The Best London Pubs With Private Dining Rooms
The Hero
Maida Vale
The duo behind Notting Hill’s The Pelican (also on this list) and The Bull in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, recently opened a third site. The Hero in Maida Vale is a gorgeous four-storey space that makes the most of the building’s 1878 heritage – and has already received rave reviews. On the first floor, there’s a private dining room that can accommodate up to 12 for a sit-down meal. The Loft is a larger space on the top floor with an adjoining kitchen so guests feel like they’re at a dinner party. It can accommodate 30 for dinner, while 70 can stand for drinks and canapés (including the pub’s signature cheese toasties, lamb ribs, and scotch eggs). For something more formal, there’s a regularly changing menu accompanied by a choice of wines, beers and spirits.
55 Shirland Road, Maida Vale, W9 2JD
Visit TheHeroW9.com
The Baring
Islington
One of the smartest pubs on this list, The Baring is tucked away on a quiet street just off Regent’s Canal. Chef Rob Tecwyn (ex-Orasay) oversees a rotating menu of gastro-pub dishes served alongside a few cocktails – like negronis and cucumber smashes. There’s a contemporary private dining room on the first floor which seats up to 32. Perfect if you have a simple yet elevated aesthetic in mind for your event, it’s the place to enjoy a sharing menu of dishes served family style – think panzanella or grilled flatbread with baba ghanoush, followed by Cornish cod with Spanish rice, and apricot, almond and meringue fool for dessert.
55 Baring Street, Islington, N1 3DS
Visit TheBaring.co.uk
The Laundry
Brixton
The Laundry on Coldharbour Lane is technically a bistro, but it does one of the best Sunday roasts out there, so we had to include it. Owner Mel and her team create a friendly atmosphere. Its lower ground floor has two spaces: La Table de Carmen and the Drying Room, seating up to 20 and 14 guests respectively. Combine the spaces to seat up to 34. This is one of the most affordable options on the list, with group dining from £35pp, which includes nibbles (olives and warm baguette with whipped butter), a main course, and signature tiramisu for dessert. You can pre-order drinks or wines, and bring your own birthday cake at no extra cost.
374 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8PL
Visit TheLaundryBrixton.com
The Fox & Pheasant
Chelsea
A ‘little country pub’ tucked away in a small corner of Chelsea, the Fox & Pheasant was originally opened as the Bedford Arms in 1846. After a huge restoration a few years ago, it’s now a snug pub with three fireplaces and plenty of armchairs for lounging. There’s a chic, light-filled private dining room on the first floor, which seats up to 26 or has space for 35 to gather for canapés. Food-wise, expect British classics done well – perhaps prawn cocktails and beef tartare to start, followed by steak and fries, chicken kiev or pan-fried pollock. And there’s no separate room hire fee or minimum spend.
1 Billing Road, Chelsea, SW10 9UJ
Visit TheFoxAndPheasant.com
The Orange
Belgravia
Cubitt House – which looks after London boozers such as The Princess Royal in Notting Hill and The Barley Mow in Mayfair – recently gave The Orange on Pimlico Road a lick of paint. As well as adding four lovely bedrooms, the entire pub was redesigned, with a dramatically extended bar area now running through the entire ground floor. There are three areas available for hire: The Feasting Room seats 14, The Blood Orange Bar can seat ten or has space for up to 25 for canapés and drinks, and the main dining room, which seats up to 45 for larger celebrations. Long lunches or dinners might include dishes like sharing salads, grilled meats and seafood, or pizzas, served with classic cocktails, mocktails or a selection of wines.
Visit CubittHouse.co.uk
The Pelican
Notting Hill
Notting Hill’s buzziest pub is another top choice for special occasion. It works with local suppliers to create crowd-pleasing dishes. For a private experience, there’s a dining room above the pub that seats 30 or can hold 50 standing. There’s also a private bar. A summer dinner menu here could include canapés of oysters and crab on toast, followed by sharing starters (like braised leeks, beef tartare or trout), spatchcock chicken with seasonal sides, and lemon cake with cream for dessert.
45 All Saints Road, Notting Hill, W11 1HE
Visit ThePelicanW11.com
Marksman
Bethnal Green
This traditional East End pub serves local beers, ales, lagers and ciders alongside a selection of fine wines and spirit, but is perhaps best known for its dining room – Marksman was the first pub in London to be awarded the Michelin Pub of the Year back in 2016. There are three spaces available for hire: the restaurant and terrace can accommodate 40 seated, the main public house has space for 35 seated or 50 standing, and the cosy cellar room seats 12. Hosts can choose from sharing starters, followed by dishes from the ‘sea and coastal’ menu or the ‘farmed and harvest’ one.
254 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, E2 7SJ
Visit MarksmanPublicHouse.com
The Barley Mow
Mayfair
Another central London option from Cubitt House, The Barley Mow has one of the most handsome private dining rooms on this list. With its printed wallpaper, velvet orange and blue seating, and eclectic artwork, The Snug is curtained off from the main restaurant and seats up to 20. Menus are designed to share and could include dishes like chicken liver parfait with crostini to start; followed by grilled honey and thyme chicken, served with fries and aioli; and mascarpone panna cotta with English strawberries. There’s an extensive wine menu, as well as plenty of house and pre-bottled cocktails.
82 Duke Street, Mayfair, W1K 6JG
Visit CubittHouse.co.uk
The Royal Oak
Marylebone
One of our favourite pubs on this list, partly thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and central location, The Royal Oak is a great option for something a little more laidback. The private dining room has space for up to 32 seated or 40 standing, or the entire pub can be rented out. It also has a second kitchen which you can use to prepare your own dishes for supper club-style events. Dinner could include classic pubs snacks, followed by mains of beer-battered cod and chips, burgers or flat iron steak.
74-76 York Street, Marylebone, W1H 1QN
Visit TheRoyalOak.co.uk
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at [email protected].
