Come rain or shine, London’s pub scene is ready and waiting to welcome you (and often, your dog) in, sit you down and provide some tonic for the soul. Across the winter months, our pub pilgrimage leads us toward crackling fires, cosy crannies and warming comfort food while in the summer, it’s the establishments with sun-drenched beer gardens and alfresco BBQs that earn our custom. The deciding factor though, and one that transcends the seasons, is whether or not we can bring our four-legged friend.
Dog-friendly pubs in London, the ones that welcome punters and pooches alike, are golden, and make the process of meeting up with pals for a pint (and a refreshing bowl of water for the tail-wagging brigade) a whole lot easier. From canal-side haunts in Islington, armed with doggy bowls, biscuits and blankets, to Bethnal Green boozers that often hold events especially for their punter’s pets and a perfectly-placed pub in Lambeth that sits right beside Waterloo Millennium Green so that ‘walkies’ are never too far away.
The Phoenix, Chelsea
Somewhat of an institution among locals (and avid viewers of certain Chelsea-based television reality shows), The Phoenix is tucked away, just off the famed King’s Road, on Smith Street, and offers, among other things, some of the best people-watching in London. From quirky residents to achingly cool ‘Sloanie’ socialites, it’s certainly a watering hole that attracts an eclectic crowd. During the winter it’s best to book a cosy corner to nurse a pint in ahead of time, while the summer months see the addition of the outdoor terrace for lethargic Sunday Bloody Marys. The menu is a modern twist on traditional favourites, with ingredients ethically sourced, while the drinks list includes a variety of British cask ales, locally brewed favourites and continental classics.
Address: The Phoenix, 23 Smith Street, London SW3 4EW
Website: thephoenixchelsea.co.uk
The Victoria, PaddingtonAnnabel Staff
The Victoria, Paddington
Widely known as one of the capital’s best boozers, The Victoria attracts a steady stream of loyal locals, curious tourists, dog owners in need of refuelling and literary and history buffs alike, keen to see the place where Queen Victoria stopped off her on her way to Paddington Station and the venue where Charles Dickens wrote Our Mutual Friend. Inside, the plush, 19th-century building holds a walk-in bar on the ground floor and a smarter restaurant upstairs, though sadly, dogs aren’t allowed up to dine. However, the cosy wood panelling, decorative wallpaper and unusually opulent (for a pub) atmosphere on the ground floor are enough to keep pooches and their parents feeling well-catered for. And the pub has four shiny awards to its name to prove it.
Address: The Victoria, 10A Strathearn Place, Tyburnia, London W2 2NH
Website: victoriapaddington.co.uk
The Magdala Tavern, Hampstead
An insider recommendation from local expert, Alex Neal, The Magdala Tavern easily earns itself a place on Hampstead’s prestigious roster of roadhouses. Colloquially referred to as The Maggy by residents, the pub is tucked away behind the high street, straddling Hampstead Heath (just a five-minute walk from the men’s and women’s swimming ponds) and only recently reopened after extensive renovations. The boozer itself though is anything but new. It was named after the British victory in the 1868 Battle of Magdala and later became infamous as the location where Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Great Britain, shot her boyfriend in 1955. Things are rather less gruesome today though, with the focus instead being on the range of keg beers, casks, ciders, small-batch spirits and ever-changing grilled specials that are on offer daily from the theatre-style kitchen.
