Upmarket as only a pub in South Kensington could be, the Anglesea Arms still retains the lively atmosphere of a bustling pub.

The Venue
The decor of the Anglesea Arms is traditional - the walls are covered with old-fashioned floral wallpaper, the floor is wooden and so are the furnishings. Add to that period prints covering the walls and taxidermy game heads. The result isn’t stuffy, however, on the contrary, the place comes across as rather quirky. If you want to breathe in the fresh air, you can sit on the patio at the front of the pub or on tables located to the side.

The Atmosphere
The Anglesea Arms is tucked out of the way on the quiet Selwood Terrace. As such, it is truly a pub for locals, who are more than happy to pack it to capacity every night of the week. The pub is a bustling hive of activity. In the dining room, you are likely to encounter gentlemen wearing corduroy trousers, Oxford shirts and casual jackets, rather than lads in jeans and hoodies. The customers are better dressed and more manicured than in the rest of London.

The Food
The menu is constantly changing with just a handful of staple dishes always available. The Anglesea Arms is not exactly a gastro pub – it’s a bit too relaxed for that – but they serve quality seasonal fare.

Within the starters (£4.50-£8), you can pick from options like spicy chickpea soup, Parma ham with buffalo mozzarella and melon, oyster beignets with aioli, pan fried chicken livers with lardoons, and poached eggs. Within the mains (£9.50-£13) choose between dishes like linguine with squid and cherry tomatoes, lamb and apple burger with gruyere and tomato relish, or pork chop with lentils and artichokes. To finish things off, pick from the indulgent desserts (£3.50-£5.25) - if they serve the passion fruit creme brulee or the rich dark chocolate cake you are in luck.

The Drink
The crowd seems to be split pretty evenly between beer and wine drinkers. Wine seems to be marginally more popular and is definitely better stocked than the beer. You can order from ten whites and as many reds, divided by country - pick from France, Italy and Spain or New World bottles, ranging in price from £14-£35. If bubbles are what you’re after, you can compromise on price with Prosecco (£25) or go for the real thing. Feel like a beer? The best picks on draught are Bitburger, Kirin Ichiban and Amstel or bottles of Leffe Blonde and Bulmers cider.

The Last Word
The Anglesea Arms is a very good pub - the decor, atmosphere and drink list all impress. Just be warned, style is more important here than at your usual local watering hole. Time to dust off the glad rags.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (6) image gallery (7)