The Albany

A handsome Victorian corner local in Fitzrovia, reopened after a 2023 refurbishment, with cask ale upstairs and entertainment in the cellar.

★ 4.3 $$ Fitzrovia, London After work pints, Sunday roasts, comedy and cabaret downstairs

Published February 10, 2026 · Last reviewed March 3, 2026 · by the barsforKings editorial team

The Pitch

The Albany holds down the corner of Great Portland Street and Clipstone Street, a few minutes north of Oxford Circus and right by Great Portland Street station. The building dates to 1898, rebuilt on the site of an earlier 1869 pub, and a 2023 refurbishment lightened the rooms without stripping out the Victorian bones. The Fitzrovia News covered the reopening and the careful restoration of the original interior.

This is a proper Fitzrovia local that does two jobs well. Upstairs is a relaxed pub for a pint of London Pride and a plate of British food. Downstairs is a small basement bar that hosts comedy, cabaret, quizzes, and live music through the month. Come for an unhurried after work drink or a Sunday roast. Skip it if you want a late club night, because that is not the brief.

At a Glance

Address240 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 5QU

NeighbourhoodFitzrovia, London

Nearest transitGreat Portland Street (Circle, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan), about 3 minutes; Regent's Park nearby

Price Range$$

Drinks specialtyCask ale, London Pride, a changing guest beer, classic British food

ReservationsWalk-in for the bar; book ahead for Sunday roasts and the basement nights

HoursOpen daily; lunch and dinner served, with Sunday roasts. Check the official site for current times.

Best forAfter work pints, Sunday roasts, comedy and cabaret downstairs

Plan Your Visit

The Albany sits on the corner of Great Portland Street and Clipstone Street. Walk in for the bar. Book ahead for a Sunday roast or a basement night.

Get Directions Ask Our Team

240 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 5QU

The Room

The ground floor is the main bar, light and airy after the refit, with the splendid Victorian detailing kept intact. It reads as a neighbourhood pub rather than a destination, which is the appeal.

Head downstairs and the basement bar changes character. That is where the comedy, music, and cabaret nights run, so the room you want depends on the night you visit.

The Drinks

The draw at the bar is cask. The Albany keeps London Pride alongside a rotating guest ale, with the usual lagers and a short wine and spirits list behind the counter. It is a pub range done properly, not a cocktail programme.

Order a pint of Pride and settle in, or pair the changing guest beer with a Sunday roast. The kitchen runs classic British plates and the roasts are the thing to plan around on a Sunday.

What to Order

Pint of London Pride

The house cask ale and the right first order. Fuller's Pride is the Fitzrovia default and the bar keeps it well.

The changing guest ale

Ask what is on the second cask line. It rotates, so it rewards a quick word with the bar.

Sunday roast

The kitchen's headline. Book ahead, because the roasts pull a crowd in this part of Fitzrovia.

A glass from the wine list

A short, sensible list for anyone skipping beer. Fine for a quiet table upstairs.

The Crowd and Vibe

The Albany draws Fitzrovia office workers after five, BBC and media types from nearby, and locals who treat it as their corner pub. It fills steadily through the early evening and stays conversational rather than raucous.

Downstairs the energy depends on the listing. On a comedy or cabaret night the basement does the heavy lifting while the ground floor stays calm. Check what is on before you go.

What Regulars Say

Come for the cask. Regulars rate the well-kept London Pride and the rotating guest ale.
The 2023 refurbishment gets warm marks for keeping the Victorian interior intact, per the Fitzrovia News.
Check the basement listing. Comedy, cabaret, and music nights are the reason to pick a particular evening.