On the famous Petty France, tucked between all the top Government buildings, lies this simple yet traditional drinking hole.

The Venue
Opposite the first battalion of the Welsh guards and a mere 5 minute walk from the tube is this quaint establishment filled with many suits, eating and drinking their lunch hours away. The Buckingham Arms is different from most pubs in the area as it likes to be old fashioned, almost wallowing in it. The whole interior is wooden and the modest bar has a large mirror displayed behind it. The best feature is the huge window at the front of the pub that lets in loads of light, really brightening up the interior. In front of the window is a circle of comfy chairs where weary customers can relax with a drink. The other furnishings are worn wooden tables with high stools.

On the walls you can tell that the Buckingham Arms is proud to be British - and a Londoner - as the many photographs of London landmarks displayed on the walls will attest. Quite special are the array of quotes about London made by famous or prestigious people, such as George VI and Frank Sinatra painted on the wall in black.

The Atmosphere
The Buckingham Arms is usually quite sedentary, but around lunchtime and after work it does get more atmospheric - this is really the place to go to grab a bite to eat and have a couple of drinks at peak times. The bar staff are a tad slow but they always give you service with a smile and there is great banter, which is always appreciated.

The Food
Typical, simple and tasty pub grub is served at the Buckingham Arms and the portions are more than generous. There is Wiltshire ham with sliced tomato sandwiches at £5.50, or Somerset brie with fruit chutney for the same price. There’s a healthy section that tells you how many calories are in the dish, which is great for those watching their weight, like the Mexican chicken burrito (473 calories) for £8.75. If, however, you’re not too fussed about fat content then favourite mains include beer battered fish and chips with peas (£8.25) and sausage and mash with onion gravy (£7.95). The desserts are as English as you can get with an Eton Mess (£4.50) and English cheese and biscuits (£5.50). Overall a good old British menu.

The Drink
There is a good selection of beers on offer with Peroni, Waggledance, Fosters, Guinness, Heineken, Kronenbourg, Strongbow and Guinness Cold, starting at £3.

A small wine list means it’s easy to choose what you want, with a 2007 Paso del Sol Sauvignon Blanc at £12.75 a bottle, £4.40 a large and £3 a small glass. For the reds there is a 2007 Le Sanglier de le Montagne Old Vines Carignan for roughly the same price. The bubbles section is small but at least they have one, with a fab Prosecco Brut Spumante at £3.70 a glass and £19.95 a bottle. For the real stuff Cockburn and Campbell Champagne special cuvee for £6.45 a glass and a reasonable £30.45 for the bottle.

The Last Word
The decor and authenticity really make the Buckingham Arms shine; if you’re after a heavy night of partying then this is definitely not the place to do it, but for some decent pub grub with an ice cold pint it’s a fine choice.

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