Street. A huge ‘spoons that in the theme of Ronsil adverts, does exactly what it says on the tin. Tons of tele’s all over the place, although I believe the big screen has been eclipsed for size by the one in the Crosse Keys on Bishopsgate.
There are two bar areas at either end of this cavernous pub and although both support five handpumps, I’ve always found the beer choice to be a bit poor for such a large Wetherspoons.
But there was Exmore Gold on the other night which was decent enough.
But with so many other decent pubs in the area I only tend to come in here if I’m desperate for some cheep reliable Spoons edible fare.
On 27th June 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Montagu Pike (JD Wetherspoon)
Originally a cinema (I recall seeing a dodgy late night screening of Last Tango in Paris here many years ago), it was subsequently better known as the home to the Marquee Club where I saw many a good band over the 6 or 7 years it was functioning. ‘Spoons pretty much shelled the building when it took over and today it is has a rather cavernous and open interior. The initial seating in what was the old foyer drops down to the main bar which is in the body of the old auditorium and whilst there are plenty of seats and tables plus a few snugs along one side, they fill up sharpish so get there early if you intend to stay for any length of time. The seating upstairs in the small balcony is minimal but if you venture to the rear, there is a second smaller but reasonably stocked bar and a corridor of 2 seater tables that often get overlooked. The high ceiling enables it to have what is claimed to be the largest drop down screen in London and on big match occasions you will need to queue to get through the front doors.There are plenty of snippets on the walls detailing its musical heritage although most of the music and artists mentioned relate more to the previous Marquee in Wardour Street and have little connection with the current building. Because of my many previous fond memories, I have a kind of attachment to the place that most of the current punters and that tends to steer my opinion to being more positive than it may otherwise be. That said, anyone entering would pretty much know what to expect from the chain although, for me, it does have a bit more life and spirit than some of the other Central London ‘Spoons.
On 1st December 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Montagu Pike
Used to be The Tatler cinema many moons ago and as I remember I used to go there in the 50s/60s and watch cartoon films.some of the relics of the old cinema can be seen inside.Can have a fair selection of real ales at a fair price for the west end.This pub also has an entrance in Greek Street W1.
On 21st April 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Montagu Pike
Large Wetherspoons pub, all the usual things. Split levels. Large TV showing the cricket. Has a wheelchair lift, so a high rating. The price of a Guinness Mon-Thur is £2.40 down the road at the Moon Under Water, it's £2.79. Still both are good prices for the area.
On 28th March 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]