Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 66 and Version 63 of Star Tavern, SW1X 8HT

Version 66 Version 63
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There's no TV and no piped music, which makes it a good place to actually talk to people. It has an upstairs room, whose purpose has varied over the years, but according to the pub's website as of February 2018 it is once again a bookable function room. Tables downstairs in the pub can also be booked, with advance selection of food requested for parties of more than ten people.
There's no TV and no piped music, which makes it a good place to actually talk to people. The facilities have also been improved — the gents' are now described by [[elvum]] as "spacious", and while the ladies' toilets are still quite cramped, they're at least a bit smarter than they used to be. There's an upstairs room, whose purpose has varied over the years - as of February 2018, it appeared to be a bookable function room, according to the pub's website. Tables downstairs in the pub can also be booked, with advance selection of food requested for parties of more than ten people.
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On [[John]]'s Friday afternoon visit in July 2008, it was pretty much empty at 4pm (fewer than 10 customers), although it was a bit busier by 6pm; on a second July 2008 visit on a particularly warm Thursday evening, it was very busy at 6:30pm, but by 7pm there were a few empty tables and by 9pm it was pretty quiet. When [[bob]] et al. visited on a Wednesday evening in May 2013 it was quiet throughout the evening from when we arrived about 6:15pm. On a Sunday lunchtime in February 2018, it was unsurprisingly quiet at the 12pm opening time, but became moderately busy between 1-2pm.
On [[John]]'s Friday afternoon visit in July 2008, it was pretty much empty at 4pm (fewer than 10 customers), although it was a bit busier by 6pm; on a second July 2008 visit on a particularly warm Thursday evening, it was very busy at 6:30pm, but by 7pm there were a few empty tables and by 9pm it was pretty quiet. When [[bob]] et al. visited on a Wednesday evening in May 2013 it was quiet throughout the evening from when we arrived about 6:15pm.
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Beers available on [[Kake]]'s August 2008 visit were the usual Fuller's quartet (London Pride, ESB, Discovery, Chiswick) and a guest ale, Ossett Pale Gold (£3.05/pint); both Discovery and Pale Gold were well-kept, as one would expect from this place. In February 2018, they again had four Fuller's beers on: London Pride (£4.35/pint), Front Row, ESB, and Oliver's Island; Adnam's Mosaic was marked as "coming soon".
The quality and value of the food has varied over the years. [[bob]], [[Martin]], [[elvum]], Richard, Jacob and Hannah tried the food in October 2007. The general consensus was that the steak was small (approximately 4oz), overcooked, and generally worth closer to £6-7 than the £14 that it cost. [[bob]] also wished the [[FAQ|pie heresy]] (puff pastry on top of a bowl of stew) to be noted. In late May 2008 the quality of the steak was excellent, but the portion size was still a little on the small side. A decent non-heretic pie was consumed by [[Dom]] in March 2014.
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Food service times as of February 2018 are noon-3pm and 5pm-10pm Mon-Fri; noon-10pm Sat; noon-4pm and 5pm-9pm Sun.
The lunch menu as of August 2008 had sandwiches between £4.60 (mature Cheddar and Branston pickle) and £5.90 (rib eye steak with fried onions); filled jacket potatoes between £4.90 (e.g. mature Cheddar and baked beans) and £5.50 (cured salmon with dill creme fraiche); ploughmans between £5.50 (e.g. pork pie and wholegrain mustard) and £6.50 (cured salmon again); and mains between £7.30 (mushroom, spinach, and goat cheese frittata) and £11.50 (chargrilled rib eye with handcut chips and mixed salad). Aside from the aforementioned frittata, the other main course vegetarian options was glamorgan sausages (£7.90), served with either "mustard mash, slow cooked peas, and red wine gravy", or handcut chips and beans. Desserts were £3.70 (lemon tart with passion fruit coulis) to £4.20 (e.g. caramelised pineapple and mango skewers with raspberry and mint sorbet).
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On our visit in May 2013, the food was pretty good. [[Richard]] was very happy with his steak if not so enthused by the jenga chips (&pound;15) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8789270628/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>. [[Robbie]] enjoyed his fish &amp; chips (&pound;9.80) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8789286080/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>. [[Martin]] had a decent burger (&pound;9.80) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8789410064/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>. [[bob]] had a basket of whitebait from the specials menu (didn't note price, but about &pound;5-6) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8783146705/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small> and a portion of chips (&pound;3.80) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8783161287/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>, both of which were very good.
As of May 2013, food is served noon-4pm and 5pm-9pm Mon-Fri, noon-7pm Sat, and noon-5pm Sun. On our visit in that month it was pretty good. [[Richard]] was very happy with his steak if not so enthused by the jenga chips (&pound;15) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8789270628/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>. [[Robbie]] enjoyed his fish &amp; chips (&pound;9.80) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8789286080/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>. [[Martin]] had a decent burger (&pound;9.80) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8789410064/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>. [[bob]] had a basket of whitebait from the specials menu (didn't note price, but about &pound;5-6) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8783146705/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small> and a portion of chips (&pound;3.80) <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/8783161287/in/set-72157633887907748 photo]</small>, both of which were very good.
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In February 2018, [[bob]]'s bacon chop (&pound;12.50) <small>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/38665011690/ photo]</small> was tasty but the eggs weren't runny, which was disappointing. The roast beef Sunday lunch was good, with a good selection of vegetables including cauliflower cheese, beetroot and turnip. [[Robbie]]'s burger was fine, if not outstanding. Fish and chips was good, although the chips were a little soft. It was noted that the Sunday menu on offer <small>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/rjw1/38664185900/ photo]</small> was different to that on the pub's website.
In a February 2018 visit London pride was &pound;4.35. The bacon chop(&pound;12.50) was tasty but the eggs weren't runny which was disappointing. Others enjoyed their roast dinners. The burger was fine according to [Robbie]. Other Beers on tap were front row, ESB and Oliver's island with adnams mosaic coming soon.
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Accessibility: Belgrave Mews West is cobbled throughout, with no smooth surfaces. There are two or three steps up into the pub. The gents' is on the same level as the rest of the pub, but the ladies' involves several steps (and is rather cramped). As of February 2018, the pub was described as "wheelchair accessible" on its website, though it's not clear what this means.
Accessibility: Belgrave Mews West is cobbled throughout, with no smooth surfaces. There are two or three steps up into the pub. The gents' is on the same level as the rest of the pub, but the ladies' involves several steps.
== Line 23 == == Line 23 ==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080205023738/http://www.timeout.com:80/london/bars/reviews/11341.html Time Out review]
* [https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/star-tavern-london Yelp comments]
* [http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/reviews/11341.html Time Out review]
* [http://www.qype.co.uk/place/34821#reviews Qype comments]
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[bob]], [[elvum]], [[Robbie]] and others, Feb 2018. Opening hours and food times taken from website, Feb 2018.</div>
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[bob]] and others, February 2018. Opening hours and food times taken from website, May 2013.</div>
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Fuller's pub in Belgravia, a long-standing entry in the Good Beer Guide and a long-standing favourite of several RGL contributors.

There's no TV and no piped music, which makes it a good place to actually talk to people. The facilities have also been improved — the gents' are now described by elvum as "spacious", and while the ladies' toilets are still quite cramped, they're at least a bit smarter than they used to be. There's an upstairs room, whose purpose has varied over the years - as of February 2018, it appeared to be a bookable function room, according to the pub's website. Tables downstairs in the pub can also be booked, with advance selection of food requested for parties of more than ten people.

On John's Friday afternoon visit in July 2008, it was pretty much empty at 4pm (fewer than 10 customers), although it was a bit busier by 6pm; on a second July 2008 visit on a particularly warm Thursday evening, it was very busy at 6:30pm, but by 7pm there were a few empty tables and by 9pm it was pretty quiet. When bob et al. visited on a Wednesday evening in May 2013 it was quiet throughout the evening from when we arrived about 6:15pm.

The quality and value of the food has varied over the years. bob, Martin, elvum, Richard, Jacob and Hannah tried the food in October 2007. The general consensus was that the steak was small (approximately 4oz), overcooked, and generally worth closer to £6-7 than the £14 that it cost. bob also wished the pie heresy (puff pastry on top of a bowl of stew) to be noted. In late May 2008 the quality of the steak was excellent, but the portion size was still a little on the small side. A decent non-heretic pie was consumed by Dom in March 2014.

The lunch menu as of August 2008 had sandwiches between £4.60 (mature Cheddar and Branston pickle) and £5.90 (rib eye steak with fried onions); filled jacket potatoes between £4.90 (e.g. mature Cheddar and baked beans) and £5.50 (cured salmon with dill creme fraiche); ploughmans between £5.50 (e.g. pork pie and wholegrain mustard) and £6.50 (cured salmon again); and mains between £7.30 (mushroom, spinach, and goat cheese frittata) and £11.50 (chargrilled rib eye with handcut chips and mixed salad). Aside from the aforementioned frittata, the other main course vegetarian options was glamorgan sausages (£7.90), served with either "mustard mash, slow cooked peas, and red wine gravy", or handcut chips and beans. Desserts were £3.70 (lemon tart with passion fruit coulis) to £4.20 (e.g. caramelised pineapple and mango skewers with raspberry and mint sorbet).

As of May 2013, food is served noon-4pm and 5pm-9pm Mon-Fri, noon-7pm Sat, and noon-5pm Sun. On our visit in that month it was pretty good. Richard was very happy with his steak if not so enthused by the jenga chips (£15) photo. Robbie enjoyed his fish & chips (£9.80) photo. Martin had a decent burger (£9.80) photo. bob had a basket of whitebait from the specials menu (didn't note price, but about £5-6) photo and a portion of chips (£3.80) photo, both of which were very good.

In a February 2018 visit London pride was £4.35. The bacon chop(£12.50) was tasty but the eggs weren't runny which was disappointing. Others enjoyed their roast dinners. The burger was fine according to [Robbie]. Other Beers on tap were front row, ESB and Oliver's island with adnams mosaic coming soon.

Kake, bob, Martin, elvum, Richard, and Robbie's collective verdict: We've been coming here for years and the beer is always excellent. The food isn't as cheap as it used to be, but the prices still aren't too bad given the area.

Accessibility: Belgrave Mews West is cobbled throughout, with no smooth surfaces. There are two or three steps up into the pub. The gents' is on the same level as the rest of the pub, but the ladies' involves several steps.

See also:

Getting here: The Star can be quite hard to find, but it's worth it for the beer. It's easy walking distance from several tube stations: Knightsbridge Station, Sloane Square Station, and Victoria Station.
Last visited by bob and others, February 2018. Opening hours and food times taken from website, May 2013.

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