Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
Happy memories in this pub. Back in 2006, when the world was young, we'd just signed a book deal with a local publisher, and came here to celebrate our imminent rise into the pantheon of bestselling authors. It didn't quite pan out that way, though you can still pick up our little black book on Amazon. Go on, it's really quite good fun.
Anyhow, the pub. The Elgin is pretty much the archetypal modern British boozer, with a square bar in the middle, stonking great windows and mirrors, and cosy seating round the edges. It manages that difficult trick of looking like a place to eat, and a place to have a pint, both at the same time but favouring neither.
Head up to the raised back area for the cosiest seating, which has the air of a Georgian drawing room, the sort Lord Elgin himself might have favoured. No evidence of his famously pilfered marbles here, though. The decor is more of a naturalist's almanac.
The beer selection is so-so (it's a Young's pub), but fans of wine will not be disappointed, with a longer-than-average list. The cocktail list is quite neat, too, putting the gin back into Elgin. Regular live music gives additional buzz.
