Walkers of St James (Bar, Restaurant)

Opening a pub a stone’s throw from Fortnum & Mason certainly means keeping up appearances and yet despite having only been open since September 2007, Walkers of St James already looks reassuringly at home.

It is the brainchild of Nick Hill, known to others in the industry from The Enterprise on Red Lion Street. The idea was simple: take a pub that was in need of some sprucing up and turn it into a funky and accessible venue without compromising on character. This has been done with some flair – there’s even a fountain where there once would have been a fruit machine.

When I went to review the venue early on a Friday night there was not a seat to be had. This appears to be down to some very pleasant surroundings for a drink (for ale fans Black Sheep and Deuchars IPA are both on tap) where certain key features of a good pub such as wood panelling are retained but there is also a healthy dose of modernity. The blend of old and new was most aptly demonstrated by a TV showing pictures of a roaring fire.

In terms of cuisine, Walkers of St James takes you a notch up from standard pub fayre. I tried the Scottish smoked salmon which had an excellent meaty freshness, followed by a pasta of the day which was full of flavour thanks to a rich tomato sauce. There are tapas on offer in the evening and it’s possible to hire the whole venue or a room for a private function.

Look out for a new cocktail menu - it will give the history behind everything from mojitos to caipirinhas and adds a dash of extra glamour. Another sign that Walkers of St James is fitting in well with its classy neighbours....read more