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Detail Pages
The Argyll Arms, W1
W1
W1F 7TP
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Argyll Arms
Decorative Nicholsons house just off Oxford Street. Lots of mirrors and artex ceiling with use of wooden snob screens around.
4 real ales, disappointing choice though.
On 2nd July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Argyll Arms
Always a favorite to call in when were in the oxford circus area. The Argyll is part of The Nicholson Chain which most of their houses are very good we was lucky enough to get a seat outside and watch the world go bye for an hour will always call in when in London
On 6th August 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Argyll Arms
The previous reviews and interior photographs all show that a visit to this Nicholson's is well worth it ,to view classic Victorian pub decor.The two front snugs are discrete,almost private spaces and righly this pub features in CAMRA's national inventory.Each of the front rooms have four handpumps ,and the larger rear bar has the full eight all on display,so do take a walk around to find out what's on.The selection on my trip included London Pride,Brains SA and Nicholsons Pale Ale as regulars with guests including Harviestoun Old Engine Oil,Mordue A'l Cherry Pet,Lancaster LemonGrass and Windsor and Eton Knights of the Garter (well kept but it needed to be at £4).
There is a menu of beer snacks (pork pies,sausage rolls etc) besides a regulation Nicholsons pub grub menu,but the tourist location means prices can be sky high,besides a £4 pint my bag of scratchings cost £2.20.This may temper your enthusiasm to base yourself here for a session ,but the ale is well kept,there was a good variety of styles and strengths and the interior is outstanding,the loud muzak less so.If you are in the area,it's well worth popping in to explore .
On 10th July 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Argyll Arms
A pub with a superb Victorian interior, three connected small rooms at the front divided by dark wood and etched glass screens, a corridor with a drinking shelf connects the front area to a much larger rear room from where a curved elegant stair leads up to the Palladium Bar and Restaurant. Carved bar back, lots of etched glass mirrors, some with a marble surround. The ceiling and upper wall frieze have a fantastic detailed moulded pattern painted dark red from where cut glass chandeliers are suspended. Other highlights are some good quality wood panelling and a large Bass mirror in one of the front rooms.
Worth a visit for the interior alone however as the pub is now under the stewardship of Nicholson's, you are likely to get a good pint of something interesting. My Saturday early evening visit had Pride, Titanic Cappuccino, Adnams Kristal White, Nicholson's Pale Ale, Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter and Andwell Spring Magic. A decent range, the Andwell beer went down well. The usual Nicholson menu is served and there is outside seating to the side road roped off from the street.
The location, right by Oxford Circus and a hop and skip from busy impersonal Oxford Street is a negative point as the place is consequently going to be filled with transient customers and tourists and as such service can be indifferent and unfocussed. My recent visit was fine but I have had occasion in the past to leave without having a drink due to the place being overly busy or the service lacking.
On 1st June 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Argyll Arms
This wonderful Nicholson's pub with well preserved Victorian interior is well positioned, just off Oxford Street and opposite the Argyll Street exit of Oxford Circus tube station. There are two entrances to the pub, with the right hand door taking you into the front bar whilst the left hand door leads into a corridor lined with beautiful etched mirrors which gives access to all areas of the pub. The bar counter runs along the right hand side of the building and at the front it is divided up into three or four snug-style compartments by some ornate screens. There is plenty of dark wood throughout, as well as an amazing textured ceiling with large chandeliers, and seating can be found in each compartment, as well as in a small cordoned off area outside the front of the pub. The corridor eventually brings you to the rear room, which is much larger than the previous sections and this has a longer stretch of bar, as well as a smart seating area at the back through a wide arch. Stairs lead up to the Palladium Bar or County Dining Room, which seemed to be one and the same thing. This area was set aside for diners and looked fairly quiet on my recent Sunday afternoon visit.
A tidy number of hand pumps were dispensing Fullers Bengal Lancer and London Pride, Brains SA Gold, Thornbridge Pica Pica, Hopback Taiphoon, Cropton Top of the Hops, St Austell Tribute and Sharp's Doom Bar. A good tap selection included a number of rarely seen continental lagers and there looked to be a decent bottled range as well. My pint of Pica Pica was a very satisfying drink kept in excellent condition.
This place is well worth a look for its wonderful interior alone, but the decent selection of well kept beer means that if you can catch it at a good time it would be worth considering an extended stay.
On 22nd February 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about The Argyll Arms
Built in 1742 but remodelled in 1895. the Argyll Arms is just around the corner from Oxford Circus and has one of the most important late Victorian interiors in London with a long, straight servery and a series of screened-off drinking areas, or snugs. Sumptuous cut and etched glass and mirrors abound - a sheer delight! The welcome was warm and efficient and the ale is very well kept - bonus! Part of my 'Victorian Splendour' pub crawl - see link below.
On 28th September 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Argyll Arms
Completed in 1742 this Grade II listed building is well worth a visit. This Nicholson`s pub just off Oxford circus offers some great hand pulled ales. I visited at the right time as I managed to get seated at the bar towards the back of the pub, met some friendly visitors and had a great chat. On handpump Thwaites Nutty Black, Adnams Old Ale, Fullers London Pride, Acorn Barnsley Bitter, Hook Norton, will call again.
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Argyll Arms
Absolutely crammed full of original Victorian features, it is worth visiting just for those alone. It usually has two or three guest ales on as well as regulars such as Landlord and London Pride. I had the Pride, which was OK, and decent value for the area at £2.50 a pint. If only it wasn't right on top of Oxford Circus. It just gets too busy during the tourist season, and I very much doubt whether any of them realise that they are looking at some of the very best examples of original Victoriana rather than modern facsimiles. I probably won't visit again unless I want to show a visitor a fine example of a Victorian pub interior.
On 16th July 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Argyll Arms
This is a very attractive Victorian pub that still retains the original screens that divide the pub into different areas and it is well worth popping in to have a look. There are at least six ales available along with standard and premium draught products, but on my visit I found the Pride to be a bit iffy.
I found the staff to be clueless and the manageress was verging on being downright rude, but even so this place is worth a visit.
On 9th July 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
matt england left this review about Argyll Arms
Wonderful pub handy for Oxford Circus. Like stepping back in time. Perfect example of Victorian pubs you rarely find anywhere else.
On 18th February 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 61 recommendations about 61 pubs]