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The Argyll Arms, W1
W1
W1F 7TP
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Argyll Arms
A Nicholsons pub close to Oxford Circus tube station, featuring with three stars in Camra's inventory of heritage pub interiors. At the time of my visit, just before 6pm and towards the end of a long day of pub research, I was probably not well able to appreciate the beauty of this pub, more to do with how busy and crowded it was than because of inebriation. Maybe a return visit is needed, though I guess it's pretty much always busy. My half of the Nicholsons Pale, brewed by St Austell, was in good condition and priced at £5/pint (this was more than two years ago - it'll be a lot more these days!). Other beers on at the time were London Pride, Doom Bar and Landlord.
Date of visit: 3rd November 2021
On 18th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Argyll Arms
I can’t believe that having worked around here for three years over thirty years ago that this was a first for me into this CAMRA National Inventory pub, which is grade II*-listed.
I’ll leave the description to the above’s website, but items of note include the oxblood Lincrusta ceiling, which looks initially to have been fashioned from molten wax. There are cubicles and glass partitions galore. The rear has marvellous gilded mirrors with fairy lights; this is one of the most vajazzled pubs I’ve visited.
I don’t know how good the barmaid’s English was, as she didn’t speak to me and in any event, the loud music would make conversation hard. Ales comprised just Doom, Pride and Nicholson’s Pale Ale at a reasonable – for the area - £5.05 and fine.
This is a must-visit London pub, though as mentioned below, timing is an issue to avoid the crowds.
On 8th October 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Argyll Arms
Always worth a visit just to admire the classic and thankfully well-preserved interior decor, but probably best done at a quiet time of day due to its proximity to the Oxford and Regent Street crowds. Table-service Palladium dining room upstairs. Usually has an extensive range of well-kept real ale available, although the selection of the regular Nicholson's Pale Ale, Doom Bar and Pride as supplemented by Adnams Broadside, Oakham Citra and Hogs Back TEA (£4.50) from the total of 16 handpumps on this visit was less good than normal. Still, definitely one of Nicholson's best, and one to show that 'pubco outlet' doesn't have to be a pejorative term.
On 28th April 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Lester Ford left this review about The Argyll Arms
A Wednesday afternoon visit after lunch locally.
Pretty busy with tourists and office workers. I headed to the middle bar as it was quiet and selected a very good pint of Bays Gold.
Cracking interior, worth a visit for that alone but the beer is always worth it. Being a Nicholson’s pub the choice & quality is always good.
On 17th February 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 80 recommendations about 78 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Argyll Arms
Across from Oxford Circus tube station. Nicholson's pub with an ornate interior that includes numerous engraved mirrors. Real ale and food served.
On 22nd October 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Argyll Arms
Think I have previously under appreciated this place. Its usually too busy to admire the inner beauty.
Lovely deep red decor and glass partitioned snugs.
Beer is OK but I recommend you pick a quiet time to appreciate its grade II listed status.
Fleet Street Pub Crawl at http://bit.ly/2etkXjQ
On 19th October 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Argyll Arms
Certainly worth looking in here, just around the corner from Oxford Circus tube station,inside you will find lots of dark wood and etched glass and mirrors,also and importantly a good range of beer. Given its location it is always invariably busy.
On 6th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Argyll Arms
A traditional Nicholson’s pub just off of Regent Street, it consists of a couple of bars downstairs and a dining area upstairs, and although very busy outside on a recent early evening visit, it was surprisingly quiet inside with no problems getting a seat.
Décor wise it’s quite traditional with a dark red embossed ceiling, somewhat higher at the rear then the front, where the embossing also extends to the upper part of the walls. Flooring is wood strip and there are some wooden partitions with etched glass as well as some large etched mirrors. The front bar is divided in to two with a partition that extends up to the bar counter, creating a small booth at the rear. Red button bank banquette seating is around much of the perimeter as well as an old beer barrel that acted as a handy table for resting your pint on.
The menu offered the usual extensive choice found in Nicholson’s pubs with a number of “pub grub” options for around a tenner or so as well as a selection of burgers and pies. Although we didn’t eat on this occasion, we have eaten in other of their outlets previously and always found it to be decent enough.
Beers on tap were Conqueror and Knight of the Garter from the Windsor & Eton Brewery, Nicholson’s Pale Ale, London Pride and something that I noted as Haka Roo, although I can’t find any reference to this. Truman’s Runner was apparently coming soon, whilst the solitary cider was Mortimer’s Orchard which makes a pleasant change from the usual dross around these parts.
On 16th September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Argyll Arms
Popped in last night after a double-bill at the nearby Regent's Cinema. All ales on and no issues with the Summer Lightning and Truman's Runner, though sky-high prices, £10.80 for two and a half pints. Stupidly loud music clearly for staff benefit rather than the punters. Usual issues outside on a late evening as some drunk crashed through the perimeter fencing, taking a whole table of glasses with him. Worth noting in response to the review below that the server last night could speak English to a high standard.
Sept 2013
Just off Oxford Circus this is a Nicholsons house. They seem to specialize in running olde worlde pubs and this place has an entry in CAMRA’s Inventory of Unspoilt Interiors due to the remodelling of 1895 which gave it several glass and wood partitions drinking areas leading off a long corridor. However, it’s really just the front of the pub that holds the ‘wow’ factor value as the back is more open and duller, as is the upstairs dining area. Pity the Polish barmaid who has to clean all that glass work. The outside seating looks like a great spot but it is plagued by - to put it politely - vagrants and vagabonds. Six ales are the maximum number available though don’t be surprised if at least a couple are off and you’re stuck with Pride or Doom Bar – and don’t also be surprised if the quality is hit-and-miss either (though lately it's been veering more steadily towards the 'hit' end of things). Cider-wise, Westons Old Rosie is also available. Staff are classic central London minimum-wagers, don’t expect any meaningful interaction. Worth a visit to sample the front interior on a quiet day (it gets stupidly busy at lunchtimes and evenings) or as perfect meet-up point for a central London crawl due to the amount of tube lines intersecting at Oxford Circus (if alighting at Oxford Circus tube leave by exit 6 and it's smack in front of you).
On 23rd July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Argyll Arms
Update - July 2015
Pub is as previously described below by me in 2009, and my overall conclusion is still very much the same.
Several recent visits have found the beer to be in reasonable nick, but short measure is very much the norm here and, for the first time that I can ever ever remember in all my years of pub going, I had to ask for a top up to my top up. And, just to darken my mood even further, on a warm and sunny afternoon, I saw my first sighting of 2015 Christmas menus ( yes in mid July !). All rather depressing to be honest - you get the impression that no one is really making any effort here and, at the risk of being accused of being politically incorrect, there's never anybody else in the pub, on either side of the bar, who appears capable of speaking English to a reasonable standard. Still, this is London, I suppose
Original review - December 2009
Impressive Victorian showpiece pub situated by Oxford Circus Tube Station and the London Palladium. The well preserved interior earns the pub a place in CAMRA's National Inventory of Unspoilt Interiors.
The pub entrance leads to an impressive mirror-lined corridor with, on the right, a series of compartmentalized small rooms with etched glass screens. At the end of the corridor is a spacious room, mainly used for dining, and a staircase leading up to the Palladium Bar and Dining Room. At the foot of this staircase, a framed potted history of the pub on the wall tells us that the interior was remodelled in 1895, when the partitions were added in order to separate the various social classes. Of note is the front room is a large Bass mirror.
My recent early Friday morning visit found the pub mainly dominated by tourists having either breakfast or mid morning coffee. Despite the cold weather, several hardy souls were sitting outside in front of the pub in pedestrianised Argyll Street.
It's a Nicholsons pub and, on my visit, beers on were London Pride, TT Landlord, GK IPA, plus TT Golden Best and Rudolphs Reward from Sheps, the latter two as guests. The TT Landlord - � 2.90p - was moderate.
Because of its location, the Argyll Arms is a popular meeting up point and is invariably crowded. Nevertheless, I wouldn't discourage you from calling in for a swift one if you haven't been here before - but I doubt you'd want to stay all evening.
On 20th July 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]