The Running Horse

Words by Simon Difford

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Address: 50 Davies Street, (btwn Bond St & Brook St), London, W1K 5JE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)207 493 1275
Email: info@therunninghorsemayfair.co.uk
Website: view The Running Horse’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Gastro pub
Food: Set menu
Established: 1738

Review

Although the food is exceptionally good, The Running Horse is more pub than gastro pub - especially on a week day evening when local office workers pile in - but what's not to like about a pub being pub-like?

Dating back to 1738, The Running Horse is said to be Mayfair's oldest pub and the stately interior with dark wooden panelled walls and a bare wooden floor has something of a country house feel. The carved wooden horse's head peering out from the wall, along with the odd print of jockeys in racing colours serve as a reminder of the pub's name. A projector lights up the screen over the fireplace when there's major sporting or other notable events and on such occasions you should expect a full house. It is also standing room only most weekday evenings until around 9pm when the office escapees head home. Come early and avoid the rush - The Horse opens for breakfast at 7:30am and is a great spot for lunch.

The Running Horse is part owned by James Chase of the Herefordshire distilling family, so fittingly you'll find Chase spirits, cider and wines well represented with impressive jeroboam-sized bottles of their vodka and gin on optic behind the bar. Draught cask ales are by The Rebellion Beer Company of Marlow, Buckinghamshire with craft brewers the Wild Beer Company and Wye Valley Brewery also well represented.

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