Sam Smith's pubs are quiet, no media and talking is encouraged just as Humphry likes it. The stained glass and pictures on the wall depicts Champions of sport and other humanitarian achievements e.g. Florence Nightingale. It is reported that Freddy Mercury was inspired and started to write We are the Champions here. The pub is about Sam Smith's beer so if you order wine then suck it up, don't complain. Read about Humphry Smith and you will understand. It's a gem. read more

We were visiting London the last week of March and this pub was around the corner from our hotel. The staff here were super nice, and the interior was cozy and welcoming. We rarely strayed too far from the Steak and Ale Pie as it tasted SO good. But when we did try other things, they were also well executed. The beer they brew themselves and was also pretty good, I found the lager to be very refreshing. Thanks to the staff for making us feel so welcome. If we ever come back to London we'll be sure to pop in and visit again read more

Great service! Ambiance is very charming. They have 45 pounds veuve clicquot champagne deals. Food also amazing. read more

The Champion - Chicken - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Solid pub grub, nice decor, solid service. Nothing bad about it, just a little bit muted overall.

The Champion is selling gone off wine, but don't mention it, because the grumpy manager will blame you. Our company is just around the corner, we used to visit The Champion weekly, and would have rated it 5 stars until last night, but now we will never return. We bought a 750ml bottle of wine to share between 4 people and we enjoyed it enough to order a second. There were no more 750ml bottles, so we ordered a 1L bottle of the exact same wine. To be fair, there was one other smaller sized bottle visible, be we were told, "that one's gone off." Then the wine we were given was also rancid and undrinkable. The bottle was replaced, fair enough, but the second bottle was just as bad, stinking of dirty feet. We were sent downstairs to speak to the manager who angrily approached us. At first, she did not even believe us that they sold 1L bottles and had to phone upstairs to confirm this fact (strange). At this point, she was able to confirm a few things: 1. They know their wine is bad (sometimes gone off and undrinkable) and 'jokingly' refer to it as 'cooking wine.' 2. The new bartender upstairs would be getting in trouble for even replacing one bottle. In the manager's words, "He's new and won't be around much longer." 3. She would not even smell or taste the wine because she can't afford to humour everyone (and there are many) who complain about the wine. I have never found a wine I couldn't drink and never complained before; there is a difference between 'bad' wine and gone off wine. We will never return, and thank the manager for making that decision easy for us. Serves us right for ordering wine in a Sam Smiths pub! read more

The Champion - Stay away from the 1L bottles of wine. They are gone off, but being sold anyway. Don't be one of the suckers like us. - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Pretty good, standard pub. The usual array of ales and ciders on tap, and a careful, attentive bartender. It's in a lively, slightly commercial idea, and this place is a nice respite from all the hype. The stained glass was slightly weird. They depicted mostly male sports figures. Since I'm not a sports fan, I just found these slightly tacky. But it wouldn't keep me out of here, or from enjoying a pint or two! read more

So once again, I find myself reviewing a Samuel Smith pub. I do especially like this one and still find myself pleasantly shocked at the amount of change I get back when I buy a drink here. It's great. This particular Sam Smith pub stands out from the others because of its intriguing stained glass windows. From the outside, the windows just can't manage to make their full impression so do walk inside for a feel of the full experience. There is a very old feel to this pub which I like, and the customers often prove that theory! If you make it down here on a weekend, however the crowd is a lot more youthful and all of them are enjoying their cheap drinks. read more

The Champion - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Marvellous pub, for a marvellous area The stained glass windows are exceptional & show champion english sportsmen read more

The Champion - exterior at night - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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The Champion The Champion's an unique pub At least it is to me The windows are pure stained glass For those inside to see The fittings are made of dark wood The seats are of dark leather It give out an air of welcomness Especially in bad weather The drinks are not the common sort Sold in any pub But ones that Sam Smith brew themselves It's like a special Club So if you're looking for a place That offers a different range Come into the Champion I'm sure you'll love the change. read more

Samuel Smith - try's hard but misses a trick. I have been to a few of these guys pubs over the last couple of years, they are spread across London, and I understand why people like them. I, however, could live my life without them. Decor doesn't make a pub, but it does add to the experience, so if you are looking for a true British boozer, this place won't do you wrong. See other reviews here for more info. They have all their own stuff, including beers, spirits and soft drinks, which is a lot of effort, and certainly a unique aspect, but not what I'm looking for. I'm all about good beer, and good beer in my humble opinion is not available here. I always end up drinking the taddy lager because when I ask what is their hoppiest beers, they point to that. This is not what I'm looking for when I say hoppy beer. Their lagers are generic, but the stout isn't too bad, bitter is a bit meh and I haven't tried their spirits, so can't comment. Service is normally ok, friendly and genuine, which at times is a rarity in Foggy London Town .... My main issue with these guys is just that it's clear what the big beer revolution is all about, so they need to jump on the band wagon and make the most of their own brewery and start making some exciting beer. read more

Trying to avoid the hideous crowds on Oxford Street and desperately thirsty, I simply bumped into this pub. The stunning wood panelled exterior callled me inside. What a charming respite from the maddening and slow walking hoards only a block or two away. It's a Sam Smith's pub with a very good range of beers and striking stained glass windows of past British champions. The interior is full of curvy dark wood and beckons you to stay, if only for a pint. I was impressed that barman could clock who was next to order despite a number of eager young Hoxtonites there clamoring for immediate attention. They even have a proper dartboard. Nice atmospheric to take out of towners to. read more

With dark wood, stained glass, cheap beer, and a delightful staff, The Champion is a nice little pub in a location that seems to be an equally perfect distance from each of the friends with whom I've visited it. It's a good night out in a great part of town with nice, inexpensive drinks, where everyone has a similarly easy drunk-bus journey home after. That's a hard-to-beat combination. Though it can get a little cramped at times, The Champion has always been filled with the typical friendly Sam Smith's clientèle I have grown accustomed to. I've never seen anyone sassing the bar-staff or sneakily stealing stools from neighbouring tables when someone nips off to the loo--people are generally quite pleasant and jovial! The bar guys are chatty and attentive, with three separate bartenders coming over to check that I'd been served while my first guy was off pulling pints of cider for me.The space is very attractive, filled with wrought iron table legs, dark wood panelling, and some of the most epic stained glass windows I've seen in the city. Though it lacks that special "Wow This Is Such A Cool Pub!!" factor so abundant in places like The Princess Louise or Ye Old Cheshire Cheese, The Champion has all the ingredients for a great night out at the pub. I have always had an excellent night out here, and I highly recommend it for a pint after work or a pleasant respite on a shopping trip out to Oxford St. read more

First things first: get cash. If you pay by card they charge you 1.5% of the TOTAL bill as admin charge. Scoundrels!! I had quite a nice evening on a normal Friday night out. The pub was packed with office workers and posh suits and the girls to the posh suits. But when it came to me to pay a round I nearly dropped out of my favorite heels. Not because of the price of the round (one knows what to expect in central London) but because of the cheek of the pub owners. Charging 1.5% of the bill just means you want to make a bit of money out of your customers. Everyone else is offering free use of cards. Because of that i was considering giving them only two stars, but the pub itself is OK and they have some nice beers on offer. I even spotted some exotic stuff, like beer with apricot flavour. read more

It's a large pub with an upstairs which is good if you really just want to chat with a friend and be able to hear them. Usually not my cup of tea as I prefer more bars with lots of people to mingle with. But my co-pilot this evening prefer it nice and chilled and knew the spot. Still rather croweded but found a spot. Prices were cheap compare to other pubs in the area. Bonus! read more

This bar is always packed and you do need to arrive early on a Friday to get a seat - around lunch! The food, while standard, is good and the beer is 'friendly'. With a quiet upstairs space, this pub is an excellent place for an informal meeting, chat or casual lunch. read more

The Champion (in Fitzrovia, not to be confused with the one across from the north entrance to Kensington Gardens) is another Sam Smith's pub, but still maintains it's street cred and character. It delivers all that you ask for from a traditional pub and doesn't smack of corporate take-over. Great wooden bar, backbar, and partition walls around the outside wall seating area, and amazing late 19th century stained and etched glass with various male personalities in sports mainly, but also representing some other fields of endeavor as well. Staff and patrons have been friendly both times I've been there and the selection on the taps was available, not tapped out on anything. Prices are very reasonable. This is a great getaway from Oxford Street shopping, just a 2 or 3 blocks north. read more

I paid a visit to the Champion on a wet and windy winter night in the run up to Christmas. A Samuel Smith pub, I found the staff as warm and welcoming on a dark Saturday afternoon when I joined some friends here. With some of our group doing their Xmas shopping it made for a quite stop off, close to the much beaten track of Oxford Street, but tucked away enough to feel a little secret and it didn't get busy until around 7pm when people came to meet friends in glad rags for their Saturday night out. Has gorgeous decor and stained glass windows, a dartboard and quiz machine. Bar snacks include crisps and nuts, but it is the realistic prices and fantastic locations that make many Samuel Smith pubs a winner with Londoners. This is another winning example, but it wouldn't be so great if you are sans friends or you and your group have to stand because it is already full as others have noted on reviews of The Champion. read more

Looking for a "cheap" pub near Oxford Street? You should probably go here. A Sam Smith pub which usually means a cheap and hearty place to go for a drink, it is probably more expensive than the others in London as to its location but will still be as cheap as possible. They have an upstairs with a bar, which has quite a lot of seating, this pub isn't really a "secret" as most Sam Smith pubs tend to be, but it is quiet with no music (saves money) and their own version of every drink which is always funny to figure out what you want. read more

Pints of beer for under £2. Genius. Just ask for a Man-In-A-Box. Genuine old school, although a bit mank, pub. The stars are for the cheapness! Good for a cheap in an otherwise pricey area of London. Very busy Fridays due to after work crowd. Quiet in the wk. read more

If you're looking for a place to escape the madness of Oxford Street then try The Champion Pub. It is a Samuel Smith brewery so you won't find any branded beers or ales, but you will find a cheap tipple in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. And for all you true pubians there is that most traditional game: darts. What holds this pub back from getting five stars is just how busy it can get on a Friday night. But at other times you will have no problem in finding a seat. read more

A pint in central London for under £2?! You must be having a laugh! Not so, for The Champ is a glorious oasis for all us credit-crunch conscious consumers. It does get super busy 5-9pm but clears out after that as the trendy people head off elsewhere. Stick around til closing and you might even get a go on the darts board read more

Note to all vistors, please do not visit unless your bladder/bowels can exceed 8 hours. The establishment has no commitment to toilet paper or even access to a toilet. Having frequented this establishment for more than 10 years the new 'blonde' dictator bar person/manager sees no value in toilet facilities. On a Friday night, in fact the night of EU exit when maybe toilet facilities are more required we unusually frequented the ground floor bar with 7 of my local pals (usually upstairs but this was closed) At 7.45 I required a piss and proceeded to visit the ONLY single toilet for girls. Alas their were ladies squatting and others bartering tissues for cigs. Surely not an apparent issue for a pub with only one available toilet, but yes I had to visit the bar to get paper. Doing this selfless/dignity destroying act I lost 4 places in the queue, 27 minutes later I urinated and felt better. 1.4 hours later I needed another pee, went to said toilet but a queue of 6. Having drunk here for years I knew there was another ladies on floor 0.5 so headed there. Almost in and pants half down I was instructed (by male bar staff) this was cordoned off and not allowed and I had to use the men's toilets in the basement. I obeyed and went there. Biggest mistake, urine stinking 2 urinals and 1 cubical which Yed it has no toilet paper A big fan of this pub changed in one instance by one RUDE LAZY BARMAID, who until today I have never ever seen, a disgrace to even the lowest form of hospitality I feel sorry for the other staff to be dictated to by someone with absolutely no hygiene expectations or customer service, let's hope for the pubs sake she is a temp (never seen her before) she has blonde hair, Eastern European, and a non palatable attitude and no no visible principles.  Don't be taking this at a slight on Eastern Europeans as this is not the case, if you think otherwise I challenge you to drink a pint or two, wait half an hour and then try to pee/poo. Good luck, take a tissue! read more

Those of us who live here know that Oxford Street is a place to be avoided. It is crowded, vulgar, loud and unpleasant . . . all the things the Champion is not. The Champion is the quiet, cool attic above a loud, boring party. It's the one interesting person at a dinner-party full of bankers and estate-agents. It's the cool girl in the corner, shy, but all the more alluring because of that. Don't take my word for it, just sidle up and order a pint. Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong . . . read more

I can't say a lot about this place as we mostly got our drinks and took them outside, but the service seemed fast enough and the pricing wasn't horrid. There was a little space inside, but more outside (and it was hot out). So for a Friday evening, it wasn't too shabby. read more

A short walk from Oxford Street, the Champion is a typical Sam smiths pub. Cheap beer, and dark interior, but this old pub has impressive stained glass windows which somehow makes it stand out a bit from the rest. It can get pretty busy, especially at weekends, but its usually quieter upstairs, a more likely option for nabbing a table. read more

What this pub lacks in charm, it makes up for in delicious steak & ale pies and cheap beer and cider (and a sweet name). The upstairs is a little musty, stuffy, and tattered (reminiscent of the drawing rooms and parlors you encounter in old houses), but it's still a great place to eat. It's a Samuel Smith joint, so expect a good (and cheap) selection of their higher-than-average quality concoctions. Downstairs, expect to be greeted by a rowdy group of locals who are most likely there for the same reason(s) you are: cheap beer, and great food. read more

When you get tired of traipsing up and down Oxford Street, this is the place to go. But beware: if you try to find it, you can't. You never will. You have to sort of stumble upon it accidentally, when you're not really looking for it, and, as if by magic, the champion will appear. Great Yorkshire brewers Samuel Smiths run the pub, so like its sister pub The Chandos opposite the National Portrait Gallery and the grandaddy of them all, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street, it has a wide variety of good quality beer and lager at cheap prices. My pint of lager was £2.25. 20 yards from Oxford Street. The pub has spectacular stained glass windows of british champions which give it the feel of a church. Upstairs is very quiet, with padded seats along the walls, and pictures of british champions with bits of info about them. Also some lovely photos of dray horses. Why are you still reading this when you could be drinking in the Champion? read more

Another typical Sam Smith's pub, although with an above average interior, and a decent amount of standing space. Probably the only pub I've ever been to that had more female than male punters, due to the proliferation of fashion business in the area (Arcadia and Topshop HQ are just around the corner). Have to second (and third) the other hangover comments, a few pints of Sam's beer is enough to put you in a very dark place the next day. read more

Under new management, now serving very short measures, reluctantly topped up but still not full. Sad. Won't be going back again. Previous landlady is now at the Bricklayers in Gresse Street. read more

Ok, so I love the Champion simply because its so close to work and the atmosphere is playful and friendly, but do not drink the cheap lager there, it does bad things to you. Dont know whats in it, but if you have even so much as 2 pints, you will wake up with a nasty hangover. Dirty cheap stuff, stick to more expensive ones. read more

One of those pubs you'll love or hate. Sam Smiths chain so pints are only £2.10. It's certainly not the best tasting beer but you can't argue for cost. Everything from the beer to spirits is locally produced! Just off Oxford Street so can get quite busy after work and weekends but otherwise a cosy atmosphere most other times. Can attract some ruffians, but it's no way near as bad as a Wetherspoons. read more

Can get very busy on a Friday especially. Quite nice interior, especially downstairs, great location, reasonably priced drinks. I've had food here at lunchtime a few times - it's ok, usual pub-grub type stuff and usually easy enough to get a table. My pub of choice for after-work drinks in the area. Disappointed to see it was closed on a Saturday recently - not sure if this was a one off, or if it is only a weekday pub. read more

What a find! This pub should be preserved for its stained glass homage to the heroes of yesteryear. Good bottled beer but no Sam Smiths on the hand pump? so you drop a star. read more

Sam Smith's pubs are usually great, but the staff and particularly the manager at this one are incredibly rude. Saw the manager shouting and swearing at people the other night for no reason! People like that should not be working in the service industry. She deserves to be sacked. read more