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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Chelsea Ram, SW10
SW10
SW10 0PL
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 Chelsea Ram
Dating from 1887 as the Ashburnham Arms, this is another pub in the backwater hinterland that for more than 30 years, has been known as Chelsea Harbour, the area being dominated by the towering chimney from the former Lots Road power station.
The place still matches the description below, with pastel hues, mixed furniture and scatter cushions, all visible on the pub’s website gallery; it reminds me more though of a tearoom than pub. Customers were mixed and a coal effect fire attempted to keep out the cold. Décor comprises some knickknacks, lots of framed prints, shelves of books and a mock English Heritage blue plaque dedicated to Sean Lock, stating that he drank regularly here from 1990 until 2020.
Ales up were London Original, Winter Warmer (probably displacing Special) and Proper Job at a stiff £2.65 a half and good.
This is an ok pub for what it is, given the great distances required by travel to pubs other than the Lots Road round the corner, which is the Ram’s inferior neighbour, though this is a bit twee.
On 8th December 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Chelsea Ram
This is very much a “Chelsea” pub, with bare-boarded floors (at least in the main bar area at the front of the pub), scrubbed solid wood tables, and pastel shades featuring my favourite duck egg green. The bar counter is ahead of you on the right as you enter, with more seating to the left of the bar counter stretching a fair way to the rear. Wall decor is modern artistic in style, including a large print of the iconic Rolling Stones “tongue”. But I didn’t see any tall tables/stools, nor any fruit or games machines, which are a couple of very welcome plus points.
There is no possibility that somewhere like this, and in this area, would be anything other than expensive. As a Young’s pub the ale choice was severely limited. Young’s Bitter is £3.60 a pint; the other ale on is Bombardier, and I thought I heard another customer being asked for £3.90 for a pint of it, but surely I must have been mistaken. Probably need a hearing aid. Menus are single sheet affairs attached to clipboards on the tables. Sandwiches were £7.25, and main courses in the £10 to £14 range.
I certainly wouldn’t make this a destination pub, but I reckon that it’s better than anything along the Kings Rd, and is OK for a pint or two as long as you can stomach the prices.
On 13th April 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Chelsea Ram
Decent enough pub tucked away on the side streets but worth a short detour to check out. Comforting real fire on a wet and windy night and friendly staff.
There's a large front bar with large chunky wooden tables, and a smaller, cosier rear area more geared up for eating. There's board games and books on the shelves for you to use, and a number of pictures adorning the wall, most of them for sale presumably by local artists/photographers. Small TV above the door but this wasn't intrusive.
I agree with some of the other comments about the prices, we paid £6.20 for a pint and a half.
Beers were just Bombadier and Young's bitter. Ciders were Addlestones and Strongbow.
On 27th February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1947 recommendations about 1860 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Chelsea Ram
Nice enough place. Usual Youngs ales on sale, though the price is a bit high, but then this is Chelsea. Friendly staff.
On 4th October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]