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The Theodore Bullfrog, WC2
WC2
WC2N 6HL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Theodore Bullfrog
This started life back in 1690 as the St. Martin’s Tavern, rebuilt in 1959, probably as a result of bombing and known in the 1970s as the Gilbert & Sullivan, the two eponymous composers once gracing each side of the pub sign, according to John Wittich in his seminal tome (alright pamphlet), Discovering London’s Inns and Taverns.
The ground floor is on two levels and is a very modern affair, at least in its current incarnation, with pale wood, fawn banquettes, blue paint, pale blue glazed tiles to the bar back with square section tubular steel shelving and seemingly conical lampshades made from wood; décor comprises reproduction watercolour prints of fruit or frogs. What’s worthy of a special mention, is the gent’s lavs, with four cubicles no less. Now onto the customers: think The Office, but after 10 pints, with slightly lairy ladz, frequently turning the air somewhat blue.
Ales: the barmaid looked like she’d lost the will to live – can’t say I blame her – dishing up Special ‘coming soon’, an unused pump then Proper Job at a reasonable £2.55 a half and ok.
Clearly Will had arrived at lunchtime, as it would appear to be a different story towards the end of the evening, but I certainly won’t be coming here again.
On 5th November 2021
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Theodore Bullfrog
Surprisingly included in Discovering London's Inns and Taverns by John Wittich, the present building is a replacement dating to 1959. Now painted a subdued green (outside and in) and renamed about 20 years ago, I was a little taken aback to discover that it's actually quite an attractive building. A step just inside the front door seems like it is there just to set up comedy moments, and the fact that the bar is down a few further steps is a second test for those who have been to one or two pubs prior to this one.
The bar has four hand pumps, with one naked, one "coming soon" and the others displaying Youngs Original and St Austell Proper Job pump clips. My half of the bitter (£2.35) was in good condition. There were a few early arrivals for lunch but there were fewer than a dozen customers during my time here.
The upper level by the front windows is light, airy and pleasant, and there's also a small snug or private booth in the corner. The walls are decorated with a number of pictures of flowers, birds and (of course) frogs; the sort of pictures you get by dismantling coffee table books and sticking them in a frame, but no less pleasant to look at for all that. I quite enjoyed my visit here, but the pub is not so attractive that I'll be making an effort to come back any time soon. A pleasant start to my Let's All Go Down the Strand crawl.
On 2nd October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Theodore Bullfrog
I really ought to hate this place, but it does serve a purpose of an evening when you are waiting for a train at Charing Cross and all the other pubs in the area are absolutely rammed. It is on the small side with limited seating space, meaning that most of the customers end up out on the street (whether they are smokers or not). It also has an annoying split-level layout with a couple of steps between door and bar to catch out the unwary. The bar itself is divided into two parts, the main lager dispensary which is where the staff are, and a smaller section to the left-hand side which has four handpumps. Ale selection is mainstream - but well-kept in my experience - with Ordinary and Special from Young's plus Proper Job (£4.65) from three of the four handpumps, with a reversed Doom Bar clip on the other handle, being fairly typical. It's only features of note are the unusual ledges on the pavement side of the windows which are ideal (whether by design or accident) for setting your pint down if standing outside.
On 24th April 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about Theodore Bullfrog
Quite quiet at half past six on Tuesday night. Only weak real ale on offer. Nothing special at all.
On 16th February 2017
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Theodore Bullfrog
A noisy dive bar in a smelly back street near Charing Cross. The clientele are primarily the young hooded variety who speak fluent Eminem but struggle with English. The barman was also of this ilk and was, in addition, rude and belligerent. Food consisted of over-priced parcels of mechanically recovered bovine waste, stuck inside stale rolls and smothered in a mixture of fat, MSG and various artificial flavourings – like burgers only worse. There were 4 handpumps, one dry, the others dispensing badly-kept GK beers: IPA, EPA and Gold XPA. All the beers were over-gassed and somewhat disappointing. The WiFI didn't work, also a disappointment as it was the one potentially useful thing about this place. I don't imagine I'll be hopping back.
On 14th January 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Theodore Bullfrog
My original encounter with what is now the Theodore Bullfrog was in the 80’s when it was a Berni Inn. Today it is a plain and rather dull pub that doesn’t really have a great deal to offer given its proximity to so many fine competitors.
The front section is at street level whilst the sunken rear section contains the bar. The predominantly grey colour scheme doesn’t lift the blandness of the décor or furnishings but in all fairness it is not easy to make something attractive or interesting out of a rather dull modern building but they have at least tried to make the exterior a bit more welcoming with plentiful flower basket displays. There was a single TV quite poorly positioned in the lower level and upstairs is a function room (where I recall eating my Berni steak all those years ago).
There were 3 ales on my latest visit, a very poor quality Doom Bar (£3.25), as well as Spitfire and Greene King IPA which I didn’t try given the lack of choice and quality of the initial pint. A fourth pump was unused on my visit. The food looks decent value with main courses around £6/7 and jacket potatoes mainly under £4. Service has been indifferent over the years and I have on occasions found it easier to walk out and go elsewhere rather than fight the crowds that the place does sometimes inexplicably attracts. The customer base is generally derived from office workers, stranded commuters and desperate pub reviewers.
For an old git like me, this place is just too modern and characterless plus the beers lack variety or quality so I think my latest trip is likely to be my last unless something miraculous happens or I am dragged in screaming.
On 1st September 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Theodore
I knew this pub very well in the early 70’s when it was a Whitbread pub called The Gilbert and Sullivan, and had masses of G&S memorabilia all over the place. Then they changed the name to St Martin’s Tavern; and a few years ago someone had a rush of blood to the head and decided that the name Theodore Bullfrog was an improvement. The name gives a good clue as to the sort of place this has become; it’s hard to imagine a decent pub having such a ridiculous name. It looks depressing from the outside, being painted battleship grey, and just as depressing inside with the walls painted that muddy gray colour. The flooring is light coloured boards; there was a TV showing a sports channel, but muted so that the couple of punters in there could enjoy the banal pop music; there were some high stools/tables plus some normal tables and chairs; and the six nations’ flags draped from above the bar. The most interesting feature was an advertising board with scrolling lights (a bit like you see on trains telling you the destinations) above one of the doors, advertising such things as the quiz night and take-away food. This is the first one of these that I’ve seen, and does little to enhance the atmosphere of the pub. There was nothing about the decor worth mentioning.
There were four handpumps on the bar – two had GKIPA and Bombardier clips reversed, and the other two were dispensing Sharp’s Doom Bar and Adnam’s Bitter; the latter at £3 a pint. This pub has nothing going for it that would convince me to pay a return visit.
On 10th March 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Theodore
This split level pub felt more like a bar for the mid thirties suit brigade. I suppose that I am nearing my mid thirties so would be classed as one of them, but I don't talk about my work for 3 hours after finishing it every evening. The staff were amiable enough, but it was patently obvious that they didn't want to be there and I don't really blame them. Maybe it is more pleasant during the day or at the weekend.
Tring Sidepocket and Jack O'Legs were available along with Spitfire and various lagers. I went for the lager as no other person seemed to be drinking the ale. There is a plasma screen, but I don't know if they have Sky Sports etc and food is served from 12 until 8.
Thankfully I was able to shoehorn myself into a space outside so that I could have a smoke and rest my pint on the ‘smokers ledge' that runs around the outside of the building.
Although busy I couldn't see the attraction other than locality to Charing Cross Station.
On 28th October 2008
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]