The Ordnance Arms in City of London, Westminster

We wanted a pub which served both food and beer in St John's Wood and called as we approached to check both at 5.40pm - the call was taken by a cheerful female member of staff who then served us when we arrived a minute later. She told us that the kitchen closed at 6pm so we placed our order at 5.45pm. The burrata salad was off the menu so we ordered 2 sausage and mash and a vegan curry and took our drinks outside to wait. We saw the girl who had served us leave her shift just after 6pm and her place was taken by a very surly girl. At 6.15pm my husband went to order more drinks and asked how long our food would be; she made a fractious call to the kitchen and assured us it would be 10 minutes. I returned at 6.30pm to ask again and she said another 10 minutes but didn't check with the kitchen. During this entire time we saw a single bowl of chips delivered to another outside table (there were no customers indoors) so the kitchen wasn't exactly rushed. At 6.40pm I went back in to check in progress and was told they didn't have enough sausages, so I asked for a refund as we didn't have time to wait for the food. The manager was summoned, who agreed to give a refund but couldn't work the till to give it so eventually counted the cash to refund me. During a long rant, she berated me asking if I knew how long it took to cook sausages? I assured her that it wasn't almost an hour by any known method and that in any case they had found after an hour that they didn't have enough. She then accused me of not placing the order at 5.45pm, despite me showing her the timed receipt on my phone. Her kitchen order system showed my order being place at 18.45 so I suggested it was set an hour wrong as it was only 6.44pm at that point . She didn't understand that concept. Really abusive woman who took no responsibility for the appalling service of her staff. Such a shame as it could be a lovely local pub in a great area.

Joke of an establishment. All staff are rude and ignorant. If you ask them for food they say their kitchen closes at 6 and when you say it’s 5pm they say “oh well” they also won’t allow you to use your own mobile phone saying they have a policy against digital devices! The way they speak to clients is rude and abrasive! Avoid at all costs!

Aggressive, unfriendly staff who were most unwelcoming. Plus they want to take payment before the drinks are served. One was a trainee apparently and didn’t know what lager was, the other, when I asked for an alcohol free lager, opened a bottle and gave it to me to pour myself. It was an alcohol free brown ale and she wouldn’t change it or credit me against another drink. Not a place I would recommend or visit again.

Nice quiet atmosphere I really like that this is a detox pub, no music only live communication I will come again Loved it for Sunday lunch, highly recommend

Worth knowing about this pub in case you fancy a drink before going to Lord’s or as it was in our case constant drizzle delaying the start of the cricket. It’s a Samuel Smith pub so you do get to enjoy their organic lager.

We came for a few beers and some food as we got hungry. We ordered some fish and chips, it was delicious! portions were quiet big! Very friendly, attentive staff, we were served by the lady and she was very quick and polite. I will come back to this place when in the area.