Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. See if we've included your local.
Of all the pubs in London, we've probably spent more hours in the Rugby than any other. It hadn't changed one jot in at least two decades. Ran by Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewer, it retained a welcoming vibe that never disappoints.
Then, 2023 and all change. The place was taken over by Berkeley Inns, who also acquired the massive Wetherspoons on Chancery Lane. They mean business.
And they've done a satisfying job with the Rugby. The place still has the look of a storied back-street boozer, but one that's come into a tidy sum of money and smartened up its act. Gone are the tatterdemalion bar stools and carpet in favour of luxuriant banquettes and a chequerboard floor. The handsome wooden bar is still intact and looking better for its fresh lick of paint.
The ambience is the biggest change. Cool lounge music pumps from a speaker, most of the clientele are in fitted shirts, and the bar staff all talk French to one another — which gives us confidence that the French bistro food on offer is authentic.
The shaded pavement area remains very pleasant, with huge canopies to keep off the sun... or rain.
The beer choice remains as limited as the former Shepherd Neame incarnation, with Hobgoblin, Spitfire and other mainstream brews. A decently sized upstairs room is perfect for mingle events — in another life, we organised a party here that was gatecrashed by Brian Cox and late, great illusionist James Randi. It remains a magical place.
