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Detail Pages
The Speaker, Westminster, SW1
Westminster
SW1
SW1P 2HA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Speaker
Dating from 1729 as the Castle, it was renamed the Elephant & Castle 61 years later and the Speaker in 1999, now hemmed in by modern blocks of flats in a rather dead Pimlico/Victoria backwater, which in the mid-19th century, was a notorious slum. Not now of course, with the pub getting an interior makeover and décor upgrade in 2019, meaning that some of the earlier reviews may no longer apply.
This is a small, one roomed pub, with three-quarter height oak panelling. Furniture is essentially tall, with drinking ledges rather than tables, with some studded banquettes to front and rear. There’s an interesting tiled bar back which doesn’t look like one of the tediously repetitive glazed tiled affairs, so beloved of the unimaginative. Décor comes in the form of some knickknacks above a ledge and framed prints; also on display is a Division Bell, this being one of at least three in the area, similarly appointed. Customers were probably associated with the Palace of Westminster and on looking down, I saw a little chocolate brown dachshund – Dr Frankenfürter – sniffing my foot. It was a good job I hadn’t hopped off my stool, otherwise fido would be a no-no; he slunk off back to his toy filled basket.
Ales on offer were Landlord, Doom, Mister Chubbs, Sambrook’s Powerhouse and Twickenham’s Winter Star at £2.75 a half and a bit limp when compared to the blurb on the pump clip, served by a friendly barman.
This isn’t a bad little place if you don’t mind heavily modernised ‘old’ themes; worth a visit if in the area.
Rated 6.5.
On 25th November 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Speaker
The Speaker has had a refub. It was a great pub before, but now it is even better. Now the pub is much brighter and the seating is more organised, i.e. fixed. The windows looks like they can be opened fully. The gents toilet upstairs has been upgraded. Now there is a function room upstairs as well, which looks like it can seat 30 people.
On 29th May 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Speaker
Quiet corner pub in the back streets of Victoria/Westminster. Cheapest pint of the day in three pubs visited. £4.90 for a good pint of Landlord.
Nice pub.
On 17th February 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Speaker
An 18th Century corner pub, previously The Elephant and Castle, this is one of the better ale outlets in the immediate area. There is a single bar on the ground floor and a second bar/function room, called The Chambers, on the first floor, which is also where the toilets are. It gets very crowded at peak times, and on this visit we had to push to get to the bar. Ales on were Doombar, Landlord, London Brewing Company’s Never Mind The Kent Hops, Ossett’s Nervous Turkey and Sambrook’s Powerhouse Porter. Well worth including on a crawl.
On 4th February 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3277 recommendations about 3242 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Speaker
Traditional unfussy corner pub. 5 real ales served.
On 25th September 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Speaker
You'll always get a good pint here, with regulars like the 'house' (Adnams) Pleisure Principle, Landlord and Wandle usually available from the five handpumps. However, they rotate a selection of guest beers - Mr Grundy's Big Willie and the Dusty Penny porter from Flipside Brewery (£4.40) on this visit - and also have several 'mini' beer festivals during the year with a themed selection in over a period of a few weeks. Interesting political cartoons on the staircase walls leading up to the toilets. Can get busy, but deservedly so, but if you avoid office closing time then it can be a splendid place to meet up or just to pop in for a quick pint.
On 5th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Speaker
Decent pub with five real ales including Ilkley Stout @ 5%. Bit small and only one room but worth a revisit if in the area.
On 8th March 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Speaker
Good to see the Speaker – a ‘proper pub’ – surviving and thriving. Four guest ales amongst the six pumps, including Kelham Island and Nethergate Old Growler (Pleasure Seekers Golden Pale, TT Landlord and Sambrooks Wandle look like regulars these days). Decent nick. My previous comments about it being rammed still stand (literally, in our case). Still, it’s a great little pub for the area.
April 2013
Around the corner from New Scotland Yard and a short trudge from the Houses of Parliament, this is a pretty good pub for Westminster. Four ales back in 2008 have now expanded to five - TT Landlord and Youngs Ordinary, plus three well-sourced guest beers are usually on, which usually come out well and priced reasonably for the area. There are now also a decent selection of bottles including locals Camden and Meantime. The basic-but-comfortable interior is a small single bar affair and the layout is pretty awkward - it can get rammed after 5pm if Parliament is in session and you have to wave your tenner like a handkerchief in order to get seen at the served as it's really difficult to get past the barflys. The modern pine fitted and carpeted interior is not too bad a job done and the sympathetic lighting and lack of obtrusive noise from TV's/Jukey makes for a pleasant atmosphere; I enjoy the caricatures of old Parliamentarians on the walls. There’s also comedy hike up some narrow, rickety stairs to the toilets, I bet that's caused a few accidents in its time. The clientele is almost exclusively formed of the political class (and people who wish they were) but not as boorishly irritating as in other nearby haunts. Our wandering group of scruffs sometimes get a couple of funny looks - still it must do them good to meet the proles occasionally. Note that the pub is closed at weekends. Well-worth dropping by if you’re in this part of town. Rated 8
On 26th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Speaker
Quiet but friendly pub on my visit.Famous pub so kind of expected more.Good range of 5 cask beers inc Blindmans -sahara and Charnwood -White fox.One of the few pubs in London that make an effort to support Mild in May.Cosy.
On 12th September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Speaker
A decent corner pub this one with a jovial atmosphere and a good selection of ales across five handpumps. We went for the Sambrookes Wandle, not an exciting beer, but did taste well in here. As Quinno mentions the pub is closed at weekends
On 28th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]