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Submitted on Monday, 1st December 2014
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Detail Pages
John Snow, Soho, W1
W1
W1F 9QJ
Served areas
Reviews of John Snow (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about John Snow
Sam Smuth's pub that is split into a public bar,saloon and snug. Practice limbo dancing.
On 24th October 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2602 recommendations about 2546 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about John Snow
This Sam Smiths pub is named after the physician (ironically a staunch teetotaler) who discovered that cholera was water borne (and not airborne as was originally believed) by disabling a nearby contaminated water pump and finding that the cholera deaths suddenly ceased. A replica of the pump can still be seen a few yards down the road albeit not in the original position.
There are some who would argue that turning off the Sam Smiths pumps in the pub could have similar results to the drinking populace but for all Sam Smith’s marmite appeal, they do generally have quite interesting pubs and the John Snow is no different.
The building dates from the 1870’s and the pub was originally called the Newcastle-Upon Tyne, changing its name to the John Snow in 1955. The pub is very in heritage territory with an old fashioned ground floor layout divided into 3 sections, the etched windows spelling out whether you are in the Saloon Bar, Public Bar or the Snug. The snug is a separate room wheras the Public and Saloon bars are divided by a wooden screen with a small and very low door between the two. Furnishings are simple with a single padded bench in the snug, some leatgher banquette seating in the saloon which to all intents and puroses is the bar. An open staircase in the public bar leads to the John Snow Room, an additional and comparatively spacious L-shaped bar on the first floor with high ceilings and quite a contrast to the ground floor.
There is a good range of Sam Smiths products – Old Brewery Bitter, Sovereign Bitter, Cider Reserve, Taddy Lager, Pure Brewed Lager and Organic Wheat Beer, all at bargain bin prices (OBB was currently £2.21) but unfortunatley they are all keg - there are no handpumps. Also, plastic glasses were used and I wasn’t given an option despite the fact I was not drinking outside.
The pub was recently propelled into the headlines following the great male snogging scandal that divided opinions and attracted mixed publicity but things appear to have moved on and the pub’s popularity was clear from the hordes of pavement drinkers although the inside was relatively calm.
Personally I like Sam Smiths pubs and their traditional character. I even don’t mind their beers although the cask ale version of the Old Brewery Bitter wouldn’t go amiss here. Other than that this is as cosy as any of its other West End outlets.
On 5th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1238 recommendations about 1232 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about John Snow
Another heritage pub part of the Sam Smith chain, which in my opinion, is a good thing as the pub keeps it's original identity. Well worth a look in, found the manager very helpful and gave me a list of more interesting pubs to visit in the area.
On 6th August 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2866 recommendations about 2865 pubs]
View more reviews of John Snow (7)
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- Randomness Guide to London - John Snow entry
- Facebook - John Snow
- CAMRA WhatPub :: John Snow - whatpub.com
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.
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 September 2013 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : No last updated 20 September 2008 by Alan Hurdle
