The Porterhouse — Restaurant in London

Walking into The Porterhouse in Covent Garden, I felt that all-too-familiar hesitation that any Irish person might have upon entering a place far from home that claims to capture the essence of Ireland. But the moment I stepped inside, I knew something was different. The warmth of the wooden interiors, the twinkling Christmas lights, and the unmistakable hum of laughter that filled the air—it felt like home.

And then, there was the stout. I ordered the Plain Porter, hesitant at first, as any Irish person knows the sacredness of a well-poured pint. But what arrived was nothing short of perfection. The first sip was like reconnecting with something deep and true—a smoothness that reminded me of sitting by a fire back in Ireland, surrounded by friends and family. That rich, bittersweet taste, with just the right amount of bite, was more than just a drink; it was a moment of pure nostalgia.

As I looked around, I realized I wasn’t the only one moved by this place. The spirit of the Irish ran through the very fabric of the pub, woven into every conversation, every toast, every laugh that echoed through the rooms. It wasn’t just the stout that was special—it was the feeling that The Porterhouse somehow managed to bring a piece of Ireland to the heart of London. Any Irish person who steps inside will feel it—a pull at the heart, a reminder of everything that makes us who we are, especially at Christmas.

Here, the Christmas season feels magical. The lights, the warmth, and the generosity of spirit bring a sense of belonging, even far from home. If you’ve ever longed for the comforts of Ireland—the laughter, the craic, and of course, the perfect pint—then you’ll understand why The Porterhouse isn’t just a pub. It’s where memories are stirred and the Irish heart is fed, one...

Great atmosphere and variety of drinks. I stupidly tried to drink all 12 of the beers on tap 🤦🏻‍♂️

EDIT: Two friends and I returned to The Porterhouse this week to make our third attempt at The Porterhouse 12 challenge.

During lockdown, amazing people across the country have been undergoing and completing some truly awesome physical challanges, but none that can compare with The Porterhouse 12.

The seemingly simple challenge of drinking the 12 pints on the 'Stout and Oyster' bar has defeated many a seasoned drinker since the inception of the challenge in 2019.

We made a strong start and were ploughing steadily away at the notoriously difficult 'middle third' when disaster struck. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Porterhouse was forced to close at 2030hrs leaving us stranded on pint 8. By this stage, we had already battled through pints of stout, cider, lager, pale ale, a delicious strawberry concoction and were desperate to finish.

The Porterhouse has its own, bespoke selection of pints and we knew that the closure of the bar at 2030 had forced the end of our challenge. Unwilling to admit defeat, we moved to another local pub to drink the last four pints in the knowledge that we would have to return to The Porterhouse to make a fourth attempt at the 12 in the future.

With further training and proper planning, I know we can complete this...

I've been going to the Porterhouse off and on since it opened and by and large it hasn't changed much.

Pros: For such a large and busy pub it has an excellent selection of beers (quite a few low/no alcohol if you are driving), and an outstanding selection of porters and stouts (as you might imagine from the name). The building is all beautifully polished brass pipes, with rooms stretching off in different directions over 3 floors. There are bars on each but only the ground floor bar tends to be open when quiet.

Cons: The pub is a veritable warren of different rooms, which is fun to explore when quiet but an absolute nightmare when busy (Thur/Fri/Sat night). Needless to say it gets much rowdier at these times and this is when I like it least. If you feel similarly, I'd avoid when there is a big rugby/football match on, unless you are specifically here to watch it.

Conclusion: Great and unusual beer choice, in an interesting venue. For me I prefer it when it is on the quieter side. I often pop in for a pint of the Oyster stout...