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 Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Admiral Codrington, Chelsea, SW3
SW3
SW3 2LY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Admiral Codrington
Known locally as the Admiral Cod, the pub’s history is well documented on CAMRA’s site. I came here once before around 1987 to do a three-hole mini crawl, which comprised the triumvirate of this pub, the even worse Shuckburgh (now closed) and Australian, which was actually one of the best pubs in SW3, but has now too sadly closed.
Earlier reviews paint of a picture of this being an upmarket pub and indeed their website describing it as ‘Chelsea’s boutique restaurant & bar’, the gallery page simply showing plates of food and what must be the upstairs dining room. I remember it being a bit ho-hum in the ‘80s, but I wouldn’t say there’s anything upmarket about it; in fact, it looks a bit down-at-heel, something of a surprise given the area. The interior appears to have a scruffy dark grey vinyl floor, dark brown matchboard partitions with matching wainscoting to dado height, above which is patterned wallpaper (see photo). Furniture is traditional, with very dated studded velour banquettes to the periphery though the bar structure looks suitably traditional, with a balustraded gantry. Lighting came by way of downlighters, then wrought iron Victorian-style chandeliers, the whole lot being unsettlingly bright; music played, but it was too loud for comfort. Décor comprised traditional framed prints along with empty bottles and pot plants on windowsills; again, all very dated, like drinking in pub c. 1955.
Far from being the wealthy in-crowd, customers were young and studenty, about half braving the chill for a fag on the scruffy covered side patio. What really endeared me [Not] to the pub, was the member of staff who on cleaning the table next to me, gave me a Mr Sheen facial from his sanitiser gun.
The ale choice amounted to two unused pumps, a reversed Deuchers clip, me opting for the keg Brixton Pale at £3.60 a half and dull, served by a perfunctory barman.
This isn’t a great pub even in a postcode not renowned for great pubs, at least not since the ‘80s, though it’s about as genuine a pub experience as you can expect in this postcode. I doubt I’d bother coming here again; if you want two endurable pubs in SW3, your best bets are the Surprise or Phoenix.
On 5th November 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Admiral Codrington
Posh pub in the back of Chelsea, fairly modernised but clearly still a pub. The island bar at the front is surrounded by space and tables, with a restaurant area to the rear and a covered patio to the side. A set of handpumps was tucked round the back of the bar dispensing Wandle, Bombardier and Whitstable Bay in very good condition. Despite looking expensive, the beer was not priced much different to others in the area.
On 14th June 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Admiral Codrington
Upmarket pub, as you would expect from the area. Island bar, but there is a particularly inconvenient cellar hatch which has to be roped off at frequent intervals. Modern dining room to the rear. Difficult to find a spot just to have a pint during the evening, but there is also a side patio if the weather's OK. Two handpumps, offering Doom Bar and Pride (£3.60). (NB - Review dates from April 2012.)
On 24th June 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about Admiral Codrington
This one still has a bit of pubbiness left in it compared to some places in the area though of course they're far more interested in getting you into their Michelin listed restaurant. Certainly during the day there's a fair cross section of, I guess, people who work round here using it as a pub, though I suspect things change as the day progresses and it fills up with locals who don't do any work in the accepted sense of the term. There's wood panelling and a fireplace that looks like it gets used on occasion, and the outside area is pleasant on a sunny afternoon. Pleasant enough spot to have a pint but we're well into £4 territory here.
On 25th July 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Admiral Codrington
There were two real ales on – Black Sheep Bitter and Spitfire. As you walk in, the bar is right in front of you; there are some sofas on the right leading to what looked like a large dining area at the back, and to the left was some more seating occupied by punters quaffing wine. Notwithstanding the two ales on, I didn’t see anyone drinking ale. I sat at the bar for a while as the staff bustled around, presumably providing table service, and as no one seemed interested in acknowledging my presence, let alone serving me a pint, I left. I got the impression that this is a cross between a restaurant and a wine bar, and not much like the pub it must once have been. It looks good from the outside though, and there is a small patio area, presumably used by smokers most of the time. I must bring my wife here sometime; she’d love it!
On 20th February 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Admiral Codrington
This place is pretty much how I imagined a pub to be in this area with its well heeled clientele and restaurant at the rear. The front drinking area is quite small with an island bar stocked with Black Sheep and Spitfire along with a standard draught selection. I found the staff to be very friendly and my Guinness was very good, but it was on the expensive side which is to be expected I suppose.
There is some nice covered outside seating to the left of the pub that was handy to escape the smell of coffee beans that was overpowering the pub. This is also the first place I have been in to and witnessed a large group of men order a round of large Bombay Sapphires with port chasers – wtf!
This isn’t really my sort of place, but it was busy when other pubs in the area were not so they have got their target market interested so good luck to them.
On 4th February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]