The Shaston Arms, a newly restored Soho boozer that promises to bring back the old-school pub experience with its menu of classic comfort food and craft beers. The brainchild of hospitality tycoon Steve Drake – the man behind the celebrated Devonshire in nearby Piccadilly – this trendy new eatery is touted as the 'cool kid' on the block, a hip take on the traditional watering hole that's sure to attract the Instagram-savvy crowd.
But can it really deliver? The reviewer, who dined at the Shaston Arms during its soft opening period, finds itself somewhat disappointed with what they discover. Behind its polished facade and rock 'n' roll art, the restaurant feels more like a sterile afterthought than an authentic revival of the classic pub experience. Gone are the days of rowdy patrons, pool tables, and raucous laughter – replaced by a menu of 'finesse' that reads like a list of buzzwords from trendy food blogs.
The reviewer starts off on the right foot with their scallop-topped mash, which they describe as "delicious" but feels somewhat overwrought. A few bites into the dish and it becomes clear that the kitchen is more interested in being 'on trend' than in delivering genuinely tasty food. The accompanying smoked fish roe, while a pleasant touch, only serves to highlight just how heavy-handed the cooking can be – does a serving of £16 red mullet really need 4.5g of smoked roe on top?
But it's not just the food that leaves the reviewer underwhelmed; the service is woefully lacking in hospitality. With no one checking in to see if they wanted another drink, changing cutlery, or even making eye contact, the reviewer feels like an invisible presence throughout their meal – and the service charge on top of a three-course bill that costs upwards of £35-£40 per head only adds insult to injury.
In the end, it's clear that the Shaston Arms has yet to find its footing as a restaurant. While it may be trying to follow in the footsteps of the Devonshire, with all its trappings of 'cool modern hospitality', it ends up feeling like just another overpriced eatery in the area – one that fails to deliver on both taste and service. Until they can iron out their act, this reviewer would rather stick with Wetherspoons' crisps (at least those are reliably priced at a fraction of the cost).
But can it really deliver? The reviewer, who dined at the Shaston Arms during its soft opening period, finds itself somewhat disappointed with what they discover. Behind its polished facade and rock 'n' roll art, the restaurant feels more like a sterile afterthought than an authentic revival of the classic pub experience. Gone are the days of rowdy patrons, pool tables, and raucous laughter – replaced by a menu of 'finesse' that reads like a list of buzzwords from trendy food blogs.
The reviewer starts off on the right foot with their scallop-topped mash, which they describe as "delicious" but feels somewhat overwrought. A few bites into the dish and it becomes clear that the kitchen is more interested in being 'on trend' than in delivering genuinely tasty food. The accompanying smoked fish roe, while a pleasant touch, only serves to highlight just how heavy-handed the cooking can be – does a serving of £16 red mullet really need 4.5g of smoked roe on top?
But it's not just the food that leaves the reviewer underwhelmed; the service is woefully lacking in hospitality. With no one checking in to see if they wanted another drink, changing cutlery, or even making eye contact, the reviewer feels like an invisible presence throughout their meal – and the service charge on top of a three-course bill that costs upwards of £35-£40 per head only adds insult to injury.
In the end, it's clear that the Shaston Arms has yet to find its footing as a restaurant. While it may be trying to follow in the footsteps of the Devonshire, with all its trappings of 'cool modern hospitality', it ends up feeling like just another overpriced eatery in the area – one that fails to deliver on both taste and service. Until they can iron out their act, this reviewer would rather stick with Wetherspoons' crisps (at least those are reliably priced at a fraction of the cost).
. I mean, £16 red mullet is a lot for fish and if they're gonna load it up with smoked roe on top, can't they just charge less? 
And don't even get me started on the service – invisible waitstaff is not my vibe at all 
. For that price point, I'd expect a bit more effort. Maybe Steve Drake should take some pointers from Wetherspoons' team, I hear their crisps are fire 
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... They're trying to recreate the old pub vibe, but it feels like they took all the charm and character out and replaced it with fancy words on a menu 
. And £16 for red mullet? That's just ridiculous 
. I mean, back in my day, we could get a decent plate of fish 'n' chips for a few quid. The service was also pretty meh - it felt like they were trying too hard to be hip and didn't actually care about the customers 
. I'll stick with Wetherspoons' crisps any day, mate 
, I mean who doesn't love a good pub revival? But after trying it out, I'm left feeling kinda meh 
- but when it comes to the grub, I just didn't get it 
You gotta make you feel welcome and stuff like that. But yeah, until they can iron out their act, I'm good with sticking to Wetherspoons' crisps - at least those are reliable 
. It sounds like they're trying to be all trendy and Instagrammable, but in doing so, they've lost sight of what makes a good pub experience - it's not just about serving fancy food and drinks, it's about creating a welcoming atmosphere where people can relax and have fun. The reviewer's scallop-topped mash sounds nice, but if it's gonna be overwrought like that, I'm out 
. And £16 for red mullet with 4.5g of smoked roe? That's just crazy expensive! 
They need to work on their prices and service too - a little bit of hospitality goes a long way. Maybe they can learn from the likes of The Devonshire, but as it stands, I'm sticking with Wetherspoons' crisps 
. The food's all fancy-schmancy but somehow lacking in actual flavor 
I'm still gonna give it a try though, just to see if they can step up their game. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll surprise me 
. and what's with the £35-£40 three-course bill? that's just ridiculous. personally, i'd rather stick with wetherspoons' crisps too 
. The only thing I'd pay for at this place is their Instagram-perfect pics of the food 
. And yeah, maybe the service wasn't up to par, but who needs face-to-face interaction with your server when you're sipping on a craft beer and eating fancy food? 
Plus, £16 for red mullet is a STEAL – I'd pay twice that for it! 
The reviewer's just being salty because they didn't get the whole Instagram-perfect experience. Newsflash: nobody's perfect, especially not restaurants! 
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and don't even get me started on the service it's like they forgot how to be human behind the counter