The Builders Arms

The staff were really lovely and accommodated a last minute requested from my husband to alter the dessert to a birthday treat 😊 lovely and bussing atmosphere. We went on a Monday night and it was quite busy so I’d recommend booking ahead to be safe. Lovely food overall. We enjoyed the chicken skewers, scotch egg was okay - a bit dry! We enjoyed our mains too - classic fish & chips and chicken Milanese. Lovely night overall.

I recently visited The Builders Arms in Kensington for a Sunday roast, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. The service was poor - after taking our order, the staff didn’t check on us at all. No one came back to see if we needed drinks or to check if everything was okay during the meal. It felt like we were completely left alone. The biggest issue, however, was the roast itself. We ordered two sharing roasts (£48 each) and one individual roast for £22. Given that the sharing roast costs more than double the price of the individual one, you’d expect a significantly larger portion - but that wasn’t the case. The sharing roast for two included just one piece of stuffing and one pig in blanket to split, along with only four roast potatoes between two people. Meanwhile, the individual roast had four potatoes for just one person, but no stuffing or pig in blanket. The portioning was completely off, and everyone left still feeling hungry, which really shouldn’t happen at that price point. For the cost, we expected a well-portioned, satisfying meal, but instead, we got an unbalanced, underwhelming experience. Combined with the lack of attentive service, it’s not somewhere I’d be in a hurry to return to.

We recently hosted my brother wake at The Builders Arms, and I can’t thank the team enough for their incredible hospitality. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed us with open arms, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere when we needed it most. The staff were attentive and compassionate—nothing was too much trouble. They went above and beyond to accommodate our needs, ensuring drinks were served promptly and that the space remained respectful and peaceful throughout. It felt less like a pub and more like a caring community gathering place, thanks to their thoughtful approach. The food and drink offerings were top‑notch, and the relaxed vibe made it easy for family and friends to come together, share memories, and support one another. The team at The Builders Arms made what could have been a difficult day feel gentle and healing. Thank you to everyone at The Builders Arms for your kindness, professionalism, and compassion. You helped us honor Charlie’s memory in such a meaningful way—and we will always be grateful.

Great menu, beers and service. We made a reservation and there was a nice ‘reserved’ note on our table with flowers. My wife absolutely loved the fish and chips too! I got the chicken/pork pie and it also quite good. The mash were superb as were the peas (I’m from the states!). Great selection of drafts too. Staff were quite pleasant and helpful too!

Absolutely lovely experience at The Builders Arms in Kensington! The food was genuinely delicious – fresh, flavourful, and beautifully presented. You can tell they really care about the quality. The service was equally impressive, warm and attentive without being overbearing. A special shoutout to Dani, who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. She was so kind, helpful, and full of great recommendations – a real credit to the team. We’ll definitely be coming back soon. Highly recommend!

Wonderful staff! Brought my dog with me & a kind gentleman brought him a little bowl and some treats right away. The food was delicious and the drinks were lovely!

Amazing restaurant with great food! Good options for classic English dishes. The servers were incredibly nice and the ambiance is pleasant. I recommend!

Really nice pub, nice environment, located in a really good area Scotch egg was amazing and come with some kind of pickle relish, I had tried the cheese and the fries with cheese and was really good as well. I will definitely comeback

Great place, food delicious, Casual & Authentic Very good beer selection. Great location.

We had just arrived in Kensington after an 8 hour flight, and we were looking for a place to half dinner that was open and in walking distance of our hotel. Builders Arms fit the bill. I ordered the Spinach, feta goat cheese pie. It was really good. We were disappointed that they were not serving in porters or stouts besides Guinness, but this seems to be a problem throughout England.

Well, this pub certainly did feel rather fancy, but then again it does happen to be located in one of London's fancier suburbs. Yeah, I do sort of get the impression that Kensington does happen to be a pretty fancy part of London. Yeah, I did rather like this pub, though it certainly isn't one that I would consider hugely outstanding.

This is a beautiful pub with playful and colorful decor and a really elevated pub menu (you'll find the classics but kicked up a notch). They recently underwent some renovations, but I hadn't visited before so I can't comment on the changes, but we really enjoyed our experience here. The fish and chips was excellent. No complaints whatsoever. The food across the board (from what I heard from the others) was that everyone was really happy with their selections. Service was friendly, but restrained. We didn't see our server for a while and had to flag him down (after waiting quite a bit) to finally pay. I feel like this is kind of the norm in London (and other parts of Europe), but we were in good company chatting it up so it wasn't a huge deal. Just something to be aware of. Regardless, I'd happily recommend it, especially if you're staying in Kensington.

This was our first day in London and we picked Builders Arms as it was between Hyde Park and our hotel. We got seated right away, drinks were quick and plentiful, and the food was delicious. There's a main bar area, a few tables inside on the first floor, some outside, and then some upstairs, so you have many options to choose from. This is a great place to eat or drink.

Wonderful menu! Great options for vegetarians - our Sunday nut roast was terrific. Gin Collins on point with the freshest grapefruit garnish. Haloumi fries were the star of the night. The triple fried chips sounded promising but tasted just like regular chips to us - we should have opted for the skinny fries as a substitution. Next time! Request a spot further in to avoid smoke from those waiting outside.

I came here for lunch after visiting Kensington Palace, and it was great! First off, it was eye candy. We overheard that it was completely remodeled just a month ago, and it paid off. It had so much English charm. To start, we had the Scotch egg, and it was so tasty! The egg was perfectly cooked! For the main, we had the fish and chips. The fish was so light and flaky! It was cooked perfectly!! And the batter on it was just right! The staff were all super friendly, too!

Great pub in n a super cute neighborhood. Certainly a local's favorite, it was jam packed on a random Tuesday night, but they snuck me in anyway. They have a really nice menu from starters to mains to desserts. The fish and chips were great, generous portion without being overwhelming; perfectly cooked, still light and flaky on the inside. Quite the cocktail menu. And they do the triple fried chips (aka fries) which are "American style " (not wedges) which I prefer (heathen, I know). Only caveat is that the rosemary fries aren't very truffle-y (tasty, just not a London level of truffle). Mushy peas were flavored with something light and really good, some of my favorites. Worth a walk for sure.

Pretty nice menu in here for a pub. We saw several items we would've ordered if we hadn't recently had dinner elsewhere. We stopped in bc my fiancee went to grad school down the street and this was his favorite pub to frequent those 25+ years ago. Happy to see it still stands, it's clean, staff are friendly, and we easily ordered a pint and sat for a while enjoying the respite from the cold evening after walking around for a while. We will be back! Plenty of seating both downstairs and upstairs and a nice menu full of options.

Our favorite pub in London! Excellent food, ambiance and service. A must stop for us anytime we visit London. Skip the touristy pubs and go to this local neighborhood pub in Kensington.

Max H is a g fr, go to this place! Had a blast and was a great l atmosphere for my first time in London! Loved it!!!!!!

A gem in South Kensington. Wonderful food and excellent service. Loved it so much we came back a second time.

Good and tasty offerings Drinks and meals service was great Cosy, Comfortable and enjoyable Recommend

We visited the Builders Arms on a Saturday night during our stay in London. I really loved the atmosphere of this place and the fact that it is a neighborhood pub slightly off the main drag in Kensington. The space definitely has a traditional pub feel with some modern flair. The well loved pieces of furniture and mismatched chairs certainly gives the place an authentic feel. Although the place was busy it wasn't packed and we were able to find a seat promptly. There is a decent beer selection of both local brews and traditional pours. We opted for a bit of both and I must say the while available worldwide the Guinness was really a perfect draft. They have a pretty diverse menu of offerings. My husband and I were intrigued by the specials so he had a pot pie and I had a Cheshire cheese and beet tart. Both came with potatoes and root vegetables. The potatoes were nicely mashed, not a ton of seasoning, but the sides of gravy compensated for this and I will say the veggies were fresh, perfectly cooked and were not mushy nor al dente. The tart was so delicious! The cheese and sweet beets made for a tasty, light tasting combo and the crush on the tart was textbook. In addition the gravy that accompanied it was flavorful, but light in weight to complement the tart. My husband's pot pie was equally as good with moist bits of chicken marinated in a very balanced sauce. The gravy served with his meal was fantastic and bursting with flavor. I really appreciated that it was not oversalted in the slightest. The dishes were well portioned and service was prompt. If you are looking for a neighborhood pub with a little something for everyone you should strongly consider the Builders Arms. They offer tasty fare and brews that don't break the bank as well as a fun relaxed atmosphere.

Amazing pub with friendly service. The food is delicious and drink are fantastic. Best pub in the area.

The staff was really nice. Very helpful and friendly. The calamari was enough to warrant a return trip! My chicken pie was good, the sides were pretty cold but the gravy was hot. That would be my complaint. They were pretty busy. I'd come back for the calamari and a pint.

Good beers and trivia upstairs. Went with co workers and had a blast, though the upstairs room can get hot. Won the free beer trivia question so that helped.

I ate here at about 6:00PM on a Thursday. For a London pub that means there were already dozens of well-to-do young people drinking beers outside in front of the pub. But it wasn't a crazy crowd like some I've seen - just enough to make the atmosphere fun, but not so crowded that eating was uncomfortable. I had a Mai-Tai kind of cocktail which was overly sweet but did the trick, then some kind of sautéed chicken dish with a side salad. The menu is clearly trying to be more than traditional pub food and they do a good, not great, job. Nothing was amazing but everything hit the spot. I was in and out in about 30m and under $50.

Short layover and saw this. Great place. Friendly staff! Awesome fish and chips. And of course Guinness pour was perfect! Will be back!

Fantastic pub with excellent food! Always a lot of fun! Wish I lived closer to be here more!

Old but modern in this posh neighborhood, we were happy to see a small crowd out front enjoying some drinks. Prices are reasonable with complimentary cucumber water. Nice wine menu along with the good bet selection. Comfortable and low key, will come again!

What a great pub....a hidden gem in Kensington with delicious food and warm and friendly service. The live music was a treat as well and I look forward heading back there soon. A highly recommended spot

Beautiful pub meal, really elevated accommodated a table of 10 and kids. Couldn't recommend more.

Yum yum. Fantastic fish & chips. The mashed peas with mint that comes with wasn't my thing, but oh my... I ate every French fry, and every bit of my huge piece of fried fish. Staff was friendly and helpful. My Peroni's was great. The whole menu looked good, but I wanted fish & chips. Yum yum.

This place was happening on a Friday night. You order at the bar and they bring your food to the table. I got the chicken pie with veggies and mash. Very flakey crust and tasty creamy chicken filling. I tried my friends sausage and it was also very flavorful. My other friend said she liked our food better than her burger. The ciders were good, too. Very nice and helpful staff.

Nothing special. The menu was largely burgers and similar. If you're expecting a phenomenal gastropub experience you'll find it elsewhere. Until further notice I'm going back to the Scarsdale.

I love sitting outside. A great pub tucked into a fabulous residential neighborhood. The staff have always been friendly and helpful.

Tried the 28-day aged rib of beef with orange.. HUGE portions and really delicious. The gammon was slightly too salty but everything else was great. The Yorkshire pudding was also really buttery and crunchy.

I had two very different experiences on two different occasions at the Builders Arms. AS A PUB it was terrific: four types of cider on tap, a down tempo vibe, quiet enough in the early evening to have a conversation. I liked it so much for drinking I figured I'd come back for SUNDAY ROAST. That's when things went downhill fast: they were out of chicken, they were out of sea bass, they could neither confirm nor deny the presence of dairy in the nut loaf for a lactose intolerant friend... Forty-five minutes pass and our friends receive their lunches: fish & chips and roast pork (cold.) It's another 15 until we get ours. Though I've ordered beef the server (who admitted the day had been a disaster) brings me and my dining companion pork and says, "Sorry we gave away the last beef, here's pork." I didn't order pork. I didn't want pork. My consolation prize? Free dessert. Bits of my meal, like our friend's, were also cold. Warm roastie, cold mash...you get the picture. I'd definitely not return to the Builders Arms for food. I might consider it for a drink but not without some hesitation. I had so hoped this homey pub might become my local. As of now, I'm still looking.

This little place was such a treat during my stay in Kensington and I met some amazing people and employees that I still keep in touch with today. They have a decent beer selection and an even better wine menu. Meat pie is a must. Expect to find it busy after about 5:00PM as crowds like to hang out there after work. Overall, it was a little pricey but that has to do more with the area. It was always a fun atmosphere though its tucked in a posh residential neighborhood. I made so many great memories here!

I was hoping for good things when I stepped foot into Builders Arms, but was left feeling unwelcome and my wallet quite a bit lighter. It was my last night in London and was staying at one of London Perfect's apartments just down the street. Walking aimlessly looking for a pub or café to work from, I happened upon Builders Arms. I remember seeing it during a tour of Kensington earlier in the week, so figured I'd give it a try. -Unwelcome- The moment I walked in I felt it felt as though nobody cared of my existence. It wasn't that busy, and all I wanted was a table for myself. Finally, the hostess comes up from chatting with her colleague and welcomes me with a cold hello. I ask her for a table for one, in which she looks around at the empty tables and points to a shelved window area, tucked around the corner next to the kitchen. -Unpleasant Staff- Up until now, my experience with staff at hotels, restaurants, cafes, and pubs in London were more than pleasant. In fact, I'd give them all 5-stars, unlike this review. Every staff member at Builders Arms was sour and unpleasant. It's understandable if 1 or maybe 2 staff have shitty attitudes, because I'm sure working in the service industry has to be rough, but it was as though I shit in their cereal that morning. After my cold greeting from the hostess, who didn't provide me with a menu, I sat and waited for 20-minutes before deciding to take action. Was I wrong in thinking they would come over and ask me if I wanted something? I guess so. Sitting right next to the pub's computer, which had staff member after staff member using it and passing right by me, I ask this bald man with tattoos if I could have a menu. With hesitation and almost disgust on his face, he grabs one from the table and gives it to me. I mention his look, because I'm more than certain he was the manager, perhaps even the owner? Later I heard him swearing and throwing things around in the kitchen. Super friendly dude, no? Finally, a waiter decides to help me after I turn and ask him if I can order. Key phrase: "I turn and ask him if I can order." As if they're doing me a favor. -Upsold Everything and Wrong Orders- I write about lifestyle and travel for a living. So spending a lot of money on food and drinks is pretty normal. However, one thing I look for when dealing with restaurants is how they try to upsell things. It started with the wine. I asked for a bottle of a Spanish red, and without hesitation he upsold me to a wine that I know for a fact is underrated. I let it go, because maybe he really thought it was better choice, but then he upsold me on my meal. A big no-no in my book is when you order a bottle of wine and it gets delivered uncorked. I won't go too much into this, but just know that isn't exactly normal. You should be offered to taste it first, and if you know what you're doing, smell the cork, too. I'm no expert in wine tasting, but I know that much. Another pet peeve is when a wine is "recommended" and the incorrect bottle shows up (LOL). Instead of a 2008, a 2010 was there. This left me with many questions. -Food- I'll just leave you with this: The roast was overrated, carrots were under cooked, and the potatoes were over cooked. *For those that lasted this long throughout the post.* Some of you reading this, especially fans of this place, might wonder why I stayed around for all of this and put up with it. When you're reviewing a place, it's best to not make it known you're doing so. Popping into a restaurant or pub is the best way to get the true feel for a place. I don't consider this a wasted trip, and as always, recommend you to try this place out for yourself. Hopefully it's better than what I experienced.

We came to London on a girls trip and stopped here almost every day. It was a short walk from apartment we stayed in and had absolutely amazing food. It's so hard to find great food full of flavor in London, however this place is the absolute best. We tried several dishes and were never disappointed. The drinks were also made to perfection and service was always friendly and attentive.

Apparently good food , ambiance : we experienced some of the former but not the latter : sat down for a meal at around 2pm on a Tuesday in late July , we were seated by the waitress and waited 20 minutes to be served - watched the waitress clear other tables , stack glasses - look at us looking at her and eventually we walked out ...

NY has some really good gastropubs now but no one does it better than the Brits when it comes to providing great food alongside with a great bar. So when we needed some pre-show grub near the Royal Albert Hall we decided to come here. The downstairs was a bit crowded and loud so we sat upstairs. I ordered a glass of blush wine and we shared two plates - the classic dish of sausages and mash potatoes and a dish of braised pork belly, chorizo and barley. Both plates were tremendous! The sausages were tasty and even the mashed potatoes were better than most I've had. The pork belly was perfectly tender and matched well with the spicy chorizo and the slightly crunchy barley. I'm really curious how they maintained the barley's texture. In any case it was delicious and reasonably prices as well.

Great menu, fresh vegetables, lots of vegetarian and vegan options, friendly service in a traditional pub atmosphere. What's not to love! We will be back.

Meat pie was amazing, fish and chips delicious! Found this place by accident. So happy we did.

Great little pub in Kensington. I had the beef and bone marrow pie with a Fullers ale to wash it down. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and food was delicious. With so many pubs in London, it's difficult to choose. I was very pleased with this one. Definitely recommended.

4 types of cider... ON TAP! The awesomeness that is this can give this pub one star for each variety. It's a lovely corner pub with good service, great drinks selection, and on this quite street it makes it pretty perfect to stand outside in summer and sit on the pavement. Being in this area makes it full of posh chaps in brown leather shoes and foppish Hugh Grant esq hair cuts but don't let that put you off, it's very laid back and great for an after work pint. I haven't tried their food but by the looks of it, its popular. A great summer pub!

I arrived in London after 17 hours of travel from the US. Was very tired but wanted to find something very traditional for my first meal. I found this place because I searched for Sunday Roast....and it was great. The staff there was very welcoming even though I didn't know how anything worked. (order at the bar, pay up front, etc) all things we do differently in the US. AND there was a big Rugby game on that the had the place filled. Food was excellent and just what I was looking for for my first meal in the UK.

Having lived in the area, this was always the place to go for a relaxed, authentic pub experience on a charming and quiet road in Kensington. Just a few blocks away from a few contrived "pubs," off Gloucester, Builders Arms was refreshing, tucked away, and a perfect example of your laid back British pub. When it was nice out, it was great to sit outside and enjoy a beer - it may just require a stake-out. Quieter, more cozy seating is available upstairs, too! The bartenders were always friendly, they offered good, standard pub fare and the street it sits on is so gorgeous, a part of me always wanted to charge the neighborhood doors to make sure they weren't a fake set. If you're as strange as me, you may have the urge to do something like that.. but um, don't. Stupid.. er.. Americans.

Awesome place to hangout after a long day of studying. The pub offers the best choices of Ale's and Cider. An recommended pint should suggest is the Ubu Pure Ale, simply the best drink ever. Unfortunately the bad cons are is that all pubs closes at 11pm. As result the entire pub experience is truly the best and is fantastic for people like me who needs a place to relax after work.

A goodlooking pub let down by slow service. The fish pie was a-okay.... Hmm maybe they need to sort out some management issues there!

Lively neighborhood pub! We went on the recommendation of our hotel concierge and he hit the nail on the head. We were clearly the only non locals but were warmly served. Younger neighborhood crowd. Food was great too - burned the insides of my mouth but that's a great thing with fish and chips -perfectly crisp on the outside with flaky deliciousness inside

Builders Arms is one of the local pubs in my area. I have to admit that I'm not much of a drinker, but this is the perfect place to just hang-out and socialise with friends. The few minutes walk from home is also an added benefit, especially when it's a late winters night - well, I am a girl! The pub is quietly tucked away behind the fashionable Kensington High Street, so getting transport home is easy with the Underground Station only a few minutes walk and taxis always within easy reach. Modern decor with a slightly more homely feel, an all round good pub if you're in the area.

This place is awesome. - Super good selection of Ales, Bitters, Belgians, and Ciders - Really cool location on a quiet street. - Relaxing upstairs area for privacy with your friends. - Great atmosphere for sipping on beer with your mates. - Plenty of space to hang out. Even during Happy Hour. I love it

1 Kensington Court Place London W8 5BJ - such a cool, chic British vibe - posh neighborhood Emily Rose Reeder

Love this place. The tapas selection is good value for money and the black pudding is yummy. Good selection of beers and wines with good matchings on their food menu. The outside area is cute but obviously get busy in the summer, just wish it was a bit bigger sometimes.

I'm reluctant to call a pub adorable, but the Builders Arms is coloured baby blue, has a charming little patio, and sits on a picturesque corner in well-to-do Kensington (across from a cupcake shop no less). The interior is less adorable but still cosy - the downstairs seating is a well-placed mix of high and low tables and sofas with pleasant lighting, and it's a perfectly comfortable spot to catch up with friends over pints or a bottle of wine (very reasonably priced). I tend to seek out bar snacks and here you can get nuts, wasabi peas, chili crackers and/or olives, as well as order something more substantial from a decidedly sophisticated menu. We stuck with chips and a hummus platter on my last visit (nothing exciting there), but I saw some interesting plates float by that I'm eager to try on my next visit. On the downside, service is friendly but not at all proactive.

I love the British pub culture, but I have yet to be blown away by any particular pub. Good size place, good drinks, good food. Highlights: - Plenty of space to sit at happy hour. - In the unapologetically posh Kensington. - The crispy white bait was very good! Lowlights: - In the unapologetically posh Kensington. Overall, this is a very short review because it wasn't bad or good. It is a great place to meet up with people, have a pint and a chat and then be on your way!