Home > London > SW7 > Ennismore Arms Ennismore Arms

Picture source: Chris Amies

The Ennismore Arms was situated on Ennismore Mews. This pub was built in the 1840s, then rebuilt in the 1950s following WWII bomb damage. Closed in 2002, it was demolished in 2004, despite CAMRA opposition, to make way for a block of flats.

The late Charles Gray, narrator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and a many- time upper-crust villain in films, once said, 'I prefer a pint at the local to drinking champagne in a dress suit'. True to his word he was a regular at the Ennismore Arms for many a year and with such a handsome local, why wouldn't he be? The Ennismore is what they call a decent pub in SW7, and it's so hidden away you're likely to stray past. The locals seem to like it that way, just as they like the Courage ales.

Evening Standard, published April 2000

In the early sixties, my schoolmates split up to go to various universities and colleges. While some of us went to Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester etc, Dave went LSE and Pete to Imperial College. I remember going into the Ennismore at the end of the Mews one Saturday night when a few of us were down visiting the guys for a weekend. I was at the bar ordering pints with what was left of the kitty-money and Dave was there to help carry them. As I handed over the cash, I said to the barman "I can tell you how to sell more beer, you know". "How is that, sir?" "Fill the flipping glasses up to the top, that's how!" It did the trick and we got full measures to carry back to our table, but Dave was mortified; he didn't know where to put himself. The Ennismore had become his local since October. All the rest of us rough northern types (in actuality, middle-class grammar school boys) were in pleats of laughter when he recounted the tale to them. The Ennismore Arms was one of the ponciest pubs I'd ever been in but the ale was good.

J Goddard (September 2017)

A very popular pub in the early 1960s. Partly due to its closeness to Imperial College and its students, partly due to its association with Christine Keller and Mandy Rice Davies. I was a student living in adjacent Princes Gardens in 1963 - 65 and a fairly regular visitor. We students reckoned the clientele had more than its fair share of what today are known as gays. Also popular with students at that time were The Queens in Queens Gate Mews and The Zealand (with lovely faceted beer tankards). Both have survived. Just down from the Ennismore past the Oratory heading for Brompton Road, most nights you would find a low chassis Invicta parked. Today it would be worth hundreds of thousands. Today also, it would be nicked within days.

P H Collins (October 2019)

Am reading Lee Server's life story of Ava Gardner who lived at 34 Ennismore Gardens from around the late sixties til her passing. Apparently this was her local and she installed a jukebox and promptly put in loads of Frank Sinatra records, not that she didn't have them all at home.

Michael Maynard (October 2019)

In Episode #100 of the TV series “The Saint”, “An Invitation to Danger”, Simon Templar arranges a meeting at The Ennismore Arms and there is a shot of the exterior of the Pub. On the personal side of things, my father went to Imperial College for his PhD and I believe he used to frequent the Ennismore.

Nes Rotstein (January 2021)

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Name	Dates	Comments
Mary Rose Allen	1974/1976	My uncle and auntie used to managed this pub mentioned above , amazing memories I used to be part of the bar staff ,used to run the snack bar at lunch times and in the evening the bar . I was in my twenties. I had my 21st birthday party there to I remember,it was a costume party the male were dressed as women . I was dressed as a bunny girl. Fantastic memories .
Charlie	1972/1985	Lived locally, drank in this pub for years, remember biscuit the barmaid, mark and hazel, Judith the barmaid and many more, had many an amazing night in there with all friends and neighbours, ken the road sweeper, Charles Grey, all sorts of people, students and locals, live music now and again, when locals never complained. top hat and tails night! New Year's Eve, many special nights. Always remember those days.
Graham Jones	1980	I was an Australian backpacker through Europe in 1980. I was based in London. Lived in Kensington. I worked for about 4 months at the pub. I enjoyed it immensely. I met the locals, mainly students, made some money. From time to time my fellow Australian and New Zealander companions had a drink there. I was disappointed to hear that the pub had been demolished and flats built on the site. It was a great pub and good memories for me.