Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Audley, Mayfair, W1
W1
W1K 2RP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Audley
I came here once before on September 12th 2001, my ex insisting on placing flowers in the nearby Roosevelt Memorial Garden opposite the former US embassy.
The pub’s history is well documented on the What?ub and CAMRA’s heritage site, the hostelry having an interior of Regional Importance, though the substantial recent modifications are hard to pin down as being original or not. CAMRA shows an ornate ceiling, but I encountered one which is an artwork (see website), specially commissioned by British artist Phyllida Barlow. Otherwise, this is a very plush place – the grandest in Mayfair – with traditional tall furniture to the floor, then fawn fluted banquettes to most of the periphery. There’s a dark carpet throughout, then much dark wood, (though how much is original I don’t know), inlaid mirrors to the walls and a striking double-faced clock descending from the centre of the ceiling. Lighting takes the form of fluted glass hanging shades to the periphery, then large hanging white translucent lamps above the bar; décor amounts to a pot pourri of prints to the walls and a couple of board games were available at the bar, all to a very anodyne anonymous soundtrack, seemingly on loop. On taking my place at the bar, I was requested by the barman to use a beer mat and when I finally found a table, the barmaid insisted in assiduously making sure that every seat at each table was furnished with a mat, the whole charade coming across as being a bit anal. Customers were mostly 30-somethings, probably workers at the upmarket boutiques, art galleries, car showrooms and estate agents that line the immediate area’s streets.
On the ale front, this is no longer a GK outlet, but that didn’t preclude the presence of OSH, thereafter Pride then Sambrook’s Pumphouse (which I had ordered) then Wandle (which I hadn’t ordered) at a pricey – but by no means record breaking – £6.00 a pint and in good nick; this is the same price as Hopgoods in Preston.
This isn’t a bad pub, but it’s a bit lacking in something though will probably improve over time, being more like a very posh hotel bar; there are better and more characterful pubs in Mayfair, but I’d include this on a crawl.
On 30th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Audley
Largish one room Greene King pub with six real ales, one reversed. Had Abbot Ale on so not all bad. Not a bad pub at all.
On 7th June 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Audley
I really liked this posh Mayfair pub, apart from the beer prices, £4.40 a pint. I tried the Taylor Walker 1730 and my verdict was, it was very good. The interior of the pub was traditional and quite upmarket, with red leather buttoned banquette seating. The restaurant area upstairs was also very plush. The service here was excellent and the barmaid was very well spoken and polite. Overall quite an upmarket experience.
On 11th February 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Audley
They had a number of real ales on during my visit – Young’s Bitter; London Pride; Deuchars IPA; Bombardier; GKIPA; and Wold Top Brewery’s Falling Stone. I had the latter, which was not good, but drinkable. It may be a nice beer when it’s in top condition, but mine wasn’t. Maybe it’s because I had the first one of the day.
I still think that this is an attractive pub retaining a number of original features. The bar counter, and tiled splash area surrounding the bar look original, as does a lot of the dark wood panelling. There is also an attractive old clock set under a beam in the middle of the pub. And I really like the idea of a wooden archway separating, at least to some extent, two areas of the pub. But unfortunately this one looks as if it is made of plaster. Furniture consists of normal tables and chairs, plus some banquette seating. It’s carpeted throughout, which I think always gives a pub a warm feel. I didn’t spot any TV screens (although I might have missed one), nor any one armed bandits, which is definitely a plus. There was some music being played, perhaps a bit too loudly in my opinion, but that’s par for the course now it seems.
Some people have suggested that this is a tourist trap. I’m not sure I would agree entirely with this. It’s not cheap (but it is in Mayfair, so why should it be?) – e.g a 6oz burger plus chips and rocket salad costs £7.95, and I suppose a good number of tourists might stumble on this place, but I think it just falls short of being a tourist trap. There aren’t many decent pubs in Mayfair, but this is one of the better ones.
On 23rd November 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Boyes left this review about The Audley
Very busy up-market Pub. The exterior looks very good and the inside is even better with dark wood and chandeliers. Good selection of real ales and excellent food is served all day. Can be difficult to find a seat but the Pub also has an outside drinking area.
On 20th September 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 55 recommendations about 55 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Audley
Interesting place, inside and out, and not unexpectedly very popular with the tourists. However, somewhat to my surprise given some of the other reviews, I was served a full pint of Courage Directors (one of six real ales on offer) which was in good condition. Not a bad spot for a bit of people watching too (if you can find somewhere to sit down).
On 30th June 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Audley
Very large pub, nice interior. Remember there is something about the clock inside, though the details escape me. My picture was taken a few years ago.
On 3rd December 2006
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]