The Zetland Arms is an honest pub located in the heart of South Kensington with good food and welcoming decor to put you at ease.

The Venue
Once run by Sid Chaplin - brother of famous Charlie - The Zetland Arms is a lovely old-time pub just minutes from South Kensington tube. The venue is split across two floors with a large seating area on the ground floor and a dining area upstairs. The decor, common to both floors, is quintessential of a British pub: comfortable leather couches fitted into the side walls; armchairs and wooden tables with decorated metal bases; lots of elaborate glass windows; dark red carpet; and wooden fixtures. You get the feeling you have always drunk here even if you have never passed through the door before.

The Atmosphere
Despite its upscale location, The Zetland Arms stays true to its pub nature. There is no added promise of glitter, glamour or pampering. The crowd is the opposite of what you could imagine given the South Kensington location: expect the same people dressed the same way drinking the same thing as in any stereotypical pub in any stereotypically middleclass area in England. Whilst the lack of novelty does not sound very exciting, the real interest arises from the lack of pretension or sky-high prices. The Zetland Arms is actually a welcome change in the expensive panorama of design bars in South Kensington and, if you are not in the mood to look rich but are forced to drink in the area, this is a real treasure.

The Food
You’ll find many vegetarian options and pretentious ingredients, but the menu is well populated with upmarket dishes at popular prices. You can build your meal on starters (£3.50-£4.50), mains (£6.50-£9) or sandwiches. Dishes like the City Sampler (chicken goujons, lemon pepper prawn skewers, outdoor reared pork sausages); the chicken liver and heather honey pate with bloomer bread; and bramley apple chutney with Whitby scampi are particularly mouthwatering and will not cost a fortune.

The Drink
Nothing is outstanding here but the wine selection, whilst not very extensive, is nevertheless comprehensive: ten reds and as many whites, conveniently grouped with descriptions to help you choose your flavour. The usual rose and sparkling Champagne is there to complement the list; nice touches are the Baby Lanson, ideal for parties, and the Lindauer Rose. Prices, despite the location, are within the London average: a glass of wine costs between £3-£5.50 and most bottles are fairly priced at £12-£21.

There’s also everything within the ordinary for the spirits and beers, even if there are slightly rarer names available: Youngs Bitter, Green King IPA, Abbot Ale, Hoegaarden and a few more. Prices, once again, are pretty good: a pint will set you back around £3 and a bottle between £3-£4. Considering most locals spend more on their toothpaste, no complaints can be raised about the price list.

The Last Word
Perfect for a relaxed pint, The Zetland Arms is a good choice for an unpretentious drink in the area, especially if you want to avoid paying South Kensington prices.

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