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The Wellington, WC2

351 Strand
WC2
WC2R 0HS
Phone: 02078362789

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Pub Type

Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)
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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 Wellington

Located in a prime spot at the end of The Strand, I’ve tried to get in this Nicholson’s pub on more than one occasion previously, only to find it absolutely rammed. I was therefore slightly surprised to find it relatively quiet on our recent late Friday afternoon visit, although it was still standing room only.

It’s a traditional looking pub with some etched glass in the windows and sanded wooden boards on the floor. The ceiling is quite high and elaborate in place, primarily a deep maroon colour but with some quite intricate gold cornice work. The walls were painted a very dark green with wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. A few pictures were dotted around the walls, mostly of a military nature and including one of the duke himself from which the pub’s takes it’s name, as well as a pair of the boots that were named after him hanging on a rack. There was some quite ornate carved woodwork behind the bar, and the lamps affixed to the window sills created a pleasant ambience.

Beers on tap were Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Dark Star Hophead, Doom Bar, Purity Bunny Hop, Eternal Northern Monk and Vulcan Blue Steel, whilst the London Pride appeared to have run out. Ciders meanwhile were Mortimer’s Orchard and Mortimer’s English Berry. All in all, a pleasant enough pub and worth calling in if in the area.

On 5th February 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Wellington

A typical Nicholson's outlet well described below, with an ornate bar back, partly dark wood panelled, a boarded floor, pretty marble fireplace surround and split level. Lighting comes from fake Victorian glass 'n' brass sconce lights and chandeliers and décor comprises old prints of the Iron Duke as well as boots; mood music played at a sensible level. There's food but of course given the nature and touristy location of the place, it's fish 'n' chips and the like.
Service was fine and there were six ales on including Truman's Zephyr at a fairly reasonable £2.30 a half with the added hint of line cleaning fluid.
This isn't a great place, but where around here is? One for the tourists or easy to please office workers.

On 25th August 2018 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Wellington

Nicholson's pub with a long narrow interior. Real ale and food served.

On 9th October 2015 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tom Fairburn left this review about The Wellington

THE WELLINGTON: a decent pub. A good resting point if you've been working/shopping up town, or if you're theatre-going. It can get busy depending on the time of day, but that is half the charm of this drinking establishment. If you want a bit of 'buzz' with your pint, this is as good a place as any, bearing in mind the West End and Theatreland is a stones' throw away. I make a point of visiting the ol' Duke whenever I'm in his neighbourhood. :o) 7/10 TJ

On 16th November 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 78 recommendations about 59 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Wellington

A pub which is both narrow (if viewed from the Strand) and wide (when seen from the Aldwych side) which gives a long, thin bar that can get very busy in the early evening as the offices close and visitors gather for a night out at one of the many nearby theatres. Once inside, you'll find - provided that you can see through the throng - a fairly traditional London pub, albeit less ornate than some others in the Nicholson's chain (except for the ceiling, so look up!). Now has banks of seven handpumps in both upper and lower parts of the bar; and, whilst there are usually a few duplicates, there generally some interesting beers on (e.g. the South Town joint brew by Adnams and Camden Town on my latest visit) in addition to the usual suspects such as Nicholson's Pale Ale and Pride. There is also an upstairs table-service dining room called, unsurpringly, the Duke's Bar.

On 18th April 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Wellington

The Wellington is an interesting street corner pub close to Aldwych and Covent Garden market. The rather grand exterior gives way to a surprisingly compact split level interior with a fine wooden servery running down the majority of the left hand side. The lower front part of the pub has a limited amount of seating which continues to run along the side windows opposite the bar. There is a nice mix of high tables and stools and some smart looking leather button backed banquettes, with some of the seating separated by dark wooden screens with etched glass panes. The porch of the side entrance also has some nice etched glasswork and there are some interesting features at the rear of the room, where a grand fireplace can be found surrounded by marble covered walls and some large mirrors. The ceiling is very decorative and has a few pleasant light fittings which are complemented by the integral lamps on the window sills. A few people were braving the cold on the pavement tables that run down the side of the pub and others were making their way upstairs to the separate dining room.
This is a Nicholson’s pub so I was hopeful that there would be some interesting ales to sample. The options on my visit were Rudgate Ruby Mild, Thornbridge Jaipur, Adnams Ghost Ship, Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Wytchwood Hobgoblin, Fullers London Pride and Titanic Iceberg (£3.80), with Acorn Euro IPA being taken off before I could order a pint. The Iceberg was unfortunately in pretty poor shape and I think Quinno makes an interesting point about the pub’s limited capacity not being able to support an ale range this wide.
This place is a bit of a mixed bag as far as I’m concerned. There’s no doubt that it’s a nice place to spend a bit of time and that there’s a good chance of finding a new beer or two, but the quality of the beer needs to improve dramatically if the pub is to seriously challenge some of the excellent ale houses in this part of town.

On 22nd November 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Wellington

This is a narrow and compact Nicholson's pub which appears to have once consisted of two consecutive rooms. One space now, divided by three steps. The pub has a few notable characteristics, the fancy decorative ceiling, carved dark wood bar back, a row of five chandeliers and an abundance of Duke of Wellington paraphernalia, pictures, a bust, glass wellington boots and so on. In the middle of the pub on a side wall is a strange lean-on seat/bench rather like you find on the tube.
Mostly high tables and ledges in the front section, but with some more traditional seating at the back, where there is some marble wall panelling and an attractive reddish coloured marble fireplace.
Two banks of seven pumps at each end of the bar repeated the choice, being St Austell Tribute and Proper Job, Doom Bar, Red Squirrel Hopfest, Thornbridge Jaipur, Pride and Caledonian Dutchman. My Proper Job was slightly tired but drinkable.
Upstairs is "Duke's Bar and Dining" (not visited) and there is some continental style pavement seating outside.

On 22nd April 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Wellington

Adjacent to the Lyceum Theatre and near Waterloo Bridge the Wellington is, almost inevitably, a Nicholson’s pub, this one dating from 1903. It’s a fairly uncomfortable affair inside, long and narrow (two rooms knocked through?) which provides an uneasy crush at the bar during busy times though the upstairs room (affording nice views of the bridge, so I’m told) and outside seating provide a little respite. Whilst not exactly being a jewel in the Nicholson’s historic interior catalogue there are still plenty of things to catch the eye, from the ornate bar back to the intricate plastered ceiling along with the inevitable Wellington-themed memorabilia. There was a somewhat large ale range of seven which seemed at odds with the actual capacity (and therefore turnover potential) of the pub and surely enough my Vale Black Beauty was rancid and the developing scrum at the bar put me off taking it back.

Pick a safe ale and enjoy the pub’s interior – but don’t break your neck to get here.

On 22nd January 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Wellington

Part of the Nicholsons chain, who are putting a lot of effort in towards promoting real ales. A well run pub with a good choice of ales. Will return.

On 14th August 2011 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


BobOs . left this review about The Wellington

With seven well-kept ales usually on, the Wellington often features in our London crawls. Indeed on more than one occasion we've stayed all evening and worked our way along the pumps. Never actually eaten here so can't comment although the menu doesn't look that spectacular. Well above average.

On 13th July 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]

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