An easily recognisable drinking establishment on the super-busy Tottenham Court Road.

The Venue
The Rising Sun sits in the middle of Tottenham Court Road, one of the most hectic streets in London. With its domineering façade - a traditional pub exterior underneath a gothic-looking office block - it’s hard to miss and therefore attracts a regular stream of drinkers.

The pub has a broad red trim around the outside, with hanging flower baskets and wooden picnic tables for when the weather is decent enough for drinking outdoors. Whether you’d want to spend too long breathing in the fumes from the millions of cars driving past is another matter.

Once inside you will see a long bar running down the right hand side of the room. Although the bar has many windows, it sometimes appears quite dimly lit, especially on gloomy days. A sufficient amount of table space is offered for its punters, with a selection of cosy booths or standard pub tables and stools available.

The Atmosphere
Being in such a busy area, this pub is often a haven for shoppers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Tottenham Court Road. There are many offices nearby so it is also very popular for lunchtime and after work drinks. However, due to its central location it lacks that welcoming feel of a local pub. The staff here can sometimes appear surly and lacking in hospitality; but that’s something that goes hand in hand with this type of pub. It’s here to provide a basic service, and that’s what you get. It has the feeling of being a conveyor belt type of pub – punters are shipped in, watered and fed, then shipped out. Should you want anything over and above this, then you're best advised to go elsewhere.

The Food
The Rising Sun offers a traditional British pub menu with favourites such as rump steak burger and fries costing £7.85, or you could opt for a slightly healthier dish of honey and soy salmon, which costs £8.29. They serve a roast on Sundays and you can choose from beef, chicken or pork with all the trimmings. The standard size costs £8.15 but for those who are extra hungry, there's a super size serving for £10.15. Food is served from 11am-10pm, Monday to Saturday, and 12pm-9.30pm on Sundays.

The Drink
The Rising Sun is part of the Taylor Walker pub chain. A typical selection of drinks is on offer here; various rose, red and white wines and all the standard house spirits. Real ales on draught include Spitfire, London Pride and Bombardier. A pint of one of these is likely to set you back around £3.40.

The Last Word
The Rising Sun is fine for a quick refresher but there are better pubs in the area for a long stay.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (2) image gallery (4)