Alongside fish n’ chips, the pie & pint has to be one of the quintessential British traditions, so if you’re in London here are a few choice places to enjoy a pie and a pint.
This list was produced with the help of fancyapint.com and The Londonist, so we know these are some of the best pie pubs in the capital – after all journalists can always sniff out a good pub!
1) The Kenton in Homerton is a Victorian style pub, with a slight hint of the East Enders Queen Vic about the exterior, but the only things flying around the bar here are the compliments about the pies & pints. Pieminster pies, mash and mushy peas can be had for around £8 which is good value for this quality in London.
2) Hardy’s in Greenwich is a large spacious pub in a more 1970s design (externally). Plenty of comfortable seating and sport on the large screen TVs for those who enjoy some football or cricket with their pint & pie. Fancyapint regards this as the best pie pub in Greenwich.
3) Guinea in Mayfair has been serving ales since the 15th Century (1675 to be precise), but now offers both the Guinea Grill and fantastic steak & ale pies alongside the G&T and pints of ale. Perhaps a little more expensive than some at £12.50 for the pie, but this is the centre of “posh” London, and at least it’s not a wine bar!
4) The Royal Oak in Borough is another of those Victorian style corner pubs that could easily be mistaken for the Queen Vic. The bar serves Mild, Pale, Best ales for those who think lager is something from another planet, and serves what is described as “Proper pub grub, tasty and cheap”. A real locals pub rather than being full of city workers.
5) Windmill in Soho looks like a pub and the food tastes like it came from a pub, which is a relief considering the usual tourist haunts which are scattered across London’s West End. Award winning Steak & Ale pies with excellent chips and mushy peas – what more could you ask for pre-theatre?
6) The Old Bank of England in Fleet Street isn’t actually the original location of the Bank of England, but more a branch of said bank. However, this has to be one of the most impressive pub buildings in the country. The pub is owned by London brewers Fuller’s so you get a fine selection of fresh ales, an opulent interior and good quality pub food.
7) Betsey Trotwood in Clerkenwell offers a traditional pub welcome with real ales, lager and whiskey’s on tap as well as pies for under a tenner. Each day they have a pie of the day with ingredients sourced from the nearby Smithfield and Borough Markets. Specialities include steak and ale pie with mash and beer-battered haddock & chips.
8) The Camel in Bethnal Green might not look much on the outside, but this family run pub is certainly makes up for it with a modernised interior. The pub has been on the good pie radar for a number of years served with real mash and minty mushy peas, plus they have a number of veggie options. All for less than a tenner.
9) Melton Mowbray in Farringdon is another Fuller’s pub and has a name very associated with the pie, although we’re not sure if they actually serve pork pies. Very popular with the suits, so expect it to be busy during liquid lunch hours, but offering good quality pies and pints from a well respected brewery.
10) Newman Arms in Fitzrovia is described by fancyapint and the Londonist as the pub with the “best pies in London” so you know you’re heading the right way as you walk through the door. It might be the only London pub to have an upstairs “pie room” which is exactly what it says. Just avoid going home time as this is a very popular pub.
More London Resources:
The Londonist on British Pie Week
Hotels and B&Bs in London
Things to see and do in London
