Good thing I didn't depend on yelp for hours. Need to update that they are open on Sundays. Food order messed up. Another server came to help fix the issue, thankfully. Not worth the time it took to get though. The steak was lacking seasoning and was overcooked. No where near medium rare. My brother got the same dish 15 mins earlier and didn't come with same veggies as mine. No way this steak is a sirloin, too thin. My mom wanted extra crispy chips with her fish, and they couldn't do that. And it also had no seasoning. Recommend to only come for the drinks. read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

A must visit while in London. Just don't confuse it with the Cheshire Cheese location. The Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is legendary. My brother and I had the best time here having drinks by the fireplace talking with some fellow Yankees. The bar keep was friendly and allowed me to see where Charles Dickens sat. Yeah that Charles Dickens. This place oozes with history and is worth the trip to be in such a legendary pub. read more

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When a friend and I were in London, we definitely wanted to dine at Charles Dickens' old haunt, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. It definitely felt as old as it was, with lots of wooden features, shadowy corners, and hidden away spots. We unfortunately were seated in one of these dim, hidden away spots - a small room with one table total. So we didn't get the real "atmosphere" of the restaurant. We also didn't receive the best attention from our server, being in a hidden little side room by ourselves. The food, though it did take a while to arrive, ended up living up to the hype, PHEW! My friend and I shared two starters: -Wild Mushroom & Spinach Crumpet, Garlic & Herbs: This was a soft little bit of crumpet with cream pooled around it and lots of greenery on top. It was a light starter to the meal, which was appreciated because everything else was very heavy after. -Our other start was the Pressed Ham Hock, with mustard pickles, and served with sourdough toast. This sounds scary, but the ham was more of a "forcemeat" style, and you spread it on your sourdough and top it with the pickles. It all came together really well and gave a great taste with each bite. For my entree, I stuck with a classic - the Old Brewery Beer Battered Cod & Chips. It was accompanied by one of my favorite things - mushy peas! Yum. It was two huge filets of cod, that were perfectly battered and had a delicious homemade tartar sauce. You can't go wrong ordering this dish. My friend had the Lamb Chop, and she was very happy with it. It was sold as a "chop" but actually came as little medallions cut for you, with a sauce to drizzle over them. That made it a lot easier to eat, as lamb can be a bit tougher to cut at the table yourself. And for our dessert, we shared the Sticky Toffee Pudding, and it was absolutely FAB. It is what I would compare in the U.S. to a bread pudding. A cake soaked in a tasty liquid so it softens up and each bite has a little sweet, juicy flavor. This one had a butterscotch flavor, and it was served with ice cream, which complemented it greatly. I would say definitely stop by Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese while you're in London, but be prepared that you might be stuck in a corner and sort of forgotten about, depending on what time you go. The food, though, I would say may be worth it! read more

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I came to 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' for the first time when I was 18 years old, traveling to Great Britain & Ireland with my school friend Bob McGuire, as a kind of "right of passage" before we separated forever, going to different universities. I was so young and inexperienced at the time that I didn't even know what to make of it, except that it was older than any other working Pub I had ever been in, and that my friend and I could drink legally, and then, just like any other drunken teen... pee in an alley before searching for hot looking streety-type girls (which didn't work out well - or cheap). The second time I came here was with my mother (my treat to her via 2 free tickets I'd earned from a job I did for KLM, [creating an entire Ancient Egyptian themed party at the Field Museum in Chicago for an exhibit they sponsored] - it was awesome). Before coming here you need to know the names of the many special Rooms, pointedly separate Bars, & even a few apartments where some famous patrons decided to keep their beds - just in case they needed them, between drinks. Yes, knowing the Rooms in this pub will help you to experience it with an extra eye . So here they are... 1. The Cellar Bar (the most 'Happening' place here. It opens at 1:00 pm). 2. 'The Johnson Bar', named after Samuel Johnson, the pubs most famous patron. This room is presently used for overflow. 3. 'The Cheshire Bar'. 4. 'The Chop Room'. This room has a "Gentlemen Only" section. 5. NOTE: The formal restaurant is upstairs, one flight. OTHER BARS & ROOMS: "The Snug Bar", "The Court Bar", "The Johnson Residence", "The Williams Residence", & " Directors Room". Beyond the information above, I can report with confidence that the Beer, Ales, Porters, Lagers, & Stouts, are all mildly chilled, and just as tasty as any hundred pints of the same brew, poured expertly in any 8 dozen nearby pubs. Check on the website (below) for 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' to see todays food offerings. 'Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese' serves good versions of whatever fare all of the other surrounding pubs serve - including a ploughman's lunch, and a Sunday Roast. What you should truly come here for is to 'Live the Rich History' of this Ancient Establishment. And if you can handle it, have a pint in every room - like I did when I was 18, and oh so naive - so naive. And don't worry - if you are too buzzed to find one of the many hidden Dickensian bathrooms - there is an alley just down the block. According to Wikipedia, "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese" is a Grade II listed public house at 145 Fleet Street, on Wine Office Court, City of London. Rebuilt shortly after the Great London Fire of 1666. "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese" is well known for its literary associations, with its regular patrons including Charles Dickens, G. K. Chesterton, Samuel Johnson, and Mark Twain. https://ye-olde-cheshire-cheese.co.uk/ read more

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An old tub in London. Many floors to have a drink with friends and a bite. If you're looking for dining, there is a dining room but it's small so making a reservation would be highly recommended. The waiter was great. Gave a great recommendation on the food for my last night in London. The pork was thick, cooked well and juicy. The fries were the best I had in London. Crispy on the outside and soft inside. Just a great meal. The beer they service was great too. read more

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One of the oldest pubs in London, my friend and I decided to check it out while in London last week. There are several rooms inside, including a restaurant section. It's quite dark with dim lighting. We ordered their most popular beer, the Taddy Lager. It's dark and malty compared to the light lagers. Not our favorite, but since it's the most popular beer, we had to try it. It's a cool bar to check out once if you're ever in London given its history. Having said that, there are tons of better pubs you can visit. read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This was on my list of stops when visiting London. It's one of the oldest pubs in the area. It has such great history there. Charles Dickens himself frequented this spot and we were shown his regular seating area. We were lucky enough to get a table in the small bar area. It feels like a travel back in time. Amazing cask ales. I ordered the fish and chips. Huge delicious flaky fish. I definitely recommend visiting here. Ask the bartender about the stuffed parrot behind the bar. There's a story about that too! read more

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I loved the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub. Walked in for lunch and was say where Dr. Samuel Johnson used to sit. The pub wasn't super busy during my visit. For lunch I ordered the sausage and mashed which was so good. For dessert I ordered the sticky toffee which was so yummy. Love the history of this old pub and had to see Polly the famous parrot. read more

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We went to more than a dozen pubs while in London and the surrounding area on vacation recently so while reviewing them, I'm trying to focus on what made each a distinct memory/experience for us. My wife actually booked dinner reservations in advance for Ye Old Cheshire Cheese, it was one of a few we did that for rather than just popping in. For some of these, Cheshire included, it isn't a bad idea if you want a full meal to do so as it gives you a table in a dining area that is quieter than the More raucous areas of the pub and guarantees you plenty of elbow room to dine. Every pub has fish and chips, and we had our share of it during our 8+ day trek, but my wife swears by this place as having the absolute best. I'd likely agree with that--we both had the traditional fish, chips, peas platter and every bite was great. We had a few slices of sourdough to hold us over while waiting for those plates. My wife had a bit of wine, and I tried a lager, lower ABV ale, and a pour of scotch opting for their "house" scotch. The spirits/beer menu was the same I saw used at a couple of what I think must be "sister" pubs all using the same distilleries and brewers. We were too full to try dessert. Service was friendly. Not sure if it was the vintage of my scotch or her wine, but price-wise this was by far our priciest pub visit in the area and I can't quite point my fingers at why, but I don't regret our meal and time here. As for historic interest, you can find pictures and placards of many of the pubs famous patrons from history--Dickens, Mark Twain on visits to London, etc. A first edition of a Dickens' book adorned a post by our table. read more

I had to write a review on this gem in London! The Ye Old Chesire Cheese is the oldest bar in London. It was established in 1538 and and was rebuilt in 1667! I did a pub tour in London and this one was my favorite pub for sure. I decided to try the organic chocolate stout and it was refreshing and hit the spot while listening to the history of the pub! This pub is 3 levels and on the 2nd level was an area people used to hide during World War 1. They also had a a pet parrot that lived there for 40 years and when he died in 1926 they decided to stuff him and he is still there to see! An experience with amazing beer and rich history. You will feel like you stepped back in time! A must if you visit London! read more

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We visited June 28 while exploring London. Wife had researched places "with Welsh Rarebit" one of my favorite dishes and this establishment came up. When we wound up nearby and trying to find a place for dinner- she pulled this from her list. The Welsh Rarebit was very good. I also had the best Fish and Chips of our trip! Great atmosphere. Helpful staff. read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Fish and Chips - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

We really enjoyed this place when we visited London. Down an alleyway off of Fleet Street, this pub offered Samuel Smith's beers which we found difficult to find in London. In fact dark beers in general, except for Guinness, were rare in London. This pub prides itself on the fact that it was rebuilt in 1667. Too bad the walls can't talk. I'm sure there are plenty of stories to tell. The food offered was very British. My husband chose the Scotch Egg and Pork Pie, but was surprised and disappointed that these items were served cold. I went with the Cheese Charcuterie board. It was very good!! Our favorite part of the evening was playing darts on the pubs dart boards. This was our favorite London pub. read more

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Such a cool place with many levels of seating. There's a bar on just about every floor. The stairs are a bit narrow and can be tricky if you are a bit older, but still a cool experience. We grabbed a seat by the window on the 1st floor and had a great time. Would recommend. read more

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The ambiance is cool. it's the "oldest pub" in London and it feels that way with the architecture and decorations. We didn't order any food but everyone in our party agreed that we had better drinks at other pubs. It didn't stand out to me other than it's the oldest pub. read more

Really cool vibe inside and a great pub. We had a lot of fun drinking a pint and eating a bunch of cheese.

In the downstairs chop room there is on display a first edition of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities open to the page where Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is mentioned: "he took him down Ludgate-hill to Fleet Street, and so, up a covered way, into a tavern with a good plain dinner and good wine". The food was delicious and beautifully presented, fish and chips were outstanding, service was so friendly and lovely. Beer and whiskey selections were fantastic. read more

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I am a fairly go-with-the-flow traveler but my one request on a recent trip to London was traditional Bangers & Mash - and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub knocked it out of the park for me! This is known as one of the most famous pubs in the world where many literary greats were frequent visitors: Mark Twain, W.B. Yeats and Charles Dickens (who even featured this spot in A Tale of Two Cities). *Side note - I sat in the exact spot that was Charles Dickens sat when he visited - I mean, how cool is that?! This place isn't the biggest so there may be a bit of a wait if you don't have a reservation - but fear not, the team does their absolute best to accommodate you without hesitation and luckily, we only waited about 3 minutes before a table opened up. From the hostess to the waiter to the person that brought the food to our table, service was stellar. I enjoyed that they allowed us to sit back and enjoy our meal while checking in every so often to be sure everything was to our liking and we were having a good experience. To the team here - Thank you for making our dinner her so special. Food wise, you will find your typical and traditional British fare but elevated to the next delicious level. We had been out and about exploring the city all day {meaning..eating small bites everywhere along the way}, so we opted to split an entree and it was the perfect amount of food and completely hit the spot! The Kentish hop Sausage Ring served with Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Onion Gravy and topped with Watercress is an absolute must! I would also suggest adding a side of the Buttered Carrots (Cause you know..veggies}! This was the perfect British meal and the perfect last meal in London! Highly recommended! read more

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What a unique place! The 2025 Fodor's London guidebook mentions it was rebuilt in 1666 after the Great Fire of London, and they list is in the Best Historic Pubs section of the book, but they didn't do it justice. I decided to have lunch there on a rainy, cold Thursday. I had not made reservations and was worried about getting a table. Turns out, it was the best time to go. Very few patrons in the main seating area, only one couple at the bar, and I didn't even see the downstairs until after lunch when I went searching for the restrooms. They sat me in the Cozy Corner; a large table that probably seats 4 or 5. The wood benches, walls, and floors had a lot of character - yes, they were old and scratched up. My benches had a few pillows to sit on, which was a nice touch. The server was very sweet and brought me the food and bar menus. After a quick discussion with her, I ordered: a Cider Reserve which was crisp and clean The Sea Bream, a light, flaky white fish, which was fried whole and so delicious. This was served with a scoop of herb butter on top, which was tasty, but the fish on it's own was better Sourdough bread: nice, thick slices served with butter Buttered Carrots: This was the one thing I did not love. The carrots were swimming in butter and it obscured the flavor of the carrots. Next time I'll order them just steamed. Sticky Toffee Pudding. So delicious! Do not miss the opportunity to order this! There are several levels to this restaurant. They have restrooms one floor above the main level and one floor below. The stairs are narrow so be careful when descending/ascending. The subterranean level was very quaint. Small nooks with tiny tables for 2 and some open areas with larger tables. It felt like going into an old wine cellar. Bottom line: This place is not just a tourist attraction. They have very nice food, a great ambiance, and attentive service. read more

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Kitchen closed between 3-5 when we went but otherwise an atmospheric pub with good beer. Lots of seating across several floors. Nice staff. Bathrooms did not smell good though :/ read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Wonderful space, fun history, some of the best pours we had in London! Bar man in the back was very overwhelmed and quite rude, it was clear she was from the states but didn't want anyone to know. We were the first guests in that day, by the third visitor served she was crying. Despite that experience we will definitely be back, our favorite Pub in London. read more

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Great beer on Fleet Street. While there are many options around the history alone should tempt you to visit. Have a pint and relax in one of the many places to sit and gather your energy while touring the area. The beer is very good, the food was standard. I had the steak and kidney suet which was fair but due to the atmosphere it was enjoyable. The service at the bar was great, at the table was mediocre. Overall worth a visit! read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Beer! - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Review #18 of 2024!! yeeezzz Ok so I came here on a friends recommendation and after looking up the history of the place I was like, yes! It was hard for me to get here because it is way further out than the other "touristy" things in the city. It was dark when I got here and when I asked for a table they told me there was a special event and a lot of the rooms were already taken. They were able to sit me all the way upstairs in a corner table, literally. There was nobody there with me expect the waiters. Eventually more people started filling in the room but other than that it did not get crowded at all. The food is your traditional British cuisine. I order the fish and chips and they were average, nothing spectacular about it. The service was prompt and attentive. I mostly went for the history and the architecture and the atmosphere. Unfortunately there was not much of an atmosphere when I went so I was a little disappointed on that. Next time I honestly would not visit because it was just so far away on public transportation, the atmosphere was not there and the food was just meh at best. read more

Old pub in London that we stopped in for a beer. Tiny bar area with a seating also in the back. Dark and a bit Cabo but it was charming read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Bar area - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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A historical pub with authentic atmosphere. There are many rooms to sit in with a pint or to order food. Upon entering in December, it smelled incredible due to the real, wood-burning fireplace. Service was friendly and prompt, and the pints were cold. The bathrooms leave something to be desired, and be sure to mind your head on the way down. The low ceiling and narrow staircase could turn your whole night around. read more

The service wasn't good. Not friendly. The food was tasty but they sat us in the back away from all the scene.

I love visiting landmarks in London and this pub was such a treat for me. The place is rich in history and filled with old photos of the bygone eras for visitors to view. To top it off our foods were also delicious. We had the fish and chips and the sausage with black pudding. The portions were just right and foods were made to order. The only thing I thought was not so great was the waiter who we tipped 5 quids for a takeaway box,took the money but didn't even bother to get the box for us. read more

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What an absolutely quaint gem of a Pub. The food was fresh and delicious, and the service was kind and prompt. We were crunched for time, and our server made sure our food came out quickly. Treat yourself and stop in, even if only for a pint. read more

Another Yelper recommended the fish and chips here, saying that it's the best in London, so we had to go! Since Covid-19, only the downstairs dining area is open and it has limited seating. We did not have reservations, but a table opened up and the server offered it to us. Note that the address is Fleet Street, but the pub is actually accessed from Wine Office Court, a small footpath alley. Look for the sign on Fleet Street and turn in there. The lights were very dim but I got a good look at the beautiful old glass windows before the sun went behind the buildings. We ordered pints, Hubby of the house lager and a hard cider for me, both of which were cold and refreshing. Since Hubby dislikes peas, (mushy or otherwise!) he asked for a substitution and a green salad was offered. Interestingly enough, both plates came with the substitution. The fish is cod from the North Sea and was crispy and delicious. The chips were crunchy outside, and tasty. Neither of us had room for dessert with the portions that were served! There are other items on the menu that look tasty as well, and would require another visit. read more

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This place is full of tourists, but since we were tourists, we didn't care. The interior is old, dark, and kinda creepy, in a good way. We were able to get a table in the corner and enjoy the ambiance of an old pub in London. read more

This historic place ("known haunt of Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens and others") had only the bar menu when we went there, which didn't include the steak and kidney pie I wanted to try. But everything we had was great. You seat yourself in one of several maze-like rooms and order at the bar. We picked a room which was empty and had 2 large tables. Love that this place has stood for hundreds of years. I tried the Pork Pie with piccalilli and it was great. Piccalilli is a sweet, spicy pickle sauce that I first read about in a James Herriot story so I was curious to try it. Very tasty. Good authentic old English food -- I'll bet Dr. Johnson didn't have watercress salad with his pork pie but still. Had to climb a steep stairway of ancient wood to get to the toilet, so definitely not disabled accessible. But thoroughly enjoyable. read more

We came to the Ye Olde Chesire Cheese for a very special reason. My father wrote a budget guide book to Europe in 1963 and recommended it. So, my husband secretly brought the guide book with us, tracked down one of the only restuarants still in business and still serving the same items on the menu, and we found ourselves in a booth that my father most likely occupied while writing his guidebook in a still recovering, post-war London. I was thrilled to be part of the history of the pub, which hosted other literary figures such as Charles Dickens. We shared a pint or two, had bangers and mash, overheard a tour guide give some more interesting details about the past, and soaked up the incredible history of the place. It's a little strange that the staff are all Italian, but I guess that's modern day Britain. read more

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The actual pub is very fun in design. Had a cheese plate and one of the salad appetizers. Cheese plate was large while salad was small. In regards to flavor, I liked 2/4 cheeses and the salad was good. There were a lot of Americans and other tourists when I went but unsure if that is the norm for this establishment. If you want a cooler temperature go downstairs to the cellar. Overall not a bad time but nothing to write home about. read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - The entrance is down to the left - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Lovely pub while in the UK with friends to get a few pints at. The atmosphere was grand, clean and friendly. We greatly enjoyed our time spent there and hope to return! Thank you! The Sticky Toffee is superb!!!!! read more

Do know, this is a rather touristy pub, but worth a visit if only for its history. For history buffs, Dr. Johnson's house is just a very short walk from the pub, and open to the public. read more

During our stay on London, one of the locals told us this was his favorite pub. We went there and the food and service were great. The fish and chips were the best we had while in London. read more

Don't waste your time or money, just 'Ye Olde Rude Staff'. Shame on you for being the rudest pub in London. We stopped by on Friday June 9th 2023 around 7:20pm. We were travelling with two children (13 & 18) and were immediately funneled down into the cellar bar. Just for full disclosure there were 10 or so customers outside drinking and smoking (which is fine) and there was a small group in the dining room on the main floor which is why I think everyone directed us downstairs. Once we got the the cellar we immediately turned around and went back upstairs to order. The bar downstairs was dank and it looked as though they wanted NO tourists there...and we were there to buy 3-pints and move about our way for the night. Anyway back to the review....I went back upstairs and asked the VERY RUDE BARTENDER to order at a side bar and he said I would have to go back downstairs and drink there. *When I pointed out that there were already patrons drinking & smoking outside and asked why we couldn't do the same the bartender looked puzzled that I immediately called him out. I just said 'forget it' because of their inexcusable rudeness. Of all the placed we visited from June 7-14, this establishment is the ONLY one where we encountered such rude employees, and I mean EVERYONE WHO WORKED THERE. Even though this place is highly rated, I would recommend everyone DEFINITELY skip and just avoid the rudeness and flippant attitude. Don't waste your time or money at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. Maybe change their name to 'Ye Olde Rude Staff'? read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I was at a conference for work and co-workers, and some conference folk was looking for an English restaurant experience. My friend knew about h the Cheshire, so we went. I had such wonderful classic dishes like English pudding, spotted dick (I just like ordering it because it's a naughty word in the USA), and such good beer we were over the moon. I have been here twice now since the last time I was in London, I sought it out. I like when places do classic dishes and do them well/perfectly. Yes, the menu has some trendy things for everyone, but I want the olde London from films, and some tasty beef thing, with spuds in a perfect gravy, served by a polite English towne-server. Right governor! (No one ever calls me "Governor", Cap maybe) You get me, right? When you come to Boston or Maine, I will put on my best cap and give you a show, though you can't get thar from heeere!). Anyway, the atmosphere is a local place since I had to go down a little alley to get here. Everything is calm and sedate at the dinner hour, the way it should be. I felt like I could be anytime from the 1940s to today--many thanks to the owners for maintaining the "meilleur." Service was perfect for European service, a little more attentive, actually, but eventually, they just left us to our own and kept our drinks filled. A perfect end to a long day. I trundled to my boutique hotel feeling like Horace Rumpole. read more

My mom's a Brit and this was her first time coming back to England in a few years. It felt like a momentous trip and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese ended up being a highlight. We went by just to check it out and pass by but in need of nourishment we went in! There's definitely different sections of this place and they all add something fun. There's the regulars bar in the front, don't go there because that'd be rude, it's not for tourists, and that's a good thing, respect the space. There's a dining area with a roaring fire and then at least two other bar areas; one in the back and one downstairs. We went into the bar in the back and had a nice pint and a snack. We enjoyed it so much that we made it the place we had our last meal a few days later. The food was fantastic, the fish & chips I'd been craving and sticky toffee pudding that might have brought tears. The waitstaff was fantastic, they do a stellar job. Would highly recommend but would also suggest grabbing a reservation if you want dinner. We didn't have one and they so kindly managed to squeeze us in. read more

Great food and great service! This restaurant don't need reservations, you can just walk in. Waiters and bartenders are friendly and attentive read more

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - Grilled fish - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Hidden cute little pub. We had the fish of the day and it was quite tasty and serving was big enough for two people. Had the Rum Punch and it was really good! Definitely recommend this drink! read more

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