Friend At Hand, London WC1

About us

Friend at Hand is truly a quirky venue that plays host to equally eccentric famous patrons such as Noel Fielding. The pub was established in 1797 and was formerly known as the Handsome Carriage. Arguably one of the most notable historical figures that have ever frequented the pub is Thomas Stearns Eliot (September 26, 1888 to January 4, 1965). He was a publisher, playwright, literary and social critic who wrote about Friend at Hand pub in his book the ‘Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats’. This book was a collection of poems about the psychology of cats, which later inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Catz. The Friend at Hand also lays claim to some seriously voyeuristic history. The area in which it lies was in fact known for the ‘ladies of the night’ in the Victorian era. In more recent times, its more family friendly and offers a welcome reprieve from busy London streets for a cosy pint.

Facilities

Beer gardenCar parkFamily friendlyFoodOutside areaReal aleWiFi freeCricketFootballRugbyTerrestrial TVCask Marque

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Reviews

1,748 reviews

4.3/5

Jeff Zimmerman

3 months ago

Exceptional pub, friendly atmosphere, good food with tasty beers. I love the overall essence of the place, truly a home away from home. Get in early for dinner or drink, and it can get busy. Cheers!

sin yi chow

3 months ago

Very near to our hotel. Very traditional bar and the vibe is amazing. Finally have a chance to enjoy the vibe and the food. Really enjoyed while spending time in here❤️

Ickess

6 months ago

Was in town for a few days and made this my local pub for the time. Everyone was very nice. Come early if you want a table to eat. People were willing to shift seats around though so that you could sit. We came from the US for our 30th anniversary. Spent a week in Paris before crossing over to London. My food order was wrong on one of my visits. That’s the reason for 4 stars. No biggie, it happens. Would still recommend and go back. Take care and see you guys next time.

Steve Gannon

7 months ago

Friend in Hand is a maybe 100 meters from our hotel on a small side street, and it's a gem! Its a nice drinking pub. Nice crowd, awesome place staff. We have stopped in five times now and will stop in a few more before we fly home. Nice pub ina nice area. Bonus points for being dog-friendly.

Truls Johnsen

8 months ago

Nice and authentic English Pub! Fish&Chips was very good, but they were unfortunately out of a couple of dishes on the menu. Staff was super helpful though, brilliant! Nice selection of local and international beer! 👍