Home > London > SW7 > The Denmark The Denmark

Picture source: Mac Booker

The Denmark was situated at 102 Old Brompton Road.

Source: Christopher D Carolis

This pub now operates as a restaurant/bar called Bumpkins.

Mac Booker (September 2011)

The Denmark was one of the most popular pubs for “trendy” young people in the late 1950’s and early 60’s when young bachelor men and girls lived in flats in South Ken and Chelsea and could afford the prices. The landlord was called Len. I recall. Nice chap always smartly dressed. Frequent users were Mike Davies one time British No. 1 Tennis star and his German girlfriend (later wife) wife Ilse Buding, another tennis star. I think the draught beer they sold was was Courage. The crowds used to spill out into the street. I was a regular in 1959 to 1961.

Jeremy Wheeler (January 2014)

The Denmark was the London "local" of my term of Commonwealth Navy Sub Lieutenants while attending Greenwich Naval College 1957/1958. In the ensuing years when in London between voyages one could always be assured of running into a former classmate at the Denmark or asking the Publican , Len, if any were in town. It was during one of these visits that I met my late wife, Carol. My last visit to the Denmark was in 1978 . I had been in England to attend a Convoy Commodores Course at HMS Vernon in Portsmouth. I had a night in London while awaiting air transport back to Canada so decided to go to the Denmark for old times sake. I approached the main bar and told the barman I had been a frequent patron in the late “50’s , early 60’s when Len Rollins had been the Landlord. He made the usual polite chat including the fact that Mr. Rollins had died several years back. He then went on to say that there had been a lot of changes over the years particularly in the regular habitués of the establishment. Perhaps,he said you should look around before I pour your pint. Change it certainly had; it was completely gay! I thanked him for his courtesy and returned to my hotel Quoting ,Tennyson’s Morte d’Arthur, "The old order changeth,yielding place to new, and God fulfils himself in many ways, lest one good custom should corrupt the world.”

George Jackson,RCN (Ret'd) Victoria, B C Canada (March 2015)

Could I just add that the Denmark in South Kensington was THE centre of social activities for all single people working in Harrods in the mid to late Sixties. Many of the Harrods girls lived in shared flats and bedsits around South Kensington and The Denmark was always the starting point for an evening’s revels. All information on parties was disseminated from the Denmark and the next evening was then used for dissection and analysis of the preceding night’s scandals and triumphs. I knew several young and beautiful couples who met at the Denmark and subsequently married. If they are still around they will be old buffers like me.

Brian Murray-Smith (January 2016)

I was a drama student at the Webber Douglas Academy in the early 1970’s around the corner from The Denmark pub in the Old Brompton Road. It is now I understand a restaurant. It was a favourite haunt of us promising young actors after the day’s tutorials, and especially after student productions. I have so many glorious recollections of sharing exciting, if ultimately forlorn, hopes for our futures as stars of film and theatre!..... I once had a small part in Only Fools and Horses. One abiding memory is of a seemingly lonely Jack Warner (Dixon of Dock Green) eating his solitary suppers there.

Alan Cody (October 2021)

I was living in South Kensington in 1967 and loved The Denmark, it was my local and the crowd who used the front bar were all locals loving the banter. The back bar was the "cool" bar full of single girls from Harrods and often visited by the stars of the day. It was a vibrant, exciting time to live in London and the Denmark was certainly at the hub of that. Starting point for many a crazy night that ended in The Marquee, The Flamingo or maybe Tiles or UFO.

Trevor Fenwick (June 2023)

David Miller was a potter I once knew, We'd meet at The Denmark South Ken. For a few, We both taught statue Arts Centre, Camden Town, He moved to France, quite a long way down To Provence where he gained world renown, His work incollections, The States, Japan and afar, I remember well our hats at the bar.

This would be 1971/72 after our drink he'd drive down to Chelsea over Albert Bridge to Battersea where he had his studio. I would walk along The  Compton Road to Earls Court where I was living with my French girlfriend .

Merfyn Edwards (June 2023)

Harry Linsdell was the landlord of this pub from the end of the First World War, when he returned from South America, to March 1939 when he died. He was a Freemason of the Feltmakers Lodge and a Liveryman.

David Haydock (September 2023)

Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. Like this site? Follow us on

Contacts

Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.

Name	Dates	Comments
Judy Sanders (nee Finch)	1960s	My auntie and uncle ran this pub.
Sophie Fechoz	1980	I worked there for a month or so. Great Fun it was and so many years later, I do remember it quite vividly. Met a lot of friends there and I learned to count straight in English
Brian Croke	1962-1967	Met many friends from all over the commonwealth there great partys happy days the 1960's
Chris Glynn	1967-1971	I was a young man just arrived in London in 1967. The Denmark was my local. Wonderful memories. Dixon of Dock Green, Jack Warner, was a regular. Alan Bates, Don Cockell, Scott Walker, Anita Harris, Oliver Reed, and many other celebrities of the 60s popped in. In fact that is me (aged 18) sitting on the box outside the pub with Eugene Quinn. The guy sitting on the floor was another regular, Sweeney. Thanks to the person who posted the pic.
John Lane	1960-1961	The favoured watering hole whilst serving at the Royal Naval Barrack in Chatham and then at Royal Naval College Greenwich. As scrum half for US Chatham, I was always pleased to meet Tremayne Rodd there, the Scotland international scrum half - and many others. Great days.

Other Photos
Date of photo: 1960s	Picture source: Andrew Wright