Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
They might call it a bar, and it might be housed in an old music hall, but the Mahogany Bar is about as pubby as pubs get. This intimate drinking space dates form 1690, and for many years it served the many dockers who lived in these parts.
Its great charm is that the decor is seemingly untouched, with paint and plaster crumbling from every surface. The effect can be found in many an East End pub, but here it's a genuine touch of shabbiness, and not a decorative choice. (That said, the mahogany bar itself is not the original.)
A recent refurb of the wider complex has massively provided additional drinking space without ruining the atmosphere. It's a well-stocked bar, too, with a decent choice of both wine and ales.
If the main bar is too crowded, head into the side room where a small exhibition gives the history of the building. Or perhaps head upstairs where an equally delightful cocktail bar awaits.
Wilton's is justifiably famous as one of London's more atmospheric theatres, but its drinking options, too, are worthy of praise.
