Morning:
14°c
Some fares could fall by more than a third when Oyster is extended to every national rail station in London, it has emerged
More...
New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
Phone: 020 7253 5075
Website: http://-
Extra info:
Food - Mon-Fri till 2pm
Good for: Traditional pub, Good food.
Not as traditional: Fox & Anchor has changed hands
Having known this historic pub for more than two decades, it is with some relief that we can report it is finally back and though perhaps not entirely as we would have hoped for, at least it hasn't become a dreaded office/studio/apartment conversion.
Photos of Smithfield's meat market workers on the walls notwithstanding, this pub has made a move upmarket, definitely more pinstripe and far less bloodstained apron, and it no longer has the multicultural feel we loved about the old place. However, there's a range of interesting beers on the six hand-pumps and, as is the norm nowadays, the menu's gone gastro (no longer the fry-ups and meat-and-two-veg of old) - the menu and prices reflect this change.
The new owners, Malmaison, have kept the pub largely intact. The exterior is listed and inside the snugs of old are still there and there's been a general tidy up of the old place - the most obvious change being the zinc-topped bar.
The friendly staff work hard to keep you happy, and the addition of six bedrooms must keep them on their toes. All-in-all it's a good effort, especially if you're looking for another well-run gastropub and it's already proving to be very popular, but for us it's much of a muchness.
Smithfield is a unique and historic locale that's celebrated its diverse appeal over many centuries. If we get many more developments like this, we'll lose that uniqueness - you might as well be in midtown Manchester, Edinburgh or Glasgow - not the historic heart of an old city, where close by there's a 12th century priory church, a Victorian meat market and the site of William Wallace's execution.
CLIENTELE: office, market workers
NEAREST STATION: Barbican station
FEATURES: function room available, outdoor seating, separate restaurant
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
