The Marlborough — Restaurant in London

Crisp Pizza, Mayfair: Worth the Hype for the Staff and the Slice? ​Crisp Pizza has landed inside the Marlborough pub in Mayfair, and it has instantly become one of the most talked-about pop-ups in London. If the queues are anything to go by, this spot is a certified hit, but does the pizza itself live up to the instant hype? ​Process and People: The True Stars ​Before we even get to the pies, the operational decisions and the people running the show deserve immense credit. Crisp Pizza wisely chose to only accept walk-ins in the early days. This approach—prioritizing learning the process and figuring out the operational needs before scaling—shows a respect for the craft and the customer experience that is truly commendable. ​Even better than the smart logistics are the people behind the counter. The staff here are beyond exceptional—super sweet and genuinely kind. In a busy, high-demand environment, the team maintains an infectious positivity, making every interaction a pleasure and elevating the entire experience far beyond a simple grab-and-go slice. ​The Vibe: Popularity Comes at a Cost ​The demand, however, currently outstrips the capacity of the space. While being inside a Mayfair pub provides a fantastic atmosphere, the limited seating means it gets cramped for all group sizes, even for a pair. If you’re heading down, be prepared for a bustling, high-energy environment, where you might be rubbing elbows with your neighbors. ​The Pizza: Good, Unique, and One Clear Winner ​Let's talk about the main event. Full disclosure: I'm no connoisseur, but the pizza is undoubtedly good. Whether it qualifies as truly great is where the conversation gets interesting. ​Crisp is clearly building its own style. It’s not the floppy, chewy crust of a traditional Neapolitan, nor is it a faithful recreation of a New York slice—it sits somewhere in the middle, leaning toward that thin-crust, New York aesthetic but maintaining its own unique identity. ​The cheese pies are exceptional. They hit all the right notes with flavor, texture, and balance. They are the clear reason for the queues. ​However, the pepperoni pie feels like it’s missing something. While the thin base is perfect, the overall composition seemed to fall short—perhaps a lack of sufficient cheese, a touch too much dryness, or a texture that turns rubbery too quickly as it cools. There’s a slight lack of cohesion that keeps it from reaching the heights of its cheese-only counterpart. ​Final Verdict ​Irrespective of any minor flaws, Crisp Pizza is the place to be in London right now. It is still absolutely worth the hype. The commitment to customer service, the smart decision to manage demand via walk-ins, and the sheer quality of that cheese pie make this a mandatory visit. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and...

🚇 Marble Arch 🍺 £7.30 Guinness

The Marlborough sits just off Oxford Street in Mayfair, with Marble Arch as the closest Tube.

The pub dates to 1758 and was long known as The Marlborough Head. The striking terracotta-and-red-brick building you see today was built in 1892 by Thomas Verity, the architect behind the Pavilion at Lord’s.

After sitting empty since 2020, it’s now back in action after a major refurb. It’s been reborn as The Marlborough by Carl McCluskey — operator of The Chancellors and founder of Crisp Pizza — with support from Oisín Rogers of The Devonshire.

Inside, it’s had a majestic, traditional makeover. The main bar is broken into cosy sections, with a beautiful mahogany servery topped with Victorian lanterns. Expect boarded and chequered floors, burgundy and brass details, glazed tiling, and a standout picture mirror. At the rear sits a snug with dark wood panelling, plush banquettes and a proper pub carpet. There’s also a terrace outside and a 52-cover pizzeria downstairs.

The beer range is impressive: two cask ales, plenty of familiar favourites and Modelo on draught — a rare sight. The Guinness uses the same setup as The Devonshire, so of course I had to try it. It was excellent, and the price reflects the postcode. Food-wise, it’s all about pizza by @crisppizzaw6 one of London’s most hyped pizza spots. I was here for the pints, so I’ll give the food a go next time.

I arrived at 12pm, spotted a 30-person queue, and returned at 3pm when things had calmed down. Even then, the place was buzzing. A few pints later it was packed to the rafters. Service was spot on — friendly, switched-on, and completely in control.

This is easily London’s biggest pub opening of the year. The building’s a stunner, the interior’s gorgeous, and when you mix well-kept pints, pizza perfection and warm hospitality, you’re onto a winner. I had a brilliant few hours here — the hype is real. I 100% recommend popping in… just make sure you get here early!

Follow @themarlboroughmayfair for updates.

📅 12th November 2025

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Beautiful inviting pub from the exterior... Busy too. A group of us enter and we ask if the kitchen is open as we are hungry and taking a break from work. Young lady takes our order at the bar we sit down as the payments are done. After 20mins a gentleman arrives with the incorrect dish. We confirm what we have ordered and he goes back to the kitchen. 5 mins later a young lady comes to our table hands us £2.50 saying one of us overpaid. We all paid the same amount by card so there was confusion. 10 mins later one of the three dishes arrive. I started eating and wish I didn't. The guys are wondering why I'm struggling to eat the vegan fish and chips. When I was asked from one of my friends How's the food? I explained look after yourself because if you get ill and you end up in hospital you will get this type of dish there. Anyhow my friends said let's give them another 10mins otherwise we have to go back to work as this was supposed to be a quick bite. It arrived 20mins after mines and they was all disappointed and commented avoid this place. Another 3 dishes were made and we only needed 2. The dish needs to be 86'd forever and does the chef taste what he is producing? One of the bar ladies mentioned the chef is new but I'm pretty sure they havent got a chef in the kitchen... Must be a cleaner changing trades. Absolutely disappointed and the best part is 3 of us was over charged and only one was paid the difference. I will point out that the staff we did meet was friendly. I will touch base with my friends today and will express how much morning wind...