Pubs etc
I know what you’re thinking. Billie doesn’t go to pubs. Well actually I do! True, I usually gravitate to my pretty or romantic spaces, however one of the nice things about being around masculine energy is being able to also experience and enjoy places you otherwise wouldn’t. This has lead me to enjoy pubs, however I do have some stipulations. Here is my (slightly tongue in cheek) simple pub guide.
My very subjective guide to London pubs:
First of all, I don’t mind going to a pub but only one painted in the colours on the left:
These colours mean it’s a girl-friendly safe pub that serves food and is willing to make an Aperol Spritz. Whereas pubs painted in the colours on the right won’t even put a straw in my Gin and Tonic 😤
It’s important for those unfamiliar with the London pub scene to understand that these are 2 distinct species of pub. Above on the left we have Sunday roasts, 80% seated, seasonal cocktails, bathroom with hand cream and a candle in it, and a little hook under the bar where I can hang my handbag. On the right we have pork scratchings, 80% standing, bathroom I don’t want to go in, a great pint of beer (I wouldn’t know, I’ve never had a beer), and a barman who remembers every face he ever saw.
I don’t usually give my secrets away, but here are are my favourite 3 pubs with food in London:
The Audley.
https://theaudleypublichouse.com/
The Audley is a much loved modern Mayfair pub that has has a lot of attention to detail when it comes to the look and feel of the place. It has been open just a few years (was a pub before but shut and they maintained the beautiful woodwork) but feels already like part of the community. I love the interiors and that the crowd is very mixed and it always has a nice atmosphere. Definitely girl-friendly, high-heels-friendly etc. Upstairs is a great restaurant called Mount Street Restaurant which is headed by the chef who was formerly at Cut 45 park lane. This restaurant is the least like a pub restaurant of those in this list, but I like the duality of going for a drink at the pub below then heading upstairs for a slightly more refined experience (followed by a slightly less refined experience… if you like 😘). They have some creative things on the menu like the famous lobster pie (I love it), as well as a traditional Sunday lunch, oysters (I don’t like them but maybe you do), and other British classics like Beef Wellington and Eton mess. The space also has a lot of beautiful art on display which is all available to purchase (not sure anyone has ever actually done this). If I had to pick one from the list for a drink only, this would be top of my list.
The Guinea Grill
Us long time patrons refer to this pub simply as “The Guinea”. The Guinea is not painted in a safe colour and is indeed not girl-friendly pub at the front, but the secret dining room at the back I really love. The pub is an institution and one of London’s oldest (opened originally as an inn in 1423). Although it’s in Mayfair it’s down a quiet “if you know you know” alleyway, and the crowd is not the typical Mayfair show-off crowd. They are famous for their steaks and pies, but my favourite thing on the menu are the lamb chops with potato gratin and peas with bacon and onions (it looks ugly but is so yummy and I never share my lamb chops just so you know). The dining room is a classic space, with tartan carpet and some staff who have been there forever. It’s a gentleman’s restaurant and a lot of business is done there, the crowd is predominantly male but it doesn’t really matter because you will be transfixed by my low cut top and pretty smile. I don’t think I’ve ever had a dessert there as the portions are pretty big. Hard to explain the magic of this pub without showing you myself 🙂
The Devonshire.
https://www.devonshiresoho.co.uk/
The Devonshire is in one of the unsafe colours because the main pub is extremely extremely busy inside and out. It’s so busy that you even have to reserve a windowsill to put your drink on (if you want to). This pub is fairly newly opened (by one of the same people who was behind the Guinea Grill, who left and took some staff with him). After opening nobody quite knows why but this pub became, and remains a cultural phenomenon. There is nothing overly remarkable about the main pub but on busy weeks they sell 20,000 pints of Guinness alone and it’s become known as a place for great Guinness. The Devonshire is cited as London’s most successful pub. Downstairs the crowd is mixed: 60% Soho crowd, 40% other. Upstairs however is less noisy and a truly excellent pub restaurant, with an amazing upmarket pub offering, white tablecloths and heavy silverware, as well as a roof terrace also serving food (you cant book the terrace and it’s impossible to get a table, they don’t even accept bribes trust me I’ve tried). The restaurant is so popular they release tables 3 months ahead of time like it’s a Michelin star restaurant. I really love it there – particularly the prawn cocktail made with a langoustine on top, the steaks, pies, lobster it’s all so good and they also have a super delicious soufflé for dessert that they cover in calvados and set on fire at the table.
These are my favourites – hope to share one with you or try one of yours 🥂 Kiss!
Billie ❤️