Tower Tavern
Tower Tavern
4
This location was reported permanently closed
About
The Tower Tavern, tucked away in the heart of Fitzrovia, is a real, traditional local pub, located close to the famous BT Tower, from where we get our name. With our distinctive white tiled 60’s front and 30 foot mahogany and teak bar, great selection of beers and ales, and our vegan / vegetarian version of good, home-made comforting pub food, it is really a must visit place if in London. Added to this, we have friendly service, a great vibe, really buzzing Thursday and especially Friday nights. There’s also a great selection of vegan and vegetarian wines, barista coffee, teas, herbal teas, hot chocolate. We look forward to seeing you!
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Fitzrovia
This sophisticated and sociable slice of Central London is a shopper’s paradise, offering the latest fashions, gadgets, and souvenirs. Fitzrovia is conveniently located between the major retail thoroughfares of Regent Street to the west and Tottenham Court Road to the east, with a handful of well connected Tube stations dotted around the area for easy transport. This neighborhood is a favorite among foodies as well, with an impressive number of quality restaurants, pubs, cafes and food shops vying for your patronage – especially along Charlotte Street and near Goodge Street Station.
How to get there
- Great Portland St • 5 min walk
- Regent's Park • 5 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
10,000 within 3 miles
Attractions
2,269 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
20 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
6
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Noel
London, UK246 contributions
Nov 2019 • Business
The tower tavern has gone vegetarian and vegan!! Perfect for me, friendly staff and good pub grub, had lunch with a few colleagues.
Written November 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stevebintley
Bedford, UK6,986 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
From the outside I must admit this pub doesn’t look great, and it’s not the most salubrious on the inside either; although there are some quirky interior design features, such as the teapot lights hanging above the bar and the perspex ‘floral’ light shades on the wall. However, having frequented almost every other pub in the area the Tower Tavern remains one of the best for a social drink or bite to eat.
The staff are all fantastic; friendly, knowledgeable, fast behind the bar and nothing has ever been too much trouble for them. Little touches like taking orders and bringing drinks to your table is something I’ve not come across in the other nearby establishments and it’s all done with a smile and a chat should you wish.
There’s a decent range of drinks on draught and the guest ales change frequently. A great choice of bottled drinks too, including many obscure beers you don’t often see. Spirits include your normal brands as well as top end alternatives.
Plenty of tabled seating and stand-up tables, there’s also seats at the bar with newspapers if you wish to relax alone. The food menu is also great with lots of lunch time options as well as main meals served late into the evening. The portion sizes are large and reasonable London prices and it’s all served quickly. Wednesday is their popular ‘wings’ night with a bucket of BBQ or hot spicy chicken wings (enough to feed three of four) costing just a fiver. Prices on drinks, for central London, isn’t obscene either.
There’s two TV screens showing BT Sport & Sky, free wifi, quiz machine and a computerised golf machine. The seating outside on the pavement is always popular in the summer as it’s quite a sun trap and somewhere decent to watch the world go by.
The staff remain the pubs best selling point, and even when the place is packed (such as a Friday evening between 6pm and 9pm) they are on hand serving quickly and remaining unstressed and friendly. If you’re in the area I suggest you brave the exterior and ‘local’ look of the place; you won’t be disappointed.
The staff are all fantastic; friendly, knowledgeable, fast behind the bar and nothing has ever been too much trouble for them. Little touches like taking orders and bringing drinks to your table is something I’ve not come across in the other nearby establishments and it’s all done with a smile and a chat should you wish.
There’s a decent range of drinks on draught and the guest ales change frequently. A great choice of bottled drinks too, including many obscure beers you don’t often see. Spirits include your normal brands as well as top end alternatives.
Plenty of tabled seating and stand-up tables, there’s also seats at the bar with newspapers if you wish to relax alone. The food menu is also great with lots of lunch time options as well as main meals served late into the evening. The portion sizes are large and reasonable London prices and it’s all served quickly. Wednesday is their popular ‘wings’ night with a bucket of BBQ or hot spicy chicken wings (enough to feed three of four) costing just a fiver. Prices on drinks, for central London, isn’t obscene either.
There’s two TV screens showing BT Sport & Sky, free wifi, quiz machine and a computerised golf machine. The seating outside on the pavement is always popular in the summer as it’s quite a sun trap and somewhere decent to watch the world go by.
The staff remain the pubs best selling point, and even when the place is packed (such as a Friday evening between 6pm and 9pm) they are on hand serving quickly and remaining unstressed and friendly. If you’re in the area I suggest you brave the exterior and ‘local’ look of the place; you won’t be disappointed.
Written April 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Candice P
Houston, TX28 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
Great authentic fish and chips. Great atmosphere. Like a dive but fun and energetic. Very friendly. Burgers are great. Good beer selection.
Written June 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roberto
London, UK156 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
I've reviewed the Tower Tavern twice before at the time it only had 7 reviews. For me as its literary 100m from where I live was an ideal pub to sit outside have a pint and unwind.
Since that first review in my opinion its gone down hill, there's been a rapid change of management and bar staff along with its its menu.
Popped in with a friend for a beer to unwind on one of the hottest days of the year. It was like sitting in a sauna no air con and sweltering hot.
Any way we decided to eat and ordered a meal paid for at 18.20. Customers came in after we ordered and we sat there only to watch them eat, even through we ordered before them.
At 19.00 I brought the situation to 1 of the staff a nice pleasant young lady very apologetic, said she would sort it out. Five minutes later our food arrived 45 minutes after we ordered it.
My food was not to my satisfaction I'd ordered Striplion steak with peppercorn sauce. Please see attach menu.
There was no peppercorn sauce!! I mentioned this to a member of staff which seemed to cause a lot of confusion. Only to be that the chef had put the sauce on the steak and. Wait for it, said it had melted???
And that they would give some more, when it arrived it was nothing like a peppercorn sauce more like an espresso coffee see photo. I was absolutely disgusted could eat my meal and left.
Two years later than my first review the Tower Tavern only has 17 reviews on TripAdvisor.
Its not worth writing about and only caters for local office workers and doesn't even open on the weekend.
Since that first review in my opinion its gone down hill, there's been a rapid change of management and bar staff along with its its menu.
Popped in with a friend for a beer to unwind on one of the hottest days of the year. It was like sitting in a sauna no air con and sweltering hot.
Any way we decided to eat and ordered a meal paid for at 18.20. Customers came in after we ordered and we sat there only to watch them eat, even through we ordered before them.
At 19.00 I brought the situation to 1 of the staff a nice pleasant young lady very apologetic, said she would sort it out. Five minutes later our food arrived 45 minutes after we ordered it.
My food was not to my satisfaction I'd ordered Striplion steak with peppercorn sauce. Please see attach menu.
There was no peppercorn sauce!! I mentioned this to a member of staff which seemed to cause a lot of confusion. Only to be that the chef had put the sauce on the steak and. Wait for it, said it had melted???
And that they would give some more, when it arrived it was nothing like a peppercorn sauce more like an espresso coffee see photo. I was absolutely disgusted could eat my meal and left.
Two years later than my first review the Tower Tavern only has 17 reviews on TripAdvisor.
Its not worth writing about and only caters for local office workers and doesn't even open on the weekend.
Written July 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WellTravelledJamie
11 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
I have never written such a review before, but my experience at the hands of staff here was really off. Decided to meet a friend at the Tower Tavern for drinks before moving on to a very cool nearby American Sports bar for food. I entered the pub and took a seat and waited for my friend.
Within a minute of entering a member of the pub staff aggressively accosts me asking "WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ANYTHING??". I politely responded "not at the moment as I am waiting for a friend". He walks off seemingly dissatified. I shrug it off, as I know I will order drinks once my friend arrives. The staff member circles me very passive aggressively, returning within the space of a minute.
He then proceeds to state "Maybe you should order something? or perhaps I could get you a water? Just so my manager doesn't get upset seeing you in the pub without having ordered a drink". I politely explained "He was making me uncomfortable and perhaps I should leave?". He then mutters something at me under his breath, so I shook my head and left.
As a British Nigerian I have never been subject to such aggressive behaviour before. I saw no other patron accosted in such a manner and I fail to see why I should be prompted to immediately buy a drink within only a few minutes of entering the pub. I wasnt seated opposite the bar and last time I checked most pubs dont have table service.
Horrible experience and I had to reflect it with a review..
Within a minute of entering a member of the pub staff aggressively accosts me asking "WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER ANYTHING??". I politely responded "not at the moment as I am waiting for a friend". He walks off seemingly dissatified. I shrug it off, as I know I will order drinks once my friend arrives. The staff member circles me very passive aggressively, returning within the space of a minute.
He then proceeds to state "Maybe you should order something? or perhaps I could get you a water? Just so my manager doesn't get upset seeing you in the pub without having ordered a drink". I politely explained "He was making me uncomfortable and perhaps I should leave?". He then mutters something at me under his breath, so I shook my head and left.
As a British Nigerian I have never been subject to such aggressive behaviour before. I saw no other patron accosted in such a manner and I fail to see why I should be prompted to immediately buy a drink within only a few minutes of entering the pub. I wasnt seated opposite the bar and last time I checked most pubs dont have table service.
Horrible experience and I had to reflect it with a review..
Written April 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billy F
5 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
Ten reasons why The Tower Tops them all…..
1. A single open plan floor:
If you’re mates are there you’ll be able to see them and easy to mix.
2. Orientation:
Patio windows open out on to Clipstone Street, runs east to west, sun streams down the street.
3. No limits:
No limit on capacity in outdoor area and no security.
4. Art:
There’s a Banksy across the road.
5. Space:
Floor to ceiling height is generous, never feels too packed.
6. Service:
Long bar, minimum three staff, quick service.
7. Quality:
Irish owner and best Guinness in London.
8. Zones:
Split level creates threshold between the standers and the sitters.
9. Retro façade:
Tiled façade, emerald green canopy, golden sign.
10. Entertainment:
Play your own iPod on request, optional tv above you head.
1. A single open plan floor:
If you’re mates are there you’ll be able to see them and easy to mix.
2. Orientation:
Patio windows open out on to Clipstone Street, runs east to west, sun streams down the street.
3. No limits:
No limit on capacity in outdoor area and no security.
4. Art:
There’s a Banksy across the road.
5. Space:
Floor to ceiling height is generous, never feels too packed.
6. Service:
Long bar, minimum three staff, quick service.
7. Quality:
Irish owner and best Guinness in London.
8. Zones:
Split level creates threshold between the standers and the sitters.
9. Retro façade:
Tiled façade, emerald green canopy, golden sign.
10. Entertainment:
Play your own iPod on request, optional tv above you head.
Written April 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lehrer80
London, UK25 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
This is an absolutely cosy place with helpful and friendly personnel, who inspire you after an intense day at work to feel more relaxed than you actually are. Before I started my review, I read the existing ones and, strangely enough, there were not many of them - most likely because some people prefer to enjoy themselves rather than spending time on reviews of places they visit. To say a bit more, I’d claim there are not so many pubs where you could order food at... let’s say before 5 minutes they stop the service, or, if you come too late to order something for dinner, recommend you another place nearby where you could still have something. Without getting into more details, this is one of the places where you can forget about the daily routine, switch off.
Nick, Sergio, Ella are doing their best in terms of pleasing the visitors, which I sincerely thank them for)
Nick, Sergio, Ella are doing their best in terms of pleasing the visitors, which I sincerely thank them for)
Written July 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
davethedrill
Hemel Hempstead, UK2,326 contributions
Oct 2018
Enjoyable afternoon drink
With two good friends
Wonderful
Staff good
Not a buzzing atmosphere but certainly ok
With two good friends
Wonderful
Staff good
Not a buzzing atmosphere but certainly ok
Written October 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter T
London, UK1,027 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
We went into Fitzrovia’s Tower Tavern for a bottle of house white wine, ridiculously cheaply priced at £12. Chicken wings are only £11.50 for 2 lbs. Early evening mid-week and the place was packed, mostly with a yuppie like vape smoking clientele spilling over onto the pavement. The customers, I thought, were quite rude, pushing past and into my wheelchair with absolutely no regard or apology. I guess you can’t have everything.
Written September 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denise
London, UK38 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
My friend and I have been to this pub Oma rainy day, first of all we saw the sign of a Greene King pub, so we decided to go inside thinking of using our employees vouchers. Inside they tell us that it is not a Greene King pub anymore, so I suggest they take the sign away.
Secondly, we go to the bar to order and the lady is so rude. She did not smile, she just wanted to get rid of us as soon as possible.
This is terrible hospitality!
DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE NEVER! You would definitely find a better pub few minutes walking from there.
P.s. I also suggest they take this board away as you won’t leave with a smile.
Secondly, we go to the bar to order and the lady is so rude. She did not smile, she just wanted to get rid of us as soon as possible.
This is terrible hospitality!
DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE NEVER! You would definitely find a better pub few minutes walking from there.
P.s. I also suggest they take this board away as you won’t leave with a smile.
Written April 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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