The Imperial

A decent pub right in the heart of one of the busiest parts of London.
I would call the Imperial a bit of a quiet haven in what’s a really bustling area, but even it gets busy and when it does, there’s nowhere to sit and it’s hard to move around.
It drops a star for the lack of space (a difficult one really as its still a good pub) but also (and mainly) because a pint costs £5.50 here. Yep, not even a flat fiver. You get coinage in change for a £10 note and a round of 4 will leave you searching your pockets for a £2 coin before you reach for your card because you only has £20 on you.
Still, it’s way better than most other places in the area :)

Went here for pre and post theatre drinks with two friends.
When we went here before the show it was quite busy (about 7pm), but surprisingly not chocca block. We got served straight away and managed to find a table out the front to have our drinks at.
So, we ended up going back after the show, there were two bar staff that were there chatting but as soon as we walked to the bar they stopped immediately and served me. One getting the lager the other the wine! I thought that was a nice touch as it irks me when one bar member is running around and the other stands there watching.
So, we paid for our drinks, (I have to say I really loved the glass that the vodka was served in — very 1920’s chic!), went outside and took a chair. Well, tried to…
The first table was so wobbly both of our drinks spilled which was unfortunate, so we moved to another table and that was okay. I however opted for the faux wicker bench think and it was too low, I spent most of my time perched on the edge of the bench and stretching up.
I went to the toilets and they have that ridiculous pull one sheet at a time toilet paper things, that I couldn’t even get one sheet out of, so had to search through my handbag for a tissue! It was clean enough though.
So, yeah, a bit pricey, but look at where it is located, fast and friendly service, will go back here for sure.

Lovely little pub which is often quieter than bigger places nearby, Got a table on a Saturday night at 9pm for 10 of us, result. Great service and reasonably priced drinks.

— small traditional London pub located near Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus
— friendly staff
— nice atmosphere on a Saturday evening/​night
— great range of both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks (ales, ciders, etc.); Rekorderlig orange-​ginger highly recommended
Nice pub to stop by after a nice dinner!

Need a drink before your movie starts at the prince charles? This’ll do.
Just make sure you pee before you sit in your seat for the movie. My toes thank you.

With all the chain bars and pubs around Leicester Square, it’s nice to find a pub that has more of that old English feel I’ve come to know and love. Tucked away just past the Empire theatre, the Imperial is easy to overlook. Inside it’s a nice place, nothing too special, but a good set of tvs for watching the game and decent prices on tap.
Not much else really to say about it. A good option to keep in your back pocket when the tourists who flock to All Bar One and the Slug just get annoying and you want a pint and quiet.

Its in Leicester Square… so you can probably imagine everything I would say about it. The boy toy was desperate for a seat after dragging him around town and he saw this place and went straight in. Mind you, he’s never actually spent much time in London or seen much of the West End, so he had no clue that this wasn’t going to be the grandest of pub experiences. The inside is nice, actually has a bit of character than those chain ones that look like airport lounges. We rolled up to the bar where a not-​so-​happy (but then again I don’t know if I would be any happier working in and around Leicester Square) soul took our order. You would’ve thought we ordered every drink possible with how long it took her to get us a glass of red wine (which had been mixed from three different bottles) and a half pint of London Pride. Price wasn’t awful considering I expected to get ripped off in this area. However, the wine was awful… switched straight to a different drink because it was that bad.
They also serve food, but when we were in there, I didn’t see a single soul with food. The moral of the story kids: if you can manage to get further away from Leicester Square to find a watering hole… do it.

Recently given a bit of a spruce up, the Imperial is a nice traditional pub, serving a good selection of ales and the usual lagers, including Star and Becks 4.
The food is nice and for a smallish pub, the menu is fairly varied. The staff are well trained and efficient and I would recommend the Imperial to tourists and Londoners alike.

A nice, average pub with the regular ales and regular food and good staff. Its best feature is its location: just off Leicester Square, so it’s great as a meeting place before or after a downtown event.
It’s also where I met my wife. ;-)

Great little pub just off Leicester Square. They do lovely ‘real pub food’ and have a nice staff. I love popping in there for an early evening wine, before a night out. Can always get a seat before about 8pm. Feels very traditional and British! (No loud music or pushing crowds!)