Reviews of The Coal Hole. (Pub) in London (London).

The Coal Hole

0 Reviews

350 Comments

Pub

Pub

91-92 Strand, Greater, London WC2R 0DW, United Kingdom

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Information of The Coal Hole, Pub in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Open hours of The Coal Hole

Popular times

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Saturday

Reviews of The Coal Hole

D. S.

Dropped-by this pub on the off-chance, despite being slightly put off by the neon sign outside! I was very pleasantly surprised! The atmosphere is that of a local, despite its location on The Strand, in the heart of Theatreland. Apparently it was the original coal cellar for the Savoy Hotel, hence its name. Attractive dark wood decor and tiled flooring. The basement area is quieter, as it can get pretty busy at street level. Relatively expensive but typical for the area. Definitely worth visiting.

S. m.

We popped in here for a quick drink before the theatre. What a lovely pub in a great location. Definitely worth a visit if you like a old boozer.

S. D.

Dropped into this pub after watching a show across the street. The pub itself is very ornate with exposed wooden beams and paneling, very olde worlde feel. I didn't eat here but did ask for a packet of crisps to go with my pint but was told they didn't sell them. A pub without crisps ? Certainly a first for me and I wasn't the only customer who asked for them. At the time I was here they had ales on draught from St Austell Brewery which I love so I was in heaven. The staff are ok, polite but didn't seem too happy with their work and certainly didn't want to get into a conversation with out of towners however, it certainly wasn't the Slaughtered Lamb type of welcoming. If you know American Werewolf in London you know where I'm coming from.

E.

Nice traditional old Nicholson's pub on the Strand. Good range of beers incl. St Austell brewery. Food was good and the staff were friendly.

P. B.

Really attractive old pub. Need to sort their plumbing out. Worth a visit to see the old world interior. Good choice of beers too. Very busy and popular with visitors to Covent Garden and theatreland.

E. M.

Been wanting to have a drink in here for some time. A really great little pub; buzzy atmosphere and good background music. Bar staff were efficient and there was a good mix of clientele inside.

j. b.

We meet friends here at lunchtime as Pete was very enthusiastic about it. Busy so got the last seats upstairs. Friends are veggie and a lot of their choices were off and a couple of meat dishes. Burgers were good and their halloumi fries with a spicy sauce made your eyes water! Served quickly through table app.

A. F.

Lovely pub. Old school and not pretentious at all like a lot of London pubs now. Very helpful, welcoming and friendly staff. Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilet which is hard to come by in Covent Garden because of the old building layouts. Thanks for having us :)

R. D.

A fantastic historic pub on the strand. Great we'll kept beers in a historic unspoiled building. It's a time machine of a pub.

D. M.

One of the many historic gems in the old pubs that litter London. I've been coming here since 1986, and the interior has a clean refurbished look that has in no way affected the Victorian wood paneled and bas-relief frescos. The beer is well kept, good selection of traditional British beers and a few modern additions too. Recommended, when you're looking for an authentic taste of olde London pub life.

T. T.

Very attractive from the exterior and carries on to the interior. Solid oak frames and bannisters .But there were a handful of unhappy customers that had been waiting an hour for their order and hubby couldn’t get beer as his choices had ran out of supply at 3pm. We had to walk out a we knew we would not get what we wanted. Will try this place another time.

K. S.

Visited after a show as 2 couples, its was close to closing but managed to catch a quick drink, staff were pleasant and patient and very respectful. Would recommend a visit. lovely place.

V. G.

A nice traditional english pub in one of the best places in London with great vibes, a walk by its side after spending a good time will you to embankment pier where you can take a nice stroll or cycle or take an Uber boat for a Thames cruise. It’s especially nice during the nights. The food and the service was great. It has become one of my favourite pub in London.

F. B. (.

It was good but went at wrong time with a family alot of people finishing work and getting a few drinks. But the pub was lovely x

S. W.

Lovely pub in the centre of town with a great atmosphere and a fine selection of beers. Didn't stay long enough for food..but what we saw looked appetising.

S. F.

Lovely historic pub. Great location. Friendly staff. Limited menu at the moment, but that didn't impact on our experience. Shout out to Yannick, great service.

S. I.

Nice convenient pub.Beer good but food bit poor although was towards end of service but should not really be excuse

B. t.

Good meal before going to show very friendly staff

C. M.

Very busy pub but we had booked a table. Food came quick and was hot and tasty. Def recommend...but book as not a lot of tables for eating at

C. R.

Nice pub.. interesting decor... was absolutely packed as pre theatre... maybe more staff needed and open the bar underneath ...

T. B.

We went to the cellar bar which was smaller and more cosy. Went back up to the main bar which was much busier and noisier so glad we chose the celler bar as we were catching up with family and could enjoy the conversation.

C. L.

Really beautiful historic pub. A great story to it. Great selection of beers and food. Lovely staff.

L.

By 10pm most ales were off. The music was a bit loud. Interesting pub nevertheless with old fashioned deco. Fair amount of tables upstairs and in the basement.

K. P.

Best turkey pie and veg in London, all washed down with mulled wine. Perfect winter Christmassy evening.

J. R.

First time in London so had to try Fish and Chips, we were fortunate to stumble onto this place great staff great Fish and Chips and I don't like fish and of course their home brew Nicholson Pale Ale!!

S. R.

Good traditional pub, right next to Savoy Hotel and Theatre's Good ales, friendly staff

M. T.

I usually pop in here for a cheeky drink when l'm on the strand. There is bar downs stairs as well as up stairs. There is also toilets here.

S.

Busy pub... lovely atmosphere. But always served quickly. great staff Great food Fish and chips a must.

D. L.

Great Ales and wine when we were visiting London for 48 hours. This pub is between Covenant garden and the Thames and had lots of comfortable seating down stairs. Friendly staff and very reasonable prices and a good selection of English Ales on tap.

Z. R.

Great traditional pub, good selection of drinks, and had some food here which I enjoyed.

s. l.

It was great place , good atmosphere lovely decor, staff were very busy but always on the ball.will definitely go back.

S. P.

Wow what a gem. Historic pub, used to be a coal storage bin for the Savoy hotel. Gets busy but if you go downstairs into the coal hole?, then it can get intimate and friendly. Excellent service and a.great place to people watch and see the world unfold before you. Lots of tourist and theater goers, but friendly atmosphere and again excellent service.

T. J.

Proper old London pub.Good selection of ales and very friendly staff.Pop in for a cheeky pint or two.You’ll be glad you did!!

M. D.

Excellent exterior and a real eye catcher on a busy London thoroughfare.

M. H.

Came for drinks with a group. Attentive staff and great location. Thanks for looking after us!

M. A.

Love this place, was introduced to it end of January 2022 by some good friends and again today.

S. G.

Friday evening drinks. Quick service, good staff

R. L.

Great selection of beers. I particularly enjoyed the Camden Hells. Traditional pub surrounding including beautiful glass windows. Friendly staff. Nice to be able to get a drink at more reasonable prices than surrounding establishments.

M. D.

Amazing pub with a very nice line up of cask as ales. The frescos are worth stopping in to see.

J. G.

Very friendly staff and being a Nicholson pub you down load there app special offers given

H. L.

A nice pub. Simple and bright but with some style. High ceilings, lots of woodwork, and some interesting plaster work of what appear to be young maidens collecting grapes. Not sure what that's got to do with coal, holes, or beer, but I like it. 🍺

J. K.

Chicken and portobello pie was divine! Also had fish and chips... which was okay but not the best I've had here. Lovely pub as well

T. N.

Cold beer, friendly staff. Will go back

N. H.

Excellent pub...Great atmosphere, bar staff very friendly

A. S.

Good fish & chips, great beer and gin. Nice British style pub.

M. M.

A little hidden gem. Staff were excellent. Couldn't help enough. The food was lovely & very well priced. Asked about the name & was given the history rundown. It used to be attached to the Savoy hotel & the generators were housed were the pub is. At the back of the pub there used to be a coal shute.....the coal was kept there...hence the name "The coal hole"

T. 7.

Can recommend this place for a meal. Restaurant is downstairs and is cozy. Good varied done and drink menu. We were going to ask show at The Savoy Theatre and booked ahead on the Nicholson website and it was a home thing as it was extremely busy on Saturday afternoon.

M. S.

Sorry to say so long in commenting. Visited September 2019 just before Covid times. Was in a party of 40-50 Aussie's on the last night of a coach tour of GB. Perfect Dinner to end on, off to the Theatre for 9 to 5 really great night, Unfortunately I had forgotten the name of your establishment and looking at Google maps checked the Record thank you for our great finish!!

D.

Great beers, nice decor and cool atmosphere. If you want to go to a pub, come here for sure. Prices are what you'd expect for the area so a bit pricey.

A. H.

Great pub and staff fish and chips were excellent.

G. K.

Super friendly server. She was helpful and smiling. Food ok.

S. H.

Good old fashion london pub. Loved it.

J. G.

Always pop into this pub when we visit London. Great bar and service.

C. r.

Tricky re covid but no real issues. Need apps if you can but happy to help otherwise. App working OK and service is quick. Pies made to order as waited 30 mins, and were great. Especially good as turned up when England were playing Germany in Euros later.

A. V.

Loved the service and the price especially as it's next to the Savoy

R. R.

Lovely pub on the Strand. Good choice of beers and downstairs a great relaxing place.

D. l.

I really enjoyed our visit here. Right in the centre of Covent Garden. Food was lovely and the music excellent!

M.

Near the Savoy,so went in,looks the part and nice layout,good staff and prices and a few famous faces have been here i bet? Very chilled in a great location Can't fault it.

A. S.

We go there sometimes for beer. Today we went to eat. Food was very good, but not quite enough for the price and for a meal really. The pie was delicious but had 5 little pieces of meat inside.. 70-80grams max. I ended up eating the pastry with mash and gravy. Not quite what you want for a £14 lunch dish. The fish and chips was good. Food took quite long to come out even though it wasn't busy, around 30-35mins. Apart from that service was good. Bit disappointed overall and hungry at the end. PS: Thank you for the prompt reply. Actually the quality was good. It was the quantity that it was under expectations for the paid price.

a.

This is a great pub, was served with a smile by Fritsi and I would definitely return

T. L.

Real genuine old London pub, good range of real ales as well

R. S.

Lively pub well worth a visit if you're in the area

B. B.

A traditional pub with a very nice internal decoration. Doesn't have that sour stench of cider that the other pubs usually have and that is a big plus.

J. B.

Outstanding service, the food was amazing. Will definitely be going again and again.

k. r.

Grat pub one of the friendliest barman in London lovely smiling man great food

C. C.

Very nice pub, reasonably priced for London, food good 😁

C. i.

Good beer/cider, reasonable price/atmospheric /traditional

E. D. V.

The dinning room is a peaceful place if you want to avoid the chaos of the west end. Food wasn't amazing to be honest but I got fed, warmed up and ready pre-theatre show.

C. S.

Fabulous bar with great Guinness, what's not to like!!

s. m.

Lovely old London pub. Great atmosphere.

P. A.

Old style pub great atmosphere

S. P.

Lovely pub, very friendly chatty staff

I. B.

Went there today before and after a theatre visit. Truly fantastic all round! Best pint of Black Sheep I have ever had! Clear, and wonderful. Food was great as well. I had the fish and chips with mushy peas and my wife had the garlic chicken. Truly fantastic. We both cleared our plates! The staff were quick, efficient, and friendly and it was very busy both times we went in! It was so good I meet with a few friends every few weeks who I went to school with 50 years ago and we will go to this pub which is huge the next time we meet up! If my wife and I could give this pub more than 5 out of 5 we would!

F. S.

Love the Coal Hole. Been coming here for years. Great atmosphere.

N. W.

Nice friendly traditional pub We liked it

K. W.

One of our favourite stop offs for a quick lunch or pre theatre food when in town. Great history in the building, a decent menu and a good selection of beers and

M. c.

Nice pub friendly staff happy days

L. W.

Our favourite bar we love the atmosphere

l. l.

Lovely building, shame food isn't as good..location good for Waterloo area

L. C.

Nice lunch with family and friends before going to the Theatre

J. M.

Nice historic location, but nothing really exceptional. Nice old bar with decent selection on tap. Interesting menu that showed promise, but seemed to lack execution. The dishes were a bit overcooked or charred more heavily than I would have preferred. A bit pricey because of that. It was a good evening and a relaxing place to stop for a while. There were a lot of more interesting options a bit further north, but we were hungry and I was interested in British pub food. That desire was met, but I would look elsewhere next time I'm in that kind of a mood.

j. j.

A lovely traditional pub & good food

M. H.

It's a nice, traditional style pub but the gentlemans' toilets were horrible.

j. h.

Very nice pub, very busy place due to were it's located, so expect to stand! Very good selection of ales and lagers/beer, spirits, but you get what you pay for here, so I wouldn't say it's cheap. It's a art deco style interior design and is well kept, a worthwhile visit if you are near by😊

P. B.

Busy and lively pub, with a good range of beers. If you go here, do seek out the pie menu - lots of choice and the food really is excellent! Seating upstairs is often available if the downstairs bar is rammed full.

B. K.

Delicious traditional food and good pint to go with it. Very nice looking building with a lot of space inside. There’s a charming wine bar below the main bar. Friendly staff and good atmosphere. Perfect place to have a drink before the theatre. And after!

K. T.

Fantastic pub in in Central London. We sat downstairs in the dining area which was beautiful, very clean and quiet. The staff were polite and the food was delicious, typical pub grub which is what we were looking for. I would definitely recommend a visit whilst in London.

C. D.

This place has quitre friendly helpful staff and is quite interestingly decorated internally. Until last month I had not been in it for ages, so pleased that they are keeping up the same standards as before. The drinks are reasonably priced and the service is quite smart, but it can get a bit loud in here as people come in for after work drinks.

J. H.

Definitely best looking pub on Strand! Lovely atmosphere, huge choice of beers and tasty burgers. Staff is polite and helpful. I have nut allergy and guys behind the bar were really well trained about the menu. Overall very nice experience.

M. B.

My husband said it was the best kept pint he had in ages. The food was excellent, lovely fish and chips and garlic chicken. Good choice of meals and snacks on the menu. Be warned though it is very popular so gets very busy. Great for pre /Post theatre drinks and eats.

G. B.

Lovely old London pub with character. Friendly staff and good food, as well as good beer! I enjoyed a pint and what I thought would be a 'light lunch'. I just ordered a fish finger sandwich, which turned out to be large and came with fries. It was yummy and filling. Recommended.

S. B.

Lovely little pub with a great history, and friendly staff.

J. A. R.

Great place for a beer, breackfast or lunch.

T.

Lovely traditional pub with reasonablely priced food in a good atmosphere and they sell Pilsner Urquall😎

c. g.

We go there when we come to london about 3 times a year. Food great what ever you choose. Staff very helpful and cleaning is always good but stepped up even more now. 🥳went again and had bar food was great enjoyed the mac and cheese. Chicken bites.fish gorjons. Lovely.due to visit again soon yeh

J. B.

Put off by the loud music, completely inappropriate for this lovely pub.

N. P.

Great pub on the Strand. Staff are great

H. D.

A welcome drink on a hot day in Covent Garden. Staff very welcoming. Food is available too.

A. H.

Lovely old pub for a relaxing drink did not eat here but food looked good

v. H.

Had a fantastic time with my family the food and service were excellent

B. B.

Was very busy full of aggressive drunks which unfortunately ruined the atmosphere of this historic and impressive pub. Staff were really friendly but were beiing out under pressure by arguing groups and afformentioned drunks. Had an interesting sour G&T flavoured beer which to be honest wasn't that bad. Well priced for the area.

R. W.

Awesome service, people and food. Would definitely come again when we are in the area.

A. F.

Great London pub. Historical, well placed, and with a good range of ales, this is a "fave" when in town. Not least because of the room (there's plenty downstairs) which, for the Strand, is a boon. Especially if you're there "for one" pre-theatre. Highly Recommended !

A. M.

Great London pub in heart of London. Convenient for Savoy

j. K.

Love this pub! Wide selection of beers and wines. Nice atmosphere and helpful staff. Perfect for a night out with friends. I always pop in when I’m in central London. Would recommend!

G. h.

It's a good place and I am possibly generous on stars 3 1/2 would be better. We hyped the place up as a try a traditional London pub (we no longer live there nor the UK) for our visit. In truth in not like the real London pubs of old, it's not too gentrfiied like so many other places. We got a proper pint.. Well worth the visit to quench the thirst, near the river too

O. H.

Great London pub. Wide choice of good quality beers. Traditional pub food as well as a somewhat more exotic menu. Good service. One downside - dirty men's toilets.

M. H.

We visited this evening and our waitress, Sam, was absolutely brilliant! Her friendly nature and kindness to my daughter was excellent! Particularly appreciated the smiley faces made in her dinner! Thank you so much xx

K. W.

My first time here with some friends from work, although a few of them had been there years ago and approved my choice. It was a decent pub with a good selection of Ales and Ciders - which suited our needs. Was pretty busy inside and out due to the weather, and for the first couple of hours we had a standing table only, but as the evening went on, we managed to get a sit down table. We ordered food which everyone enjoyed. Staff were pretty quick to serve once they stopped chatting. Allowed us to run a tab which helped! The gents toilet is pretty cramped - so don't walk in their too quick or you might knock some poor unsuspecting chap into the urinal. Didn't get to go downstairs so can't comment on that. Overall a good experience in a good location for transport, and not so busy that we couldn't find an area to congregate nor that we were delayed at the bar. Will visit again.

R. L.

Food is fine... Typical pub food. Service can be a tad slow but one of a very few proper pubs in this area! Good outside area for smokers out the back in terms of street smoking. No garden but it is off the main Street so very pleasant!

k. k. s. c.

Great after work or (pre/post) theatre pub. The range on tap is pretty impressive and the bar staff are really good, even when its busy you won't wait too long. The interiors here are worth a look too.

S. B.

Apart from at peak times, this is a pub that can be relied on to have seats and a quiet enough space to talk to friends without shouting. Combine that with its location, on the Strand near the Savoy, and close to Covent Garden, and you've got a pub well worth returning to. The spacious interior is beautiful, boasting lovely murals high up the walls, but it has a somewhat faded-glory feel.

O. L.

One of my favourite pubs in London. It has great character and a wide range of beers. If you fancy a quiet chat then head downstairs to the dining area and you can get away from the hustle and bustle of London. In summer it's nice to stand in the alleyway next to the Savoy and drink as well. Added bonus of seeing actors and actresses from the Savoy theatre leave after a performance.

S. K.

Excellent pub food and great service even in the busy times

A. B.

We visited on New Year Day 2019! After parade. I chosen been an old customer. Unfortunately the standard cleanliness dropped. We had to asked that the up tables where fulled with pervious customers foods & drinks hadn’t been clearing before we could sit & use diner area. We ordered fish & chips with mash peas. Very disappointed. Fish very dry and chips where oven French fries ( not traditional English chips) and teaspoons mash peas. Price @ £13.75 I wish I went to Weatherspoons Pub instead. Bar staffs friendly and good with drinks services reasonable fairly pricing

S. G. M.

Just revisited the Coal Hole, a busy vibrant pub on the Strand, it sits at about the mid-point between Waterloo Bridge and Charing Cross.It's open seven days a week. The clientele is a mixture of tourists and people that work in the area. Therefore it is at its busiest at lunch time and between 5pm and 8pm. Bit more of a party crowd late on and at weekends. The ale is well kept and you'll find some great vegan and veggie options on the menu (lentil pie anyone).

N. D.

Service was slow. Quite a few items were not available on the menu. By the time food got to us it was greasy and cold or soggy and mushy. Impressed that a vegan option was available here but was presented poorly, not all of the ingredients were present in the meal as suggested in the menu.

M. M.

They have lots of beer on tap and decent prices here (for in the city at least). I went in with pretty low expectations but the beef pie I had was surprisingly good. Not amazing, but not bad either. Don't expect too much atmosphere but a solid place for a pint and some grub.

A. S.

What a great pub! We visited Coal Hole for lunch on a busy weekend day. We had delicious fish and chips and were recommended beers to go with it. We’ll definitely be back soon!

M. T.

Great music and coool service! Must visit!

C. D. M.

Great pub, with great Ale!!!! The reasonably priced food is very good too, and is served by polite friendly staff. A very good London pub, well worth visiting, especially after seeing a show at the Savoy Theatre which is located immediately next door.

C. B.

Enjoyed a pint of ale here. The pub is old fashioned with a good atmosphere. It was clean and tidy. The only negative was the service which was quick but not friendly at all.

A. R.

I’m torn! Having been met, abandoned at my table and made to feel an inconvenience by the sourly waitress from Sicily; I was on the verge of leaving (another would-be customer has less staying power than me and left after being ignored); meanwhile, the young lady whose calling is not customer service stomped around making as much noise as possible to signal her displeasure at those who had the temerity to expect some form of service. And then.... a chap appeared - also Sicilian I believe - who was polite, engaging and efficient. He served me a pie of the highest quality and an excellent beer. So there you are...I’m torn.

D. B.

Lovely traditional pub, good service and fantastic location

D. H.

Cosy atmosphere and great traditional pub cousine, with pies, fish and chips and small beer snacks. It's clear that a lot of locals come here after work, more so than tourists, even though it's in a touristic area. Recommend!

H.

Didn't take cash, that caused some issues as we all had cash. From out of town, we didn't expect card only.

J. J.

Excellent location. Very popular drinking hole right opposite Covent Garden and next to the Savoy. Very friendly service. We used it as our “after business” drinks venue whilst in London last month.

R. B.

Excellent location if you're making a touristy trip around London. Reasonable selection of beers and ales. However, on the evening we went it smelt like a the inside of a chip pan, which meant we didn't hang around longer than one drink in the downstairs bar. Possibly the smallest gents toilets ever...

P. S.

What a great pub! I came to London with friends and was looking for a proper British pub. Coal Hole is awesome. So many beers to choose from! Very good burgers too.

D. H.

Outstanding pub staff very friendly

S. S.

Wonderful pub filled with atmosphere. It's hard not to feel as though you are stepping back into dickensesque times when you enter, despite the fact that it's original use was as the Savoy Hotel's coal cellar. Filled with corners and hidden spaces, a million miles away from the bustle of the Strand. Highly recommended.

l. h.

Food and drinks were a reasonable price

R. W.

Still here enjoying peroni music friendly staff!

J. B.

Very lively old pub ,

P. C.

I'm forever meeting people here, both at lunchtime and in the evening, because of its incredibly convenient location. Nicholson's pub, so a good, changing selection of beers. Friendly staff and some very acceptable pub food.

D. L.

Great place, as with most pubs in London it's very very old and has so much history and detail inside. Places like this make London what it is. Food is good and there is a good selection of beers.

M. L.

Really cute space and decorated beautifully for the holidays. Not too busy, even on a Friday night. However, the service was not the best and the ocean fish and chips was a bit bland.

L. S.

Good meal good beer and nice atmosphere with friendly crew

L. O.

Nice pub. It's my local after work. It has a phenomenal gin selection (for a pub) and prices are very reasonable for central London. Check out their bottled beers before those that are on tap.

S. C. v. G. (. S. v. G.

I have fond memories of the Coal Hole as far back as the mid-Nineties, when I often spent my lunch hour outside, and bumped regularly into Richard Harris (before he played Dumbledore), whose local it was, as he resided in the nearby Savoy Hotel. He was always kind and polite and humorous. It offers a wide range of food and invites to spend time there in its historic setting.

Ø. K.

Their specialty is pies, but when we where there around six pm they where sold out for every kind but one and the food took forever to arrive. Great taste, but I would have loved a different pie. Also, waiting 40 seems to much.

J. W.

Love this place.. always call in here when I'm in London if I can. I love the old building itself. I like to come here too because my grandma's aunty worked here in the late 1800's early 1900's so I feel like I have a connection!

M. H.

Great traditional style London pub. Always busy. Seems popular for meals but I've not eaten there yet. Friendly staff.

C. M.

A great pub in a a very convenient location. A very good range of beers including lots of local breweries. Lots of history and don't forget to look up at the decor. Well worth a visit if going to the Strand or Covent Garden

I. P.

It is a handily placed pub with room upstairs located on the strand, a good stopping of point if you are on your way to covent garden. Not a massive selection of beers but what they have are usually of a good standard. Could do with a bit of an update but not to the chain standards

p. s.

Good place for a beer and a place to make memories with anyone you choose to talk too. Place has character and a good atmosphere. I'll be popping in for a beer whenever I'm near the place, so yep one of the better boozers in the area 😉

F. B.

Lovely old pub. Not changed much since I visited over 8 years ago. Full of charscter great beers but can get very crowded. Never tried the food.

P. F.

This could be a decent pub, if it weren't always monumentally crowded and the tables so slow to be cleared. If it isn't tourists, it's hoardes of office and city workers packing in after the daily shift. As a result, what could be a great ale pub (it has an impressive selection) becomes rather faceless and intimidating. If you do hit on a quieter period, like early afternoon on an autumn or spring day, the staff are happy to chat about drinks choices and are knowledgeable and friendly. At busier times, however, they are very overworked and simply don't have time to talk you through everything, something I don't blame them for at all. There is lots of space here, with my favourite being the upstairs bar. Tables go quickly, so if you're in a group of friends, split up and hover until you can pounce!

M. P.

Pub at ground floor and above. More like a wine cellar below (a separate entrance). Lovely building & good range of beer and real ales. Lively atmosphere but usually chock-a-block. Negatives are that there seems to be a pattern with Nicholson's pubs that anyone who's glanced at a wine list knows more about the drinks available than the staff. And £2.50 for a small orange juice from a carton... Has Osborne added an OJ tax & not told anyone?

K. F.

Great pub on the strand almost Dickensian from the outside opens up into a massive area inside with upstairs and although. great service a good selection of beers and food people from all walks of life an enjoyable experience

W. K.

Great beers, especially the ikley stout. Bartender is easy one the eyes, too.

k. w.

Best collection of amazing ale and beer. Craft beer options available. Sides, famous fish and chips with other great liquor options. Heritage building with amazing architecture. Must visit.

C. K.

Excellent . Loved the cellar bar

C. W.

Old pub. Very quaint. Nice staff and good selection of bitters. Quite noisy though. Music loud unless you go downstairs

s. p.

One of the best Pubs in Central London.Fine food and drink choice.Never been a lover of Pub Fish and Chips,but they do it so well here.Had the pleasure of having a drink or 2 with the great, but sadly departed Actor..Simon Ward there once.Lovely and very funny man.Did not know him before personally, but was a big fan of his work and he was happy to chat and have a drink with myself and Wife no1, after she just bowled up to him at the Bar and said " Hello Simon".It,s that kind of place..It,s just a lovely, warm, welcoming Pub thanks to the Owner and Staff.They pour a spot on Cold Guiness, and that always scores high with me..You never know which famous Actors may be in.Michael Caine back in the day!!..Big fan of his work too, and also a very nice guy..It seems this Pub is much favoured by the Actors appearing in the West End,and that says it all..

R. T.

On a cold day it was a great stop to escape the rain however it's quite pricey and cold

L. V.

The atmosphere and decor of this central pub was brilliant and they have quite an extensive supply of cask ales (the dark ales are a particular favourite). Despite not being one for pub culture I had a fantastic afternoon here. The service is ok. Some of the most comfortable chairs I've sat in in London. #Tube-tastic

M. C.

Liked this place a lot. We needed somewhere to eat and it was raining. Staff very helpful and food good. Bit slow on service but this didn't master to us, we had time to chat

J. C.

The Cole hole used to be better when they also had the basement open for drinking. When we went this time the basement was pitch black assumed closed! The upstairs is fairly nice , but do not order the Pinot noir the first glass I ordered was corked and the replacement was not much better!

C. C.

Great old school london pub. Strange having table service during covid times but i remember it being great when i have visited before - hopefully it will return to how it was once all this blows over!

L. F.

I always have a great time there! They have a very good drinks selection. The owner, Jo, is such a friendly manager! Always smiling and welcoming

K. G.

OK pub food was OK portion was also adequate

G. M.

Good standard pub with good beers and food. Very old building with historic connections. Worth dropping in but the inside is rather tired.

S.

The hole of coal. Very central location, but generally quite busy. Some good beers in tap inside and a warm atmosphere generally. Solid traditional pub

C. B.

Friendly enough for a central London pub. Made a lot of effort to be welcoming despite the strange environment they have to now operate in.

R. S.

Nice atmosphere spacious and airy on a warm evening. Great staff very obliging serving good selection of real ales hope to try the food next time which looked great. A great evening in town

J. B.

Good location - one of the few pubs left on the Strand since the plague of coffee shops which have since replaced them. Unfortunately the choice of lagers has deteriorated tragically since the days I first frequented this watering hole alongside regulars such as the late Richard Harris. No wonder scores of punters are now opting instead for a Cafe Latte in a place devoid of any character rather than drink overpriced and overrated lagers under the Peronist and Meantime brands. If I want homemade lager I'll make it myself rather than pretentiously market it as a "craft" lager that brings GMT into disrepute.

S.

Great place to escape the cold and rest. Cozy atmosphere and tidy. Really enjoyed the small balcony dining area. Food was palletable. Not the cheapest place around, but still reasonably priced. The staff was friendly as well. Would visit again.

C. M.

Nice staff. Good selection of beers but very busy and limited in space. Worth a visit though if you're passsing.

B. d. S.

Nice place , nice staff and many opinions of bear.

P. H.

Perfect London Pub. Super hot, but that couldn't be helped. Freakish summer.

A. S.

Quick service, drinks are reasonably priced. Good central location for the Strand and Trafalgar Square. Can get very busy.

P. D.

Beautiful bar worth a visit.

A. S.

Loved the music, loved my coffee and sticky toffee pudding before my three pints of cider!!! We were only supposed to have one drink to avoid the rain, and stayed there for many drinks 😊

A. S.

We chose the Coal Hole and we pleased with its friendly atmosphere good food and good ales. Unfortunately the lentil cottage pie was finished but we had scampi and a leek and Stilton pie which were all substantial.

A. S.

This pub is pretty nice. The location is great, the prices are okay and it looks unique. Good option for rest and drink a beer while visiting London.

M. C.

Great cosy pub with excellent pints of London Pride.

D. K.

Small, cosy pub on the strand. Convenient for a quick pint but if you happen to wander in between 5pm and 7pm then expect it to be very busy with lots of suited men having a pint after work, transitioning into visitor groups popping in for a drink pre-theatre/meal.

G. H.

A real traditional pub. Well worth a visit.

C. M.

Great quiet pub in central with a good selection of beers and drinks fairly typical but well looked after and a rarity in central London

A. M.

traditional pub with warm atmosphere. we were a group of 5 and we had dinner and a pint each. the interiors were cozy, the staff wss friendly, and the dinner was good.

Y. K.

Good venue to hangout for drinks, interesting decor, fast service and helpful staff. Might be a bit too busy after work but that's usual central London.

N. W.

A decent chain pub with three floors so lots of seating although it does get very busy at peak times. Who doesn't enjoy the prospect of saying 'fancy going down the Coal Hole?' to your mates?

C. B.

Traditional london pub..good atmosphere

S. d.

Great steak sarnie! Fairly quiet for Friday lunch. Perfect for our large party of 14 downstairs. Great and patient service too

I. B.

Would have been 4 stars but the Gents were out of action

J. D.

Friendly servers, their pies are fantastic and competitively priced! Will definitely revisit, great to visit a place which actually has space between tables in London!

j. t.

Noisy sunday lunch with happy londonian fellows ! Kids welcolmed though ! Great moment with my daughter. Craft beer available !

A. L.

To many ales on tap at once to be able to keep them in good condition. Good steak and ale pie: short crust pastry all around rather than a puff pastry top on a bowl of stew

A. W.

A quiet restaurant under a busy pub of the same name. Great spot to get a traditional English pie without the nose and clamor of the pub environment.

D. J.

I like the pub, busy as it was on a Friday night, the staff coped magnificently, and the bar snacks and real ale are very good

M. C.

Fantastic location, very friendly staff. Great selection of beers and ales(local). A must try menu with traditional pies. Highly recommend.

a. s.

Great service and a lovely pint

K. L.

Ladies loo was difficult to get to...too dark to see .

B.

What a great pub and restaurant good food great service had the rib eye steak cooked to perfection the missus had the Nickersons burger she said it was the best burger she has had.The staff were friendly and helpful and the back opens on to the stage door of the Savoy theatre were we meet Brian Connelly and Bonnie Langford from 9 to 5 I recòmmend this pub

N. W.

Food service seemed a bit slow, but it did look good! Decor was great and felt like an old fashioned pub - well worth a visit for tourists and brits.

G. M.

They need to get better at clearing and cleaning tables!! Ok prices. Guinness was well poured. Nice crowd on early Saturday - bit touristy, obviously, but pleasant.

K. W.

Lovely pub friendly staff clean and tidy.

N. P.

Oldie worldie staff very nice.

S. N.

Historic for theatre goers packed to the rafters great selection of beers and wines . Didn't eat here but the food looked good and diners were not complaining

F. L.

Decent pub on the strand. Good selection of ales which was nice. Traditional feel and food looked good, although I didn't have any.

n. b.

Good place to have a drink with friends after work. lively atmosphere withe good choice of wine and spirits. Close to Charing Cross and Covent garden. There is a bar on street level or downstairs.

k. H.

Good pub serving a selection of Ales and right next door to the Savoy Theatre . Food is served here but you are paying London prices and that is the only thing that lets this pub down .

B. B.

It was OK , not very comfortable seating though

M. A.

Loved it. Great staff

K. M.

Lovely little pub although I found it a bit expensive.

A. M.

Comfortable and cosy little Nicholson's pub. Decently-kept ale and friendly staff, especially considering its obviously touristy location. Pleasant place to pause for a pint.

N. H.

Watching the football, what a atmosphere, staff are fantastic, having the best time

S. W.

Old and atmospheric but a typical West End boozer, full of pre show crowd and then suits, or worse, beardy ponytails in suits. Good choice on draft though.

J. S.

This place is absolutely amazing. Fish and chips is huge, atmosphere is great, bartenders are awesome. Well worth a stop.

T. C.

Busy central london pub, slow service and obviously london prices. Decor I found drab however the reason being is its obvious age/history ( former coal cellar of adjacent Savoy )and its listed status.

M. R.

A great atmosphere. Very busy though even on a weekday afternoon. Liked the choices of wines.

J. H.

Brilliant atmosphere, great drinks served by friendly staff. Food really tasty.😊

J. G.

Lovely home made type steak and mushroom pie and decent fish and chips ,good ale , good atmosphere noisy - people enjoying themselves. Warm and cost

J. H.

This well known pub on the Strand, which has some connection with the Savoy nearby, has a fairly grand ground floor, and also a basement bar. Not a bad place for a pie and a pint.

M. B.

I WORKED AT THE SAVOY HOTEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS,AND "THE COALHOLE PUB" WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL SAVOY BUILDING PROJECT BUILT IN 1904,SO IT WAS ON THE DOORSTEP SO TO SPEAK.AS A YOUNG MAN,AFTER WORK, WE WOULD MEET THERE,AND HAD SOME GREAT TIMES TOP FISH AND CHIPS, PIES, ETC AND A GREAT SELECTION OF BEER,WINE,GINS,AND CHAMPAGNE,I CAN SAY A FAIR PORTION OF WHAT I EARNED IN THOSE DAYS,WENT TO THE UPKEEP OF ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PUBS. FASCINATED WITH PUBS FROM THE AGE OF 12, I OPENED MY OWN PUB IN KINGSTON AT THE AGE OF 23.IF YOU GO TO LONDON,DO NOT MISS THIS ABSOLUTE GEM.MY DAUGHTER SUSAN VISITED IN 2016,SHE LOVED IT TOO!!!!! ( ADDED A PIC OF FISH AND CHIPS, DOESNT IT MAKE YOU FEEL HUNGRY??)

G. K.

I 1st went into THE COAL HOLE in 1966 , I returned on the 31 July 2021.

O. l. M. i.

Great place to drop by for a pint.

v. b.

Quant iconic place in the Savoy, very little seating, a bit expensive. Staff was nice but the place could use a wipe down.

M. J.

Restaurant almost completely empty but bar upstairs was packed. Fish and chips looked great, I had the ale beef pie which was excellent

G.

While the selection of beer and atmosphere in a central London location were good, the food portions, particularly fish and chips, could not be recommended.

T. D.

Hi only gave it 3 because we just had the one drink, on the way back to our hotel. Didn't move from the bar. So dont know what the loo's where like, or staff courtesy ? but will call again when down the smoke next year. Cheers. T.

N. H.

Popped out for a quick afternoon pint, very friendly pub, great service too.

J.

Great pub! Lovely food and nice range of well kept beers, in a very cosy comfortable setting

D. S.

Nice staff, good beer

m. p.

Pleasant enough, only had a round of drinks but next time we'll definitely try the grub

J. H.

As South African on a soccer holiday...we had our first pint in Coal hole. What a lovely experience. Recommend you ask for Roland

J. K.

I liked this place very much. Good beer selection, the ales are good here. And well, if you're hungry, you can eat a relatively good steak too. ;-)

L. D.

Good selection of gin and ale. Quirky old pub. A tad on the touristy side, but the staff are attentive.

T. G.

One of my favourite watering holes in Westminster, great looking venue, superb variety of alcohol and good grub

R. T.

Good historic pub. Worth a visit

S. P.

Used to be better, Now you cannot have a drink downstaris, Which is my favourties part of the pub. The building is beautiful though.

J. O.

great pub on the strand, the food looked nice (but i haven't tried it), decent G&T. Friendly helpful staff.

J. G.

Great pies and a proper traditional pub with over 12 cask beers. Perfect to enjoy with friends. Friendly staff.

J. V.

Reasonable place for a pint on the Strand. Didn't try the food, but judging by the look of the dishes, and the amount of people eating in there, it looks like a good place for some grub as well.

B. S.

Nice big pub to sit and have a quiet drink with friend. 12 is usually last orders and they want you out 15 minutes after that.

L. H.

Spacious pub near the Covent Garden. Great choice of beers and food.

T. J.

Excellent food and beer only surpassed by friendly and efficient staff-- always call in when meeting up with friends.

P. R.

Just had a delicious lunch b4 a show.lovely friendly staff.highly recommended this pub 5*

H. T. R.

Only popped in for a soft drink. Barman quick with banter. Toilets clean. Bar area clean and tidy. Good prices. Worth a call.

E. A.

We popped in for a quiet drink and sat at the mezzanine level. Service at the bar was slow but the atmosphere was good.

V. V.

Great old bub in the heart of London - the City area.

D. M.

Beer good. Food nice need more staff downstairs in restaurant but nice evening

M. B.

The Nicholson's beer was excellent. Very busy pub and brilliant staff.

A. M.

Dropped in around 10.00pm on a Tuesday, by which time the crowds had disappeared and the pub was much quieter. Quick and friendly service.

K. C.

That's a busy but pretty pub located very centrally in London. There's a good collection of ales including Adnams Broadside. I'd easily come back.

B. S.

Was visiting from the States looking for a nice place to dine and have a pint. Great service and food. I will visit the Coal Hole again

C. F.

Great pub Excellent food. Friendly and helpful staff. I will go back.

N. T.

Great pub on the Strand. Lots of real ales, good lager and bottles of beer. Friendly and helpful staff

L. B.

Good, traditional pub. Beer selection fails to impress though to be fair, they have some good, regularly changing real ales.

R. R.

Super good fish and chips and drinks. Low key music and good place to have a few friends and a conversation with everyone over drinks and food.

S. J.

Interesting and busy pub, food looks good but not cheap. Reasonable set of beers.

S. D.

Lovely, well kept beer, quiet on a Monday nigjt, then flooded post theatre exit! Funny engaging staff.

J. A.

Decent price for the fish and chips. The food was good, but the fries where cold. The bar upstairs smelled like old pee.

M. R.

Nice pub built in the old coal house of the Savoy Hotel, always busy but friendly. A nicholson pub with a good range of food.

A. K.

Lovely old pub right next door to the Savoy hotel overpriced with their peroni like a lot of pubs nowadays the men's toilets need to be extended outwards in the backyard they are way too small

r. R.

Nice pub.

D. L.

Started my stag do in there and me and my mates had a lot of fun. Proper pub with great beers and food.

C. C.

Booking was very easy and staff were really helpful and attentive. Good covid system in place.

J. H.

I like this pub. Obviously quiet of late but good traditional wooden pub.

D. O.

Great beer and well staffed so we didn't have to wait too long even though the place was really busy.

D. V.

Excellent beers selection. Fish and chips also very good. Nice ambient

D. d. l. V.

Nice pub with really people around us but our barman was not nice, too bad

K. E.

Good traditional pub. Serve food and drink daily. Great for all people, groups, couples, work drinks and tourists.

S. M.

Great wee pub!

R.

Excellent place to watch the rugby the bar staff were helpful and very informative about their sports And what pleased me even further the selection of ales and lagers was vast Thank you for a great super Saturday for the rugby.

S. L.

Love it , an amazing piece of London history

J. H.

Good old fashioned pub.

G. S.

Great vibey pub. Great steak and Ale pie. Best I've ever had.

F. D.

Interesting pub/bar in the heart of Covent Garden. Avoid at peak tourist times, but well worth a visit.

A. M.

Very nice place, lovely food. I always visit them when I'm in London. Very recommendable.

K. B.

Lovely pub with huge choice of beers on tap. My favourite fish and chips in London.

R. S.

The Coal Hole became famous when actors began to frequent the place more than a century ago. It's in The Strand next to The Savoy Hotel and was first used to store the coal used to heat the hotel.

B.

Ok place. The selection of beers was average. The service was not attentive, essentially it was self-serve. The food is unremarkable.

P. P.

Busy London pub. Decent beer selection. West End prices. Nonchalant staff.

C. H.

Nice Pub. Great Gin

R. B.

A good range of beers and friendly staff. Avoid going straight after work, it's very busy then.

M. L.

Amazing pub with great beers and food, in a prime location right next to the savoy theatre.

D. C.

Friendly staff and good range of cask ales...but FREEZING COLD (had lunch in coat, scarf etc!) and food rather underwhelming for the price.

Y. A.

Food was tasty although it came out a little slow and take off your layers because the room was warmer than the outside temperature.

J. V.

Decent pub with maybe 10-15 beers on tap. Felt a bit rushed by the bartender to order something.

W. P.

Very busy pub on a Friday afternoon. Lovely decor & friendly

c. s.

A last stop before home after theatre. Great!

c. f.

This is a very cosy pub, very friendly and weren’t bothered about letting kids in, which is handy when other pubs won’t let kids in.

A. H.

Friendly staff. Masks worn and app to order outdoors.

G. B.

Quirky but very popular little Pub..bang smack in the middle of The Strand ..be prepared to stand..very busy

n. c.

Good honest pub

S. C.

Very helpful staff, good beers

D. R.

Nice pub, lovely original fittings and a good atmosphere!

K. L.

Nice pub ... not too keen on the Heavy Metal music though ... maybe different on other nights ....

d. r.

Love this pub, lots of character and charm, many actors and Savoy residents have been here

M. M.

Perfectly serviceable pub, but given the location they could make this a memorable place to have a pint. An opportunity lost really.

A. L.

Nice pub but can get a bit loud. Handy place to meet for a few drinks before going to a show in the Adelphi theatre.

J. B.

Nice traditional pub. Queues are expected as Central but still not so bad 👍🏼

S. W.

This place is great and the beer is amazing. They usually have a few good cask ales on.

o. K.

Their food r good

M. J.

Great pub

J.

Decent little pub with decent beer selection. Shame the prices aren't the same as at the King William IV in Leyton!

S. P.

First time here. Travelled up from Bristol. Very friendly. Good selection of drinks AND gin and more gin

e. r.

Came down as my uncle used to work here and in over 40 years it has hardly changed! Beer is good and it has a good atmosphere

S. T.

Superb Old Style London Boozer. Food is very good & reasonably priced. Good selection of beers.

R. H.

Popular tourist destination pub located conveniently on The Strand adjacent to the theatre shows and Covent Garden. Serves a good variety of typical English drinks.

M. N. P.

Found by chance good find a proper pub.....Had lunch and a bottle of wine average prices for London overall very happy..

M.

Friendly excellent service 👌

L. H.

Great beer in a great location. Airy premises, prompt service and central location. Highly recommend!

J. H.

Great place for drinks 🍸 👌

C. E.

Good location on Strand with a basement dining section if you want some quiet while you are eating and a fun upstairs section if you fancy a drink and being social. Defo going back here again.

M. B.

Not my favorite pies in the city but still very good. Cool atmosphere and great beer.

S. K.

Nice pub! As a tourist from Norway i felt like it closed early but, that's not up to them!

R. C.

Nice pub polite staff and friendly customers. Always attracts a nice crowd of people.

l. d.

Good food and great range of beers, ideal for the Savoy theater and very reasonably priced for the location

M. S.

Great pies and traditional English pub food in an atmospheric locale. Highly recommended.

N. M.

Great British pub. Not many left so make sure you go

J. M.

Great pub on the Strand. Good selectrion of beers and gins. A favourite when in London.

J. H.

Friendly staff. We were able to find a quiet spot upstairs. Must eat here next time.

D. C.

Nice traditional pub. Gets busy with theatre goers which is why I've knocked off a star.

A. A.

I like these old pubs pay it a visit

A. J.

Love coming to this pub great beers great bar staff great atmosphere

A. A.

Reasonable pub. Gets mad busy so getting served is usually a mission. Good beers though

A. S.

Great atmosphere, large selection of beers & largers and a great spot to end your evening.

T. C.

Almost empty but still had to wait 30 minutes to get my food. Not great either. Decent portions.

M. C.

Good selection of ales but I couldn't see to many lagers. Atmospere was pleasant enough and bad staff were friendly & helpful.

E. T. B.

This pub is one of the best I have been in London worth a nice drink after theater

C. M.

Good selection of Ales and located on the Strand so good for Theatres and the West End. Have eaten here before and was Nice 😀

M. K.

Good pub. Nice range of beers and severs food.

P. C.

The atmosphere was good and the ultimate chicken burger was amazing. We did see a mouse in the upstairs food area.

L. B.

Good location and nice old traditional English pub but was overrun by rude suits and most of the ale had ran out witch wasn't ideal.

J. M.

Tasty pies, but even though there were multiple empty tables, service was very slow at all stages (ordering, getting drinks, food)

S. K.

The best London pub ever !!!

p. j.

Table 13! Our order went to another pub!

A. I.

Good food. Reasonably priced. Nice compact dining area.

S. W.

Great atmosphere and a lovely traditional English old fashioned pub

H. B.

Nice London pub.Good range of ales and decent pub food.

p. c.

Lovely old pub with lots of history..there's s a downstairs as well !!

C. G.

Banging pub went here with my brother classy relaxing and full of character nice ppl and staff!

G. W.

Good pub where the meals are excellent and a good variety of real ales

A. F.

Pretty good for a central pub. London Pride and other beers on tap

A. W.

Food nice staff good

M. A.

Very welcoming and traditional. I've been coming here for years and always enjoy Nicholson's hospitality

P. F.

Quirky little pub serves good food and s good selection of beers and not to baby priced for a London pub

R. H.

Great oldie worldie pub Good ales Friendly welcoming and helpful staff Good wholesome food.

K. S.

The coal hole = This name numerically represents the number of Jupiter. Biggest number of all. Good for peoples who have birth date match with the number. For more info 📩 us.

A. A.

A great traditional pub which is always good for a drop in if the occasion is 'chat over a beer'

g. d.

Great pub good atmosphere brilliant selection of beers.

K. D.

Nice friendly place to dodge the Covent Garden crowd and grab a bite to eat downstairs (where there's a bit more room! )

S. B.

Central london pub. Had the beer and the attentive staff to ensure a good pit stop on a pub crawl.

L. O.

Always go here for a drink when I London, great PH always good atmosphere.

P. M.

Busy. Pleasant bar staff

P.

Said to be the original coal cellar for the Savoy hotel good food and a good range on the beer not to badly priced

T. W.

Lovely place, fantastic atmosphere and great selection of beers.

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