User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Brainypool on the Pub Forum

Picture of The Royal Exchange
Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Sunday, 15th March 2020
With picture contributions to 4530 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (17 more images)
Only members may add pictures, click to receive free membership

The Royal Exchange, W2

26 Sale Place
W2
W2 1PU
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Royal Exchange (Average Rating: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Royal Exchange

The pub’s history and origin of its interesting name are well covered on What?ub, but otherwise this is as mentioned, a very basic backstreet pub, the furthest of the local clutch from Paddington railway station, closer to Edgware Road tube.
The first thing you notice on approach, is that the pub is at a marked incline, which according to CAMRA, is due to subsidence requiring underpinning. The interior is very plain indeed, with a bare floor, white walls, but a fairly attractive bar back and array, with a microwave at right for heating bar snacks; beneath the bar was an infuriatingly noisy fridge. Furniture comprises fairly ordinary tables and chairs, with green velour banquettes to part of the periphery, which probably date back to at least the ‘60s. There’s a rear snug with a TV with the sound off. This features off-white walls and trendy spun metal sconces. Décor is minimal, with some Belgian beer propaganda to the rear snug’s walls, then a few pot plants, the only items of interest being a model U-boat and frigate (Spanish galleon?) to the window ledges. One plus point was the quality soundtrack which played throughout my stay. This is no longer an Irish pub; indeed, it would appear to be a no one pub, as there was only one customer in during my midweek visit, on first name terms with the Spanish landlord.
There were two pumps with clips reversed, but no clip faces so I assume real ale has been abandoned, a sensible decision given the lack of customers, me plumping for a half of Paulaner at £3.00.
It’s not just this deathly pub that needs underpinning; the customer base needs this too, the Royal Exchange being more sad than bad; with some atmosphere and good real ale, it could be worth a visit, but sadly not at present.

On 27th January 2022 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Royal Exchange

Just off Praed St, this is a basic Irish-run street corner boozer with a fairly attractive brown glazed tile frontage. Two rooms knocked back into one inside. Little of note beyond a fistful of fittings from a 40 year old refurb (leatherette benches, gold light fittings etc), lots of equine prints and a number of old champers magnums on display. Two pumps with Brakspear and Doom Bar. The Brakspear went off so I ended up with a flat Doom Bar in a goblet Aspalls glass and was relieved of £2.40 for the privilege. I'll leave this one to the locals in future.

On 10th October 2017 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about The Royal Exchange

Occupying a street corner position in a Paddington side street is The Royal Exchange, a small single bar locals pub with a part tiled frontage. First licensed in 1841, the pub name refers to the exchange of the Royal Mail when it was still transported by coaches before the start of the railway era.

The main bar area is small and features stools at the bar and several tables and chairs around the edge of the room. At the back is a slightly larger more comfortable area with banquette seating. Locals seem to prefer the front area and tend to occupy the bar stools so that they can easily converse with the friendly and helpful staff.

Reflecting the landlords Irish roots, the walls are decorated with numerous paintings and framed pictures of famous racehorses. Note the fine imaginative painting of a racehorse galloping down the road outside the pub. Several framed newspaper sports pages record for posterity occasions when Ireland won the Six Nations Rugby.

My visit last week brought another first – a first sighting of a do it yourself breathalyser kit on the wall just inside the front door. This seemed a bit odd – you would expect to be more likely to find this in a remote country pub inaccessible by public transport, not in a pub a few minutes walk away from Paddington Station. I can’t imagine many, if any, of the regulars drive to get to the pub.

In recent years, the pub management seem to have stared to realise that they need to widen their customer base. Hence, without compromising the traditional, unpretentious feel to any real extent, we have champagne bottles on the window ledge and a food menu that includes a good value Sunday roast.

Real ales are Greene King IPA and Brakspears – the seemingly permanent range. Based on my infrequent visits over the years, real ale trade is minimal, but the Brakspears is usually in good nick.

The Royal Exchange is not a showstopper by any means, but if you like unpretentious back street locals, you could do much worse than seek this one out when in the area.

On 14th February 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]


View more reviews of The Royal Exchange (7)
This pub features in the following crawls:
London W1 Crawl, 26/03/16 by Komakino .
External web links for The Royal Exchange

Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
London Marylebone, 0.51 miles, 9 min walk (show)
London Paddington, 0.56 miles, 10 min walk (show)
Kilburn High Road, 1.78 miles, 34 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Royal Exchange, W2
27th Jan 2022, 19:04
Review submitted by Tris C
 
30th Jul 2021, 16:23
Request to mark pub as open by ROB Camra approved

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 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Car Park : No last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Darts : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Function Room : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Hot Food : No - Hot bar snacks. - last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Jukebox : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Micropub : No last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • Pinball : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Pool Table : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
  • Real Cider : No last updated 30 July 2021 by ROB Camra
  • WiFi : No last updated 27 January 2022 by Tris C
Local pubs

Icon Key: Picture Recommendation Rating Closed