The Nell has the look and feel you would expect from a traditional English pub. Across the street form the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, it has long associations with London's theatrical community.
Ideal for pre/post theatre drinks if visiting the Theatre Royal. An interval drinks ordering service is also provided.
The Nell of Old Drury is one of the oldest pubs in Covent Garden and has undergone a number of incarnations. An underground tunnel connects the pub and the Theatre Royal opposite which was allegedly used by Charles II when visiting Nell Gynne during the late 1600s.
The pub was originally called the Lamb but was re-named The Sir John Falstaff by the Victorians. During this period, pubs were often used as exhibition venues for what was considering exotic at the time. The Sir John Falstaff was host to such including a tattooed man from the South Seas and a Zulu warrior woman!
The present day Catherine Street is an amalgamation of what was Brydges Steet and Katherine Street. The pub's former address was 15 Brydges Street and was a regular for a number of the literary and theatrical figures over the centuries.
The pub was also a regular haunt of the market traders when the Covent Garden Fruit and Veg market was still in existence. It even made a cameo appearance in the Hitchcock movie 'Frenzy', which was set in the area.
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Lovely small pub. Great beer, cool and quirky but traditional ambience. Great stop for a pre-show drink.
We had just come from the Novello theatre opposite this quaint old pub. We’d enjoyed Mama Mia and the evening was topped off by a drink with friends in the Nel. Great atmosphere and soon we had more friends! Really old traditional London Pub the Landlady was really knowledgeable about the history of” Nel of Old Drury” we’ll be back…
Love this little Gem of a pub, It has a great atmosphere. Great location too. And the lady called Sandy was a delight!! She made me feel very comfortable as I was on my own waiting for a friend. I will definitely be returning soon.
Nice atmosphere in this lovely old pub, filled with old and new posters of musicals. Decor was nice as was the beer 🍺 and the bar staff. Didn’t have any food on offer, but would happily eat and drink 🍺 here again 😊
Great little relaxed pub in Covent garden offering a wide range of drinks on tap and some cocktails. The atmosphere on a Monday night was very relaxed and every table was enjoying themselves. Unfortunately they didn't have any garnishes for cocktails but it was late on a Monday. Highly recommend especially since it can go under the radar and nice relaxed atmosphere
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London WC2B
4.2/5
Nestling where the West End’s theatre land rubs up against the world-famous Covent Garden shopper’s paradise, meet the newest boutique branch of the Bodean’s family at the sign of the golden pig.
London WC2
4.4/5
Opera Tavern is a beautiful two-storey bar and restaurant in the heart of central London’s theatre land. Located on Catherine Street we are opposite the Drury Lane Theatre.
London WC2
4.5/5
A typical Victorian pub experience in a narrow-fronted local hidden behind flowering baskets.
