Nell Of Old Drury

Stumbled on this place initially whilst looking for somewhere to sit and have a drink, no shouting, no propping up the bar in a crowd.
Downstairs is rather small and almost can only prop up the bar with a small seating area. But, upstairs which, is largely undiscovered most of the time is a larger with more seating areas to be had. Downside of this is that there is no bar upstairs so you have to make the trips up and down (also to the toilets).
The Nell has the look and feel of a traditional olé English pub. It is directly across the road from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane it’s also a good place to have interval drinks and they have a pre ordering service also. Probably cheaper than the theatre prices! Last time I came there were reserved areas so looks like you can book a space also.
Staff have always been friendly and prompt in their service. I don’t think they provide food here but usual bar snacks of crisps available.
Don’t expect your cocktail list here as it is just a good olé English pub, no lounging music, no cocktails or bar service but just what you expect from a ‘Pub’
it has long associations with London’s literary and theatrical community.

This is a pub with a history and what a history!
Legend says there is a secret tunnel between this pub and the theatre opposite used by King Charles II for his illicit rendezvous with Nell Gwyn, his mistress. He’d take his place in the royal box at the theatre, wave to the people below and wait until the lights had dimmed before slipping off down the passage to have his wicked way with her in the upstairs room. Then, he’d quickly make his way back in time for lights up at the interval where he’d clap and pretend he’d been there all along. Brilliant!
This pub also acts as a partner with the Theatre Royal opposite as you can order drinks for the interval and pop over for 20 minutes. A LOT cheaper than the alternative option.
It’s quite a small pub and the toilets are located right at the back, which can be a bit awkward when it’s full as it was yesterday. I had to maneuver through a few large blokes in my search for the loos and it was like trekking in the polo shirt jungle. Uncomfortable.
But to its credit, the drinks aren’t too expensive for central London and it has an upstairs area for 50 people which is lovely. It’s an intimate setting but the seats are comfortable, the tables are big enough to all fit around and the view of the theatre opposite is beautiful (especially with the huge Wonka bar currently acting as the sign for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!) Loved it.

Any time I’ve ever been for drinks in here I’ve had an amazing time! The Nell of Old Drury is well known for it’s links to the theatre community, and so any night you’re here, you’re bound to find a few cast members from an assortment of West End Shows. As I’m involved in that industry, I’ve been here a few times with friends and I love it!
The bar itself is quite small, but on nice nights you can sit outside and relax, or there’s a lounge upstairs that’s available for hire for 50 people. The bar staff are always pleasant and chat away, and the people who frequent are loud, fabulous and you will not have a boring time with them about!

Great little pub opposite The Royal Drury Theatre. Staff were really friendly and loved the fact you can order your interval drinks half way through Shriek!

A very nice pub and it seems alot of Theatre people go their from the conversations I could hear. Very friendly but it is pokey and you are always letting people past you.
The seats in the window look comfy but they are too soft. Still a nice place to meet for a drink before going onto the Theatre or the Opera House.

Rather average pub, but did you know there was a secret passage underneath, leading to the theatre opposite (Drury Lane) so that Charles and Nell could meet for a quick how’s your father mid Act Two?
It deserves multiple stars for that fact alone.

This is a lovely little pub located opposite the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Great for a pre-​show drink but if you come after the show you may get to meet some of the actors from the nearby shows. Very relaxed lovely staff and if there is no room downstairs you will oftern find a seat upstairs. Make sure you admire all the West End theatre posters adorning the wall.

This is a great place to go before you go to the theatre. Ive been twice not too long ago, and both times was in the evening. From the outside it looks really small, and initially on entering the pub, it looks small also. The saving grace is the upstairs area which gives some much needed space, as it can get real busy on theatre nights. The drink prices were as you would expect from a london pub. There are plenty of other pubs across london that charge more. I think that if it wasnt for its location, i cant see anything special that would make this pub raelly successful.

A very friendly pub in the heart of Theatre land. The perfect place to go before during or after a show. Nice area outside to stand and gaze at the many varid people who frequent the area and a real mix of people to drink in the pub aswell. The prices are not too dear and the beer taste like how it should, they must clean their pipes.
A great place to start your night out or if your lazy to stay until last orders.

Like this place — been a couple of times and it’s a small pub opposite the Theatre Royal. It really is cosy in there, but a nice atmosphere when we were in last night with a range of punters engaged in intense chats at the bar and the happy band of smokers chin wagging and laughing outside. I didn’t find the prices too bad — though I was paying for a monster round so it might have blurred my view on the cost a little. The landlord was a nice bloke and overall I was impressed by the place — just seemed very friendly and easy and is full theatre related paraphernalia. Worth dropping into for a drink and a stool at the bar if you’re in the area.

This is a lovely pub just facing the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Most of the actors from the show drink here so if your actor spotting this is a good place to go. The bar its self is small but they do have a really wonderful room upstairs which looks out into Catharine street. You can also hire this room out for functions or special events. The only issue is that the pub had to recently put its drink prices up to maintain it’s self and stay open. Other then the few extra pounds at the end of the night this is a good place to start drinking or to just stop in for one.