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Horse & Groom, Belgravia, SW1

7 Groom Place
SW1
SW1X 7BA

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Will Larter left this review about Horse & Groom

This is a very small Shepherd Neame pub, with room for about 20 people at a pinch in the downstairs room - I didn't venture upstairs to measure the other seating area. The bar counter on the left on entering has three hand pumps, with three Sheps pump clips: Whitstable Bay, Bishops Finger and Spitfire. I asked for Spitfire, only to be told that it wasn't available because of delivery problems; Doom Bar was on this line but they hadn't been sent a pump clip. It was a similar story with the next beer, only here the substitute Timothy Taylor Landlord was still conditioning in the cellar (at least they hadn't put it on too soon, unlike some pubs I can think of). Not being a fan of Whitstable Bay I went for the Doom Bar, but after a few mouthfuls it had a discernable banana-ish taste, but rather than complain about it I just put the remainder of the beer on the counter and prepared to walk out. At this point I was accosted by a person who turned out to be the landlord - an enthusiastic man with an eastern European accent - he had been sitting at a table opposite the bar. He asked me what was wrong with the beer. I gave him my opinion, which is that it is sent out from the brewery already conditioned, with very little if any yeast, so that once it is opened there is no protective carbon dioxide being produced in the beer remaining in the barrel and it consequently starts to oxidise and its flavour changes quicker than he would be used to with Sheps beers. He explained about the delivery problems, even showing me emails and invoices, and offered me a replacement beer, but I said that I had drunk Whitstable Bay before and it is not to my taste, and I didn't want a keg beer. I promised to call in next time I am in London when he can make amends if he so wishes. I have given this pub a lower than average rating for the time being, and hope to find it improved in the near future.

On 2nd February 2022 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3700 recommendations about 3439 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about Horse & Groom

Well described below, this is a tiny pub in a mews; or is it?
I wasn’t quite so taken with this one. Yes, there’s charming woodwork and framed black and white pictures of possibly celebrities or former visitors. The pub wasn’t that full for a Friday, some of the visitors may have been lost tourists, one group leaving a hefty tip on the table.
It loses some charm on account of the modern floor and some furniture, which looks a bit too modern for a traditional boozer, with tables sporting pot plants. What really put me off, was the music; not because it was too loud, but because it was delivered by of all things, an FM radio, perched on a ledge; it was tinny and very annoying; a Geordie was whistling along loudly.
Ales on offer included Whitstable Bay, Bishops Finger and Spitfire at £2.60 a half and good.
This is ok, but the tinny music with whistling accompaniment, SN beers and cheap furniture, put me off a bit. There are better mews pubs in Belgravia and indeed, better pubs

On 6th November 2021 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about Horse & Groom

A classic mews pub,and really quite tiny.Shepherd Neame tied house with good exterior paintwork and signage,the ground floor is a square wooden panelled room with a small bar to the left,some high tables opposite and a wrap around fitted bench seating below the etched glass window.I've been in bigger micropubs !.There is additional seating on the first floor althgough I didn't investigate,while upturned barrels and modern metal furniture with umberellas are placed outside in the courtyard.It's all very charming and authentic and conversation flows easily inside.There is a perilous descent to the gents.
There are three handpumps with SN Spitfire,Bishops Finger and Whitstable Pale (NBSS 3 ,£5.25).There are further SN kegged beers offered.Food is also served although I didn't partake.
Well worth a visit and a very fine example of it's type.Beware of Sunday closure and possible private hire on Saturdays.

On 10th September 2021 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Horse & Groom

Tiny mews-type Shepherd Neame pub, sometimes full of unusual accents from the nearby embassies. Traditional decor, but I still don't like the high stools / tables. A couple of small patio tables can also be found out front, and there is an upstairs dining room (never visited). Has gained a fourth handpump since my previous stop here back in 2013, but the regular Spitfire is still available, as was Whitstable Bay pale ale this time.

On 23rd February 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


custodian 42 left this review about Horse & Groom

One ground floor room Shepherd Neame pub with another room upstairs. Only weak Real Ales plus keg on offer. Toilet a bit obscured. Happily, most people were outside otherwise it would have been packed.

On 17th May 2017 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about Horse & Groom

Like a lot of pubs in this area tucked away down a side street. Quite a plain dark interior (didn't visit upstairs. 3 real ales and food served.

On 14th October 2015 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about Horse & Groom

Being tucked away down a small cobbled backstreet it is unlikely that many visitors to the area chance upon this small Shepherd Neame pub. The interior consists of three very thin high tables with stools that run along the right wall directly in front of the entrance. To the left of the entrance under the front window are a couple of standard tables with chairs. On the left hand wall is the bar that supports the usual SN draught (Oranjeboom etc.) and three hand pumps that were drawing Spitfire, Whitstable Bay and Master Brew. I didn’t note the presence of any menus, but there were condiments on some of the tables. There was no background music and the television was off with no signs of live sport advertised. Out the front are a few café tables which I imagine come in very handy if more than twenty-five people attempt to use this pub at the same time.

I arrived, just after midday on a recent Friday, behind a group of local office workers. We were the only customers and the barman was busy doing some housework so I assumed that the pub had not long opened.

I wouldn’t stay here all day, but I could enjoy a few beers sitting outside on a nice summer’s afternoon.

On 12th October 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about

A very small single room, albeit with additional room upstairs(not visited). Situated on the corner of a street and a mews, a few traditional tables with stools and upholstered banquettes, plus the odd earlier stated high tables and stools, not to my taste either Rex. Dark wood panelling, laminated cheap wood effect floor, beamed ceiling; the pub name is picked out on the etched windows. Plasma screen in the front corner. I reckon 20 people in here and it would be full.
Shepherd Neame, Kent Best, Spitfire and Whitstable on, the Whitstable was clear but tired and lifeless.
An unusual touch is the umberella stand by the door, seems like a touch from another age.

7 September 2008
Closed at 5pm yesterday.......no rating left.

On 31st July 2009 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about Horse & Groom

This is a small Shepherd Neame pub tucked away down a mews behind Belgrave Square. This was one of my regular haunts when I used to work around the corner in Seaford House. But it seems to have had a fairly recent makeover, the main change being – apart from a general smartening up – the introduction of some of those really chunky high stools and high tables. I don't like them at all, but I do understand the business need for them in a pub as small as this one. But I still really like this little pub, and usually manage to drop in whenever I am in the area. My best wishes to Aiden, the new guv'nor – if anyone can make a go of this pub, he can.

On 19th July 2008 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about Horse & Groom

A decent little local down a nice mews (you can smell the money as you walk), selling Shepherd Neame beer in fair condition.

Turned up on a Friday evening when there was a toffs 70's-80's disco on; all very weird, especially when they played Eton Rifles and London Calling - hard to tell whether it was with brainless gusto or wonderful irony that Petronella, Henry their chums sang along at the top of their voices.

Worth a quick half for the location.

On 25th June 2008 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]

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