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 Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Grafton Arms, Westminster, SW1
SW1
SW1P 2HP
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Grafton Arms
Established by at least 1827, though demolished and rebuilt later in the 19th century, when Victoria Street was redeveloped. This was originally the King’s Arms, then Strutton Arms before being given the current name around 2010, after the Grafton family who had acquired it around the mid-1940s; James Grafton contributed to the Goon Show, with the Goons rehearsing in upstairs rooms.
It’s well described below; I doubt much has changed other than a lick of paint following it being swallowed into the virtual monopoly round here, that is Greene King; smoky blue paint anyone? Customers are apparently market traders with possibly some squaddies, given the choice of GK Flanders Fields.
The beers were as predictable as ever, with GK IPA, two ‘coming soon’ and Flanders Fields. Salvation – up to a point – came in the form of Sambrook’s Junction at £2.60 a half and good.
Yet another poor Victoria pub, not helped by the predictable stewardship.
On 12th November 2021
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Grafton Arms
A busy backstreet inn currently operated by GK. It’s a single room bar, quite battered with several broken barstools and bench seats that have seen better days. There are a couple of tv screens which were showing live football and rather dominated the bar. The landlady was pleasant, and there were 2 loud foreign barmaids, one of whom was unnecessarily rude to some of the customers who didn’t quite understand pub etiquette. Six pumps on the bar, the ales on were GK IPA, London Glory, Band of Brewers and Old Speckled Hen. I had Band of Brewers which was fresh and in good condition. Food was the standard GK unappetising ready-made stuff. Fine for a swift pint, and certainly superior to the many modern bars that keep appearing.
On 9th May 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Grafton Arms
A long and fairly narrow Taylor Walker pub, booths of various sizes on the opposite side to the bar, normal seating to the front, armchairs by the fire at the far end and annoyingly, two high tables plonked directly in front of the bar, making access rather difficult. Some exposed brickwork, penny black stamp patterned wallpaper, a dark wood and mirrored bar back with a feature clock. A side wall had a range of Goon Show framed posters, the pub has just reverted to its previous name as it was when the Goon Show characters frequented the place. There is a commemorative plaque on the front elevation.
Truman's Swift, Doom Bar, Pride, Jenning's Cumberland Ale plus Somerset Snuffler cider, one was unclipped. Service was grumpy and impatient from the solitary barman who's stress levels were visibly rising. He was particularly unhelpful with a foreign tourist who did not know the ropes, just a bit of patience was required.
Two TVs were showing a muted choice of rugby union or the Scottish Cup final (the quality of football was frankly awful).
It's a Central London Taylor Walker pub by numbers, you know what to expect, it was sort of ok for one and to tick it off but I certainly wouldn't make a bee-line back.
On 31st May 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Grafton Arms
This is now a Taylor Walker branded pub, and had on a predictable ale selection - Truman's Zephyr, London Pride, Doom Bar, and TW 1730 (£2.10 a half undiscounted). However there were also a couple of draught ciders on - Henderson's Spiced Cider, and Somerset Snuffler. The usual Taylor Walker pub grub menu was of course available.
This is much like other Central London Taylor Walker pubs. There are tall tables/tall stools down the centre of the room; normal tables and chairs in alcoves on the right; and a clutch of armchairs in a small area right at the back of the room. Obviously there are a couple of one-armed bandits lighting up the place with their distracting flashing lights, and of course there's a large TV on the wall at the back as well as small TVs in each of the aforementioned alcoves. This place was doing a good trade on Saturday afternoon, leaving me having to sit at a stool at the end of the bar. The seating's quite close together here, making moving about the pub a tortuous affair when it's busy.
For a Taylor Walker pub it's OK, but I never find that this branding's pubs have much traditional pub appeal to me (except for the 10% CAMRA discount), seemingly catering for the mass food market. But they do serve a useful purpose, and must be doing something right as they are clearly very popular.
On 25th May 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ALASTAIR BARTER left this review about The Grafton Arms
Since I took a photo on 18 September 2012 when it was the Strutton Arms, I see it has changed to The Grafton Arms.
On 26th April 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 282 recommendations about 254 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Grafton Arms
Ordinary sort of Central London pub, previously called the Strutton Arms and now branded as a Taylor Walker outlet. The narrow façade has two front doors, just a couple of metres apart, rightly suggesting a somewhat cramped layout inside (with even smaller rooms originally, before it was opened out at some stage). Having the bar on one side and several alcoves on the other, there is just enough room to squeeze in some small, high tables in between (apart from the area at the front which is marginally wider). Six handpumps, offering the 'house' 1730 special pale ale (brewed by Westerham, £4.10 less 10% Camra discount), Doom Bar, Timothy Taylor Golden Best, Sharps Atlantic and two ciders on my latest visit. The staff attitude has been a problem here in the past, but this time seemed a bit better so adding a point back onto the rating.
On 14th October 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
T Sparrow left this review about The Strutton Arms
Rude and agressive duty manager approached us and told us to go because we hadn't ordered for a while (though we already had few pints there). Really unpleasant end of the good evening.
On 25th September 2011
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Jim Brittin left this review about The Strutton Arms
Visited here yesterday,a functional pub but not one I would rush back to. Some Goon photos dispayed above the bar. Adnams served to me in the correct glass and at a reasonable £2.89. Overheard Fosters being sold at £2.19. Did not try the food but noticed quite a lot of uneaten remains of meals being cleared from tables in the alcoves. Pleased to see the clock still displayed the name Graftons, a former name before its last identity as Finnegans Wake.
On 25th August 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6 recommendations about 6 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Strutton Arms
The two barmaids that served me on my visit last year seemed pleasant enough. Greene King IPA, Pride and Doom Bar were ale available alongside standard lagers, Staropramen, Leffe and Guinness, which was very nice.
The pub is quite big and stretches back a long way, but I did find it particularly dark and although most London pub toilets are smelly I found this one to be notably so. There were a few plasma screens up on the walls and the pub has Sky Sports.
I wouldn’t make a detour to return here.
On 10th March 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Strutton Arms
A long pub, with a small front. may get a bit difficult to reach the bar if it is crowded. Small alcoves down the right hand side for more cosy liasons. Sells real ale and has rotating guest ales. Perhapas thats why they call it a round of drinks.
On 26th February 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]