They say Westminster is a village and I would agree. If anything London is comprised over several hundred villages which over time have merged together to create the metropolis we know and love. Westminster, however, is one of the most important given it’s home to the few thousand or so people who work in the world of politics. In the SW1 postcode, a long day can often require the letting off of a little steam or perhaps you’ve been to an event in the evening, and you’d like to continue the conversation. Therefore, the pubs and taverns of the village form a key part of the ecosystem of the area. But which ones are best? Well, having frequented the pubs of Westminster countless times over the past 8 years, and being something of a pub historian, let me guide you on a short pub crawl of my favourites…
The Buckingham Arms (62 Petty France, SW1H 9EU)
This is a favourite as it is right next door to The Fabian Society and has been the scene of many drinks after events and meetings over the past few years. Owned by Young’s brewery, this means they do a solid selection of beers. The pub’s license dates from the 1780s and it was rebuilt in 1898. It was named after the Duke of Buckingham in 1901. My favourite spot is at the front of the pub, where there is a gorgeous curved window. Sitting there with a pint of Young’s Original often signals the end of a long day.
Walkers of Whitehall (15 Craig’s Court, SW1A 2DD)
Walkers is tucked away off Whitehall, blink and you’ll miss it. Luckily for politicos it’s missed my most of the tourists that bustle by on their way between Big Ben and Trafalgar Square. This means it’s less busier than most of the other pubs in the area such as The Shades and the Silver Cross. Craig’s Court dates back to the end of the 17th Century and the pub is located in an old bank which dates from 1990. It was in this pub that I first met my co-author and good friend Sam. Despite this, the etymology of the pub appears lost though, as we couldn’t find the story behind the name. So while it’s not included in our book, it does get a spot in this list for this reason.
Two Chairmen (39 Dartmouth Street,SW1H 9BP)
A favourite with Treasury staffers after a major fiscal event like the Budget, the Two Chairman is a Greene King pub on Dartmouth Street which dates from 1756. The name of the pub harks back to the old tradition of the wealthy hiring sedan chairs to take them home after a night out. Two men would be required to carry you home and they would wait for you in between two blue posts (The Blue Posts also being the name of several pubs in central London which remembers this tradition). This is a great pub as like the Walkers, it’s a bit off the beaten track and therefore not a bad shout for a pint away from most of the tourists.
The Old Star (66 Broadway, SW1H 0DB)
Directly opposite St. James’ Park tube station is The Old Star. Given London Underground’s HQ was directly opposite the bar is packed full of memorabilia of the tube. But that’s not the only thing that makes this pub a cracker, I’ve often frequented here for a drink or two and found there to be an excellent choice of ales. The Ministry of Justice and the DWP’s Headquarters are either side of the pub so again, this is a popular choice for civil servants, tourists and politicos alike.
St. Stephen’s Tavern (10 Bridge Street, SW1A 2JR)
You know your in a Westminster pub when there’s a Division Bell inside, which tolls when MPs need to vote. They have 8 minutes to do so from when the bells rings. St Stephen’s is located directly opposite the Palace of Westminster and as such is often crammed with tourists so it does get rather busy in there. Dating from 1875, the building is Grade II listed. I like this pub because it’s often the best place to grab a quick one after work. Indeed, it’s often a good meeting point before events or to quickly share the latest political rumours and gossip before heading home. It’s owned by the Badger Brewery so the choice of drinks isn’t your usual selection too and I quite like that.
The Red Lion (48 Parliament Street, Whitehall, SW1A 2NH)
Yes I know… for the politicos reading this who might think “what on Earth is the Red Lion doing on this list?” Well my political pals, I would argue it’s actually a pretty decent pub. It has a great deal of history and when it’s not too busy, it’s actually quite nice. Owned by Fuller’s, the pub has been frequented by Prime Ministers and countless others over the decades and I would argue is the main village pub in Westminster. There has been a Red Lion on this site for over 500 years and the current building dating from the 1890s is again Grade II listed and it also has a Division Bell. Despite it often being heaving no matter what time of day, it to me is the main place where people go and I often see people I know when I pop in there and if that’s not the definition of a village pub then what is?
JP
James Potts 