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The Pembroke, Earls Court, SW5
SW5
SW5 9JA
Pub Type
Metropolitan Pub Co (Greene King)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Pembroke
Dating from 1866 as the Coleherne Arms, the current name applied in 2008. This may have been an attempt to escape from the pub’s days as a legendary gay and ‘leather bar’, with former customers including Kenny Everett, Ian McKellen, Freddie Mercury, Derek Jarman and Dennis Nielsen; the pub is referenced by Armistead Maupin.
A first in here the other night, into a sparsely populated pub. In many respects, it’s quite a bland made over place, but with an interesting peripheral first floor gallery. Furniture includes tables made with scaffold poles (the same as the bar back), along with banquettes with scatter cushions, serviced by Britannia tables with traditional low stools. Lighting comes along from a large crystal chandelier, along with filament sconces. Customers were mixed and seemingly heterosexual, the only TVs to be found in here now were showing the football.
Ales amounted to one unused pump, then GK IPA and Brompton House Bitter at a very reasonable £2.35 a half; I don’t know who brewed it, but as it was quite nice, I’m guessing not Greene King.
This is quite a joyless pub, easily the dullest of the four with frontages onto Old Brompton Road, matching the experience of the previous reviewer from 2015; I don’t envisage a return visit to a pub with no original features.
On 4th December 2021
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Pembroke
The Pembroke is a corner pub that is now painted in the trendy battleship grey colour.
Once inside there is a decent sized U shaped room with the bar facing,the room is bare boarded,the seating is comfy bench type to the front right,there was a TV to the rear left showing tennis,the right side extends further to the rear,this had normal tables and chairs which were set aside for diners,none in om my Wednesday Afternoon visit.
I did'nt see any GK beers on the bar,but was probably not looking properly,i had a drink of Hogs Back TEA which went down well.
Decent background music was playing.
The pub was empty which was a shame,all other pubs in the area had been fairly busy.
Pub visited 1/7/2015
On 1st July 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Pembroke
Typical High street pub with a bit of a modern makeover,the three beers on were Twickenham Redhead, Portobello VPA and Greene King IPA,my VPA was a decent enough pint,not a place though I would choose to return to but worth a pint if you happen to be walking past.
On 7th September 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Pembroke
According to a flyer on my table the Pembroke has just been refurbished and Saturday was the opening day although there was no new smell that usually indicates such efforts, an almost island bar with the front painted blue, no bar back as such just a tubular metal and glass tower with shelving, bare boarded floor, high tables and stools all around the perimeter under the windows. There were a few regular seats along a side wall, the entire rear area of the elongated side is a restaurant complete with a "Wait to be Seated" sign. No ta. The daytime menu was on the bar tables, shepherds pie, chantenay carrots and peas £14, rare breed burger, bacon, cheddar etc £12. Décor is generally pub gastro, lots of battleship grey, some exposed brickwork, old B&W photos of the area, Earls Court and suchlike, plastic plant pots of mint on the tables, useful I guess if one has halitosis issues; there is apparently an upstairs lounge, "secret" garden and a cinema of all things lurking somewhere but I declined the written invitation to investigate such pub fripperies. Pavement café style seating to the front, a high gable tells us the pub dates from 1866 and was originally The Coleherne Arms.
Three handpumps on the bar, Twickenham Redhead, £3.80, in good shape, Itchen Valley Belgarum plus something called "THAT ONE" which at 3.9% I suspect is a house beer from GK, Morlands or H&H. An adjacent font had something called Fordham Copperhead Ale.
So, a rather poncey if inoffensive place, routine for the area, but I'd drop in again if passing by and fancying a pint.
On 17th March 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Pembroke
Sparsely furnished high ceiling pub.Grey painted interior with some exposed brick..Large restaurant area to the rear.3 handpumps with a Gk house beer,Rebellion -red kite and my choice of Old Dairy -up and udder which was good.
On 13th March 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pembroke
You would never know it, but the former Colherne is now owned by Greene King (following its Realpubs acquisition). The 'J'-shaped bar has been refurbished in green and black decor with traditional furniture. One TV screen. Background music. Upstairs room (not visited). Benches out front. Three real ales on handpump: Truman's No 8, Itchen Valley Easter Bunnies and Cottage Hawker Fury (£3.65, served in a jug but short measure, topped up voluntarily, still borderline). (NB - Review dates from April 2012.)
On 24th June 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Pembroke
Circular bar serving 3 real ales with a dining area at the rear.
On 28th February 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Pembroke
Earlier review still sums it up, except that the beer range seems to be rather more exciting now, with some unusual local brews in fair order. Also apparently holds mini beer festivals occasionally.
On 18th June 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Pembroke
A foodie pub that is half restaurant half bar with an upstairs room and a sun terrace. Minimalist décor with a few large lampshades dotted around and an impressive chandelier that hangs from the upper level. Advertises cask ales but just Bombardier and Pride on with a third hand pump unused. Good array of premium lagers with Bira Morretti, Sagres and Bitburger plus Symonds Cider. Good service and what looks like a popular changing menu.
On 14th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]