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Detail Pages
The Beer Tapestry, Bloomsbury, WC1
WC1
WC1B 3BA
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Beer Tapestry
Visited 23/09/26. Visited previously as Museum Tavern on 04/02/19 but visited absent review a few times since then.
Seven hand pumps and all dispensing - the St Edmunds Golden Beer, IPA, Abbot, the Old Dandy Hen citrus pale ale, the Beer Tapestry dark copper ale, their own branded Museum Tavern ale presumably another GK brewed liquid, and what was the only guest the King of the Castle pale ale from St Austell. Keg offering of Peroni, Guinness, Estrella Galicia, the three GK offerings of Flint Eye, Level Head & Hazy Day, Amstel, Aspall, Jubel peach lager.
Furiously busy GK corner venue opposite the British Museum. Renamed (presumably only during the tenancy of the ancient rag in the building opposite) and having a bit of the rag (looked too pristine to be original) hung from the ceiling above the bar counter. Can't be original in any case as displayed vertically rather than horizontally and it would really deteriorate with GK slush splashed all over it from the erratic pumps on the bar counter below. Bare boarded venue with the bar counter along the left-hand wall in the front of the long rectangle from the corner entrance. Generally leather banquettes down the right-hand wall serving regular tables with regular chairs the other side thereof and some regular tables and chairs to the left of the front corner entrance and at the rear on the left-hand side beyond the end of the bar counter. Plenty of etched glass and an ornate dark wood and glass bar back with nice globe-based ceiling lighting. Ceiling fans were whirring away on a warm late afternoon. No screens and a discrete music soundtrack. Popular outside standing and seated via small tables on the pavements under hanging baskets at the front and longer side street side that also has an entrance into the venue middle thereof. Not the worst tourist trap in the kingdom.
On 27th September 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2067 recommendations about 2020 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Beer Tapestry
The Museum Tavern has been renamed to coincide with the opening of the exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum opposite. Greene King have created a pastiche of the famous piece of embroidery, which they are calling the Beer Tapestry. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/greene-king-creates-beer-tapestry-112642129.html
On 11th September 2026
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4937 recommendations about 4518 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about Museum Tavern
I popped into the Museum Tavern on a recent Friday afternoon after a hiatus of over nine years. The layout is the same as back in 2017 and the seven hand pumps were drawing TT Landlord, Dorking Brewery’s Sunbeam Golden Ale and Old Peculiar alongside GK’s Abbot Ale and IPA, while the Tribute was coming soon. Being opposite the British Museum there are obviously lots of tourists, but it wasn’t heaving, which was mostly down to the bar staff. During our 30-minute stay not a single table was cleared of dirty plates, let alone given a wipe down, in fact the staff were stood behind an empty counter watching people walk in and then back out again after seeing no clear tables. Terrible service, if I was the manager of this pub and I walked in to witness this they both would have been sacked on the spot. This is a pub that is relying on its location to bring in the dollars, poor show.
On 15th August 2026
- rating: 3
[User has posted 6829 recommendations about 6790 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Museum Tavern
A Greene King pub opposite the British Museum. As expected, it was pretty busy, but I wasn't expecting a guest beer offering. As well as GK IPA and Abbot there was a house beer (that I didn't have the opportunity to identify,) plus beers from St Austell, Southwark and Twickenham. My half of the latter's Red Autumn was fine (NBSS 3.5 or 4), but when I had taken a seat and looked around there was now a "not ready yet" label on the hand pump; I would not have suspected that this beer was at the bottom of the barrel.
On 8th November 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4937 recommendations about 4518 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Museum Tavern
A good traditional Bloomsbury pub with typical nice wood and glasswork. A fairly long thin bar, with leather banquettes along the side and a few tables outside on the pavement. Handy for the British Museum opposite. On handpumps were the usual Abbot and IPA, plus Theakston's Old Peculier, Sambrook's Junction and Wimbledon Copper Leaf, as well as a couple of ciders.
On 3rd December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4064 recommendations about 3996 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Museum Tavern
The Museum Tavern is a Traditional London boozer located over the road from the entrance of the British Museum. Hence it wasn’t surprising to find it full of diners during a recent lunchtime visit. My wife was working in this pub when we met circa 2000 so I have spent many an hour sat at the bar waiting for her to finish her shift. Unsurprisingly the décor is pretty much the same, but Greene King is now the landlord.
Along the left hand wall is the bar that faces seating down the windowed right hand side in this thin pub. At the rear is is some more seating and the some very smelly toilets are located downstairs. Available from the bar is a premium draught range and I counted seven hand pumps. These were drawing Redemption’s Hopspur, Theakston’s Old Peculiar, GK London Glory, GK IPA, Truman’s Swift and Old Rosie and Cheddar Valley ciders. Traditional pub grub is available all day and the popular fish and chips were priced at £13.
This is a decent enough pub that would be worthy of a revisit if in the area.
On 16th June 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6829 recommendations about 6790 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Museum Tavern
Quite a narrow pub, now a Greene King house, with a long and interestingly-decorated bar taking up much of the back wall. Plenty of other historic features to look at if you manage to find a quiet time (not easy, as it is usually packed with people visiting the British Museum - directly opposite). Usually has a good selection from the seven handpumps, and on this visit I found IPA, London Glory, Redemption Fellowship porter (£4.95, but in great shape) and Theakston's Old Peculier plus a couple of ciders. Much better than you might expect from such an obvious tourist trap.
On 3rd June 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9249 recommendations about 9249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Museum Tavern
We thought that this was going to be a tourist trap but were surprised just how un-touristy it was, though we did arrive at about 10.20 and at that time most drinkers seemed to be locals.
This pub has a fine interior - a CAMRA Heritage Pub - with a particularly ornate mirrored bar back and some peripheral stained glass panels. Furniture is conventional, the floor is part boarded and part carpeted, muted music played and I didn't spot a singe TV - result!
The landlord was friendly enough and went so far as to describe the ales on offer to a couple of tourists and even offer them tasters.
Ales on: Truman's Zephyr and 6 others which I couldn't see due to a couple of customers.
This is a surprisingly good pub indeed, despite its location. It has an 11.30 licence on weekdays, midnight on Saturdays but closes at 10.00 on Sundays. Well worth seeking out if in the area.
On 30th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2351 recommendations about 2289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Museum Tavern
Taylor walker pub that lives up to its name being located across the road from the main entrance to the British museum. Interior as described below. 7 real ales and food served.
On 5th November 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3062 recommendations about 2989 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Museum Tavern
This is a fine little pub full of interesting Victorian features and named after the British Museum which is directly opposite. The most striking this about the pub is the number of entrances, with four differently labelled doors - 'Private Bar', 'Saloon', 'Public Bar' and 'Luncheon Buffet' each picked out in attractive etched glass - leading into what is now sadly one single room. The servery runs down the left hand side of the room and boasts a lovely, intricately worked bar back, lined with hops and displaying a number of old mirrors advertising beer and spirits from yesteryear. The room is partly carpeted, with a strip of bare boards running through the pub, past the servery. Seating comes by way of numerous padded benches arranged around the perimeter and supplemented by standard chairs. The rear wall has some nice tiling and a fireplace rather dwarfed by some enormous dark wood display cabinets and there is a nice stained glass panel above the door which leads to the toilets. Modern wallpaper has been applied either side of the bar, showing an image of bookshelves, which doesn't detract too much from the pub's traditional feel. The ceiling is also very striking, with beams criss-crossing over nicely patterned panels. There are quite a few picnic benches out on the pavement overlooking the museum, which would be a good spot to bag in brighter weather. Unsurprisingly the clientele is dominated by tourists seeking culture of a different kind after a day spent in the museum, and I had a very enjoyable time sat at the bar watching the staff trying to translate the incoming orders. Music played at a surprisingly loud level, but not too loud as to impede conversation.
The ale range seemed pretty good to me, with Brains Rev James, Cottage National Treasure, Fullers London Pride, Hogsback TEA, Hook Norton Lion and Westerham 1730 available alongside Thatcher's Heritage Cider. My pint of 1730 cost £4.20, which is crazy but doesn't seem to deter the tourist masses. The bar staff ran the whole gamut of personality ranging from super friendly to totally disinterested.
This is one of those London pubs that's well worth a look for the excellent interior but pretty useless for an extended session. I enjoyed loitering at the bar during this stay and would happily return, but the high prices and transient customer base make it difficult to really love.
On 8th June 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]