Knightsbridge has an atmosphere and charm that remains faithful to its beginnings as a quiet hamlet that was eventually favoured by the high society of the capital. Its subsequent transformation over the centuries has resulted in this once simple area now being one of the most fashionable postcodes anywhere on the planet.
Of course, anyone familiar with English life will know that the humble pub holds a central position in all of its communities. Even in the fast-moving and ever-changing environment of modern London, the pub has a responsibility to provide a place to meet, catch up and celebrate all of life’s important occasions and events.
Here is a guide to the very best pubs in Knightsbridge to honour this fine tradition.
The Grenadier
One of the most charming aspects of Knightsbridge and the surrounding areas is its ability to hold hidden gems almost in plain sight. The Grenadier on Wilton Row is a mere stroll away from Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge underground stations and even in the 21st century, it feels like a rural pub, sitting on a quiet lane of mews houses behind the grand Georgian terraces of the neighbourhood. The red, white and blue regimental sign above the door, along with the name of course, are clues to the history of this special public house that has made its home in a building created as an Officer’s Mess over 300 years ago. Originally named The Guardsman in its pub guise, it was given the honour of The Grenadier title as tribute to the regiment that fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
Inside, one will find an appropriately pleasing design of dark wood panelling with no loud music or screens as distraction, quite the anomaly for the modern age, of course. With famous tales of hauntings and honourable past patrons such as King George IV and The Duke of Wellington, there is never a lack of entertainment at The Grenadier, charting history and mystery in every brick and fixture. Relaxing with a pint of Adnams Grenadier bitter seems the perfect tipple for this exquisitely preserved Knightsbridge watering hole.
Bunch of Grapes
The fascinating history and variety of English pub names owes much to the signage that hangs outside. In a time well before mass literacy amongst the population, it was often the pictures that gave all the right information about where one was drinking. Bunch of Grapes on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge is a perfect example of this traditional naming convention, with a public house on the site in some form or another since at least 1850. The grapes were used as a sign of abundance and hospitality back then and almost 200 years later, that philosophy still rings true here.
Although the neighbourhood surrounding Bunch of Grapes is now dominated by the boutiques and luxury hotels of the modern era, this Grade II-listed pub retains all of its simpler Victorian charm. Exposed timber beams punctuate a simple yet warm interior where an intriguing mix of local residents, nearby museum-goers and workers from the offices and studios gather every afternoon and evening in a convivial and energetic atmosphere. Classic pub grub menu items are always available if one does decide to settle in for more than a swift stay with Fish and Chips, Steak & Ale Pie and the inevitable Sunday Roast, providing a hearty feast at the end of the week. Trying the Greene King IPA or the Abbot Ale seems like an appropriate tipple in this long-standing and well-loved Knightsbridge institution.
Tattersalls Tavern
There are clues to the enduring prestige and heritage of the Knightsbridge area everywhere you look when out for a walk. Tattersalls Tavern is a pub named after the horse auctioneers who operated their business at this site for almost a century until 1939. The original building was damaged so significantly during the Blitz on London in World War II that it had to be entirely replaced in the late 1950s when it eventually became the pub we see today.
Its proximity to the high-end London shopping institutions of Harrods and Harvey Nichols has made Tattersall Tavern a popular pit stop for those indulging in a spot of retail therapy. This is a casual and accessible place that manages to hold on to a community atmosphere despite its location on the route of such heavy footfall and tourist traffic. With rotating guest craft and cask ales, it has a clientele of returning regulars that represent generations of the people of Knightsbridge and the bordering areas. Once again, classic English pub meals make up the majority of the menu, but it is definitely the allure of a Great British pint that makes Tattersall Tavern a bigger draw.
Paxton’s Head
Like many of the pubs in the Knightsbridge and Belgravia neighbourhoods, Paxton’s Head is operated by Greene King, one of Britain’s oldest and most authentic brewing companies. They have carved a wonderful niche in obtaining and developing Grade-II listed public houses across the country to maintain them in a sympathetic style while augmenting them with modern facilities and amenities. Paxton’s Head is a great example of how this can work on a site that has had licensed premises here for almost 400 years.
The current building was created around 1900 as part of the Park Mansions redevelopment. Its ornate stylings of cut glass mirrors on the walls, large fireplaces and decorative ceilings all evoke a classic portrait of pub design in a thrilling way. Paxton’s Head owes its name to the famous gardener and architect Sir Joseph Paxton, who designed the astounding Crystal Palace for London’s Great Exhibition of 1851 and there are plenty of clues as to his influence in the natural geometry and botanical motifs on the glasswork here.
With a family-friendly outlook and some quiet dining spaces in the assembly rooms on the upper floors, this is a versatile pub that continues to serve neighbourhood residents and passing visitors in a warm and welcoming way.
The history and constant evolution of pub culture in Knightsbridge is a thread that runs throughout its very history. From its beginnings as a semi-rural London location that quickly attracted the capital’s elite to the arts and retail hub that it is today, there have always been great pubs here to attract feet off the street and welcome them in. The pubs in this guide suggest that this tradition is in safe hands for the future.
