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The Havelock Tavern, Brook Green, W14
W14
W14 0LS
Pub Type
Metropolitan Pub Co (Greene King)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Havelock Tavern
Here in under a minute of leaving the Bird in Hand also on Masbro Rd. Quite a few tables also set here for dining but more of a mix of drinkers and diners. Indeed quite a bit larger than the Bird in Hand and so the venue was more pleasant to sit in to enjoy my pint. Most pure quaffers were assembled perched on stools sitting around the bar but I chose the many empty tables as a result rather than squash
Quaff of choice - more out of curiosity - was the Havelock Bitter, an amber coloured ale slightly sub 4% abv apparently brewed for them by GK. Only other cask choice was TT Landlord - wish I had chosen that as their branded bitter was uber bland. Several keg options some looked more interesting than the usual but didn’t record as had to rush off to meet the wife!!
On 18th April 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 115 recommendations about 115 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Havelock Tavern
Dating from 1869, this is a gentrified backstreet pub in a rather anonymous but pleasant place called Brook Green with the ten years' worth of restaurant accolades from the likes of Michelin and Hardon's encountered by Steve having increased by 60% in the ensuing six years since his visit.
The interior is rather standard, predictable gastropub with the likes of lots of bare wood and chunky furniture with a white tiled bar back. There appeared to be about four pumps, though I didn't sample the beer as I had to stay sharp. Unusually for me though, I did have a meal in the form of the Sunday roast which, priced at 19.5 units, turned out to be something of a curate's egg. The veg was very nice: roasties, a glazed carrot, chard, braised red cabbage, parsnip purée and horseradish which looked homemade. However, it was the meat of the meal - literally - that disappointed. The roast beef was nice and pink and seemed well rested, but it was cut too thick and seemingly against the grain which made it rather tough. There was a much welcome Yorkshire pudding which was huge. It was also dark brown rather than golden, a sign that it was overcooked. It was also incredibly dry which gives the impression that it was cooked without fats which would have rendered it lusciously chewy. A teaspoon of fat - ideally lard - should be heated in the roasting tray until very hot before the batter mix is plopped in with the whole returned to the oven and cooked until golden. My three eating partners' meals though looked suitably appetising and were universally given the thumbs-up. Indeed, the pub was full and most if not all were dining.
This is probably a great local community pub, serving its customers well, but it's not something to seek out, especially with the annoying squealing dog in the corner.
On 9th December 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Havelock Tavern
A corner pub in the gentrified backstreets, with a nice tiled exterior but inside has been thoroughly gutted and fitted out with plain wood tables in an upmarket dining approach. There is a small patio to the rear also. Four handpumps offered Truman's Lazurus and Greene King IPA, with Yardbird just finished, and there were a few crafty things on tap also. Probably suited to its neighbourhood but not worth going out of your way for.
On 30th October 2019
- rating: 6
[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 The Havelock Tavern
Attractive corner pub, with distinctive dark-blur tiling and other restrained detailing (but I was surprised to learn on an earlier visit that it was originally two separate shops). Thoroughly revamped in gastro-pub style inside, with the old doors on the apex and along the side street no longer in use, what is now the main entrance off Masbro Road accessed over the wooden cellar hatches which is mildly disconcerting. Limited decor around the 'L'-shaped bar, but the large windows are a plus during daylight hours. Some additional seating in a rear area located up one step and out on wooden benches beside the pavement. Although there are four handpumps on the counter, it was a disappointment to find just Greene King IPA (£4.10) actually available on this visit, with annoying 'Just missed' labels above the Sambrook's Wandle and Pumphouse Pale clips on two others. Also has two banks of five keg taps with a mix of craft and standard offerings.
On 30th September 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Havelock Tavern
Another food led pub but they have 4 handpumps so its a good place for a drink as well.My Trumans -Bold as Brass was in good condition.Smart interior.Liked it a lot.
On 16th November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Havelock Tavern
The Havelock is a J shaped gastro pub with about ten years’ worth of Michelin restaurant guide stickers in the door so I wasn’t hoping for much as I entered. The bar is stocked with premium draught and the four hand pumps were drawing Black Sheep alongside three offerings from Sharp’s brewery that were Cornish Coaster, Bebbo’s Blonde and Summer Amber Pilsner.
The interior is what one would expect with thick wooden tables with seating around the exterior walls and no distractions like televisions, gaming machines or background music. To the left rear is a seating area and open kitchen and at the end of the bar just before midday last Friday some bread was cooling. Unfortunately the lovely smell of a bakers wasn’t present! I didn’t see any menus, but I imagine expensive food on oversized plates/slates/chopping boards.
My half of Coaster was around £2 which was cheaper than the £2.50 the bloke behind me got charged for just over half a coke.
This pub sits well in this area.
On 26th August 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Havelock Tavern
What drew me in to this place was the four handpumps on the bar counter, as it turned out dispensing Doom Bar, Sambrook Wandle, Black Sheep Bitter and Sharp’s Honey Gold. My pint of Doom Bar was served in a dimple mug; no choice was given perhaps because this is not the sort of place where they would have a straight glass. Unusually for me I didn’t check the price by counting the change from the fiver a paid with, as I was totally distracted by the 1½ inch head on my beer. But the barman gave me a top up with good grace. I doubt whether the Doom Bar was cheap though, as I saw a board advertising the Black Sheep Bitter for £3.50 a pint.
This is most certainly a food led pub. There were 20 or so customers in there on Wednesday lunchtime, and all were eating except me and one other chap reading his paper. One table was occupied by seven or eight people engaged in a business lunch, and at another table someone was being interviewed for a job. It seemed to be that sort of place. There were daily printed lunch menus on the tables (separate menus for evenings). The food looked OK, although the prices were what you would expect from a gastropub, with main courses ranging from £11 to £14.50, except for the vegetarian tart at £8.50.
The interior is exactly what you expect in a gastropub – modern replacement bare boards, solid wooden tables, a mix of assorted non-matching chairs, wine rack on the wall behind the bar counter, large jars of nuts on the bar counter, etc, etc. This is a perfectly decent gastropub, but it’s probably not the most comfortable place to visit if you’re only after a pint.
On 29th July 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]