The Botanist on Sloane Square Is Becoming a Proper Pub Again
One of the best-known corners at the southern end of Sloane Street is about to change. The Botanist, at 7 to 12 Sloane Square, has been run by the ETM group for eighteen years, and it is now passing to Wren Pubs. The new operator plans to turn it back into what locals have long wanted on the square: a proper neighbourhood pub. For anyone who lives between Knightsbridge and Chelsea, it is one of the more significant pub stories of the year.
What is changing
According to Hot Dinners, which broke the news last month, the plans are straightforward:
- A new name. It will no longer be called The Botanist, and the new name has yet to be decided.
- A refurbishment, planned to begin in June, with a reopening date to be confirmed later this year.
- Unfussy pub food, rather than a restaurant menu in pub clothing.
- Pre- and post-theatre menus, a nod to the Royal Court Theatre on the same square.
- A late licence, kept in place, so the pub can stay open until 1am.
Who Wren Pubs are
Wren Pubs already runs The Walmer Castle, The Surprise and The Carpenter's Arms, so it knows this part of London and its drinkers well. The Surprise, tucked away on Christchurch Terrace in Chelsea, gives a good sense of the approach: an extensive wine list, smart pub classics, small plates and bar snacks, as described in Country and Town House's Chelsea eating guide. If the Sloane Square site follows that model, the square gains the sort of everyday local it has lacked.
Why it matters
Sloane Square sits at a crossroads: shoppers coming down from Knightsbridge, theatregoers heading to the Royal Court, and residents of Belgravia and Chelsea on their way home. A pub with good food, sensible prices and a late licence serves all of them. The commitment to pre- and post-theatre dining is particularly welcome, as the choice of quick, reliable suppers close to the theatre has always been limited.
It also fits a wider pattern. Across SW1 and SW3, operators with a strong pub track record are taking on prominent sites and restoring them as locals rather than destinations, which is good news for residents. The best of these pubs manage to feel relaxed while still cooking properly, and that balance is exactly what a site this prominent needs.
What happens until then
Until the refurbishment starts, it is business as usual, so there is still time for a final drink at The Botanist as it stands, and for a last look at the room before the builders arrive. Regulars may want to raise a glass to eighteen years of service on the corner. We will report on the new name and opening date as soon as they are confirmed.
Getting there
The pub is directly opposite Sloane Square station, at the bottom of Sloane Street, around fifteen minutes on foot from Knightsbridge. Browse our restaurant guides for more places to eat and drink nearby.
Lead image: Sunil060902 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
