Pimlico Closed Pubs

There aren't too many pubs left in the Pimlico area for me to chronicle on this blog. Though one thing to note is the particular lack of pubs in the western area of Pimlico. From The White Ferry down to The Marquis of Westminster, through to the Gallery, there is a clear division of the North and East side having pubs, to the South and West having no pubs (Well maybe one). A lot have closed over the years and some of the pubs that have closed are clearly still recognisable when walking around the streets.

On the map below the Pimlico area is in a shade of pink and surrounded by a red line. The green line displays the North and East split against the South and West. The pint glasses depict an open pub whilst the red stars show closed pubs which are still recognisable as a pub and I had gone on to describe below. There have been more pubs than this listed in the Pimlico area however, all the other pubs have been destroyed.

1. The Greyhound (51 Hugh St, SW1V 4HP)
This is a recent closure. This pub had closed in 1999 and been left vacant. In 2011 the pub was re-opened but an independent, but sadly in Summer 2016 it closed once again and this time it won't be re-opening as a pub but instead as a restaurant called 'Omar's Place'. When this pub was open I did occasionally pop in. They always had a sharps ale on, along with seasonal selections. It certainly felt more a backstreet boozer than one which was more open to the office crowds nearby. They had their regulars but it felt the food side never took off. I'm not too sure as to why the closure, it could be related to costs or just the owner wanted some more time to themselves as running a pub is time consuming.

The building very much looks like a pub and the owners certainly spent a large sum on getting the appearance up to standard. The Greyhound is etched into the glass window and they even have the lamp on the corner. It will be interesting to see if the new owners keep the windows or do anything with the appearance, as it does cry out 'pub'.


2. The Clarendon (52 Cambridge St, SW1V 4QQ)
I only visited this place once as a pub, and it was very Gastro and busy. We swung by here after having a few at Cask Pub and kitchen and managed to get a sofa and a lager. It's since changed to a restaurant where the chefs take your order then cook your food, then again to its current incarnation a cafe.

The Clarendon would have been a very large pub, and this large style seems to be the norm for the majority of the closed pubs in Pimlico. I can only assume that either the top floors were not owned by the pub or the Clarendon was perhaps an Inn. Right at the top of the building you can see the name of establishment written.

3. Denbigh Arms (3 Denbigh Pl, SW1V 2HB)
This pub was built in 1850 and much like the Clarendon is a large pub standing high above the other houses. I believe it was originally a Watney pub, and the venue closed in 1998. This has turned into a private dwelling but still stands out from the houses around it, giving off the suggestion it wasn't originally a house.

4. The Dolphin (114 Denbigh St, SW1V 2EX)
This is a place that was long closed as pub before I started legally drinking in them (2001). The building stands out on the road as unlike the other pubs its not a grand building but only three storeys. The pub sign 'The Dolphin' can be clearly and visibly seen just under the 2nd floor, and on the ground floor the two doors on either side still have Saloon Bar on their windows.

5. The Devonshire Arms (46 Moreton St, SW1V 2PB)
This pub is just tucked off the main road and among a row of local shops. It was a backstreet local but closed around 1998. It again is a large building, taller than its surroundings, and this ex-pub has a clearly visible name on the brickwork saying 'The Devonshire Arms'. It is now trading as s Pizza Express though you can still clearly conceive this building being a pub. Even as a Pizza Express you can see they've hung their sign where the pub sign originally hung,

6. Balmoral Castle (Churchhill Gardens Rd, SW1V 3AJ)
This is a slender pub that was on the Churchill Garden Estate. The pub was originally opened in 1855 and the Churchill Garden estate was built around it after the war. The pub closed in 2004 as the leasee handed back their lease to the Council who owned the building. The council failed to lease out or do anything with the building. By 2006 the building required repairs but the council rather than repair the building or make any decision on it decided to stick up scaffolding around it. The pub and its signs still stand, abandoned, whilst the council continue to pay for the scaffolding to prevent the building from collapsing. Unfortunately they've recently put some additional wood boarding covering the bottom floor so its not possible to get a good look at the outside of the pub as you used to be able to.