Prime Minister Andy Burnham has named The Dog House in Kennington as his number one pub in London, while also revealing a fondness for a Wetherspoons and a Samuel Smith's establishment. In an interview with Time Out, Burnham said he knows London well and dismissed claims that he is anti-London, adding that he believes there is no pub in the capital he has not visited.
The Chandos on St Martin's Lane
Burnham highlighted The Chandos, located in central London near Trafalgar Square, as a regular meeting point before Everton FC away games. 'The Chandos I always used to like because that was our meeting point whenever there was an [Everton FC] away game,' he told Time Out.
Time Out's food and drink editor Leonie Cooper noted that The Chandos is a Samuel Smith's pub, often crowded with tourists due to its location. She remarked that while it is not a terrible pub, it is not a particularly original choice, and speculated whether Burnham agrees with the chain's phone ban policy or simply appreciates its proximity to the London Coliseum.
The Barking Dog in Barking
Burnham also recalled a memorable night at The Barking Dog, a Wetherspoons near Barking station that closed in 2022 to make way for housing. He described the evening after an Everton-West Ham match as memorable but declined to elaborate, saying he would 'probably get myself in trouble if I explain any more than that.'
In 2024, Wetherspoons stated it was committed to reopening the pub, though no opening date has been announced since.
The Dog House in Kennington
Burnham's top pick, The Dog House, is a Victorian pub on Kennington Road, formerly a haunt of Morrissey. Burnham, a self-described Smiths superfan, said he and his wife celebrated their 30th birthday in the upstairs room there.
'This place has been a bit of a go-to over the years. Me and my wife had our 30th birthday in the upstairs room there. It just has a relaxed middle of the week sort of feeling. It's a bit homely and not too pretentious,' he said.
The interview forms part of Time Out's coverage of London's pub culture, including its list of the 50 best pubs in the city.
