The Newman Arms is proof that good things can come in small packages!

The Venue
In an area populated by quite a few pubs, the Newman Arms - the smallest of them all - can sometimes be overlooked. Despite being a pretty little pub with a pleasant outside decor and a few hanging baskets, the diminutive size of the bar area means you could be forgiven for walking past and deciding to find somewhere a bit bigger. However, to those in the know, the Newman Arms is a little gem in the heart of Fitzrovia and it has a loyal following of regulars.

The pub itself dates back to the Eighteenth Century and it’s rumoured to have had many a famous face inside it over the years like George Orwell and Dylan Thomas. In fact, you can find pictures of some of their famous customers adorning the walls inside the bar. The layout of the bar is basic: a small room with the bar on the right hand side as you enter, and a few tables and chairs in the corner. On a busy night expect to find the punters squeezed into every crevice of the room with some of them spilling out onto the street outside.

The Atmosphere
The Newman Arms is family run – and you can sense this in the atmosphere inside. The regulars are known by name and drink, and new punters venturing in are welcomed with a cheerful smile.

The clientele ranges in age from 18 to 80. You will often find some of the greying regulars propping up the bar alongside some of the young media types who work in the surrounding area. Many punters have been charmed by this friendly little pub, and now call it their local. The Newman Arms closes on the weekend but on every other evening expect to find it busy at 5.30pm - especially on Fridays, when you’ll be hard pushed to find a space at the bar.

The Food
The Newman Arms is known across London for it’s famous Pie Room. Situated on the first floor above the bar, this little room holds about thirty people and has only one option on the menu – pies! With a wide selection of home cooked pies made from fresh local produce, the Pie Room is often fully booked, and you will need to ring in advance for a table if you plan on eating there.

The menu consists of seven favourite pies including one vegetarian and three seasonal specials each day. For those wanting to indulge a bit more, they also offer a wide and tasty range of guilt-ridden puddings, the most popular being treacle sponge smothered in custard. A pie in here will set you back £8 and the puddings around £4.

The Drink
With a wide range of beers in the bar downstairs, along with all the typical pub beverages, The Newman Arms offers its punters a good choice of drinks. In the Pie Room upstairs you can find an extensive and varied wine list to go with your dinner. Typical London pub prices are in force here, with a pint and a glass of wine costing roughly £6.

The Last Word
A small but perfectly formed pub, popular with beer drinkers and pie-lovers alike.

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