The Brewmaster (London) > Reviews > Its Got A Big Green Sign, You Can't Miss It.

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Standard of Menu
Atmosphere
Standard of Service

Advantages:	Food & Beer in the centre of London at a reasonable price
Disadvantages:	Its about 100miles from where i live

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Last week on the 27th of July i was in London visiting friends and we'd found ourselves in the middle of Leicester Square, having gone there for a bite to eat, i.e. KFC. But we fancied something a little stronger to drink than coke and fortunately we'd spotted "The Brewmaster" at Leicester Sq. tube station. And when i mean at the tube station its situated next door to one of the entrances and part of it actually covers the entrance. So you cant really get any closer than that.

**Drinks**
The first time we visited the pub it was just for a drink, and they do have the usual wide-ish selection of drinks including lagers, bitter and Real Ale. To be honest with you I only drank Stella and can't remember what other taps they had but it was your usual eight or so taps. With Fosters, Adnams that sort of thing. They also have a good selection of wines and spirits, soft drinks and a small collection of Alchopops including Smirnoff Ice. So your usual pub/bar. What impressed me was that for central London the prices were reasonable. If i remember correctly it was £2.95 for my pint and even less for my mate but he was on Carlsberg i think. Although on reflection this sounds alot to anyone living outside London (I normally pay £2-2.40 max) but it is slap bang in the centre so i can't complain.

**Layout/Atmosphere**
The pub is on two floors both with bars and both serving food, although the upstairs bar closes at 5 I think, although it opens again later. If you go there and I'd advise you to. Go to the upstairs bar as it is sooooo quiet. It is literally amazing outside it is all hussle and bussle packed full of people and loads of noise, outside the main door i couldnt use my phone due to the noise. Yet you walk upstairs and you cant hear a thing, even with the windows open!
It is also very comfortable they have along the wall facing the street a row of little two person benches spaced in sets of two facing each other with a table between them. I think this is where you're meant to eat. Then along from the bar down a step is a loungey area with very very comfortable leather sofas which can easily fit three people or one American. Inside it is really relaxed and both times we went (must have spent over 6hrs in there) there was never more than half a dozen other people in the upstairs bar. Also unlike some other bars they don't have a dress code, it isn't members only or any of that crap. Although I've been told they don't allow young children, which most people will find pleasing.

**Food**
Now this is where the pub comes into its own on the last day we were in london because we had nothing better to do we thought it a prudent idea to spend lunch in there and most of the afternoon. So we had a bevvie and a look at the menu. I can tell you for what you get it is cheap as chips! They have a large selection to choose from including starters, baked potatoes, burgers, baguettes, mains and dessert. As far as the baked potatoes are concerned i thought them a bit pricey at around £3-3.50 but you do get practicaly any choice of filling. The sandwiches/baguettes one of which my mate had were delicious a similar price to the baked potatoes but big enough to fill most stomachs and with such fillings as roast chicken with sage and onion stuffing and new potatoes. Delish. The main meals were great though. Without a shadow of a doubt I'd recommend the Chicken stack, I had two of these in one serving!!!! As some of our friends met us just after we finished i thought hell i'll have another. BTW they are very filling I'd just missed breakkie and it was 3pm. The Chicken stack is two breats of chicken topped with crispy fried bacon (rindless) covered in Cheddar cheese (and i mean covered loads of it there was enough left over for me to dip my chips in it) and finished with a creamy mushroom sauce and served with chips and salad. Its a fairly big dish so will fill you up i'm obviously just greedy. But the cost is just £6.45 less than i'd pay for something similar at my local. Most meals were stylish pub grub if that makes sense such as Sausage and Mash, Steak, Scampi, BBQ Chicken that sort of thing but stylishly prepared and well priced apart from the steak my dish was the most expensive on the menu at £6.45!!
Unfortunately the desserts there isnt a big selection a yummy chocolate fudge cake, proper ice cream or a fruit crumble. Too expensive though at £1.95 for ice cream and £2.95 for the other two, even though they did look tasty, however with all the ice cream cafes in leicester Square a dessert menu isn't needed.

**Barmaid**
Last but most importantly, the bar staff in my case it was one woman, as i didn't use the downstairs bar either time. She was mid twenties, from New Zealand i believe and really friendly. And i don't mean in that false sort of way that you get in most touristy places where they permanantly wear a false smile. She was a really friendly person who chatted with us for a bit and looked after us.
As far as I'm concerned half a bars appeal is its barstaff, no matter how good the food or ambiance of the place if the staff were crap i wouldn't recommend this pub. But as they or should i say she was excellent and not bad looking either i'd firmly recommend this bar to anyone visiting Central London.

Hopefully I'll see you there sometime and i'll buy you a drink!

Thanks for Reading. Glen