Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Pubs & Clubs
Events
Beers & Breweries
Join Us

Shakespeare's Head, London

You have visited this venue
View all visits

Directions

You want to visit - You have this in
CAMRA voucher scheme
Operator: Wetherspoon
Africa House, 64-68 Kingsway, Holborn, London, WC2B 6BG (View on Google Map)

The pub takes its name from a famous pub that was located nearby until the entire street (Wych Street) was demolished over 100 years ago, shortly before Africa House, was built. Converted from a bank/building society in 1998.

Now a cavernous Wetherspoon pub whose convenient location means that it is nearly always busy, even weekends when the absence of the work crowd is made up for by shoppers, out of towners and people starting their Saturday nights (on Sunday many other local establishments are closed, which helps boost its custom). The nearby location of the London School of Economics means that students swell the pub's population during term time. Even though this is a very busy pub, service is normally quick from an efficient staff team.

Following CAMRA's updated definition of "real cider", pubs such as this selling for example Old Rosie and Orchard Pig or other ciders such as Thistly Cross, Stans, Gwynt Y Draig, Broadoak etc. no longer qualify for the "Real cider" tag.

Historic Interest

Grade II listing (Africa House):- 1921-2. By Trehearne and Norman. Portland stone faced steel frame. 6 storeys and 2 storey set back attic. 9 windows. Double height fluted Doric screen, with inset shops and bank, flanks a round-arched triumphal arch style entrance inscribed "Africa House" and surmounted by lions couchant. Upper storeys set back with central distyle-in-antis screen rising from 3rd to 5th floor; metal-framed windows, 5th floor with Greek scroll aprons and enrichment to heads of bays suggesting pilasters. Entablature with deep mutule cornice surmounted by a pediment of carved figures and animals. Plain attic storeys with cornice and blocking course having a central antefixa. Return to Twyford Place continues the design with a long screen.

Information for this venue is provided by the North London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Camden
Last updated
20/02/2025
Last surveyed
09/10/2024
Leasehold owner
Wetherspoon
Freehold owner
Coinface Ltd
Pub ID
WLD/16022
Asset of Community Value
Premium Access Required

You must be a Explorer Pass or CAMRA Member to be able to view specially curated GBG descriptions

Premium Access Required
Monday
8:00am - Midnight
Tuesday
8:00am - Midnight
Wednesday
8:00am - Midnight
Thursday
8:00am - Midnight
Friday
8:00am - 1:00am
Saturday
8:00am - 1:00am
Sunday
8:00am - Midnight
Monday
8:00am - 10:00pm
Tuesday
8:00am - 10:00pm
Wednesday
8:00am - 10:00pm
Thursday
8:00am - 10:00pm
Friday
8:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday
8:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday
8:00am - 10:00pm

TasteMatch

Unlock TasteMatch and all of CAMRA’s online tools from just 99p/month with our Explorer Pass, or join as a member to get the best of pubs, beer and breweries plus discounts at the bar.

Current beers

This Pub serves 5 changing beers and 2 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Greene King - Abbot TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
ABBOT ALE PUMP CLIP CLOSE UP
Greene King - Abbot Premium Bitter • 5%
ABBOT ALE PUMP CLIP CLOSE UP
Greene King - Abbot

This beer is served regularly at Shakespeare's Head, London.

ABV 5%
Dispense Handpump
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Sharp's - Doom Bar TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar Session Bitter • 4%
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar

This beer is served regularly at Shakespeare's Head, London.

ABV 4%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Dartmoor - Jail Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Dartmoor Jail Ale Pump Clip
Dartmoor - Jail Ale Premium Bitter • 4.8% Spotted once.
Dartmoor Jail Ale Pump Clip
Dartmoor - Jail Ale

Spotted once. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Shakespeare's Head, London.

ABV 4.8%
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
Changing

Up to 5 or more rotating to give a spread across beer types, usually with a couple of London beers

Changing beers typically include: Twickenham (varies) , Windsor & Eton (varies)

Source: National


Your scores

Join CAMRA to access beer scoring and view scores for other pubs. Become a member.
Retrieving scores
You have no beer scores submitted.

Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Breakfast served from opening, and then the main menu
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Seating on road at front of pub
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Until 8pm
Disabled Access Disabled Access
Entrance on the right-hand side of the pub
Smoking Smoking
4 Tables outside entrance
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
LocAle LocAle
Twickenham
Cask Marque Cask Marque
Quiet Quiet
CAMRA Voucher Scheme CAMRA Voucher Scheme
Transport
Close to bus routes (5m)
1, 59, 6, 91, 168, 171, 188, 243, 521
Closest station (1050m)
London Charing Cross
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (100m)
Holborn

Help keep our information accurate!

Notice an error or missing details? Help us keep our pub & club information accurate by sharing any corrections or updates you spot.

Suggest an edit

Nearby

Open
Simmons Bar
Simmons Pub, in London
Cask Ale not available
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 04-07-2013
Open
Ship Tavern
Independent Pub, in London
3 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
Photo date: May 2013. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 03-08-2013
Open
All Bar One
All Bar One (Mitchells & Butlers) Pub, in London
Cask Ale not available
Closed • Opens at 6:00pm
Bar Polski
Independent Pub, in London
Cask Ale not available
Photo date: May 2013. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 03-08-2013
Open
George
Morton-Scott Pub Company Pub, in London
2 Regular Beers
Photo date: May 2013. (Pub, External). Published on 05-08-2013
Closed • Opens in 10 minutes
Sway
Stonegate Pub, in London
Cask Ale not available
Photo date: May 2013. (Pub, External). Published on 03-08-2013
Open
Hercules Pillars
Beds & Bars Ltd Pub, in London
1 Regular, 3 Changing Beers
(Key). Published on 02-11-2014
Open
Princess Louise
Samuel Smith Pub, in London
1 Regular Beer
  • Historic Interior
Open
Holborn Dining Room
Pub, in London
Cask Ale not available
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 17-04-2019
Open
Square Pig
Metropolitan (Greene King) Pub, in London
1 Regular Beer
  • CAMRA discount scheme


Recently Viewed

(Pub). Published on 25-08-2014
Open
Plough
Pub operator tied to pub company Pub, in Norwood Green
1 Regular, 1 Changing Beers
(Pub, External, Key). Published on 12-02-2017
Open
Lord Northbrook
Fuller's Pub, in Lee
2 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
Prince Albert, Bexleyheath. (Pub, External). Published on 12-06-2013
Open
Prince Albert
Pub operator tied to pub company Pub, in Bexleyheath
3 Regular Beers
Oddies. (Pub, Key). Published on 09-08-2023
Open
Oddies
Not known Pub, in Sunderland
Cask Ale not available
Chelsea Potter-1 Nov 2021. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 21-11-2021
Open
Chelsea Potter
Greene King Pub, in Chelsea
2 Regular Beers
  • CAMRA discount scheme
(Pub, Bar, Key). Published on 25-04-2018
Open
Betjeman Arms
Young's Pub, in London
1 Regular, 1 Changing Beers
(Pub, Key). Published on 20-04-2023
Open
Blacksmiths Arms
Pub operator tied to pub company Pub, in Rotherhithe
1 Regular, 1 Changing Beers
  • Historic Interior
Furze Wren, Bexleyheath. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 12-06-2013
Open
Furze Wren
Wetherspoon Pub, in Bexleyheath
3 Regular, 7 Changing Beers
  • CAMRA voucher scheme
Queens Head W1 Nov 2023. (Pub, External, Key). Published on 05-11-2023
Open
Queens Head
Independent Pub, in London
1 Regular, 2 Changing Beers
© Campaign for Real Ale 2023 - 2025 (ce-10)
Home