Grenadier, Belgravia  

A friend and I visited the Grenadier this week for the first time in 30 years and, contrary to the earlier comments, I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice a place it is. The beer was good and well served, and both the staff and fellow customers were up for quick, though not very meaningful, conversations. One word of caution, our experience was enhanced by bagging one of the few seats in the tiny drinking area. Choose the right time to visit, or be prepared to stand very close to your neighbours.

I called in for a drink on Sun 12th July with an Italian friend. Unfortunately we were "served" by the worst barmaid I've ever come across. She couldn't pour a pint; started putting lager in a bitter top sloshed a bottle of ginger beer into a glass and had no ice. A pub with no ice in summer in the middle of London? Get some! She then tried to charge us £17.60 for four drinks (pint of bitter, half a bitter top, a coke and a bottle of ginger beer.) I hope this was nothing to do with the possibility that we might have been mistaken for naive tourists as I was speaking Italian to my friend. The barmaid then took a minute to add up the drinks on a calculator. Had I not wanted to avoid causing a scene in front of my friend I would have told her to keep the drinks and would have walked out. If you are taking a foreign guest to a pub in the area, I would advise the Nag's Head, where at least you won't be embarrassed to live in a city where the service is so poor. The Grenadier used to be a great pub. Message to landlord/owner. Sort it out!

I've been drinking here since 1983. But last time I was in, the only customers were Yanks or Canadians. Admittedly, I was part of the problem, but I had to get out to get the ironic wit that I was looking for.

Very rude landlord, who wrongly accused me of using foul language on the evening of Friday 15 June. He asked me to leave and when i protested my innocence he barred me and was exceedingly rude. The bar staff remained pleasant despite working for a complete tyrant. I would avoid this place for his dreadful attitude.