The Running Horse – The Oldest Pub In Mayfair
Words: Violet
Mayfair, home to the great and good of London; the iconic tailors of Savile Row, the luxury brands of Bond Street, some of the best hotel’s in the world, and an array of Michelin starred restaurants, world famous cocktail bars and private members clubs to boot. There was just one thing missing – a real British Pub.
This time a few months ago, all we were lacking was a go-to public house that could fulfil the multiple roles of the modern British Gentleman; a watering-hole for after-work drinks, a fail safe no-frills date venue, a great place for a father & son Sunday lunch -whilst simultaneously serving genuinely good, honest British fair, in a relaxed homelike atmosphere. An impossible task? Apparently not…
Take the oldest pub in Mayfair (possibly even in London), give it a total refurb, source a load of British produce and put James Chase and Dominic Jacobs in charge, and hey presto – we give you our new favorite pub in Mayfair.
Let me assure you, the hype does not disappoint. On a miserable Thursday evening a friend and I arrived to a crowd of suited men and attractive women of all ages, stepping inside the buzzing atmosphere felt more like walking into your country local than somewhere just off Grosvenor Square or a stone’s throw from Bond Street tube. Tastefully decorated with a nod to it’s former charm comes in the form of wood paneled walls, rustic tables and low slung sofas – a true reflection of the heritage of the place.
For drinks, it was only right to go for a vodka tonic – Chase Vodka and Fever-Tree tonic none-the-less. After a quick look at the newsprint style menu, we opted for the bar bites to start, including an incredible Venison Scotch Egg, (not something one might usually describe as ‘incredible’, but just order one, then you’ll understand) and equally delicious crab bites.
Having been recommended the pies, I went for fish, whilst said friend opted for the ‘Chopped Burger with Jockeys Whips’. Both were hearty, comforting dishes, equally reminiscent of good ‘ol pub food, with exceptional ingredients and even warranting the mention of reminders of “home-cooked” food (a real rarity in the Big Smoke). With Andrew Justice heading up the kitchen with a host of independent food and drink producers, it was hardly a surprise that it tasted so good.
Despite both of us clearing the plates of our generous portions, not to mention being several drinks down, it would have been rude not to have a least tasted a pudding, so we topped it all off with the Earl Grey infused crème brûlée, with a miniature scone on the side – not the easiest of deserts by any standards, but they did it . The presentation of every course came with the perfect amount of rustic charm. The staff were delightful, attentive and made us feel truly at home.
All in all, The Running Horse is true gem and oasis of sorts from the chaos of Mayfair, they really have brought it back to its former glory. We, here at The Gentleman’s Journal, can’t wait to see what they do with the cocktail bar upstairs which will be opening in the New Year. If you haven’t been already, then get down soon before the Christmas rush totally takes over.
By Holly Macnaghten
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