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Detail Pages
The Old Shades, SW1
SW1
SW1A 2BX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Shades
One of several pubs at the top end of Whitehall, this is quite a smart venue that appears to cater equally for local office workers and bemused tourists. A narrow porch walkway leads you into a cosy front seating area with tables and chairs down both sides of the bare boarded room. There’s some attractive, high wood wall panelling throughout and a pleasant fireplace to the right makes for a good focal point before the bar emerges on the left-hand side. The bar counter is a thing of beauty thanks to a superb, glazed tile front beneath a modern metal top with a patterned handrail. The bar back is equally as impressive, with high, mirrored arches, the pub’s name written out across a sign at the top, and plenty of fake grapevines strewn across the whole thing. The bar area has a nice, patterned tile floor and stands beneath a grand cupola with relief friezes inside and a huge candelabra hung from the centre. Beyond the bar is a dimly lit dining area with tables and chairs to one side, large rugs on the floor and more of the same high wood panelling. A few old portraits adorn the walls and there’s a cool stained-glass pane opposite the bar, but otherwise, the décor is a little limited. A surprisingly loud ‘80s pop soundtrack was playing over the speakers, trying to compete with a packed, post-work crowd.
On the bar, three ales from Youngs – Ordinary, Special and Winter Warmer – were supplemented by three guests in the form of By The Horns Stiff Upper Lift and Hopadelic plus Southwark LPA. For some reason, I turned down the chance to sample the Winter Warmer and plumped instead for a pint of the Hopadelic (£5.95), which was in fine condition and went down well as I sat at the bar and watched all the comings and goings of a busy, early evening.
These pubs in the heart of touristy London tend to be a bit of a mixed bag and often compromise standards due to a sense of complacency that a guaranteed stream of custom brings. However, this place seemed to be completely on top of things and managed to maintain six cask ales, high in quality judging by my pint, and with efficient and friendly service too. I always assumed this place would be too food-led to really enjoy, but for me it’s the pick of the pubs at this end of Whitehall and I’m fairly sure I’ll be back again before too long.
Date of visit – 15th November 2023
On 8th January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Old Shades
This is a classy old pub, with wood panelling throughout, a tiled front to the bar, a cupola in the ceiling towards the rear to admit some light and some very nice windows at the rear (see photos). The bar features beers from Youngs, which I had a few bad examples of when visiting Putney late last year, so I went for St Austell Proper Job, which was in good condition, though I find it a bit too in-your-face with its citrussy flavours. I wouldn't mind coming back another time.
On 2nd February 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Old Shades
Unsurprisingly for a pub with the ‘Old’ prefix, this was originally the Shades, the meaning of which can be read on CAMRA’s page and heritage website, as this is a pub of Outstanding Conversions and Restorations (?).
The interior of this Arts and Crafts building is well covered below, special mention going to the bar back, dome with stained glass and Minton-style encaustic tiling; very Palace of Westminster. There’s a comfy snug of sorts to the rear, with studded banquettes and a log burning stove, lit.
Ales from Young’s, with two unused pumps, Proper Job (reversed), Special (reversed), London Original and Winter Warmer at £2.70 a half and a significant improvement on my last slug of the stuff many years ago.
This is easily the best pub in the immediate vicinity, certainly better than the Clarence and light years ahead of the Silver Cross next door.
On 20th November 2021
- rating: 7
[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 Old Shades
Run by the small Faucet Inn chain, this pub features a narrow frontage but it extends back some way between the front seating area, past the bar on one side and the dining area at the back. Chandelier and small ceiling dome above the bar. Dark wood panelling. On this visit, Greene King IPA, Abbot and the seasonal Rocked Out were supplemented on the six handpumps by Chelsea Blonde and Beyond the Pale from the London Beer Factory (often featured here) and a decent pint of Portobello Market Porter (£4.50). Also has a reasonable range of keg beers on tap. Upmarket feel, with prices to match, but pleasant enough (and certainly a much better bet than its next-door neighbour).
On 25th January 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Old Shades
A long somewhat narrow pub bar with a wood panelled interior and attractively tiled bar frontage and flooring, once a Nicholsons pub and it did have that kind of feel about it for me,six handpumps ranging from the ordinary to the more interesting ,culminating in a very nice London Brewing Company Porter. Worth a visit.
On 31st December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Old Shades
A small frontage and a very charming interior with lots of wood panelling,a fine bar back and a dome above the bar area with a few banquettes towards the rear.It has an olde worlde feel without being fake.Six handpumps were drawing GK IPA,"Hardy & Hansons" Rockin' Rudolph ,Adnams Broadside,Portobello APA and London Beer Factory Porter,decent if a little warm.Worth popping in if crawling the Whitehall pubs.
On 31st December 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Old Shades
A well run Faucet Inns establishment and well worth a visit. The pub is ok for a quick drink as prices are very steep. The pub was moderately busy on our Saturday afternoon, especially with diners. The pub consisted of an oak panelled seating area at the front. The middle section hosted their impressive bar, with the bar front tiled with Victorian style tiles and floor tiles around the bar area. The bar counter was moulded stainless steel with a decorative finish along the front.
Another opulent feature in the bar area was the large ceiling dome and large brass chandelier. There were six handpumps on our visit, so we went for the Hanlons Copper Glow and the London Beer Factory Chelsea Blonde, both were excellent.
The service here was outstanding, even a thank you for calling when leaving.
On 8th February 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Old Shades
I found this to be a lovely pub.Nice pale wood panelling and good lighting makes it bright.Really nice gantry behind the bar and interesting tiled floor and bar.Friendly barmaid(person).Six handpumps with Ohanlons -copper glow,Westerham -british bulldog, Adnams -broadside and 2 beers from London Beer Factory.The Paxtons pale was superb.Will be back.
On 6th November 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Old Shades
Peculiar-looking tall and narrow building, formerly a Nicholsons but now owned by a small pub co. Long narrow interior split into three discernible sections with wood panelling and leather bench seating at the front, which, as noted elsewhere, has the vibe a gentleman’s club what with its hanging portraits of the long-dead, with a dining room to the rear. Features of note include a dome above the (wonderfully ornate) tiled bar, some rather fetching stained glass windows displaying the pub name and a pretty tiled floor. The addition of a decent ale range makes this one worth popping into compared with its three nearby neighbours (Moon, Clarence and Silver Cross).
On 5th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Old Shades
This handsome little pub dates from 1898 although there has been a pub on site since the late 17th Century. The building is tall and narrow with a decorative façade and long, narrow interior that is roughly divided into 3 sections.
The pub has a warm and cosy feel with a relaxed ambience even though it can get quite busy being in the heart of tourist London. The oak paneling throughout is nicely complemented by hanging portraits and the front area has a bit of a Gentleman’s Club feel with tub chairs that are in keeping with the building’s character. The front patterned windows display the pub name and the main bar area also contains a large coloured glass window albeit not very well presented. The bar back has a fancy personalized mirror and an attractive carving overhead. Above the main bar area is an eyecatching rotunda with a chandelier centerpiece and beyond the main bar, a separate dining area with a large stone fireplace in front of which one can almost imagine a medieval banquet taking place.
There is a single TV but it is rarely used and music is played at a tolerable level. I have always found the service to be prompt and efficient which is a lot more than can be said for some of its neighbours.
I am assuming that the Old Shades has recently been offloaded by Nicholsons as neither the beers or food reflected the normal Nicholsons range. It is certainly no longer listed on their website although there are still traces of the brand within the pub which I assume will be removed in due course. On the ale front I found 3 Westerham beers (SPA, British Bulldog and Grasshopper) plus Adnams Old Ale and Theakstons Original although I wasn’t over impressed with the quality of the Grasshopper on my recent visit (especially at £3.50 a pint). The food was also a bit pricier with main courses starting at around £9.
The Old Shades has always been one of my favourite pubs in the area but it in comparison to some of its near neighbours it now seems expensive and whilst the beer range is still good, I would probably need to make another visit before deciding whether the quality justifies the price.
On 25th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]