The Hoop & Toy, South Kensington, London

This appears to be the only pub within walking distance of all those exciting museums. And it’s pretty crap.

They rely massively on a tourist trade, so they were busy when I popped in for a drink with a friend (cheap bubbly is only £3.95). You’ll end up here if you fancy a pint after a walk around the museums, but you won’t be excited by it. In fact, I’d suggest the Reading Rooms around the corner instead (there’s books and wine in the same room – how could that be bad?)

Location is the only thing this pub has going for it. There’s nothing wrong with the place, it’s just dull and generic.

A good selection of ales and beers isn't good enough to make up for a list of other problems, as this place shows.

The surfaces look like they get wiped once a month, and the price of drinks here borders on extortionate. The couple of times I've been here I've had to limit myself to one drink as you're effectively getting one pint for the price of two. Spirit and mixer will set you back around a fiver as well.

Most recently I went here with a large group. The food was actually quite tasty. I had a rib of beef which, though small, was tender and fell off the bone and the sauce served with it was great. However for the £13 I paid, I would have expected excellence, and more than the token few chips and peas which accompanied it. The service is alright but nothing special. And the price means I'll think twice before stepping in here again.

Dreadful lunchtime service - took an age‎‎. Nipped in for a quick bite when taking my 7yr old to the science museum. They weren't busy. I ordered a ploughman's sandwich and a kid's burger and should have taken my cue from how rude the barman was when I was paying. After 25 mins my 7yr old was getting bored & fidgety, so I asked where the food was - they didn't seem pushed about it. Finally got it after 40 mins. The burger was less than you'd get at McDonalds - a piece of meat & a bun with a few chips thrown on the plate, no frills and no idea how it possibly took them so long to make it. Very disappointing, waste of valuable museum time!

Reliably sticky! That's how this pub has always been, and I don't know why some people can clean tables and others can't, so maybe some publicans can shed light on that? Anyway, the pride is reasonably kept, and it's open late, but I still refuse to like it

Nothing to write home about, popped in for a glass of wine in july, very hot and sticky inside. Fruit machines all over, not what I expected to find in the 'well off' area of Kensington. Oh well could'nt find any other pub nearby so had to go in!

This was my first time to “The hoop” and after an evening of physical exertion on the ice rink(!) at NHM, it was really nice to get into a cosy, friendly pub to enjoy a drink and a bit of a warm!

As per the other reviews, this pub is in close vicinity to the Museums of South Ken and also the tube. A good stop off point after a tiring cultural or fun afternoon/evening out before heading home.

The Hoop gave me my first experience of “Winter Pimms”. I’d not come across this before, but it was great to see a big ern behind the bar where they were serving hot pimms with slices of apple and dashes of cinnamon. The staff were also brewing Mulled Wine, but it was taking 15mins to brew a new pot so I missed out on this, but it was a really nice seasonal touch and seemed to be going down well with tourists and locals alike.

It’s really sad to hear that theft is a problem here, but probably not a surprise given the location and pull of tourists to the area.

Next time I visit the NHM or V&A I would definitely consider “popping in for one”. I’ll just be forwarding on the advise from DMJ1962 and theduck for them to hold onto their valuables :-(

Hmmm… well, this was a busy, bright, crowded pub with few tables, a tatty interior and was kinda dusty and dirty.

The beer available on tap was OK but nothing to write home about and although there was a lot of pimms winter warmer, there was no sign of any mulled wine so I opted to share a bottle.

It seemed to have a lot of passing trade and the place was a bit noisy - quite different than our last Qype bar which rocked the house.

AA firm “meh”

Decent enough pub, handy in its location between South Kensington tube station and all the museums. I was here - along with a packed house - after a Qype skating event. There were some of those chain touches I dislike, like fruit machines and lights turned up 'way too brightly. But they had lots of beers and wines on tap, along with mulled wine and Winter Pimms.

What a name…surely it could not be forgotten on the walk from the ice rink at the Natural History muesum…oh yes it can. Staying out later than other qypers on this school night of the Xmas Ice skating event, I was amazed that the number of customers this place had. It was so very popular. There were Londoners, tourists, people with pints, tall glasses, beer cans, half pints, shorts…wait a minute did you read beer cans?

Yes, service here was a little slow on the night I attended, maybe because the three staff were over run with custom. Some people turned up with beer cans and drunk them inside, always a bad sign because it means the beer is a)overpriced, b) difficult to purchase (it takes an age to get serve) c) the beer is bad or d) any combination of two or three of the above statements. They have Fosters, Kronenboug, Leffe, Stells and Staropramen, but no branded glasses for the premium products like Star and Stella which is a let down.

I have head this place called the 'hoop and toilet’ by a friend of the family who works at a neighbouring muesum. It is a bit harsh, but there is not much in the area for normal people. The tourists drinking here seemed to think they would get in bourij, the infamous nightclub a few doors down.

The fuction room upstairs is small, but ideal for comedy of the stand up variety. There is a basement bar too. I didnt visit it, so can’t comment. Beware, by the way, given the amount of passing trade there appears to be a bag theif here. So keep your belongings with you. You have been warned.

This is a traditional looking pub right next to South Kensington underground station which has recently benefited from a major refurbishment.

The exterior has an impressive fascia with the words 'whiskies’ and 'brandies’ in gilt either side of the name. Inside, it’s traditional - velvet curtains, dark wood, patterned carpet and bold wallpaper - but looks very clean and tidy after its refurbishment.

It also stocks a decent, if unadventurous, selection of real ales, including (last night) London Pride, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Green King IPA, and (more interestingly) Ruddles County. It’s a bit pricey, but then we are in Kensington and a tourist trap area. It was busy, but there were plenty of staff on, and service was efficient and friendly. They do food, but I didn’t sample it.

The main downer is actually its location, just a stone’s throw from the museum area: it gets very busy, very quickly, with lots of tourists, and later on seemed to fill up with a few Hooray Henry types from a gig: in short, it’s not your cosy, corner local, so don’t expect lots of atmosphere. But you could do worse if you just wanted a quick pint.

Warning: the pub has a reputation for theft - another facet of its location and touristy credentials. It even has CCTV and a stock of police theft report forms behind the bar… One of our party had their bag taken, although it later turned up, presumably because there was no wallet in it. So keep your valuables with you.

The Hoop is a pretty good pub round the corner from South Kensington tube station. The prices are average for the area, and it has a very reasonably priced food menu with a large dining room downstairs. Its recently been refurbished so isn’t quite as dingy as it used to be. Gets quite busy on Friday nights, and is a good place for a post work drink. This only alternative in the area is probably the Zetland Arms further down Old Brompton Road

Update - It’s open again and we’re going to be going here for some delicious christmas drinks on the 10th December!”

A cracking little pub spitting distance from South Kensington tube station. Lots of real ale on tap and a very friendly barmaid. Great for drinks not so great for food. Still, i’d recommend it if you are in the area.

Great place to enjoy a pint or 2 after a long walk in Hyde Park. Beers and ciders are ok. Didn’t have the chance to try the food.
The place is way too hot inside (probably an air conditioning problem?) so we enjoyed staying outside as there’s plenty of room.