Value: Average - prices a bit touristy
Atmosphere: good
Service: currently super friendly
For years this pub was known as “Finches” by locals, despite being called the Duke of Wellington. This was apparently a reference to its first owner (he also owned the nearby Earl of Lonsdale).
From the late 80s to the early 90s it was, for some reason, “the coolest pub around”, you couldn’t drive along road for all the musicians, club runners a media darlings. Now things have calmed down to leave us with a perfectly charming and lively pub of the kind I always imagine when I think “British pub”.
The real ale on offer is the perfectly acceptable Youngs bitter, while the usual range of lagers, spirits and average wines are offered (but who goes to a pub to drink wine?).
The pub currently has live jazz nights every Wednesday evening.
179-181 Portobello Road
London W11 2ED
020 7727 6727
Loading ...
October 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
You say this stalwart “was” known as Finches by the locals - was? It is and always HAS been known as Finches - at least by us lot (locals I assure you) anyway!
Nice site by the way - glad to find it.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Ha - you got me there!
Yep, my bunch still call it Finches too. We just don’t hang out there like we used to.
Love your clean night at IOTG btw, that’s quite a concept! Shows how forward thinking Dave and Tina can be. So much more than a bar.
January 30th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Finch’s was ‘cool’ in the late sixties/early seventies too. Regulars in 1970/73, when I frequented the place, where Davey Graham (who sadly died last month), John Bindon, members of Hawkwind and The Pink Fairies, and occasionally, Paul Kossoff and P J Proby.