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New pub visits 2022 with Tris39
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Submitted on Monday, 25th January 2016
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Detail Pages
St Stephens Tavern, Westminster, SW1
SW1
SW1A 2JR
Served areas
Reviews of St Stephens Tavern (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about St Stephens Tavern
A grade II-listed building and a CAMRA listed interior of Regional Importance, this pub dates from 1875 and is situated in the shadow of the Palace of Westminster and especially St. Stephen’s Tower, home to Big Ben. Having been renamed Elizabeth Tower, I’m surprised the pub hasn’t followed suit, but there are plenty of existing Queen’s Head hostelries.
There’s a massive amount of spectacular wood carving with much etched and cut mirrors and glass; the carpeted floor is now modern bare boarded. There’s a lot of avocado green studded banquettes, with low Britannia-style tables and matching chairs - perfect for smashing your knee against - and a lot of dark wood field panelling to walls; lighting comes from an extraordinary amount of hanging brassware. A unique point is that the pub has a remote Division Bell, so MPs can neck their pints in time to vote.
Ales: clumsy staff were dishing out Tanglefoot, Fursty Ferret and Badger Best at a decent £5.15 and as good as one has any right to expect.
The interior is clearly spectacular, warranting a visit in its own right, but service is poor as is the bar staffs’ English. The beers aren’t to my taste really, agreeing with BF. With all the noisy tourists and restless children, I doubt I’d return.
On 2nd October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1513 recommendations about 1493 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Badger ales on hand pumps - I had Tanglefoot. More bottles in the fridge. Very busy with both bars being full of diners, most of whom were tucking into very nice looking fish and chips. Would return.
On 1st March 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about St Stephens Tavern
Right opposite Big Ben, but quite easy to walk past without really noticing it and thus most customers seem to be local office workers rather than tourists. Two traditional (if small) bars, richly decorated with a host of interesting features to look at. If too crowded downstairs, it is usually worth looking for a seat in the balcony area. One bank of four handpumps in each bar, usually offering the regulars Badger and Tanglefoot plus a seasonal (Glorious Game, £4.05, on my last visit) and sometimes Sussex or First Call. Overall, well worth a visit (even if, like me, you are not a particular fan of Hall & Woodhouse).
On 8th November 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 7001 recommendations about 7001 pubs]
View more reviews of St Stephens Tavern (16)
Victoria to Westminster tube, 11 pubs, 7 of which are in Good Beer Guide 2010 by Danny O'Revey
Along the Thames by Roy Collins
Circle line Clockwise by Nick Davies
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of St Stephens Tavern - ststephenstavern.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - St Stephens Tavern entry
- Facebook - St Stephens Tavern
- CAMRA WhatPub :: St Stephens Tavern - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
London Waterloo, 0.95 miles, 18 min walk (show)
London Victoria, 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 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 22 September 2015 by Bucking Fastard
- Jukebox : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes - Hall & Woodhouse. - last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 02 October 2021 by Tris C