The Shaston Arms

The team behind the Waterman's Arms in Barnes took over the Shaston Arms in 2025. Just a hop from Carnaby Street, it's been reborn as a modern dining pub with several smart spaces, booth seating, a little conservatory and a tucked-away alcove bar. The drinking options inspire much cheer, with well-maintained beers and knowledgeable wine choices. On-point service makes diners feel properly looked after, as does the menu, which hews to a snacks-and-small-plates format that allows for plenty of exploration. Lamb's heart au poivre with crispy potato, capers and sage as a bar snack? Fear not, it's delicious. There's a pleasing heft to many of the larger dishes, with merguez sausages, mackerel and Hereford onglet steaks on offer, while the cooking is precise enough to elicit genuine wows. Try not to miss the chips. A couple of intriguing desserts bring up the rear – perhaps caramel apple cake or pistachio treacle tart. In a part of central London where too many pubs know how to charge but not deliver, the Shaston is like a sudden bright light coming on.