Historical version 1 of Albany, W1W 5QU (view current version)
- 020 7387 0221
- 240 Great Portland Street, W1W 5QU (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
- thealbanyw1w.co.uk
- noon-midnight Mon-Sun (main bar); to 2am Fri-Sat (downstairs)
A large and attractive building on the corner opposite Great Portland Street Station housing a fairly decent gastropub.
This place tends to get quite busy after work, though is more relaxed at the weekend. A range of distressed pub furniture -- leather couches, tables and chairs -- competes with groups of standing drinkers in every crevice. There's a downstairs as well (Lowdown at the Albany), which hosts club nights, comedy and music from time to time, with its own bar.
There are three handpulls, with London Pride and two others (one was off on a December 2008, and the other had a guest Welsh ale). There's an extensive range of premium lagers, such as Franziskaner, Peroni, Paulaner, Leffe, Red Stripe, Pilsner Urquell, Sierra Nevada and Hoegaarden. The first five are also available downstairs (though there are no ales downstairs). Addlestones and Aspall Cyder are also available on draught.
Food is served noon-10pm daily. The menu is pretty good, and the food Ewan has tried in the past has been tasty. There are also bar snacks, including a fine, spicy nuts & seed mix, which is served in dimpled half-pint glasses.
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