The Star Tavern, Belgravia

Pub · Belgravia

3

@atlasobscura

"If the walls of the Star Tavern could talk, they would’ve been subpoenaed long ago. The Great Train Robbery, the Profumo affair, and countless other shady glories hatched in what is now a well-to-do London pub. Built in the early 19th century for servants of the wealthy in its posh Belgravia neighborhood, the Star may have been destined to meld “West End glamor and East End skulduggery” in the 50s and 60s when a hard-bitten gambler named Paddy Kennedy took it over. Known for indiscriminately swearing at customers, Kennedy sometimes singled one out for an entire evening of nonstop insults he called the “special treatment.” His incredible clientele loved it. Bing Crosby. Princess Margaret. The gambler John Aspinall. Peter O’Toole. Safe-blower and British double agent Eddie Chapman. Lucian Freud. Thief George “Taters” Chatham. Diana Dors. Scotland Yard commander Wally Virgo. “Chelsea Scallywag” Bobbie McKew. Kennedy served them all - though he was quick with quite physical ejections when he deemed it necessary. High-class to lowlife, each side reveled in its exposure to the other. The tavern’s website claims that “gentleman robber” Peter Scott once stole jewelry (and perhaps underwear, as was his way) from Sophia Loren worth £200,000 before bellying up to the bar. He took out a wad of cash and remarked, “I hear poor Sophia has been robbed.” A man the regulars called “Boss” turned out to be the newly divorced Maharaja of Baroda, Sir Pratap Sinh Gaikwad, who was once the richest man in the world. He was always happy to buy a round. Such was the scene for one of the bar’s most infamous episodes. In 1961, an affair between War Secretary John Profumo and 19-year-old aspiring model Christine Keeler scandalized fair Britain. Profumo resigned in 1963 when the truth came out, and the aftershocks likely led to the ouster of his Conservative Party by Labour in 1964. The Star was said to be a prime rendezvous point - and not just for Profumo and Keeler. “London Lotharios pulled their sports cars up to the door to display their latest girls,” is how one contemporary described the scene. If you do make it to Belgravia’s underworld landmark, don’t neglect the upstairs bar. The Star’s most notorious criminals never did. Paddy Kennedy was particularly strict about who could access that room, and for good reason. As the fake suitcase of cash and model trains on the shelves of alcohol today make kitschily clear, this room is where the Great Train Robbery took shape. In August of 1963, a 15-strong gang hijacked a mail train in Buckinghamshire and made off with £2.6 million (over £40 million today), still one of the biggest British heists ever. Most of the leaders did decades in jail. The gang’s playboy mastermind Bruce Reynolds planned the caper with Buster Edwards and other cronies in the friendly, dingy confines of Paddy Kennedy’s second-floor lair. The tavern’s website offers this memorial today: “Reynolds, who co-ordinated the robbery, regularly drove his Aston Martin from his Streatham home to meet Edwards and one or two other members of the gang in The Star to go over details during the run-up to the robbery.  Four was the maximum number to meet in public at any one time, in case the police were observing them. Reynolds’ friend, Terry Hogan, introduced him to The Star following the Eastcastle Street mailbag robbery of 1952 in which they both took part. Reynolds felt he’d broken through into the upper echelons of the criminal fraternity… here in The Star.” Now, Paddy Kennedy is long gone. He’s said to have died in a home run by the Licensed Trade Charity (set up for pub industry workers), penniless on account of unlucky horse bets. The pub is quieter and cleaner but no less worth a visit - it even won the Evening Standard Pub of the Year award in 1992. Stop by, grab a pint, and plot away. Best of luck avoiding the wrath of Paddy’s ghost." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

19 Pubs Around the World Perfect for a Pint
Colin McDonald (Atlas Obscura User)

6 Belgrave Mews W, London SW1X 8HT, United Kingdom Get directions

star-tavern-belgravia.co.uk
@Thestartavern

3 Postcards

Reserve
See full details

More Places For You

Charles Dickens Museum

History museum · Bloomsbury

The Charles Dickens Museum, nestled in a charming Georgian house where the author penned classics like *Oliver Twist*, offers a delightful peek into his life and legacy, complete with cozy tea service in a lovely garden.

3 Postcards

Burgess & Hall Wines

Wine bar · Forest Gate

A wine shop and bar sourcing the best value, most interesting and ultimately pleasurable wine (and other booze) available in the UK. Drinks that are typically made in small quantities by passionate enthusiasts from the best natural ingredients with as little intervention as possible. Our moto: "drink better". Our thing: Great wine at every price level.

6 Postcards

Sessions Arts Club

Modern European restaurant · Clerkenwell

Tucked away in a stunning, candlelit former courthouse, Sessions Arts Club serves artful European dishes in a glamorous yet cozy setting that's perfect for a romantic night out.

31 Postcards

Kiln

Thai restaurant · Soho

Kiln in Soho offers a cozy, vibrant vibe where you can enjoy expertly crafted Thai-inspired dishes from an open kitchen, all made perfect by wood-burning grills.

32 Postcards

Kastner & Ovens

Health food restaurant · Covent Garden

This casual takeaway in Covent Garden serves up a rotating array of fresh salads and irresistible baked goods, perfect for a quick, wholesome meal.

2 Postcards

Dosa Express

Indian restaurant · Wembley Central

Tucked in a Wembley mini mall, Dosa Express serves an endless variety of dosas in a lively, self-service spot where chaos meets crave-worthy flavors.

5 Postcards

Berenjak Borough

Persian restaurant · Borough

Dive into the lively Berenjak in Borough Market, where the flavors of Iran meet a bustling atmosphere filled with sizzling kebabs and fresh-baked flatbreads.

3 Postcards

Rubedo

Bistro · Stoke Newington

Nestled in Stoke Newington, Rubedo serves up simple, seasonal Italian-inspired dishes and natural wines in a cozy, down-to-earth setting.

7 Postcards

Traitors' Gate

Historical landmark · Tower Hill

Traitors' Gate, once a regal entry for royals, is now a haunting portal of the Tower of London, through which infamous traitors met their fate.

1 Postcard

BISTROTHEQUE

Restaurant · Cambridge Heath

Tucked away in a chic, airy converted warehouse, this modern European restaurant serves up unforgettable dishes in a casual, welcoming atmosphere.

18 Postcards