The Phene

The Phene is a hidden gem in the heart of Chelsea, offering an elegant and versatile setting for weddings and celebrations. As a wedding photographer, I have had the pleasure of documenting love stories at this iconic venue, and its blend of historical charm and modern sophistication makes it a truly unique choice.

🚇 South Kensington 🍺 £6.60 Amstel Tucked away in a leafy side street just a short walk from the King’s Road, you’ll find The Phene pub. The nearest Tube is South Ken, it’s a ten minute walk to get here. This pub was built in 1853 and was designed by and named after the architect and local character John Samuel Phene. George Best used to be a regular here, The Daily Telegraph called it “George Best’s second home". This is a stylish multi room Gastropub which has five separate areas. The main bar area is bright and airy with contemporary comfortable feel. The servery is located on the right, at the back of the main bar is cosy dining area with eclectic prints on the walls. On the first floor is a spacious room for hire which has a small bar. On the top floor is the snug Club Room which is an intimate setting. To left of the pub is a good size leafy beer garden. There is a decent choice of mainstream beers available plus once cask ale. I decided on a pint of Amstel, my pint was ok, price point was above average. The food menu consists of restaurant quality seasonal dishes which will appeal to the gastronomes amongst you. On Sundays Roasts take centre stage, most Roast options are around £20. I visited around 4pm on a mild March afternoon for an afterwork pint. There were a few punters in the beer garden and the main bar was relaxed and chilled. I had a nice chat with the Guv’nor who was kind enough to give me a tour and tell me about the history of the pub, top fella. The Phene, pronounced ‘Feenay’ is a plush Gastro that reflects the area it resides in. This pub will appeal to foodies that prefer the relaxed feel of a pub setting rather than a restaurant, If you just fancy a drink, you are still catered for. All said, this is a beautiful Victorian pub. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 01.03.24

Welcoming and popular pub with friendly service and tasty food. There is also outdoor seating. There is a llthe pub side and the restaurant side. Nicely decorated.

Nice pub, the taste of the food is above average. Their Sunday roast plates are delicious. Staff is not paying attention unless you wave with both hands for 45 seconds but they were nice

Had the opportunity to try this place through work. The fish and scallops were delicious, showcasing the chef's skill. However, the bacon was a bit overcooked, which affected the overall dish. The service was fine, attentive but room for improvement. Overall, a good experience with potential for perfection.

Brilliant event, from the planning to the actual event itself. Food was delicious, service was fantastic and everything was just seamless! Kim was always on hand to help in the run up and Clara was great on the day - thanks to the whole team! Going to the pub afterwards in our fancy dress outfits was the perfect end to our time at The Phene. A fabulous work Christmas event.

Vegan options include an excellent Vegan Sunday Roast. I really liked it: a mushroom-cashew pastry, gravy, roast potatoes, greens and root veg. A Bloody Mary was a good accompaniment. Pleasant service.

This is a delightful pub in the heart of Chelsea. Clean, tidy and well laid out. The staff gave us a friendly welcome when we arrived even though we hadn't booked. Service to our table was great and the staff appeared to know what they were talking about when they helped us choose a wine. A good choice of beers and wines are available and the garden is lovely. Not the cheapest of pubs, but this is Chelsea. Well worth a visit.

The Phene is a hidden gem in the heart of Chelsea, offering an elegant and versatile setting for weddings and celebrations. As a wedding photographer, I have had the pleasure of documenting love stories at this iconic venue, and its blend of historical charm and modern sophistication makes it a truly unique choice.

🚇 South Kensington 🍺 £6.60 Amstel Tucked away in a leafy side street just a short walk from the King’s Road, you’ll find The Phene pub. The nearest Tube is South Ken, it’s a ten minute walk to get here. This pub was built in 1853 and was designed by and named after the architect and local character John Samuel Phene. George Best used to be a regular here, The Daily Telegraph called it “George Best’s second home". This is a stylish multi room Gastropub which has five separate areas. The main bar area is bright and airy with contemporary comfortable feel. The servery is located on the right, at the back of the main bar is cosy dining area with eclectic prints on the walls. On the first floor is a spacious room for hire which has a small bar. On the top floor is the snug Club Room which is an intimate setting. To left of the pub is a good size leafy beer garden. There is a decent choice of mainstream beers available plus once cask ale. I decided on a pint of Amstel, my pint was ok, price point was above average. The food menu consists of restaurant quality seasonal dishes which will appeal to the gastronomes amongst you. On Sundays Roasts take centre stage, most Roast options are around £20. I visited around 4pm on a mild March afternoon for an afterwork pint. There were a few punters in the beer garden and the main bar was relaxed and chilled. I had a nice chat with the Guv’nor who was kind enough to give me a tour and tell me about the history of the pub, top fella. The Phene, pronounced ‘Feenay’ is a plush Gastro that reflects the area it resides in. This pub will appeal to foodies that prefer the relaxed feel of a pub setting rather than a restaurant, If you just fancy a drink, you are still catered for. All said, this is a beautiful Victorian pub. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 01.03.24

Welcoming and popular pub with friendly service and tasty food. There is also outdoor seating. There is a llthe pub side and the restaurant side. Nicely decorated.

Nice pub, the taste of the food is above average. Their Sunday roast plates are delicious. Staff is not paying attention unless you wave with both hands for 45 seconds but they were nice

Had the opportunity to try this place through work. The fish and scallops were delicious, showcasing the chef's skill. However, the bacon was a bit overcooked, which affected the overall dish. The service was fine, attentive but room for improvement. Overall, a good experience with potential for perfection.

Brilliant event, from the planning to the actual event itself. Food was delicious, service was fantastic and everything was just seamless! Kim was always on hand to help in the run up and Clara was great on the day - thanks to the whole team! Going to the pub afterwards in our fancy dress outfits was the perfect end to our time at The Phene. A fabulous work Christmas event.

Vegan options include an excellent Vegan Sunday Roast. I really liked it: a mushroom-cashew pastry, gravy, roast potatoes, greens and root veg. A Bloody Mary was a good accompaniment. Pleasant service.

This is a delightful pub in the heart of Chelsea. Clean, tidy and well laid out. The staff gave us a friendly welcome when we arrived even though we hadn't booked. Service to our table was great and the staff appeared to know what they were talking about when they helped us choose a wine. A good choice of beers and wines are available and the garden is lovely. Not the cheapest of pubs, but this is Chelsea. Well worth a visit.

Amazing Sunday roast - I got the traditional roast beef and cauliflower cheese (which was to die for!) and my mum got the pork chop which she says was the best gluten free meal she has ever had in a restaurant! The service was great and sitting outside in their garden on a nice summer night added to the experience. Would definitely come again!

Nice enough gastro pub, tucked down a Chelsea side street. Lots of space outside. Food is good- a word on the sharing platters thou'. They're BIG. Plenty for two, probably more than enough for three. The beer selection is a s**tshow- they've substituted trendiness for quality. Don't even have Guinness. And no, "another stout" is not the same - it's not, by definition, Guinness. Popular with shrill privileged teenagers in the school holidays. Take ear defenders and pity the neighbours.

This place is just lovely! Been here a few times and absolutely have nothing bad to say! It's off the main road which makes it nice & quiet but it draws a lovely crowd all looking for the same thing...! Their garden is just beautiful and cosy and if your lucky enough to get there on a sunny day, it's just delightful! Cocktails are delightful and food is delicious also! I hosted a Christmas Party here last year and everyone was full of compliments on the venue!! It is quite pricey...to say the least! But definitely worth going & treating yourself every once in a while!

Very nice cocktail bar in Chelsea, on a quiet street and with a nice outdoor patio. From the reviews it seems a posh place but it's actually a very relaxed one and you dont really need to dress up that much (even though it's still not a pub!) I had Argentinian wine so I can't really tell about the cocktails but the seemed nice.

The Phene was the location of a wedding reception I attended. I was upstairs in a nice private area. The room fit about 25 people well. The food options were great including starters and a main course. Everyone enjoyed the food regardless of whether they ordered the turkey, beef, fish or vegetarian. They allowed the party to bring in an outside cake and flowers for decor. The service was super friendly throughout the meal and drinks afterwards. They did a great job for a wedding celebration and were accommodating when changes were needed. However, I can't speak to the regular menu or services.

Things started off great. Walked in, great ambience, amazing menu, amazing cocktail menu (almond milk skinny cocktails?!?) and a really chilled looking outdoor area. I was already texting my friends about it and planning a return visit. We however had to wait AGES (almost an hour) for our starters and then another hour after that for our mains .. Which never came! My sister and I had to leave for a party which we ended up being super late for and my entire family left before the mains arrived because they were too hungry and upset with the wait! I will give this place two stars because I wanted it SOOOOO BADLY to be good and I'll hopefully find another chance to come back with friends (I don't think my family will ever step foot in there again which is a shame). The starters we had were very good except for my mums soup which was too salty. This was then confirmed by a waiter to tried it and agreed that it was salty beyond belief! I think they had recently changed their menu and obviously hadn't tried it out beforehand. Possibly why everything was taking so long! Will probably wait to go back a time when they are not so busy and when they've been running the same menu for a while.. If I do.

Lovely Chelsea pub that makes a great Sunday roast. The waiting times are very long and the staff tends to forget you - and man, pints are expensive. It's a cool place, but the quality/price ratio isn't great.

Excellent Gastropub, lovely menu and good drinks. Friendly staff + nice decor both interior and exterior. Please just mind the washroom, it's not exactly spit spot clean and tidy...

I want to like this place, I really do, it's so close to my flat... but in the end it's just ok. It's certainly overpriced, but considering the clientele most people in the place can afford an £18 Sunday roast without blinking. At the Phene you'll probably see some beautiful people (or people who once were beautiful before booze and age took their toll). If it's nice outside go out and sit on the patio, you'll probably have fun and enjoy it, but there are plenty of other options in the area that offer the same thing...

After reading the other reviews I was concerned that this place would be too pretentious and over priced. But after a quick review of the menu online we decided we would give it a go. As this was a beautiful day the garden patio was packed, but the indoor restaurant was pretty quiet with plenty of seating available. Which was nice since we came for the food and not the scene. We started with the large portion of fried squid and it was delicious with a perfect sweet chili dipping sauce, which went great with my glass of prosecco. My husband ordered a bloody mary and was not disappointed. We have both found that a good bloody mary is hard to find in the UK. For the mains I had the salmon with rice and a kind of spicy pineapple salsa. The salmon steak was grilled to perfection and it came with a tzatziki sauce served on top (a bit too much if you ask me, as i removed about 2/3 of it from the salmon) which was a nice compliment to the spicy pineapple salsa. My husband ordered the rib eye with cajun chips and green beans. He asked for it medium and it was closer to medium well, he described it as overcooked and under whelming. As it was the most expensive thing on the menu at 18.50....you would think they would get it right on the temp and cooked to order. All in all I was impressed and had a great meal. I felt that it was a good value for the quality of the food. Would we go back? Maybe...but I will probably go the Orange off Pimlico Rd. before I do.

Love this pub. It is a cross between a pub and a restaurant. Very elegant decor inside and has an outside patio. Very spacious with various sections where you can sit. Good selection of delicious food and very good selection of local London beers.

I wish we could've sat outside but it felt like it was a strange pecking order of how you get a seat out in the beer garden. There is a strange pretentiousness about this place but hey when do I ever mingle with strangers? The food was okay, I think you'll find better gastopubs around London.

Still love the phene, though sadly having now eaten here, I really wasn't a fan of the food. They only had one fish option, which was quite overcooked and not visually or in actuality appealing, and my friend was quite upset he couldn't get their sandwiches (or something off the lunch menu) for dinner. Parents weren't too wild about their food either, so consequently ended up canceling a birthday dinner scheduled here shortly thereafter. Do still love the outdoors, indoors, ambiance in general, and fact it's dog friendly. The lobster dishes at lunch look great, but don't eat lunch, so sadly only had the fairly disappointing dinner menu. Highly recommend the garden on a nice day - or even a cold one, as they have heaters. Also a cozy fireplace indoors, if it's lit.

Ugh. I really hate Chelsea. And I think maybe it is a little unfair because it is a dislike built up over time as a result of constant pestering from my friends about Made in Chelsea and all it's 'cool' characters and all the 'cool' places they go and how we should also go to those 'cool' places in 'cool' Chelsea. Ugh. So this is the attitude I carried with me on my trip to The Phene, a strange little bar and patio buried behind rows of terrace houses in Chelsea. Oh and just in case you were wondering, as seen on Made in Chelsea. The outside area was very nice, even on a cloudy day, but there was no room so inside we went. I personally loved the inside more than outside. We sat in a section with a transparent ceiling so it was ultra-bright and cosy. As expected I felt vastly underdressed as people walked in at 1pm on a drizzly Saturday afternoon in stilettos and full faces of make up. My biggest issue though was that I was there for lunch, but I didn't want anything on the menu, it was a long list of gastropub fail in my (possibly uninformed and potentially unwanted) opinion, so I played it safe with a burger. Which was definitely not worth £13.50. So with that and a 5-way share in two bottles of wine, I paid £26 for an underwhelming lunch at a restaurant I didn't really want to go to. U-G-H and M-E-H. EXCLAMATION MARK.

Yea, a little douchy. But not gonna lie, sometimes I LIKE a little douchy (just a little.) Really swank patio (small) with swinging chairs, heat lamps, and nice patio furniture. On a nice day, I could see this place being very enjoyable. If it is sunny, you're in Chelsea, and you like things that you might find in Los Angeles or on Entourage, this might be the place for you. Otherwise... meh.

Went on a Friday night with a girlfriend to grab some beers, enjoy the sun on their outside patio for the short bit it while it was out and have dinner. Food: My girlfriend and I both ordered the burger. She added the pulled pork and I added the bacon to our burgers. Clearly we know how to eat! Unfortunately being from the states we expected our pulled pork and bacon to taste differently and were both disappointed. The burger itself is yummy as is. Drinks: We ordered two beers with dinner. Price: For two people we paid 45.28 GBP. Ambiance: The outdoor patio is great when the weather is nice. Definitely get there early since it's first come first serve. The space inside is very welcoming and cozy. Service: Everyone from the bartender, hostess and server were all very friendly. Would I go back? Definitely! It's a great spot in Chelsea.

Stellar spot!!! Delicious gastropub. Incredible ambience. Superb service. Peaceful and charming outdoor beer garden. Just a wonderful and quite place off the beaten path and madness of the area.

Lovely gastropub in the middle of Chelsea. Set back from the main road in a small mews the Pub is catering for the well heeled clientele of the area. Nicely furnished inside over 2 floors with an additional outside garden area. There is also a deli counter. We attended a wedding here and was impressed by the pubs charm and their pleasant staff. The food was good - a lovely buffet of italian and English classics - Gnocchi and Roasted Lamb. Delicious. My only issue was the rather draconian rules on noise. They are based in a very residential area and so have obviously had problems in the past with their neighbours. While enjoying a post dinner nicotine hit, we had a doorman standing by our elbow reminding us to be quiet and then hushing us if we went over a meagre decibel - anything over a conversational voice was frowned on. I do feel sorry for them because the local residents are obviously making their life hell. Maybe they should just call time and turn it into a block of flats instead. Another independent pub gone to the wall!!!!

What can I see, the Phene is a pub to be scene (see what I did there).... If you are looking for a chill pub to catch up with a mate or watch some sport, then DON'T go to the Phene....but if you are looking for a spot to spy some cute boys put on a fun outfit and waste away an afternoon then the Phene is the best spot in the neighborhood! I always have a great time here!

Very good food and wine - felt very welcome and the service was immaculate - very happy with a Friday night where we wanted to relax after a long work week:-) Thank you.

The Phene Arms was, for years, a London institution. It featured frequently in Evening Standard cartoons. Famously, it was George Best's local when he lived in nearby Oakley Street. If it was a good enough boozer for George it should be good enough for anyone. I hadn't been there for years and had fond memories of the velvet banquettes, interesting urinals, excellent beer offer, the interesting, eclectic mix of city boys, artists and local drunks, and was looking forward to seeing how things had been updated. As Marlon Brando says in Apocalypse Now, " The horror, the horror". I suspect he had the new Phene in mind. It's hard to know where to start. But let's start with the decor. To paraphrase Churchill, "Never in the field of human hostelry has so much been spent by so few to achieve so little." Clearly, they have gone for a look of unbridled luxury. Clearly they have failed. It might look OK in a Parisian rent-boy's lair, but in a London pub? Nah... The people? The women are the sort of anorexic shopping ladies who glare at you as they sourly prod a lone pea around their plates. They will, invariably be accompanied by a man in a blazer with red cords, swilling a large glass of red and droning on. And on. To lower the average age (and, incidentally, IQ), someone has hired a load of floppy-haired hoorays. No-one is having any sort of fun. Including you. Drinks? You're joking, aren't you? Pint of Pride - from a fucking keg! - served ice fucking cold? Four quid, please. Thanks for that. The garden's all right, if you can avoid the people. But here's a better idea. Why don't you take your hard-earned money and go down the road to the ever-excellent Cross Keys, or the Pig's Ear. Real boozers, run by real people for real people.

The Phene has a nice beer garden which has been transformed for a couple weeks into a themed event, the Midori Chi Garden. It was for this themed event which I traversed the city to experience. Upon approach, and seeing the two bouncers (at 7pm on a Tuesday) stationed outside the front door, I realised I may have made a terrible mistake. But, I was there so I decided to try my luck at cashing in my voucher for a free Midori sour (oh the lengths to which I'll go for a free cocktail). The bouncers let me in easy enough, with a nice smile whilst opening the door for me, but I was ignored by almost everyone else. It was that kind of ignoring which doesn't make you feel invisible so much as simply judged unworthy. I was eye-balled by everyone and then simply dismissed. Apparently, since I don't look like a douche I was obviously not worth anyone's time. The pub is nice looking with a big open space in the front and easy access to the bar. The garden is just on the side. We stood for about 10 minutes wondering what to do: do we wait for a table (they were all full) or is there bar service? It was very unclear. Everyone was at a table with a menu, there were waitresses wandering around, and no one was standing about with drinks. It felt very much like a sit down joint but no one was acknowledging us. We finally just took our vouchers up to the Midori bar, asked the bartender if there was bar service or just table service to which he replied table and to which we said we only wanted to cash in our vouchers for our free Midori sours. He very kindly said he'd make our drinks and then we could try to find a table if we wanted anything else. He made our drinks, we tipped him for his effort, drank our drinks and were outta there. This was not a pleasant experience. I think if the staff had been friendly (not counting the friendly bouncers and bartender) we may have stayed for a bit. If the crowd had been fun rather than douche-y we probably would've stayed for even longer. As it was, we played a quick game of Mock the Douches and left, never to return. The free Midori sour was almost not worth it.

Yummy hummus platter and chicken skewers with tzatziki. Terribly slow service between apps and mains though but I shall forgive it since the atmosphere inside is so cozy and warm with just the right amount of lively energy without overwhelming you. Too bad London weather isn't nicer more often because the heated garden patio is quite charming.

Great food if you have three hours to spare!! Worst service I've seen in London. Took a full hour for a salad to get a salad and they even added gratuity to the bill! Yikes. The chicken was delicious though.

Started by a nice couple of beers outside and at 8:55 on a beautiful Sunday evening we were told we had to move inside and were seated in the dining area because we'd asked about ordering dinner. 10 minutes later we were told the kitchen was closed. So strange.

I came here for a friend of a friend's birthday. They had rented the patio out, and it happened to be an absolutely stunning day. I had a great time (was able to enjoy my first Pimms of the season!) and the atmosphere was great. I didn't try the food but a few of the other partygoers did and it looked pretty respectable. Would definitely stop in again on a sunny day for some patio and pimms time

I haven't ever eaten here so I can't comment on the food but what I will say is that the outside area is one of the nicest I've ever been to. However, there is a downside- the outside area closes at 9.30 and the doormen really harass you to get out of there. We did get told off a couple of times as well for 'making too much noise' when my friends were only having a laugh and giggling at 7pm on a Friday night. It is on the pricey end of things. The only reason I go back is because of the outside area.

Terrible. Food was expensive and unpleasant. Drinks and beer are very expensive. The outside area has plenty of space and is nice in the sun, but the attitude of the pub's security guys ruined the whole afternoon. There were three of them patrolling the area making sure no one was making excessive noise - it was like drinking in a prison. My friend was twice asked not to laugh as loudly as it was disturbing the local residents - and this was at 6pm on a sunny April afternoon. I appreciate it must be annoying for those living near by if the garden is noisy late in to the evening but this was just way over the top, and additionally the security guy was extremely rude about it. The rest of the bar staff were helpful and pleasant however. Toilets were smelly, uncleaned and had pools of urine on the floor - not acceptable for a place that is charging such prices.

Had a great time yesterday: food was awesome (much better than my last visit), friendly atmosphere as usual but the thing which stroke me the most was the security personnel. Oh boy, they are doing excellent job as I could see how professionally they were dealing with the situation. Here, I want to mention one particular security guard (with glasses) at the door, who was very polite and understanding. As he tried to explain the customers the reason the security staff is in the garden is to keep the noise level down due to neighbors' nonstop complaints. I must say he is doing tough job yet very professionally, the guy must have gotten a lot of patience. Lovely place, good food and awesome staff, thumbs up!!!! Will go again I highly recommend everyone going there at least once.

1pm on a rainy day. 5 tables for are available in the main area, but we are proposed outside or in a corridor on sofas. Checked on bookatable, there was no reason to push us there except maybe because we had two kids. Food is average.

Probably the worst service I have ever had in London, or anywhere for that matter. It would seem that this place is run by a bunch of teenagers. I booked this "gastropub" to take two of my close friends to who were in from out of town. What a mistake! From the moment we entered the service was absolutely abominable. The food was so uninspiring in that 4 of us ordered burgers. My friend and I had ordered a steamed artichoke to start with lemon butter dipping sauce. The waiter brought us canned artichoke hearts on a bed of lettuce. What a joke! He did take them off the bill when we complained. When the burgers and chips came, he unappologetically told us they had run out of ketchup! Never in all of my years have I been to a pub/restaurant that has run out of ketchup! The burger was dry and the chips were not the delicious sort that one enjoys eating with out ketchup. The waiter was very rude and this experience was a disaster and disappointment from start to finish. It is a lovely space with a great outdoor space, so it is a shame they haven't been able to get their service in order and I would certainly not call what was on the menu Gastropub food. New management and chef are definitely in order. Save your money and time and go to one of the other very lovely true gastropubs in Chelsea.

I also want to like the phene as it is close by and does look very nice. However, they have ran out of food, toilet roll, drinks etc on so many occasions that it just beggars belief. To be charging their prices and run out of toilet paper is just inexcusable. To run out of mint when the whole bar is ordering mojitos is a joke. On one parituclar night when I was in there I tried to order a dish containing houmus but they ran out of houmus. I then tried to order a cocktail containing berries, but they ran out of all berries. The trouble is that it is not the first time or even the second time! Also on one particular evening they decided to close the bar before the scheduled closing time. The bar man was rude and hostile when I complained. Eventually they did serve us (after I complained to the manger) but it is haphazard and messy. They need to get their act together so that it is busy on rainy days as well sunny days as it is probably only the garden which keeps people coming back. I, for one, would go there so much more if they knew what they were doing.