Home > London > SW1 > Lowndes Arms Lowndes Arms
Still from The Crying Game, 1991	Picture source: Rob Bradbury
The Lowndes Arms was situated at 37 Chesham Street. I guess this closed down in 1998.  The wheelchair-bound Sir Alec Guinness led the campaign to save the pub, to no avail.  It is now an apartment block.
Source: Jonathan Land
My father Ken Aitken, who sadly passed away this week, was the landlord of this wonderful London pub for almost 20 years from the mid 1970's to the early 1990's when he and his wife Josie retired. They were of the "old school" pub landlords, totally devoted to their craft. My dad was renowned for his bon hommie and quick wit; he was a very funny man and could hold the bar enthralled with his humour and perfect comic timing. Mum was not only very beautiful and charming, she made some of the best pub food in London. People would queue around the corner at lunchtime to eat her amazing steak and kidney pie! She made all the food herself, working every afternoon when the pub was closed, then would appear downstairs in the evening always immaculately dressed and glamorous. They were dearly loved by many, treated all their customers as friends, from the rich and famous of Belgravia to the more down on their luck. To Mum and Dad, people were people, and all were given respect and service. Mum died 5 years ago, so they are now together again, I hope and pray they are propping up some heavenly bar somewhere, joined by many of their customers, friends and family who have gone before them. If anybody reading this remembers them, his children and grandchildren would love to hear some of your memories. Ken's funeral was Thursday 1st March. Raise a glass to him, and remember that twinkle in his eye which was still there right to the end. Cheers and farewell, Ken!
Loraine Lawrence (February 2012)
As a boy I used to visit the Lowndes Arms to visit my Great Grandmother Jane Rowland (born 1857) and her daughter Bertha Swaffer (nee Rowland born Dovercourt Essex in 1880) who ran the pub. I think Bertha's husband Victor was a bit too fond of the booze and left the running to her.  It seemed to be very successful and had an upmarket clientele.
Len Holder (December 2012)
While at college in 1979 – 1980 I became a frequent visitor to the Lowndes Arms, Ken gave me a job collecting glasses and serving food and I became quite close to him, I eventually started working behind the bar a couple of nights a week. Ken to me was a proper gentleman, he ran a good pub with lots of very loyal customers of all types and all walks of life, everything from the likes of me, just a student to Tom Baker ex Dr Who, he was another memorable local. Mostly I remember the fundraising nights he held for the guide dogs for the blind, they were fantastic and I was lucky enough to attend two or three. Once I left college and returned to Bournemouth my home town, I re visited several times over the next few years and was always greeted with a fond and warm welcome. Very sad to here of his departure from this world, as I said, he was a true gentleman and someone that his family should be enormously proud.
Iain Stewart (March 2013)
Through doing research for a book about the US singer songwriter Harry Nilsson we discovered that the Lowndes Arms was one of his favourites when he lived nearby in London in the 1970s.
David Roberts (October 2021)
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Contacts
Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.

Name	Dates	Comments
John Price	1978/1979	My parents, John & Julie Price, worked here with Ken Aitken and would like to share some photos with his family.
Loraine Berti	1994/1998	Me and my husband Vittorio Berti were publicans of this public house, We had many years of happy times there with wonderful customers. We were the last publicans of the pub then the company decided to close it and sell it off to turn into a house.We tried to fight it with a lot of support from the public and also celebrities that used to drink there supported our fight but money talks. Such a shame as it was the best pub in the area
Michael O'Callaghan	1983/1988	I visited this pub many times with friends in the mid 80s. It had a special atmosphere, friendly, quiet, traditional. I was sad it shut.
Adi Fourie	1992/1993	I worked as a barman at this lovely pub under the then manager, Tom O'Connor before he was transferred to The Flamingo in Kingston-on-Thames. It was a wonderful time. It was cosmopolitan: apart from the Irish guvnor, the regulars included Glen, the Canadian husband of a banker, the chef of the Jordanian embassy, a London cabby driver and myself, a South African.
Susan Graney	1974/1975	I worked at The Lowndes for a year living in. The landlords were Clive and Olive Astley. They had two adorable children, Michelle and Kevin. Clive was a retired RAF pilot. They originated from Montgomeryshire. It was my first time away from home and I worked five and a half days a week. The clientele wonderful, kind and lots of fun. My parents came down for Christmas and New Year. Good times.
Joe Glass	1982/1988	Was a regular during weekdays as I worked closely by. Ken & Josie Aitken ran a great pub with pride. There were a bunch of locals who would hang up a dartboard, and we'd play darts for hours!! Xmas was good for party's. It was a crime that this quaint little holstery was demolished. I shall never forget it.
Patrick Benzie	1995/1998	My friends and I lived around the corner for three years and would frequent the pub. The publican at that time kindly allowed us to have barbecues in the garden on several occasions. We still reminisce about this warm, authentic and welcoming spot.
Gary Stevenson	1987/1989	Worked/Resided in digs nearby for a couple of years and frequented this pub most weekends!! Ken Aitken and his staff from Down Under were a credit to their trade! Good customers and fine beer. A wonderful pub atmosphere lost forever.
Tony Rogers	1976/1977	The pub was a Watneys House when I worked there as a barman in mid 70's. Locals from embassies were frequent visitors for lunch. This was my first job in London and I was given my own accommodation upstairs. I was new to the UK and I guess I didn't realize at the time how privileged I was to work and live in such a location! I've since gone on to work and live across the world but always remember fondly the happy times in the Lowndes Arms.
Peter Krieg	1989/1990	My wife and I, and our two small children, lived in a flat right next door to the pub. We're American. I worked for an ad agency that was part of the Saatchi empire and was "seconded" to London for 2 years. Those were two GREAT years, and the Lowndes Arms was one of the reasons we had such a great time. We ate and drank there 2-3 times a week. I'd often go over, by myself, for a nightcap and chat with the owner/proprietor.
Andy Southall	1984/1989	Loved this pub used to play darts in the corner.

Other Photos
Picture source: Google Streetview
André Renoux lithograph	Picture source: Natalie De Vleeschauwer