The Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden — Restaurant in London

The Lamb & Flag: A Timeless Tale of London’s Oldest Pub

Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, between the bustling streets of London’s West End, stands The Lamb & Flag—a pub steeped in history, whispered legends, and the warm glow of centuries-old camaraderie. Its weathered sign, bearing the image of a gentle lamb carrying a flag, sways gently in the breeze, as if inviting passersby to step inside and become part of its enduring story.

A Humble Beginning The origins of The Lamb & Flag trace back to 1772, though some claim its foundations may be even older, possibly dating to the early 1600s. Originally known as "The Cooper’s Arms," it was a simple tavern serving ale to tradesmen, artists, and the occasional rogue. But in the early 19th century, it earned its current name, inspired by the religious symbolism of the Lamb of God and the flag of St. George, a nod to England’s heritage.

Back then, Covent Garden was a lively, sometimes lawless district—home to market traders, actors, and even bare-knuckle brawlers. The Lamb & Flag became infamous for hosting "rafter fights", where brawlers would battle atop the pub’s wooden beams while spectators cheered and placed bets below. The upstairs room, now a cozy dining area, was once a blood-stained arena of brute strength and bravado.

Literary Legends and Famous Patrons Over the years, The Lamb & Flag became a haven for writers, poets, and thinkers. Charles Dickens, who often wandered Covent Garden’s streets for inspiration, was said to have enjoyed a pint or two within its walls. Some even whisper that scenes from his novels were sketched out on napkins over a glass of stout.

Later, in the 20th century, the pub became a favorite of John Dryden, the famed poet and playwright. Legend has it that Dryden was once ambushed in an alleyway near the pub by hired thugs—an attack that nearly cost him his life. To this day, some claim his ghost lingers, perhaps still nursing a grudge (or a drink).

Surviving the Centuries The Lamb & Flag has endured plagues, fires, wars, and the ever-changing tides of London’s social scene. During the Blitz of World War II, while bombs fell on the city, the pub’s sturdy walls provided shelter to locals, its cellar becoming a makeshift refuge. The regulars would sing songs to keep spirits high, and the landlord at the time famously refused to close, declaring, "If London’s standing, so are we."

In the 1980s, the pub faced its greatest threat yet—demolition. Developers sought to tear down the historic building to make way for modern offices. But Londoners, historians, and loyal patrons rallied to save it. Protests, petitions, and public outcry ensured The Lamb & Flag was listed as a protected building, preserving its legacy for future generations.

The Lamb & Flag Today Walk into The Lamb & Flag today, and you’ll find a perfect blend of old and new. The low ceilings, wooden beams, and vintage décor remain untouched, while the menu offers hearty British classics—beef and ale pies, fish and chips, and their famous Sunday roasts. The bar serves a fine selection of real ales, craft beers, and whiskies, each sip a tribute to the pub’s enduring spirit.

Upstairs, the rafter fights are long gone, replaced by the laughter of friends and the clinking of glasses. On some nights, if you listen closely, you might hear the faint echo of a poet’s verse or the ghostly cheer of a long-forgotten brawl.

A Living Legend The Lamb & Flag isn’t just a pub—it’s a living piece of London’s soul. It has seen the city change around it, yet it remains a constant, a place where history and hospitality meet. Whether you’re a curious traveler, a history buff, or simply in search of a great pint, The Lamb & Flag welcomes you with open arms and a story to tell.

So next time you’re in Covent Garden, push open its creaky door, take a seat by the fireplace, and raise a glass to **one of London’s last true...

Not mad, just disappointed and confused.

We had a reservation, got seated, only to wait 15 minutes at the table looking over the menu before a staff member approached us. She asked what we wanted to drink and informed us of all the items they were out of—including the one appetizer and main course (beef pie) we had planned to order. Having spent that time deciding, we now had to rethink our choices from a limited menu. She apologized, adding that numbers were much larger than expected this year and how she knows this because “she’s in charge.”

We started with the tomato soup, which was the highlight of the meal and the reason this review isn’t a single star. However, things went downhill from there. While eating our soup, we noticed a couple who arrived after us being served two beef pies—the very dish we were told was unavailable. At first, we thought they must’ve pre-ordered these online. Nope. This continued throughout the evening as we watched at least eight other pies being served. It was baffling and frustrating, to say the least. Why did she tell us they were out?

Side note: One beef pie even came up the conveyor lift from the kitchen looking, as the server laughingly told the customer as she served him it, “like it was thrown around the loo a couple times.” What the customer didn’t see, but I did, was the server attempting to clean up the pie’s appearance by using a blue paper towel from the bar counter before delivering it. Not on the plate—on the pie itself. This lack of professionalism and cleanliness was astonishing.

The main dishes were underwhelming. The fish & chips were good, but the salmon dish was dry, lacked flavor, and came with poorly cooked potatoes and a lackluster balsamic “reduction.”

Adding to the disappointment was the service. While eating, we watched staff turn away numerous customers from a half-empty room due to “upcoming reservations,” leaving those patrons visibly confused. Spoiler alert: no reservations filled those tables. If you don’t have the capacity to serve due to staffing, tell people that. One server struggled to communicate this unavailability to a non-English-speaking guest, eventually turning away without resolving her confusion. I stepped in to translate what he tried to communicate for her, and though it was greatly appreciated by the customer, my assistance was neither acknowledged nor appreciated by the staff.

To top it all off, when asked how our food was, we honestly replied, “Alright.” We then questioned the availability of the beef pies, pointing to a nearby table enjoying them. The server laughed and admitted the kitchen had managed to make more but didn’t care to inform us. She tried to blame it on poor timing, but that’s just not true considering the table arriving after us receiving their pies before we received our food. This lack of communication and blatant lying felt dismissive, especially since we had clearly expressed our disappointment earlier.

We left the service charge on the bill, though it wasn’t deserved. The entire experience was unorganized, uncommunicative, and underwhelming, despite the other promising reviews. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning or recommending—regardless of whatever showful reply we get about wanting to “make it up to you if...

Booked a table for 6pm and ordered food for 8 people. Waiter was lovely but came back and informed us that there no no crackling left for the roast pork, it was ok though because he provided us with extra roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. The food arrived all together which was great. Plates warm and the roasts were warm , not hot. The presentation made the food look unappetising. It was piled high with thick slabs of meat all very dry. Thankfully they did bring us extra grave. The beef, advertised as ‘served pink’ was brown and dry. It was clear that this food had been cooked for lunch and warmed up for 6 o'clock diners. The roast potatoes were dry and solid. Nothing fresh about them. Burnt single carrot and massive parsnips. Offered us apple sauce and then came back to say there was none. A waitress came to ask if we wanted to order desserts before we had finished our meal because the kitchen was closing. That was kind of her to do so but had we known that a sherry trifle was £9.00, we might have skipped it. I do need to say that people who didn’t order the roast were positive about the food. We did eat everything because it would be wasteful not to and as I said, some of the food was ok. While we were waiting for the table to be cleared the desserts arrived Seemed strange that they didn’t clear the table first. I have never been to a restaurant where you eat your dessert surrounded by the debris of your main course. When we asked for the dishes to be cleared the waitress replied ‘I’ve only got two hands’ which was completely unnecessary. I actually had to double check that she had said that. To be fair to her she did return and tell us she would take 2 desserts off our bill. Didn’t really make up for rudeness though. We paid and left. I have got to say that it was the worst roast I have ever had. Please don’t claim to serve quality food 4-5 hours after it had originally prepared. It was truly terrible. Thanks for taking a couple of puddings off, but I feel that was because the waitress realised has rude and inept she had been rather than her embarrassment at the quality of the roast. Do not offer a menu that you cannot fulfil Will not be returning to eat in the...