Newman Arms
23 Rathbone Street
Fitzrovia
London
W1T 1NG
Social Links
Follow @NewmanArms on Twitter
Opening Times
11-11.30
Owner
Shaftesbury
About the Pub
After a period of closure for building works to be carried out, this site reopened in May 2018 under Truman's Brewery management, as their first Tap House in London. Truman’s have expanded the pub into the basement and increased the number of draught lines, to offer customers a wider range of beers. This is one of the first pubs in London to install a ‘crowler machine’ to fill 910ml (a pint and a half) cans with any draught beer on site for customers to take away. 4 cask ales plus 12 keg beers. Pies remain a speciality of the house; or if you don't want a pie, try a salad, or a salt beef or smoked salmon bagel.
Named after the local landowner William Berners, whose country seat was Newman Hall in Quendon, Essex, it's a small, narrow and cosy low-ceilinged pub, with a proper flagstone floor. The building dates from the 1720s and is thought to have once been a blacksmith, candle-maker's, picture framer's and brothel before being licensed as a beer house in 1863. It later became a favourite of George Orwell and the pub is believed to have been the model for the "Proles' Arms" in Orwell's dystopian novel "1984", the pub in which Winston Smith tries and fails to find out about life before the revolution. The basement snug names now give a nod to the famous book; they also have a dual purpose as a training facility for Truman's staff.
Note the almost Dickensian covered alleyway to the left, once unlit and nicknamed Murderer's Alley. The beer-only licence lasted until 1948 when wine was licenced to be sold, and finally a spirits licence was granted in 1960.
Historic Interest
One of the murder scenes from the controversial Michael Powell film "Peeping Tom" was filmed in the flat above the pub. Archive photos of this pub as a Charrington's Ales house may be seen at www.historypin.org/en/newman-arms.
Regular Beers
This pub serves 4 regular beers.
- Truman's Lazarus
- Truman's Runner
- Truman's Swift
- Truman's Zephyr
Features
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Real Ale Available
Facilities
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Lunchtime Meals
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Evening Meals
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Function Room
Proles' Parlour & The Orwell snugs in basement can be booked.
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Restaurant Area
Pie room upstairs.
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Wifi
View on Larger Map
Newman Arms
23 Rathbone Street
Fitzrovia
London
W1T 1NG
Sat Nav Reference
Transport
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Close to Bus Routes
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Close to Railway Station
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Close to Underground/DLR
Nearby Bus Routes (350m)
Various
Nearby Station (1100m)
Euston
Nearby London Underground/DLR (300m)
Goodge Street
Submit Pub Feedback to CAMRA
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Please note that any changes mentioned WILL NOT have an immediate effect on whatpub.com but will instead be emailed directly to the West London CAMRA branch Pubs Officer for consideration. If you provide your name and/or email address this information will also be visible to the Pubs Officer, who may use this information to follow up your feedback. IF YOU WISH TO CONTACT THE PUB DIRECT, PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS FORM.
