The Newman Arms

The Newman Arms, dating back to 1730 in Fitzrovia, is a true London treasure that blends authentic old-world charm with exceptional food and service. My visit was elevated by the warm, historic atmosphere—think rustic wooden beams, exposed brick walls, and a cozy fireplace, all steeped in the kind of literary lore tied to George Orwell’s *Nineteen Eighty-Four* and *Keep the Aspidistra Flying*. The white tablecloths, a rare touch for such a traditional pub, added a refined yet inviting feel, making it perfect for a memorable date night. The fish pie and beef pie, crafted by Chef Carlo, were the stars of the show. These are proper old English pies—flaky, golden pastry encasing rich, flavorful fillings. The beef pie, infused with Truman’s Runner ale, was hearty and satisfying, though some might notice a slight tomato tang that tweaks the classic recipe. The fish pie, paired with creamy mash and seasonal veg, was equally outstanding, showcasing Carlo’s mastery of traditional British fare. Our waiter, Oliver, was an absolute delight. His spot-on food recommendations made the meal even better, and his sharp sense of humor kept us laughing throughout the evening. His attentive, friendly service turned a great meal into a genuinely memorable experience. Sipping Pol Roger Champagne at just £70 a bottle—a steal for Central London—was the cherry on top, adding a touch of luxury without the hefty price tag. The drink menu also impressed with Truman’s cask ales like Runner Best Bitter and Swift Golden Ale, alongside craft beers and fine wines, catering to all tastes. The snug basement and first-floor dining room enhance the intimate, historic vibe, though the small, closely packed tables upstairs can get a tad noisy. Still, it’s a minor quirk in an otherwise stellar experience. The Newman Arms, with its rich history as a former brothel and literary haunt, Carlo’s incredible pies, and Oliver’s warm, witty service, is a real gem of a pub—a must-visit for anyone seeking authentic British charm in the heart of London.

Tasty food, good atmosphere and great service. I ordered a pie and a glass of beer while I was seated at the 1st floor, and the friendly waiter (French gentleman) made sure I was satisfied with my choices. They are the best pub among several places that I visited during my stay. I would surely visit them again!

Located just off Oxford Street and nicely nestled between three underground stations; Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus this newly opened pub ended up being a nice surprise lunch location for me and my partner. A pub that has been established since the 1700's the location certainly gives off a historical feel as you walk the side alley's you almost feel as if Jack The Ripper could pop out at you from the side entrance of the pub. instead though, and thankfully enough, the only thing we were greeted with was a tendful barman ready to pull a perfect pint of Murphy's stout. It was my first time trying the stout and although he'd tell you it doesn't beat a good Guinness (having grown up 10 minutes from the brewery, he tells us) he none the less indulges you in light hearted conversation as he lets the pint sit 3 quarters full letting the stout settle before finishing the pour. The art of serving a good stout, he tells me, is looking after the barrel lines and pouring it just right. We sat in a cosy corner by the window and the quaint ground floor bar off the main streets just enough to drown out most of the hustle and bustle of the busy west end but not so much that the atmosphere felt dead. Jazzy music plays and we enjoy our drink before we head to our 12:30 reservation for lunch. As we get ready to head up stairs to their "Pie Room" dining area we are greeted by Olivier who takes our drinks for us and leads us to the far left corner of the dining area to a table next to an open window. The sunshine and breeze was a welcome part of our lunch as it was a warm day in London. The menu is generous with starters like Crispy Lamb Belly Scrumpets and a Half Pint of Prawns. As we ordered, Olivier was happy to engage us in conversations and menu recommendations. We opted for the Chicken Liver Pate with caramelised onions and rye bread. The latter really complimenting the pate, it was just right to set us up for the main course. I ordered the Aged Beef Shin and Rib pie, which came with creamy mash and I ordered their Maple Roasted Root Vegetables on the side. My partner opted for the Braised Leg Shepherd's Pie with a Pea Salad. The flavours of both pies could be described as bold and packed with flavour. Both arrived piping hot, which is a relief as most pubs serve food that is on the way to being cold! You wont be disappointed in the roasted veg either. The shepherds pie was a tad on the salty side but the sweetness of the roasted veg helped lessen the edge of the dish and it was not like most shepherds pies in a sense that instead of the meat in a minced form it was more of a pulled texture and it made all the difference. The mashed potato on top was generous and added to the heartiness of the meal itself, so much so in that we skipped dessert even though the Newman Arms Chocolate Cake sounded tempting, we will be back for that next time! After our meal we went to check out their underground floor which offered board games and comfy sofa's to relax in where we had one last drink before heading back out on to Rathbone Street and off home. Just in time too as more people were arriving for a boozy lunch and tourists ready for The Newman Arms "Pie & Pint" offerings. All in all, I'd say this little gem of a pub is in a great location and has kept its 1700's charm while the menu and drinks on offer really bought it back up in to today's modern standards of great food and service. 5/5 on both fronts! We can't wait to go back to try more of what's on offer, like a Black Velvet pint served in a classic silver tankard!

Newman Arms is an absolute gem! The space has a warm and welcoming feel, perfect for enjoying some truly fantastic food. Their pies are next-level—rich, flavourful, and comforting. The aged beef shin & rib pie was outstanding, packed with deep, slow-cooked flavours. The sides and starters are just as impressive—crispy lamb crumpets were a standout, and the tenderstem broccoli with anchovy dressing was a great balance of freshness and umami. The dessert menu is equally tempting, with a perfectly executed sticky toffee pudding. Excellent service, cosy atmosphere, and top-notch food—highly recommend!

This pie was just what the doctor ordered! We actually had a three course meal but starter and dessert to share. To start we had the chicken pate- this was really smooth and plentiful with delicious caramelised onions and toasted bread, for main we both had the beef pie, it was a perfect combination of crust and filling and we were offered more gravy if we needed it- which we didn’t which shows that there was enough sauce in the pie and gravy on the plate. The sides of mash and cabbage was delicious as well. For dessert we had a chocolate pudding which was very mouse like, it was really rich so certainly wouldn’t have wanted one to myself. The pub itself is very quaint, we ate upstairs in the pie room, it was a little dusty up there so could benefit from a deeper clean. At floor level there was a pub which had a few patrons in and on the lower level there was a snug area which would be perfect for an evening get together with friends. I would definitely go back for another round, lunch time they had an offer on but price wise I thought the food was worth the money.

Brilliant pub with a great selection of beer/drinks on offer. The pie was also a delight - the wild mushroom pie was delicious! The staff were also polite and welcoming which made our experience 5/5.

Delicious food, cosy pub and friendly staff. Loved the Black Velvet served in a silver tankard!

Beautiful newly refurbished pub. Lovely decor with original feeling character and rustic floors. Great beers line up and tasty pies from the pie cupboard behind the bar. Pie room is coming on the top floor so I look forward to trying the restaurant menu!

This is a brilliant hole in the wall pub. They redecorated a few years ago (sadly) so it looks more new and less oldy worldy but it still holds the same character as it did decades ago. This was actually a pub that George Orwell used to frequent.. !! His favorite drink is written at the bar (Guiness and Bass). Upstairs you'll find the newman arms pie shop... THE BEST PIE in the world.. its really small so if you plan to go, give them a ring and find out if there are tables. Everything there is yummy. Best days are cold wintery days because the pies are baked and piping hot! :) Americans... you'd call these the best pot pies ever!

Didn't get here til my 3rd London visit after I heard about it, but it was so worth the wait. Authentic and delicious. Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 4 Return worthiness: YES! Eve award: best pies ever, one of my favorite English meals Highlights: - Guinness pie: the best I've ever had hands down. I didn't even put any pepper on it which I usually always do cause it naturally tasted so perfect. Stewed meat covered in gravy with the most impressive huge flaky pastry top. Potato pieces were cooked nicely slightly crispy outside but soft inside. They come with some steamed veg so you don't feel like you're completely going unhealthy. - Suet pies: a soft gooey dumpling-like texture shaped like a lava cake filled with savory meat options - Atmosphere: small, older house which makes you feel legit - Cider: an outstanding one from Suffolk served in a cool rounded glass - Dessert: a host of classics like sticky toffee pudding (our table's fave) and spotted dick :-o Lowlights: - Very small: with only a few tables upstairs so you have to book and often hard to get in - Limited quantity: sometimes they run out of one you'd like and if you have a bigger group they only can put 6 in the oven at a time. - Downstairs: crowded and not the most pleasant aroma (maybe from the bathrooms hidden close by) I can't stop thinking about it and definitely will come back my next trip. Glad they aren't so far apart so my imminent cravings won't go unsatisfied.

As Rob says the Pie Room is brilliant. I went with two friends last week & because we hadn't booked, they could only fit us in for an hour. However it was a pretty good hour with an enormous plate of Steak & Kidney Pudding groaning with healthy veg, such as very crisp & well cooked cabbage, nice mash (which I couldn't actually finish as the rest was so good). It has a very traditional feel and the pies were served on lovely Willow Pattern plates, which I haven't seen since I was a kid. All the pie meals are just under a tenner and as well as the steak & kidney pudding, they had many other staples including Steak and Guinness, Chicken Ham & Leek and the special of Dragon Pie. I have no idea what was in Dragon pie as there was only one left, but the waitress told us it was nice and spicy. How anyone could fit in a dessert after one of the pies in this place is beyond me, but as Rob mentioned they do some good pub puddings as well.

Still a terrific place, but if you have to pick between the Traditional or the Suet- GO TRADITIONAL! The Suet is more like an upside down Swanson's pot pie crust (although the filling is still amazing). Also, unless you want to feel bloated or like to clog an artery- don't get cream with your dessert. It's LITERALLY English cream. First spoon is tasty, the rest is just too much. Still- this place is AH-MAZE-ING. Totally classic Brit.

I remember arriving at the Newman Arms after a lot of champagne and being informed we were just in time for last orders. I remember having a white wine spritzer. I remember standing on the pole under the bar and pretending I was tall. I remember talking to a stranger about how to do a perfect squat. I remember checking in via the Yelp app, seeing a photo of the food they serve and realising how hungry I was. I remember tripping out the door in search of Maccy D's. I remember enjoying myself. I must remember to return for one of these amazing pies everyone's talking about!

Great place to take visitors looking for a taste of England. Many of the pubs in the city claim to have real English pies - and some do - but this pub is the best. They only serve pies (stew in a ceramic dish covered with puff pastry) with about half a dozen variations. Set in a cosy traditional northern England style dining room. The entry level pie for the uninitiated is the Steak and Guiness but they're all good. The deserts are amazing too, but heavy stodgey and rich and if you can polish one off after the pie then you better find a cosy dark place to curl up for the afternoon as you're not going to be moving anywhere fast. The desert menu features such classics as Apple and Rhubard Crumble, a mound of treacle and sponge and something called spotted dick. At lunch times if you don't have a reservation, especially in the Winter time, you can forget it. Sometimes if you beat the door down at 12 noon you can sneak in a quick one before the first seatings or eat at the bar downstairs.

Pie. Pie. Pie. A fellow ex-pat in London took me to the pie room for a veggie English pie experience. I have to just say, "amazing." The pie room is an experience from the second you walk through the tunnel leading to the door. You really feel like you've discovered a hidden gem. The pies are gigantic! There were two veggie options - one with mushrooms and one that was plain veggies. I went for the more traditional veg and it was delish. As you can see from the photos, they don't skimp on pie pastry or veggies. Yum. Yum. Yum. And perfect with a pint of London Pride. My dinner companion had the lamb and rosemary and raved about it as well. I'd say you can't go wrong here. Definitely worth the trip!

Only a few words about the pie room: best meat pie ever and actually not only the meat pie but also the side of vegetables! Obviously this is not the trendiest place I've been to but the food is really (really really) fresh and if you're looking for a cheap and tasty meal you won't be disappointed.

Made a reservation for 6:30 about 45 minutes prior. They told me they were fully booked but if I was done by 8pm that would be acceptable. Got there. I had the steak and Guinness pie and my husband had the lamb and rosemary pie. Mine was better. Ordered a coke. Service was meh. Not sure I would go out of my way to come for a 2nd time since there are so many other pie places in London.

Just went back last night with my cousin and a friend. It was their first time and I quite enjoyed the look on their faces where they saw their pie. While we were waiting, they (both being Aussies) were complaining that British pies only had pastry on the top and it was never enough. Apparently in Oz then have the full pasty case surrounding the filling. As the pictures show, Newman Arms provides pastry in spades to the point where neither of the aforementioned whiny Aussie girls could finish it (but of course I was happy to lend a hand). The fillings were tasty as usual. I had he venison special which was slightly overdone but gamey and full of flavour. My only request would be that they have a spicier option. My friend Du Hy does an excellent Thai curry pie. I know it's not proper British pie filling but its amazing! Newman Arms is always a sure thing when I need my pie fix and a pint of Pride to feel properly Brit!

I really liked the vibe of this pub...so typically London, I almost thought Jack the Ripper was going to pop out of the alleyway with a carving knife. Thank goodness he didn't, I guess. Instead, I enjoyed my ice-cold Crabbies (new fav drink, thank you England) for £3 and the mixed clientele that was pouring out onto the streets. Also, and you wouldn't expect it from such a crammed in location, the skyline views are pretty spectacular from this little slice of pub heaven.

I'm not a pie expert but I was told this is one of the best spots to go. Don't read into my 3 stars as being negative - it's due to my lack of refined pie taste buds. Ambiance-wise, you can't get much better. When I entered, my Chinese American heritage sailed out the window and I became a Brit. It was a tough call as to what to order because it all seemed legit. I'm normally a pot pie person, but I felt compelled to try the Shepard's Pie. Looking back, I'd recommend the chicken pies. The puff pastry was about a mile high. It's a bit daunting to dig into but you gotta power through. If you are a tourist or a local in the hood, I would definitely check this place out.

*We're tourists* :) Newman Arms was by far our best dining experience in London. Some friends of ours had recommended the place, and advised on reservations and to get there early. Both of these being sound bits of advice, we took neither, and completely lucked out and were seated at a two person table on stools right in the middle of the whopping 8 tables of fantasticness. We actually ventured here twice, learning the second time, that the first time, the kitchen was closed, as the door in the ally hadn't been open. You can enter via an ally door just to the left of the front of the pub and walk upstairs, and apparently there's another entrance inside the pub as well. We barely stuck our heads in the pub, (as aforementioned, tourists and highly intimidated of doing the wrong thing and I get lost enough in my own city..) So glad we went back the next night as the door in the ally was open, hizzah! I had a wonderfully flaky veggie pie and my husband had a lamb suet. We loved both, we each ate all of both (he had some of mine but I've an aversion to lamb in general), both came with potatoes, mine whole cooked and his mash, and also with veggies on the side. The desserts EHMUHGAWD. Each that came out to other tables looked fantastic, we got sticky toffee pudding with cream and rhubarb crumble with pudding. Both were ALMOST all gone, there was a bit left of the rhubarb crumble just for lack of space in our fatted gullets. So, yes, go here. It's tons of food, go hungry or prep to bring some home, and the folks working there were really just nice, warm, and inviting. Even towards a couple of tourists.

The Newman Arms is a gorgeous, traditional pub with brilliant atmosphere. It's difficult to believe that only steps away from this old timer is the bustle of Oxford Street. They serve proper pints and real pub grub (pasties, pies, even spotted dick). The vibe is friendly but first-timers and out-of-towners are welcomed. Prices are affordable too (again, it's hard to believe the Newman is just up from Oxford Street as well as Tottenham Court Road). David Moore, one of the co-owners of Pied a Terre introduced me to this pub (http://london.blog.qype.com/?p=1358) . The man knows his stuff.

What a fantastic experience. Went on a Friday night with some local friends while on a recent rip to London...had to wait an hour to get a table for 6, but it was well worth it. 3 pints later we were upstairs in the pie room. Very warm atmosphere and friendly wait staff! I went for the steak and Stilton pie. Ok, so I'm from the US so I'm not used to a fresh baked pastry pie with high quality ingredients (this doesn't even begin to compare to the turkey pot pies I grew up with). This was a fantastic traditional British meal...don't miss it!!!

I like this place because it's full of locals... but mostly because GEORGE ORWELL used to come here (and even wrote about it)! :D

Wonderful little place for a tasty pie and a pint. Delicious pies, lovely service, and will be missed dearly. Thanks for the pints, pies, and , memories. Cheers.

I remember eating here with friends long time ago when I visited London!! It's funny we just went to the first place where I wanted to try Sheppard's Pie... Since all of them were British I trusted in their decision and they were right! ^^ It was fun and the waitress that worked there was so friendly! I wanted to give her a tip, but I forgot that everyone makes a decent enough wage so they don't need tips... same with the bartneders weirdly... lol =P

It should be mandatory that all fans of pie visit the Pie Room. Massive bowls of perfect pastry puff and delicious filling, tender meats and soft vegetables. It's not very expensive, either; most pies will set you back about £9. The Pie Room tends to get really crazy around lunch time, so a booking is necessary. It's a rather tiny space, but the trade off is that they don't cram you in too tightly. If you go for a dinner, though, especially during the week, you're not likely to have a problem getting a table. Calling ahead to see if they have room is still recommended.

After a full day of sightseeing, we made a mad dash to Newman Arms to beat the dinnertime rush. While the pub downstairs was very packed--lots of imbibers inside and flowing onto the streets--the tiny upstairs pie room was empty when we walked in, and we were seated without a reservation. The menu consists of 5 to 10 pies and a steamed suet pudding. We ordered the Vegetarian and Beef & Guinness. And, as promised, the flaky pastry was perfect. 3 inches high of crispy, flaky, buttery puff pastry. Even better than I had imagined. The Beef & Guinness filling was hearty and flavorful. Meanwhile, what the Vegetarian lacked in flavor and heartiness, it tried to compensate through number of ingredients: roasted parsnip, onion, tomatoes. Still, it just didn't have the same robust flavor as the meat and alcohol pie. Shame on me for trying to get some vacation veggies into my diet. Had I known that the pies come with generous helpings of vegetables--cooked beets, giant broccoli floret, new potatoes--I would have gone all in and indulged. The Chicken in Pepper Sauce and the Steak and Kidney both sounded delightful.

I highly recommend the rhubarb crumble and the chicken and leek pie. It's a pretty relaxed place. You go upstairs to eat and downstairs is the bar. Check it out!

Guinness Pies oh my. Be sure to soak in the pub downstairs for a few rounds first, then head up to the painfully small and uncomfortable tables upstairs and have the best traditional pies in London.

Brilliant pies, good servive, good vegetables (and I am not fond of them), and nice pub too.

I love this place!!! It's so small and cosy. Great place to catch up with some friends on a cold winters evening. Their "elizabethan pie" is my favorite (one of the special pies they have occasionally) although you can't go wrong with any of the other either. Good tasty simple food with veggies on the side. Gotta love it!!!!