Comments on: THE FT TOP 25 PUBS OF THE 00’s No 20: The Chandos

By: rosie

rosie — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:37:56 +0000

I like the Chandos too. Not least because the Sam Smiths beer is the best value in town. See also Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, the best value beer in any tourist trap anywhere.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:26:17 +0000

The Chandos is a little bit unmoored in time – we encountered some hiking Austrians there once who had arrived from 1935.

(I can’t remember why we assumed this rather than crediting them to 2005, but there must have been a good reason.)

I think it’s good, but it’s in that second tier of Sams pubs where they all blend into one rather.

By: Alex S

Alex S — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:51:26 +0000

The Tottenham used to be handy for meeting friends who don’t know London geography prior to a gig at Metro or the Astoria. Now, it is inexcusable.

By: Kat but logged out innit

Kat but logged out innit — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:18:25 +0000

Indeed – I have only ever been in the Tottenham to use the loo.

By: a tanned rested and unlogged lørd sükråt wötsît

a tanned rested and unlogged lørd sükråt wötsît — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:11:12 +0000

ONLY PUB ON OXFORD STREET = HANDY TOILET ON OXFORD STREET

Though to be fair Macdonalds next door is handier and they also do McChicken Sandwich.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:39:22 +0000

The Tottenham kind of forfeits any credit it may have accrued as a result of its ONLY PUB ON OXFORD STREET status because it has that sign on the outside saying ONLY PUB ON OXFORD STREET.

It’s awful.

The Argyll does have good fixtures but it is impossible to be comfortable in there, even when it’s not busy.

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:08:20 +0000

The one on the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street is the Tottenham, and is the ONLY PUB ON OXFORD STREET. I have never, ever been in there.

Maybe I should in the 10′s.

Ditto with the Argyll Arms, though I have been told it has awesome mirrors and mouldings.

By: Mark M

Mark M — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:50:31 +0000

A daring and intriguing defence of what I had always assumed was a pub all sane people hated, on the grounds that:

a) It’s a standard meeting place chosen for the convenience of the location, but that convenience is negated by the fact that you can never find anyone there (the same applies to the pub on Argyll St and the one at the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford St, the names of which escape me momentarily).

b) It’s full of either foreigners who don’t understand the Rules of Pub – which is not a slight on them (I have spent much time in pubs with relatives over from Spain trying to explain the lack of table service, for instance), or kids out on the town or people who ARE JUST SO EXCITED THAT work is over for the day. All of these people have a right to be in pubs, but I would rather not spare my (non)drinking space with them.

By: Matt DC

Matt DC — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:40:32 +0000

The coining of the phrase ‘No MILF Today’ is one of the many many bad things that have happened in this pub.

By: a tanned rested and unlogged lørd sükråt wötsît

a tanned rested and unlogged lørd sükråt wötsît — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:38:57 +0000

I have been in this pub a lot less often than many, but yes, I too associate it with curious events I can’t quite recall and a maze-like structure — PENETRANS AD INTERIORA PUBBIS. Something was invented here — a catchphrase or a concept? — which should NEVER HAVE BEEN. Luckily I have forgotten what it was. But it may not have forgotten me…