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Nags Head, London (Kevin Moran)

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Operator: Independent
53 Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8ED (View on Google Map)
No website available

No mobile 'phones and hang your coat up!.

An early Victorian beer house, this little unspoilt two bar pub has been a free house since 1991, and is run by former guardsman and actor Kevin Moran. Most patrons would agree that he could be described as one of the more characterful pub landlords in London and he has made his own rules for his pub. Characterful also have been some of the regulars, who have included actors Richard Harris and Tom Baker.

The upper, front bar claims the lowest counter in London. Mounted on the counter is a marvellous pewter beer engine with pink ceramic Chelsea Pottery handpulls, with up to three used to serve Adnams cask beers. The walls are crammed with fascinating pictures, and a collection of memorabilia includes a ‘What the butler saw’ machine and two early fruit machines.

WCs are upstairs not downstairs. NB coats must be hung on the provided hooks and Kevin bans mobile phones from the pub! Children are not allowed, and it has also been reported that dogs are no longer allowed. Interior photographs may be taken by tourists, but this is at the discretion of the landlord.

The venue has been described as having "a rarified, old school atmosphere and the chattiest clientele this side of the Thames." Hence you may find your conversation joined by others in the pub.

Ale prices reflect the upmarket area; think of them as an entry charge to witness a unique pub!

The pub has long been been cash-only for bills below £16 (at date of this entry). Further updates welcome.

Historic Interest

The Nags Head was a tenanted Ind Coope pub run from 1929 to 1973/74 by long time landlord Leonard Cole and his wife. Photos online show his name displayed on the frontage. A young couple ran it for a short time until in 1975 Ind Coope (by then part of Allied Breweries) undertook a major refurbishment to create the historic looking pub we know today. It appeared in the 1977 and 1979 editions of the CAMRA 'Real Beer in London' pub guide selling Ind Coope Bitter from Romford and the new Ind Coope Burton Ale from Burton. Until 1980/81 all Allied pubs in Greater London traded under the Ind Coope name but then four decentralised semi-autonomous trading units (brands) were created, with Ind Coope retained for one unit and the other three taking the names of former breweries absorbed in the '50s and '60s, namely Benskins (of Watford), Friary Meux and Taylor Walker. Pubs were allocated to trading units randomly with no historic relationship to the former breweries whose names were displayed. The Nags Head was one of the few central London pubs branded 'Benskins' and the 1973 RBIL Supplement recorded Benskins Bitter (brewed at Ind Coope Romford) as being sold alongside Burton Ale. The Nags Head was sold off by Allied in 1994 to Kevin Moran who subsequently displayed his own name outside and runs it as an independent pub; it has remained in his ownership to date.

Information for this venue is provided by the West London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Westminster
Last updated
29/12/2024
Last surveyed
26/02/2020
Leasehold owner
other
Freehold owner
Grosvenor Estates
Pub ID
WLD/15961
Asset of Community Value

This pub of considerable charm and character appears on first sight to be of great antiquity, but closer inspection reveals that it has been subject to considerable alteration over the years. There was certainly a pub in the building in the 19th century, with the essentials of the current layout visible on plans dating from 1906, but the configuration of the interior was modified during or before 1947 and again in 1974.

On entering the main door, there is a small ground floor with two fireplaces. Wooden panelling on the walls is covered with old artefacts and memorabilia, although the majority were probably purchased and installed in the late 20th century, including the stoves which have been placed in the fireplaces. Old photographs suggest that the bar counter may be made from the timbers of an older bar, and the unusual beer engines date from the mid-19th century. The back of bar was probably constructed in 1974; there is an illuminated brewery logo on the fascia. The current bar was knocked together from a tiny public bar and smoke room, and the counter has at least been moved from the position it occupied between 1906 and 1947. Stairs lead to a small upstairs drinking area.

A second set of stairs lead downwards to a lounge. This is again wood panelled with a fireplace at the rear of the room,. The floor consists of stone flags which may predate the mid-20th century modifications. Plans reveal that in the early 20th century the bulk of this area was occupied by a kitchen, but a larger space was created, probably during or before 1947 by the removal of the kitchen. The downstairs bar counter was installed at the same time.

Although partitions have been removed, the basic early 20th century configuration in the ground floor and lower bars can still be detected. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the age of many of the fittings and the dates of the mid-century internal modifications, the pub is undoubtedly of Some Regional Interest.

This pub of considerable charm and character appears on first sight to be of great antiquity, but closer inspection reveals that it has been subject to considerable alteration over the years. There was certainly a pub in the building in the 19th century, with the essentials of the current layout visible on plans dating from 1906, but the configuration of the interior was modified during or before 1947 and again in 1974.

On entering the main door, there is a small ground floor with two fireplaces. Wooden panelling on the walls is covered with old artefacts and memorabilia, although the majority were probably purchased and installed in the late 20th century, including the stoves which have been placed in the fireplaces. Old photographs suggest that the bar counter may be made from the timbers of an older bar, and the unusual beer engines date from the mid-19th century. The back of bar was probably constructed in 1974; there is an illuminated brewery logo on the fascia. The current bar was knocked together from a tiny public bar and smoke room, and the counter has at least been moved from the position it occupied between 1906 and 1947. Stairs lead to a small upstairs drinking area.

A second set of stairs lead downwards to a lounge. This is again wood panelled with a fireplace at the rear of the room,. The floor consists of stone flags which may predate the mid-20th century modifications. Plans reveal that in the early 20th century the bulk of this area was occupied by a kitchen, but a larger space was created, probably during or before 1947 by the removal of the kitchen. The downstairs bar counter was installed at the same time.

Although partitions have been removed, the basic early 20th century configuration in the ground floor and lower bars can still be detected. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the age of many of the fittings and the dates of the mid-century internal modifications, the pub is undoubtedly of Some Regional Interest.

General information about historic pub interiors

Restoration

This pub of considerable charm and character appears to be a genuine early Victorian beer house, but it has been considerably altered. The upper bar is the combination of a tiny public bar and smoke room. It has two fireplaces and the lowest counter in London if not in the country. Mounted on the counter is a marvellous pewter beer engine with pink ceramic handpulls. The walls are crammed with pictures and a collection of memorabilia includes a ‘What the butler saw’ machine and two early fruit machines. Stairs lead to a minute upstairs drinking area and there is a small panelled lounge bar downstairs with a fireplace and stone flags. House rules include that coats must be hung on hooks and no use of mobile phones. There are real ales and meals.

General information about outstanding conversions and restorations
Saturday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 10:30pm
Monday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Friday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 9:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 9:00pm
Monday
Noon - 9:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 9:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 9:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 9:00pm
Friday
Noon - 9:00pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 2 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen
Adnams - Southwold Bitter
Adnams - Southwold Bitter Session Bitter • 3.7% Spotted 10 times
Adnams - Southwold Bitter
Adnams - Southwold Bitter

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 3.7%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 10 times recently. Last spotted 1 day ago
Adnams - Ghost Ship
Adnams - Ghost Ship Premium Pale Ale • 4.5% Spotted 4 times
Adnams - Ghost Ship
Adnams - Ghost Ship

Premium Pale Ale

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4.5%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Spotted 4 times
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Adnams (varies)


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Live Music Live Music
first Sunday of each month from 2.30pm
Garden Garden
pavement standing space
Real Fire Real Fire
Smoking Smoking
in front of the pub
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
OCR Pub OCR Pub
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (250m)
various
Closest station (1100m)
London Victoria
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (250m)
Knightsbridge

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