The Speaker, Westminster, London

Great little pub which is all about the beer and conversation. Well kept ever changing range of beer on the pump. Currently it's the "mild month of may" and we have a couple if very tasty brews available.

Food offering is basic - sandwichs, baked potato and the like - but tasty.

Punters are an older crowd in the main with a good showing from beer loving civil servants.

8/10 Highly recommended if you are in the area and want good ale in a "proper" pub.

A good comfortable traditional pub ..geared for conviviale drinking company. Very pleasant.

The Speaker is a neat, cosy little bolthole tucked away in Westminster - a perfect place to be snugly installed with a pint of real ale when the freezing rain's lashing down outside!

A favourite of nearby officeworkers (and often, parlimentarians), if you arrive much after 5pm - or at any time on a Friday night - the chances of finding one of the few available seats is fairly minimal. You would never call The Speaker a spacious place.

The selection of real ale is always excellent - often featuring beers from the Dark Star brewery, but even when you're not lucky enough to see one of them the lineup's seldom a disappointment. And the landlord knows what he's doing. It's not an Ale Pub by a longshot though, and there's plenty of the usual pub fare to please most punters (as well as, I'm told, quite a decent wine stable - no doubt a small concession to the tastes of the visitors from Westminster).

A traditional "woody" pub which avoids the "old man pub" dinginess with brightness & character, and the fact it's always quite busy accurately reflects this.

Good no nonsense pub. This is a drinkers pub and although you can get bar-food it is mainly a place to get a good pint. I have regularly used this pub over the last 3 years and the only thing that changes is the picture of the latest Speaker of the House of Commons. Can get busy at times.

A good honest pub, no music, no fripperies but a friendly atmosphere, staff able to serve efficiently and well and an excellent selection of well kept ales.

This is a traditional English pub, although I wouldn’t call it cosy because it is all quite open-plan. It is slightly out of the way so doesn’t get as crowded as you would expect - which is good because it’s not that big. The landlord is quite staunch and a bit of a character.

The Speaker scores 5 stars for its attempts at authenticity and style. Branded a “real” English pub, you will not find a fruit machine or Sky Sports telly here. Furnished with dark woods and traditional pub furniture, it’s a favourite haunt of local workers (government and otherwise). Gets quite crowded and lunchtimes and in the evenings, but that only goes to show its quality and charm.

This cosy, traditional pub is a no-nonsense local, tucked away only a few minutes' walk from the busy Victoria Street.

They serve at least 4 real ales (currently Young's Bitter, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and two guest beers), plus traditional bar meals (ploughmans, sandwiches and a choice of hot dishes at lunch time). There is no piped music, TV or slot-machines - just conversation.

The staff are friendly and efficient, and the clientele include office workers and locals: it can get very busy at lunch-times and between 17-19h with those grabbing a quick pint after work.

Occasional beer festivals are held: this May, over 50 milds will be on offer (two each day, all different!). NB - they are closed on Saturdays.