10 Bridge Street
Westminster
London
SW1A 2JR
020 7925 2286
St Stephen’s Tavern in Westminster boasts some sumptuous Victorian fittings, mirrors and glasswork, and a fine panelled ceiling. The pub and the fittings date from 1875 and its Portland stone construction in French Renaissance style (photo 2) shows it was always intended as a high class establishment.
The showpiece interior was unusual for the 1870s and the pub predates most of the grand late-Victorian gin palaces by some years. However, its iconic location across the road from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (photo 1) might explain this. The Grill Room door glass (photo 3) indicates that it sold cooked food, unlike the great majority of town pubs in Victorian times.
The pub is well used by tourists, but MPs and civil servants from across the road also call in for a pint or two. There is a division bell to call the MPs back when they need to vote.
St Stephen’s Tavern was closed for some time in the 1990s but was nicely restored and reopened by Dorset brewers Hall and Woodhouse in 2003. All of their Badger beers are available along with a good range of spirits, and food is available all day.
