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The Bolton, Earls Court, SW5

326 Earls Court Road
SW5
SW5 9BQ

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Pub Type

Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bolton

I remember coming to this venue many years ago, when it was an O'Neill's. Now this landmark Victorian pub is some kind of continental craft beer bar. Indeed, a job vacancy posted in the window offered the opportunity to work at West London's best craft beer bar! I wouldn't quite go that far.

Inside is very dark, with plenty of dark wood and items such as pot plants scattered around. The bar is long and has a bank of 5 handpulls (if I recall correctly), with none of them clipped.

Craft beers on included Camden Pale, Beavertown Neck Oil, Pohjala Peel & Bean, De Ranke 21 Hop Harvest, Tiny Rebel Stay Puft, Lervig Jule Bock, Ultije Bird of Prey IPA, Fu*k the Caravan Is On Fire, Pineapple Weizen & Citrus Blonde Ale. Brouwerid Emelisse Smoked Rye IPA, La Trappe Trappist, Trappist Dubbel & Puur & St Bernardus Christmas Ale.

I chose the Peel & Bean, which at £5+ for a half was enjoyable, but not quite worth the price tag.

Toilets are upstairs. I quite liked the display of Dutch beer cans on the walls in the gents' WC. There was also another bar upstairs, which I didn't explore.

I'm sure this bar will appeal to some craft beer afficionados, but it wasn't really for me.

On 17th December 2021 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Bolton

Dating from 1892, this must have been something of a gin palace, judging by some of the remaining etched glass and richly detailed ceiling, along with some of the most impressive structural columns I’ve ever seen; however, I didn’t see any sign of the ‘impressive restoration’ experienced by the previous reviewer.
The interior is spacious certainly, with mixed furniture; a snug of sorts with a log burning stove is to the rear. The bar back is partially impressive, but has been punctuated with the addition of glazed tiles. The bar front is also fine, with what seems to be a bar apron of Minton-style encaustic tiles. Although the ground floor was sparsely occupied, there’s an upstairs Dutch bar, which seemed to be doing a roaring trade.
Three unused pumps looked rather forlorn, then just Ghost Ship and Sussex Best at £2.65 a half and rather good.
This isn’t a bad pub, one of the best in this slightly dreary area; worth a visit if in the vicinity, but not worth any further effort.

On 2nd December 2021 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Bolton

Splendid restoration of a large Victorian pub, quite heavy on the dark woodwork and making good use of old features such as the iron columns supporting the high ceiling. An interesting side area at the back can be curtained off from the main room. The impressive bar has a few handpumps, on this visit serving Harveys Best and Adnams Bitter, but also a selection of craft on keg/keykeg including a number from the Uiltje Brewery in the Netherlands. The Dutch theme is continued in the equally splendid upstairs bar, open at weekends and for regular special events, with a large and superb selection of Dutch and other European beers (Thursday is beer tasting night). Other events include a weekly quiz (Monday) and comedy night (Wednesday). Much improved over its relatively recent past and now well worth a visit for the serious beer drinker despite its limited real ales.

On 27th September 2021 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Bolton

We thought this was a self service pub, as it was quite a challenge to find anyone actually working behind the bar. The barman did appear from a corner table, where he was sitting out with his pals. This large corner pub was featureless and lacked atmosphere. A range of five boring beers were on handpump.

On 28th July 2015 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alan Winfield left this review about The Bolton

The Bolton is a large looking pub that is on the corner of a busy road junction.
Once inside there is a large square shaped room with the bar on the left side,the room is bare boarded,the seating is a few pew seats to the front plus two long tables in the middle area,there is a small raised area to the front right which is carpeted,normal tables and chairs here,there are a few tall tables and chairs and normal ones elsewhere.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Doom Bar which went down well on a very warm day,the other beers were London Pride,Hop Back Summer Lightening and Harbour American.
I was happy enough having a drink here,but i am easily pleased.

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.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about O'Neill's

Substantial corner pub, presumably opened out at some stage to form one large bar with various different seating areas. There are also four large columns suggesting where some of the previous structural walls were taken out and some patterned colour tiling along the bar counter which must have been there a while, but it's still quite difficult what the place might have looked like inside in days gone by. At the back, there is a smallish alcove with a much lower ceiling (which looks like it once belonged to a different building altogether) plus a little disused tap room, bottle store or off-sales servery. A lounge bar / function room with a compact raised seating area and a surprisingly tall ceiling can be found upstairs, but this is not always open. Still no real ale though... Guinness £4.05.

On 13th July 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about O'Neill's

Interior as described below. Standard draught selection and food served.

On 28th February 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Clive Thompson left this review about O'Neill's

Large high-ceilinged well presented pub with nice décor, old photos and etched glass. Plenty of sturdy wooden furniture and a nice laid back feel to it with quiet background music. Not one of the O’Neills to have embraced real ale yet.

On 14th August 2010 - rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about O'Neill's

As O'Neills' pubs go this place isn't that bad and I would pop back in again if passing, especially if there was a match on.

On 28th September 2009 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]