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Picture of The Shakespeare
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Friday, 24th March 2023
With picture contributions to 11515 other pubs
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The Shakespeare, SW1

99 Buckingham Palace Road
SW1
SW1W 0RP
Phone: 02078284913
Correct details

Pub Type

Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)

Served areas

Reviews of The Shakespeare (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Pub SignMan left this review about The Shakespeare

Large, touristy pub opposite Victoria station, with a typical Greene King knocked about interior which still hints at a former multiple room layout. There are many separate seating areas throughout the pub, all slightly opened out into adjacent spaces and generally all feeling much alike one another, so that no particular part of the pub stands out as being the best place to grab a seat. Tables and chairs fil most of the floorspace, but a few high stools and padded benches can be found here and there as well. The walls have low wood panels with neutral shaded uppers decorated with corporate blackboards, plain mirrors and a lot of old pictures, many of which seem to relate in some way or another to Shakespeare and his plays. There are also a couple of display shelves filled with bottle collections, whilst a few slot machines have been squeezed into recesses around the room. The servery runs along much of the rear wall and has a nice wood panelled counter front and polished stone top beneath modern metal frame pot shelves. A large Shakespeare mirror dominates the bar back, which is otherwise quite a plain, boxy affair strewn with fake plants, which can also be found entwining the handpulls. Tunes played quietly in the background throughout my stay and there was a constant flow of customers coming in and out, as you might expect for a pub next to a busy station.
There were four ales available when I arrived – Greene King IPA, Abbott Ale and London Glory, plus St Austell Tribute. The latter was slopped up by a surly barman but was in decent enough nick and I was a little surprised to spot quite a few pints of cask ale being sold – turnover must be sufficient for them to keep four ales on the go.
I came here with extremely low expectations, having dodged the pub for many years thanks to poor reviews on this site and elsewhere, but it must’ve turned a corner in recent years, as I found it an entirely inoffensive, corporate pub experience, with decent beer, plenty of seating and a reasonable atmosphere. Not somewhere I’m likely to seek out, but if you’re looking for a quick pre-train pint, you could definitely do a lot worse.

On 20th September 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Shakespeare

I came here once before around 20 or more years ago and I really don’t remember it being anything like this; has it been expanded into new buildings as it seems huge?
Essentially this place is one very large room, designed in wholly fake Victorian style, with split levels, multi-screens for sport, games machines, recessed aircon units in the ceiling and a Clear Channel illuminated advertising screen. The pub has more styles of furniture than DFS, with different zones receiving an individual theme. There are sauce bottles and plastic menus on tables and a security guard watching over all, who seemed to be tourists.
Ales: one reversed pump, then GK IPA and Abbot, so a Neck Oil it was at £3.35 a half.
This is a very poor pub, even by GK standards, but failed to prepare me for the neighbouring Victoria, but what should one expect when drinking next to a busy railway station?

On 7th November 2021 - rating: 3
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Shakespeare

Large GK coner plot pub ,very close to Victoria station and so expect a transient crowd inside.Full T&T on entry and shown to a table,the interior has been split into sections so it doesn't feel like a barn but there are mute flatscreens everywhere.The good thing about Covid is that the huge plastic food menus have all been removed which has decluttered the interior ,and tables have been removed to aid social distancing.It felt quite secure inside,a good job as there little room outside.There is a cellar but closed on my Sunday visit.

The bar runs the length of a back wall and has two banks of three handpumps. However GK have a cider festival on ,meaning most taps were badged with 12 cider options,leaving just GK IPA for real ale drinkers (£5.10,NBSS 2.5 a piss take) .There was also a Gin festival of 31 varieties and I got the impression that real ale just isn't a priority in here.
Functional at best and instantly foregettable,GK just have too many pubs like this in central London.

On 11th October 2020 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


View more reviews of The Shakespeare (13)
This pub features in the following crawls:
Circle line Clockwise by Nick Davies
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Steve C
London Victoria, 0.14 miles, 2 min walk (show)
London Victoria, 0.14 miles, 2 min walk (show)
London Charing Cross, 1.39 miles, 26 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Shakespeare, SW1
20th Sep 2023, 18:34
Review submitted by Pub SignMan
 
24th Mar 2023, 22:18
Picture submitted by Will Larter 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 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • CAMRA Discount : No - Discount withdrawn - last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Car Park : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Child Friendly : Yes last updated 07 November 2021 by Tris C
  • Darts : No last updated 16 January 2015 by Nick Davies
  • Dog Friendly : No last updated 07 November 2021 by Tris C
  • Function Room : Yes last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 14 October 2015 by hondo .
  • Jukebox : No last updated 16 January 2015 by Nick Davies
  • Karaoke : No last updated 07 November 2021 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 07 November 2021 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Pinball : No last updated 16 January 2015 by Nick Davies
  • Pool Table : No last updated 16 January 2015 by Nick Davies
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 16 January 2015 by Nick Davies
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Real Cider : No last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
  • Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 16 January 2015 by Nick Davies
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 22 July 2020 by ROB Camra
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