Rat & Trumpet

I had avoided this place until recently, as it doesn’t look like the most inviting pub in the world. In fact, from a quick glance through the windows, at times I thought it was really rather scary.
This doesn’t hold true once inside. Much of the clientele is middle aged and male, and this is certainly no trendy bar, and all the better for that in my opinion. However, it doesn’t have the cosy, old school pub feel that, say, the nearby Shakespeares Head has. It feels rather sparse inside, with large gaps between the tables making it feel a little utilitarian. This is partly made up for by friendly bar staff, and some very nice pork scratchings.

I live pretty bloody near the Rat and Trumpet. Near enough that if I was a bouncy ball you could throw me out of one of the top windows of my house and with only once bounce (if all the windows were open) I would get to the bar and probably knock lots of drinks over. Well when I say lots that would be an exaggeration as to be honest this place doesn’t usually get many people in. I think this could well be to do with the fact that its a bit of a dark old, no thrills watering hole which shows football and not what the yummy mummies and the upper market residents of the seven dials usually gravitate toward.
But. I quite like it. Have a couple of pints here, maybe even indulge in a traditional game of billiards and then go on somewhere else because simply the lack of people sadly means that their isn’t really much of an atmosphere to be honest. One notable thing though about this place is that all week around a local thai and middle eastern restaurant have a deal where their food can be eaten and ordered in the Pub. So if having Lamb Tagine and delicate vegetable Tabouleh with a pint of lager are your must have’s when watching football. Here is THE place for you. If not though, truthfully their are better places to have a drink.

The name suggests a traditional pub and in some ways that is exactly what the Rat & Trumpet is. The décor, drinks and clientele all scream «pub», but what is curious is that the Rat… has a great flat-​screen TV and Sky link up, meaning you’re able to watch all the best football matches in the Premiership and Champions’ League. Better still, they also have a free WiFi connection. Maybe these two additions are going to be standard in pretty much every pub soon, but they give the Rat & Trumpet a more updated feeling without foregoing its traditional charm. All in all, this is a nice place that has the added bonus of modern conveniences to draw you in over its competitors.

This has been a slightly troubled venue over the last few years, going through several transmogrifications to try and find its niche. This small pub/​bar has a prominent corner location, just off Seven Dials.
The Rat & Trumpet is the latest attempt. It has the feel of a stripped-​back bar, with bare wooden floors and furniture, and plenty of standing room, all dominated by a large TV screen showing sports. A bonus is that they have started serving serving real ales, which seem reasonably well-​kept.
The staff are friendly and reasonably efficient, but it still seems to draw an odd mix of punters; at lunchtimes and some evenings it’s quite peaceful, and not a bad place for a pint (though it’s not really cosy or atmospheric), but other evenings it’s packed with a noisy, slightly raucous crowd. (What’s on TV is clearly a determinant, but not easy to predict).
Although it’s not really my kind of venue, I hope it succeeds as the new owners have clearly gone to a lot of effort, and it needs some stability.

Newly opened former couch bar/​compton arms, back to basics good old fshioned watering hole. Real ales now available Harvey’s being a regular feature wth 2 others changed every few week’s. Now only pub on 7 dials with sky. Food supplied by Moorish opposite available 12 – 4 mon 12 – 8 tues-​sat. Open mic night every thursday from 8.30p.m.