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Ratings and reviews

#2,031 of 4,299 British in London
#5,186 of 15,788 Restaurants in London
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Seating, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Reservations, Free Wifi

Location and contact

Covent Garden
0.3 miles from Trafalgar Square
Reviews (171)
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151 results
Traveller rating
45
66
22
8
10
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LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
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66
22
8
10
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Reviewed 6 days ago via mobile

Overpriced and needs investment. Beautiful interior but nearly empty whilst other pubs are over flowing. Beer at over £6 a pint is high, toilets with no locks and broken seats all together shows a pub that wants one off visitors ie tourists and does not...want to maintain an acceptable standard needed for returning clients.More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 7 October 2023

Came to watch the rugby - their card machine was not working. It meant that when we paid for drinks it took the money out of our account but not the till. We asked for proof of this but the card machine was out of...paper. The staff were then continuously not fair to us and kicked us out when we ordered another drink. It is now hours later and the money is still out of our accounts. Terrible staff - terrible drinks - terrible place.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 February 2023

A large group of friends and I frequented the Freemasons arms for 15 years. We had between 10 and 40 of us come once every month, with the only break being when the pub was closed during COVID. During these times it was often that...we were really the only group in the pub. We would always order food and a significant number of drinks, and we estimate our monthly spend was in the thousands. We had a good relationship with the staff, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time at the pub. However, at the end of last year we were informed that our monthly bookings were no longer wanted as they now had a comedy club upstairs (in a different room, with a different bar), other people were booking tables and not showing up, and they were now so busy on Friday's that there would be no bookings allowed any more. Given that not once had we booked a table and not shown up, and we were a constant source of revenue for the pub even during the periods they were open between lockdowns, I find it completely shocking that the pub decided that they would no longer take our booking. The pub has never been fantastic. The food is mediocre, the drinks are expensive, but the staff were always friendly and the location & layout suited us. It seems that the friendly relationship we once had with the previous management has evaporated only to be replaced with contempt. I must say I have taken great pleasure in walking past the pub recently to see it empty, particularly on the evening we usually would've frequented it. I for one will not be returning to Freemasons arms, and I think the feeling amongst our group is much the same. So, if you want to provide a source of revenue to a business for years, hold good relationships with them, and then be cast aside for no discernible reason, I recommend the Freemasons arms. Otherwise, I would visit one of the other much nicer pubs nearby such as the Sun Tavern, Marquess of Anglesea, or Bow Street Tavern.More

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 16 January 2023 via mobile

First time back at the pub since a change of management- venue as good as ever, food decent very disappointing to find one of the staff walks around the place taking plates as and when they wish - ie didn’t ask if could clear and...tried to take away a side plate with food on whilst I was eating! Not ACCEPTABLE and staff member was told so by meMore

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed 8 September 2022

This pub looks pleasant at first sight but is really disabled hostile. We had a meal booked in the first floor dining room but there was a long, winding stair to reach it. There was no provision for private pre-dinner drinks in the dining room....The adjacent toilet can only be reached by a short flight of stairs. The menu offers VERY little for people who don't eat meat There are far better place for potential customers with reduced mobility.More

Date of visit: October 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 August 2022 via mobile

Dreadful pub. I went to watch the football which they advertise to show. No one there, I was by myself and was declined when I asked to watch my given game due to the team I support. Discrimination at its finest. Won’t be back. Avoid!

Date of visit: August 2022
Helpful?
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Reviewed 15 June 2022 via mobile

A pleasant enough pub for a spot of lunch. Reasonably good food if a little expensive, as was the beer! A bit dark but I guess it’s an authentic Victorian experience. The loos aren’t the best, a bit dank.

Date of visit: October 2021
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Reviewed 4 May 2022

I ate mid week around mid day. The pub was very quiet and I was one of only five people in it. It is a pub I have eaten in before and not been disappointed, hence the reason I went back. Internally it is reasonably...clean and presented, but definitely showing its age. I will fully agree with the previous review that the toilets are in need of re-furbishing or at least a coat of paint. They are not good, far from clean, smelly, and have a number of broken fittings. There is a reasonable choice of bitters, lagers and spirits available. The food menu is basic and not extensive, with the usual pub fare available. The staff were friendly enough, the service was good and my food arrived promptly. The beer was reasonable, not the worst pint I have had but a long way from the best. Sadly my sandwich was nothing special and could have come from any supermarket packet as a meal deal. While it was tasty enough it lacked any form of presentation, only coming with a few bits of lettuce. Far from what I would have hoped for. Not bad value for money, a tenner for a pint and a sandwich in London if it was right. There are plenty of other pubs nearby and based on this visit I would suggest using them. It was a great pub, what's gone wrong?More

Date of visit: May 2022
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Reviewed 27 February 2022

This is a pleasant Victorian pub with an excellent choice of drinks served pleasantly and efficiently, we did not try the food but I am sure it would be nice. The problem, sorry to mention it, is that the basement toilets are terrible, badly fitted-out...and, the worst thing, really obnoxiously smelly.More

Date of visit: February 2022
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Reviewed 19 December 2021

Well, if I had any fears that I had hearing problems they were dispelled when I went in here for a pint. The place was absolutely buzzing. The football was on and the atmosphere was excellent. I enjoyed my visit.

Date of visit: December 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 November 2021 via mobile

Very good and pricey but that’s London prices. Great place to meet or have food etc with beer etc Easy to find and pleasant staff

Date of visit: November 2021
Helpful?
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Reviewed 10 August 2021

First time visiting and not a great first impression. I work within the industry so I know what expect. As me and a friend entered we was told that it is all table service even though we said it was just drinks, so was expecting...bar service as it is expect due to restrictions being lifted. So we sat in the garden for over 25 minutes without being served as table that arrived after us were served before us.More

Date of visit: August 2021
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Reviewed 10 July 2021 via mobile

Great afternoon with friends - food was delicious and service was brilliant especially Tomas & Marte :) will definitely be coming back!

Date of visit: June 2021
Helpful?
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Reviewed 18 August 2020

Really friendly and helpful staff. Going all out to keep social distancing etc. Good food and drinks

Date of visit: August 2020
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 January 2020 via mobile

Nice pub with good selection of ales including the Bishops Finger and Spitfire. With sports channel too.

Date of visit: January 2020
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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THE FREEMASONS ARMS, London - 81-82 Long Acre, Covent Garden - Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Freemasons Arms

The Freemasons Arms is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 3.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4