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Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Tuesday, 11th October 2016
With picture contributions to 25497 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (20 more images)
Detail Pages
The Nags Head, Covent Garden, WC2
WC2
WC2E 8BT
Served areas

Reviews of The Nags Head (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Nags Head
Just across the road from Covent Garden tube station, this is a rather attractive traditional pub that I’m surprised I’ve never set foot in previously, having walked past it countless times. The pub has a reversed C-shape layout with carpeted floors throughout, except around the bar where an attractive decorative tile area follows the path of the servery. The bar is centrally positioned with a nice curved dark wood counter and matching gantry which has coloured checkerboard stained glass frontage and a brass pot shelf. The smart bar back boasts pleasantly styled corner posts and some top-quality panelling. The room follows the front, right and rear parts of the bar, with high table and stool seating closest to the bar and then a mix of button backed banquettes and standard chairs around the perimeter. Large windows down two sides of the building have etched glass panes bearing McMullen’s name and more stained-glass checkerboard upper sections. Floral wallpaper covers much of the wall space, especially in the rear left corner, whilst a floral pattern lincrusta ceiling can be seen through much of the room. The rear wall has been covered with a series of very large etched glass brewery mirrors whilst a few old black and white photos can be seen in the plainer rear left area. There was standing room only on my Saturday early evening visit, with pop tunes playing reasonably loudly and a constant stream of passers by entering the pub and fighting their way through the crowd to use the pub’s toilets.
The windows give away the fact that this is a McMullen’s house, so it came as no real surprise to find AK and IPA on handpull along with Rivertown Red from their subsidiary Rivertown brewery. The latter turned out to be a perfectly acceptable pint that went down well after a long walk here in the freezing cold, and I was served by the sort of cheery, friendly barmaid that you rarely find in this part of the city.
This isn’t the sort of place I’d immediately think of as being a good bet, what with the tourist trap location and uninspiring brewery, but I was pleasantly surprised with the smart, comfortable interior, good beer quality and friendly service. I’d never recommend Covent Garden as a destination for a pub crawl, but I’d definitely recommend this place for a quick stop-off when passing through.
On 30th March 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2545 recommendations about 2545 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Nags Head
it’s a nice location but only an okay pub. Soap tasting pint of ale which wasn’t particularly pleasant. Or cheap. Ornate though open interior.
On 13th May 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 773 recommendations about 754 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Nags Head
Pleasant enough corner pub with decent strength own seasonal ale (5.2%). Not as busy as I had expected so got a seat easily enough. Worth a revisit.
On 18th January 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1673 recommendations about 1671 pubs]
View more reviews of The Nags Head (15)
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- Official site of The Nags Head - www.nagsheadcoventgarden.co.uk
- Facebook - Nags Head - Covent Garden
- Twitter - nags head london
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Nags Head - whatpub.com
City Thameslink, 1.07 miles, 20 min walk (show)
London Waterloo, 1.19 miles, 22 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 18 April 2019 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : No last updated 18 April 2019 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 18 April 2019 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : Yes last updated 18 April 2019 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 25 October 2016 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 29 September 2013 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 18 April 2019 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes - McMullen's. - last updated 18 April 2019 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 30 March 2020 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 25 October 2016 by hondo .