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Detail Pages
The Viaduct Tavern, Holborn Viaduct, EC1
EC1
EC1A 7AA
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Viaduct Tavern
This is a beautiful Victorian street corner pub with an impressive curved façade, just a short walk from St Paul's tube station. Dating back to 1874, the pub has retained plenty of interesting features, many of which date back to a remodelling at the turn of the 20th century. Entering from the Newgate Street side, you pass through a mosaic tiled floor doorway bearing the pub's name, emerging into the spacious main bar with a roughly U shaped layout. The low dark wood servery takes pride of place in the centre of the room and has an unusually small bar back, partly the result of the current layout and partly because there is an unusual glazed office beyond the bar which, according to CAMRA, is one of only thirteen such publican's offices still in existence. There is a good deal of red padded banquette seating under the front windows broken up by short stretches of partitioning screen, as well as a few high padded stools with back rests to one side and low stools in the rear corner. The room is bare boarded throughout and has a high, relief panelled ceiling which looks very attractive. Perhaps the most prominent feature can be found on the right hand wall, where three huge mirrors set in a marble surround, depict ladies representing industry, agriculture and commerce. In the rear right corner there is a dark wood panelled space with some excellent etched glasswork including a fine overhanging arch. There is also a fresco running around the length of the room, depicting a head with a wreath on it. A door to the left of the bar leads to a staircase which is lined with a glazed tile fresco, a large Burton Brewery mirror and a gin bottle collection. In fact, gin is promoted quite heavily throughout, with a 'Gin Palace' menu offering countless varieties. A loud R&B soundtrack played on my late Friday evening visit, which seemed a bit out of place, but I guess there weren't enough customers in for anyone to care. One unusual feature I didn't get to experience was the debtor's prison cells which are apparently still accessible upon request in the pub's cellars.
This is a Fullers house and on the bar there was London Pride, Chiswick and Butcombe Rare Breed (£4.10), with Spring Sprinter having just gone off. The Rare Breed was a pretty good pint and I was served by a very friendly and overworked barmaid.
This place is a real gem and a must visit for anyone interested in well preserved Victorian pubs, although the laid back feel and spacious interior make it a good option for the casual pub goer as well. I really enjoyed my time here and had to cut a few pubs out of my crawl as a result of lingering too long. I'm sure I'll be back soon.
On 24th June 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Viaduct Tavern
The Viaduct opens 8.30 am Mon - Fri. I asked the barman why so early, he told me that it is very quiet in the mornings, so he couldn't understand the early opening times either. We were lucky on this visit as we had just missed the main lunch time crowd. We sat over on the left hand side of the bar, which gave a good view of the three Victorian paintings on the opposite wall. Another feature I liked were the exterior sun blinds across each window, which were put into use on our visit.
I went for the London Pride, lunch was an excellent fish pie with veg £7.50, plus it was a good size portion.
On 10th January 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3780 recommendations about 3780 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Viaduct Tavern
This was the first pub visited on a trip to see some inventory pubs in Central London. Beautiful as it was inside it was so difficult to see round it as it was packed with drinkers yesterday lunchtime. We had Fullers Traitors Gate at 4.5%. Our first experience of London prices at £4 a pint. They have an area outside for smokers to stand in a cordoned off area, which was pleasant in the sunshine to get away from the crowds. Downstairs toilets.
On 16th November 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Viaduct Tavern
This pub was built in 1869 and named after the Holborn Viaduct that was built the same year. The prison cells in the cellar are those of Newgate prison, which used to be here, mainly on the site of the Old Bailey which is opposite. I’m told it is possible to view the cells, although I’ve never done so.
The pub itself has the remains of a classic Victorian pub fitting. Pride of place belongs to the marble-framed three paintings of female figures on the right, which represent “agriculture”, “banking”, and “Arts”. One of them was supposedly shot by a soldier who was (justifiably I would say) overly exuberant due to the end of WWI. I did see a hole in one that could indeed have been caused by a bullet. The typically Victorian mahogany fittings are present, as well as some excellent cut glass mirrors.
This is still a Fuller’s pub, with Pride, discovery and Bengal lancer on when I was in the other day. Sandwiches were either £5.35 or £6.60 depending on filling, and I spotted a hotplate with food on it, but whatever it was it wasn’t listed on the menu that I saw. Furnishings are standard for Central London – a tall pedestal and tall stools, a sofa, a bit of banquette seating, plus some standard issue tables and chairs. As a pub it’s like many others in London, but what sets it apart is the unique Victoriana and although I wouldn’t make a special effort to come here just for the beer and food, it is well worth a visit to see a tour de force of mid-Victorian pub fitting.
On 2nd December 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2629 recommendations about 2544 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Viaduct Tavern
Fairly ornate corner pub, with an attractive curved exterior. Plenty of interest inside, with some interesting decoration above the horseshoe-shaped bar and around the ceiling. Famous for the historic prison cells in the cellar, it is apparently also one of the most haunted pubs in the country. As you would expect, it can get very busy at office closing time (and they also play music at an unnecessarily loud volume). Four real ales from the Fullers/Gales range on handpump, including an excellent pint of Pride at 3.25.
On 6th May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9258 recommendations about 9258 pubs]