The Marlborough Head

The Marlborough Head is a pub and kitchen on Drury Lane in the heart of the West End, run by Urban Pubs and Bars, whose head office sits at the same address. It pours classic lagers, craft beers and a curated list of wines and premium spirits alongside a seasonal food menu, and its position among the playhouses makes it a regular stop before and after the theatre.

The menu is put together by the group's executive chef and the kitchen team, blending bold flavours with comforting classics. Small plates such as salt and pepper squid sit beside hearty dishes like sausages with buttered mash and onion gravy, and the pub is proud of what many call the best fish and chips in Covent Garden. Sunday roasts are served every week, and the kitchen runs from noon until 10pm most days, opening an hour earlier on Saturday.

A pub on Drury Lane with a hidden cocktail bar

Upstairs there is a low-lit cocktail bar with velvet booths and bartenders mixing French Martinis, Smoked Old Fashioneds and seasonal house creations, a quieter alternative to the bar below. Live sport is shown downstairs, and the whole venue can be hired for up to 120 standing, with a mezzanine seating 16 and a snug seating 12 for smaller gatherings, birthdays and corporate meetings.

What to expect on a visit

The pub opens from 11am until 11pm every day of the week, and its red-painted frontage is easy to spot a short walk from Covent Garden and Holborn stations. Expect a lively room on show nights and a steadier pace at lunchtime. For other traditional pubs in Theatreland see our Covent Garden pubs, including The White Hart further up the same street.