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The Sydney Arms, Chelsea, SW3
SW3
SW3 6NJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Sydney Arms
My friends and I were regulars here in the mid- ‘80s, as ID checking wasn’t this pub’s strongpoint. At this time, it was still trading under its original name, the Wellesley Arms, named after Arthur Wellesley, AKA the Duke of Wellington. Then it was very much a locals’ boozer, catering primarily for people from the nearby Peabody estate. There was carpeting, plum-coloured banquettes and we drank Ben Truman on keg. Back then, pub grub was [cheap] sausages, budget baked beans and chips, accompanied by tubes of red sauce (not ketchup) and brown sauce; we spent New Year’s Eve 1986 in here. That was until around a year later, when meeting a friend, he arrived with an unknown, who insisted on buying orange juice, then surreptitiously mixing it with his own vodka; the barman spotted this and we were promptly banned.
Despite my embargo, I returned around 10 years ago to find a gastropub, patronised by typical Chelsea types. Still barred and another visit the other night and what a change - an upmarket gastropub this certainly is not. The place boasts that it’s the best venue in the area to watch horseracing, but other than that it really looks a bit flat. The floor is now bare and furniture is just ordinary but in a bland way: tall to the front, then normal height to the rear, with a royal blue vinyl banquette; the bar array looks unchanged. There’s dark wood wainscoting to the dado, then duck egg blue walls (some with mirror panels), then a white Anaglypta ceiling. There were a couple of TVs showing nothing of interest, with the sound down, whilst indeterminate muzak played. Customers certainly weren’t typical Chelsea types from any mould, seemingly being foul mouthed Italians, but maybe I couldn’t identify the language. Bar staff periodically joined them at tables in between service, otherwise two members of staff decided to arse about by running round the bar and bar front, near colliding with only three other customers, who weren’t part of this group.
A dreary selection of ales was on offer, with Doom (reversed), Landlord (reversed) and an unused pump, me plumping for a half of Neck Oil at £3.50.
This is a very poor pub, which seems to exist for the entertainment of the staff and their friends; referring to the loos as ‘Restrooms’ doesn’t help. Although hardly a traditional boozer, the Builder’s Arms down the road offers a far more serene, professional experience, with a basic half pint costing £1.10 less; I know where I’ll be drinking if around here in future.
On 2nd December 2021
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Sydney Arms
'Pub & Brasserie' & bar, with a 'U'-shaped bar counter and a dining area to the rear. Fairly plain furniture and decor. Café-style seating out front under awnings. Easy listening background music and silent sports TVs. Four handpumps, offering the regular Pride, Doom Bar, TT Landlord and something from Sharps re-badged as SW3 (£3.50).
On 7th April 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Sydney Arms
Situated in the heart of Chelsea just round the corner form the town hall (renowned in the sixties for showbiz weddings) it's difficult to expect too much pubbiness: indeed if it were someone else you'd discount it completely. It was obviously once a traditional double-fronted boozer, split done the middle with central servery to public bar on one side and saloon on the other, now long knocked through. The front part is OK, the usual high tables and stools you get in London these days, Sky Sport on the TV (but not the Test match, recorded football) and a fair selection of ales including TT Landlord. It goes downhill quickly further back, red leather banquettes and tables all laid up with wine glasses but, on a Friday lunchtime, completely unused. It gets more traditional pub custom than its management would perhaps like, possibly due to the nearby hospital and the constant residential building work going on in the area. Service a bit grumpy.
If you want a pint down the King's Road you could do far worse.
On 22nd August 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 The Sydney Arms
There were four ales on – Sharp’s Doom Bar, Old Hooky, Black Sheep Bitter, and Timothy Taylor Landlord. I was charged £1.85(!) for a half of the Landlord. Food was available, advertised on a couple of chalkboards. Bar snacks were advertised near the door, offering such everyday staples as cheese & chorizo croquettes and sweet chilli dip (£4.90). More substantial meals were advertised on a board at the back, with “bunless” burger and chips at £9.50, and seabass fillet and “pea mash” at £12.50.
The main bar area is in front of you as you enter from Sydney St, with what looked like a separate dining area at the back on the left, signed as the Peter O’Sullevan Room (presumably named after the late racing commentator). In the main bar area there are a couple of tall tables/stools, a bit of bright red upholstered banquette seating, and some small stools near to the fireplace on the left.
I thought this pub was a bit pretentious (a door at the back seemingly led to the “toilettes”), and the drinks overpriced. It’s not the sort of place where I would want to spend much time.
On 21st February 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Peer
Only called in beacuse it was raining. Not much to look at. Sells real ale. Not very happy lady behind the bar, seemed to be annoyed about something. Slammed down an ashtray on the bar.
Update: It has now opened under a new name, it is now called The Peer. Bright interior and serves real ale. Friendly Staff. Food not available at this time. Another update: It has changed its name again. It's now called The Sydney Arms, it's more like a gastropub now.
On 6th March 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]