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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Harp, WC2
WC2
WC2N 4HS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Harp
Visit 26/07/2014
I popped in early doors again on the way to Charing Cross Station. Despite the impending takeover (it will be a Fuller's pub as of 05/08/2014 with two Fuller's beers but other beers the same or similar) everything seemed the same as lasr Autumn. There was a cleaner doing the rounds and the one staff memnber getting everything ready for the thirsty hordes. I had a Hawkshead Drystone Stout (£3.75) which was an outstanding Dry Stout, everything Guinness should be but isn't. Only time will tell what happens to the beer / cider selection and prices under the Fuller's regime but for the next week it's as good as ever.
Visit 27/09/2013
On this occasion I arrived in the morning at around 10:30 and it was a much more enjoyable experience than a Saturday evening in mid summer. I tried the Dark Star American Pale (£3.45) which was in excellent condition.
This time I noticed a blackboard listing an extensive cider choice with only a few names that I recognised.
Visit 11/08/2013
I finally made it to this legendary pub on a Saturday evening, and it came as no surprise to see it packed with people spilling out onto the surrounding pavements. Inside it rather reminded me of the long and narrow Southampton Arms at Gospel Oak, but without the tiling and ciders.
As it was so busy, I didn't get to see the whole selection of ales apart from Dark Star, Harvey's, Sambrook's and Crouch Vale, but the Windsor And Eton Conqueror Black IPA seemed a good option. It was in really good nick making it an outstanding pint. It was £3.60 which to put prices in perspective is only 45p dearer than the Spoons across Trafalgar Square but £1.15 dearer than the same beer in a NW London Spoons earlier in the year. I'm guessing that it is good value for Central London.
I hope to give it another go some time but on a weekday and before midday.
The only minor criticism I might make is that for a pub of this type the beer selection seemed a bit mainstream, but there again not everyone goes for pale hop bombs or chilli flavoured dark wheat beers.
On 27th July 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Harp
We were lucky to visit the Harp before it got too busy. This gave us a good opportunity to have a good look around. I did take a look at the upstairs room, which was carpeted, with comfortable seating and small tables, there was also a gilt framed mirror. The only drawback if seated upstairs, would be the to-ing and fro-ing to the downstairs bar and carrying drinks up the narrow stairwell. The pub had a good atmosphere and the service was excellent. There were nine ales on hand pump so we tried the Harveys Sussex Best, Whitstable Ruby Mild and Clarence and Fredericks Best Bitter.
On 14th January 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Harp
Not my sort of pub. Busy ,overcrowded and uncomfortable. The pumpclips above the bar and the ghastly portraits on the wall make it seem like the worst kind of tourist pub. Great range of beer and always in good condition so worth a visit. Previously Camra pub of the year.What?
On 29th November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Harp
As others have mentioned this is a former Camra pub of the year, which consequently makes it a very popular spot, besides the fact that it is located between The Strand and Covent Garden which pretty much guarantees a brisk trade anyway.
The pub is a single room, quite long and narrow, with bare boards on the floor and limited seating, although I believe there may be more available upstairs. There are mirrors all along the right hand wall, and a number of portraits on the wall as well as Cask Marque certificates and other awards that they have won. There were hundreds, if not thousands of beer mats above the bar. Bar staff were quick and efficient, and were happy to provide samples to try.
Beer choice no doubt changes continually, but on this occasion consisted of Oakham Bishop’s Farewell, Dark Star Original Bitter, Dark Star Hophead, Palmer’s Dorset Gold, Sam Brooks Wandle, Sam Brooks Junction, Red Squirrel’s Red Dawn, Triple Brewery’s Winter Bourbon Stout, Dark Star Pale Ale and Harvey’s Sussex Best. The only cider on tap was Aspall’s Suffolk, although there were a few boxes in the ‘fridge who’s names I didn’t note, although I did spot a couple from Rich’s.
On 18th February 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about The Harp
My first visit to this award winning pub on a rare fetid July Saturday morning. The intriguing folding windows were open to the street, allowing early visitors to get a breath of fresh air, while watching the rozzers parked nearby.
On into the pub, where I was impressed with the row of handpumps, all in use. At that time of day, the customers were mostly middle aged acolytes attending the temple of ale. I followed a group of Geordies who asked for the hoppiest beer: this was, advised the helpful barlady, Twickenham’s Naked Ladies.I followed this sound advice- a fine ale. I had people to meet, but returned later that afternoon and stood in the alley out back, with a pint of Windsor and Eton’s Conqueror , a black IPA. By that time, a younger constituency was in residence, and we felt slightly elderly.
As with many London pubs, the business occupies a number of floors.However I’m not sure what goes on away from ground level. An excellent pub. I’m unsure why we never went there in our pub crawling days in the seventies and eighties. Perhaps it only sold Grotneys!
On 8th October 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Harp
A much visited and well reviewed boozer, The Harp deserves its National Pub of the Year 2010/2011 award.
Eight handpumps included Dark Star Hophead, American Pale Ale and Original as well as Sambrook Wandle amongst others. Everything we tried was in top condition. Landlord is no longer offered due to the high price charged by Timothy Taylor. Something of a shame as it used to be the best pint of Landlord south of the Watford Gap (if not Yorkshire itself) however there is more than enough on the excellent ale front to compensate.
There is a lovely brass 'bar' which runs along the bottom of the front window and allows easy and convenient outdoor drinking. Also worth noting is the early Saturday opening time of 10.30. Should you arrive a little early though there is every chance of a swift one before this served with the grace and friendliness which typifies this fabulous boozer.
A must visit in central London.
On 27th November 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
andrew parr left this review about The Harp
Wonderfull little pub near Charing Cross.It has a excellent variaty ao ales plus a mild.The only downfull are the stairs from the toilet....
On 13th September 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 105 recommendations about 100 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
very wellinformed left this review about The Harp
Its all been said before by other reviewers, so just make it a "must visit" when in central London
On 9th December 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 30 recommendations about 19 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Harp
Best ale,best service,best pub in the land.
On 21st August 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Harp
One of the best real ale pubs in Central London and very convenient if you are visiting Theatreland.This was my first visit since the landlady Binnie bought out the Punch Tavern tie,and the ale selection from the eight handpumps has greatly improved.Sambrook's ale is always available,Wandle and Junction on my trip and there is also a good selection from The Dark Star Brewery with Hophead,Paradise Weiss,American Pale ale and Over the Moon all available.The other two handpumps had White Horse Village Idiot(later replaced by Sharp's Proper Job) and Boggart's Dark Mild,so there was an excellent range of beer styles,something for everybody.All beers sampled were in excellent condition and around the £3.10-£3.20 mark very reasonable for the location.The decision to feature a lot of brews from Dark Star was spot on IMHO ,as this is a small brewery which produces excellent ales across a wide variety of styles with many seasonal offerings.The barmaids were,as always, uber efficient and no long wait at the bar even at 6pm on a hot Friday evening and there is room to spill out of the front door and at the rear where a passage leads between Chandos Place and St Martins Lane,a good place for vertical exterior drinking free from traffic fumes.As mentioned below the interior is small with bar stools and drinking shelves and three breakfast bar type tables but up the steep stairs past the loos there is a quiet upstairs room with small leather chairs and some tables overlooking the front.Sometimes reserved for private function but worth checking out if your legs are giving out.This is a pub worthy of an extended session and has a friendly and homely atmosphere.A good selection of real cider and perry this is drinking heaven.An absolute gem and a must visit in Central London.
On 19th July 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]