Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with sheffield hatter
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Cadogan Arms, Chelsea, SW3
SW3
SW3 5UG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Cadogan Arms
The Rose and Crown was originally built on this site in the 17th Century shortly after the King’s Road converted from a royal pathway between palaces to a public thoroughfare. The name was changed to the Cadogan in 1838 when the pub was rebuilt by the Victorians.
Since the previous reviews it was shut for a period before being bought by Dominic Jacobs, the man behind The Running Horse pub in Mayfair, and then underwent an extensive refurbishment to take it back to what it much would have looked like when it first opened. It should have reopened in 2019, but this was delayed and then along came the pandemic, so the pub finally reopened in July 2021.
The transformation is quite stunning and what we have now is a very ornate pub. It’s a total reproduction, and none of it is original, but when reading the previous reviews, I don’t think that matters as it’s clearly much better than its previous incarnation (although I am sure some will moan the loss of the upstairs pool table.)
This is now very much a foodie pub and you are greeted on entering by a member of staff who asks if you are dining, and if so you are then lead to a sizable dining section at the rear of the pub. Fortunately the front bar section, with it large windows, is just for drinking, as is a few large settees around the impressive fireplace at the back. And then down a set of stairs to the left is the basement Rose and Crown bar, which resembles a cocktail speakeasy bar with its Art Deco lighted glass behind the serving area, but ironically is equipped with flat screen teles and is where sport is shown (there are none in the upstairs section).
The bar has a bank of four ale hand-pumps but only two of these were in operation for my visit, with Sambrooks Wandle and St Austell Tribute available. Fortunately, both of these were in very good nick. We were not originally intending to try the food but were attracted by the substantial beef and horseradish rolls being advertised on the bar for £6, which isn’t too bad when considering where you are.
This is now a very comfortable pub with a historic (although completely fake) interior, and I believe there is some sort of tie up to the George in Fitzrovia.
On 23rd February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2109 recommendations about 1991 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Cadogan Arms
First time in here in well over 20 years and this is now a more pleasant pub. Gone is the Ye Olde Worlde interior of yore as has the jukebox. There's a pool room upstairs; prices were surprisingly cheap for the area. The bullseye glass window panes are a bit naff, but overall this isn't a bad place though the selection of drinks across the board is bafflingly thin: a cider, Guinness, a couple of bitters, a couple of lagers and that's about it.
On 26th June 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Cadogan Arms
The pub is unchanged since Maldenman’s visit, with the stuffed heads, brewery mirror, and assorted prints (I thought they might be of Dickensian characters) still all there. There’s no need to repeat what he said, but I did think that the white-framed lattice windows were an attractive feature, and I did spot that table service was available in the dining room at the back for those who look for that sort of thing in a pub.
During my visit yesterday they had on Adnam’s Bitter, Adnam’s Mild, as well as London Pride of course. Unusually, they also had Tiger Lager on tap. My Adnam’s Bitter came in a branded glass, but I also had to ask for a top up (given with good grace). I also saw some pints of lager being delivered to diners at the back which were well short of the brim. Sandwiches were £7.95 and upwards, with main courses also being at the top end of the pub pricing scale. My change was handed back on a little silver dish – well, what else would I expect in Chelsea. In my view this pub is nothing special – OK for a pint but really too “Central London” for my taste.
On 14th April 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Cadogan Arms
This is a large street corner pub on the Kings Rd, with the bar and main drinking area to the front, and a more formal dining area to the rear, tables set with white tablecloths. An old side door has a mosaic floor inlaid with "Luncheons and Billiards" and indeed still today there is an area upstairs which has three new American eight ball pool tables. The main bar has a wooden floor, mixed seating including a few sofas and armchairs and the obligatory high tables. There is an exposed brick fireplace and column, the hearth being full of stacked chopped logs.. The ceiling has been painted black and bizarrely the walls are sporadically decorated with stuffed animal heads and fish, foxes, rabbits, even a bison being included, all with a plate stating the name of the hunter and date of the kill. A ceiling beam has a row of antlers and animal horns in the same manner. Rather more conventionally there is a large Adnams mirror and a series of caricatures of some military figure from days gone by in a variety of costumes.
I didn't really take to this pub for a few reasons, the stuffed heads being one but also there was a large crowd of middle aged men in front of the bar, clearly worse for wear and being pretty offensive but left unchecked. Thankfully the pub TV was switched off and they left around 5:30, I assume from their comments to watch the Chelsea FC late match somewhere else.
The beer choice was Pride, Adnams Bitter and Ghost Ship (second time I've seen this now, last week in Cambridge). One pump was unclipped. I decided to try the Ghost Ship but it was poor, flat and lifeless. Another Chelsea pub serving short pints too, I had to prompt for a top up which seemed to confuse the barmaid somewhat.
On 17th October 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]