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Detail Pages
The Grenadier, Belgravia, SW1
SW1
SW1X 7NR
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Merry Makers left this review about The Grenadier
This charming little pub is worth searching out for its quaintness and quirkiness. Extremely helpful and knowledgeable landlord who has been there since March 2011. It is extremely small, therefore very limited seating, luckily we went mid afternoon and it was quiet. Unfortunately we picked the one day to encounter a new member of staff who stated that they did not sell J2O, and my wife therefore ordered a Diet Coke. Afterwards we noted that J2O was clearly visible on the shelf, pity she wasn't up to speed on the stock. The other problem we found was the price of a pint of Wherry, at £4.35 a pint it took my breath away so much that I queried it, the landlord stated that it was due to the pubs' location in Belgravia/Knightsbridge and their overheads. We did not eat so cannot comment on the food, but there seemed to be a good selection on offer. Glad we went, its worth a visit if you can take the time to find it. Hopefully the resident pub ghost or John Travolta, will not be sitting at the bar, but that's another story, ask the Landlord.
On 6th March 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Grenadier
This is a charming little mews pub tucked away in an impossibly unlikely location, although easily reached from Knightsbridge as long as you know where you're going. Entry is via a short staircase at the front of the building, leading into a small room with the bar opposite the entrance and some comfortable, if somewhat limited, seating tucked into the corners. The room is all dark wood, lit fireplaces and muted lighting (thanks to some heavy curtains drawn in front of the windows), which combined with the busy Friday night crowd on my recent visit, created a cosy, intimate environment. To either side of the bar there are two more rooms - Wellington and Boot - which seemed to be set up more for diners, although plenty of drinkers were using it as overspill space. I didn't get a good look at either room, but they seemed smartly decorated with fireplaces and large mirrors on display.
The pub began life as an officer’s mess before being converted to the Guardsman Public House in 1818. Its military past is emphasised by various soldierly artefacts and pictures housed throughout the pub. There are also all sorts of pots, pans, firearms, lamps and the like suspended from a central beam in the front room, whilst a large frame next to the servery has been filled with newspaper clippings mentioning the pub.
There are four hand pumps (although an initial glance suggested many more, but alas these smaller pumps were all dispensing lagers and the like) offering a choice of Fullers London Pride, Woodforde Wherry, Morland Old Golden Hen and Timothy Taylor Landlord. I tried the Wherry, which seems to have gone down in price since Rex's visit as I was charged £3.77, and thought it was a decent enough pint.
This is a charming, well run pub and it's hard to believe that it falls under the Taylor Walker umbrella. It is perhaps to a degree a victim of its own success, as the crush meant that I couldn't settle down for more than a quick pint, but I imagine that if you catch it at the right time this would be a very nice spot to spend your time.
On 16th February 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Grenadier
Small, interesting, hidden-away, expensive mews pub (which is now a Taylor Walker outlet, but this is not obvious due to the absence of branding). Not that busy in a mid-week mid-evening - which is just as well as the staple-shaped bar area is very compact - but as usual the staff didn't really trouble themselves to be overly helpful. Two tiny dining rooms to the rear: the Wellington on one side, the Boot on the other. The beer from the four handpumps is well kept, with the regular TT Landlord, Pride, Woodfordes Wherry usually supplemented by a seasonal such as Brewdolf (£3.77).
On 11th December 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Grenadier
I’ve been coming to this pub since I discovered it by accident in the late 60s (I really don't remember what I was doing down alleyways off Hyde Park corner). Actually it was a great place to have a drink after the free concerts in Hyde Park, as the hordes which frequented those events didn’t seem to be aware of its existence. In fact, I think I came here after seeing the Stones’ free concert in 1969. Inside the pub it’s incredibly small, with a single bar that’s all dark wood and atmosphere, but with a larger restaurant area at the back. Finding it is a challenge, but it is worth the effort. It has its faults (tourist or ghost hunter magnet – it’s supposed to haunted by the ghost of a guardsman) but it always features on my tour of Belgravia's hidden mews treasures. It was one of the first places to have Old Speckled Hen on handpump around 15 years ago - which has got to be a tick on the plus side. It still invariably has a handful of real ales on - when I paid another visit the other day they had on Timothy Taylor Landlord, London Pride, GK Old Golden Hen, and Woodforde Wherry. But on the minus side I have to say it’s one of the most expensive pubs around, with the Wherry costing a whopping £3.90 a pint.
It’s too small for any group of more than 3 or 4 to drink in comfort standing up - but I like it. I would recommend a visit just to experience the atmosphere of this hidden gem, even with the over the top ale prices.
On 22nd October 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Trond Johansen left this review about The Grenadier
Lovely Pub. I also discovered this PUB by accident years ago. Follow Old Barracks Yard and you are there.
On 14th September 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Grenadier
Superb hidden away mews pub, outside are well tended floral displays, and a Grenadier Guardsman's hut. The inside is museum like, the front room has the bar straight ahead, wooden original floor, leather cushioned well worn settles, cast iron wooden topped tables. panelled walls, from a ceiling beam hang old oil lamps, pistols, pewter tankards, hunting horns and so on. There is a guardsman's bearskin proudly displayed on a shelf over the fireplace.
Through an arch to two rear rooms, parlour style....I'm guessing original landlords quarters.....now set generally for dining, tiled fireplace, military pictures/photos.
Four Angram pumps serve a range, today being, TT Landlord, Pride, Batemans XXXB, and new to me, Vince Minty's Stronginthearm Ale (4%).
Don't be fooled by the old style handpumps in a bank in front of the fizzy stuff.
This pub has rules, lots of them, plastic glasses for outside, mobiles on silent, and oddly no photography for security reasons.......yeh right. No problem anyway with me sitting there and writing my copious notes!
A nice touch is the sale of Cumberland sausages on sticks (£1) as a snack to enjoy with your pint.
An essential pub to visit if roaming the back lanes and mews of the area.
On 31st July 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Grenadier
Great little pub in a mews which can be very difficult to find.A very small single bar with 2 rear eating/drinking areas.Up to 4 real ales with Landlord in great condition.Well worth searching out.10 mins from Hyde Park Corner station.
On 28th September 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]