In the past century, an awful lot has happened: The Beatles. The internet. Nando’s. Brat Summer. But in that 100 years not one new pub has opened on Chelsea’s most notable strip, the King’s Road. That is, until now, with the arrival of The Trafalgar (not to be confused with the now-closed Trafalgar pub that used to be next door). It’s the 10th venue from Three Cheers Pub Co, which is also behind The Rosendale in Dulwich, The Bedford in Balham, The Tommyfield in Kennington and more.
To open the Trafalgar, the group has repurposed a Grade II-listed former bank. Upstairs, the design is old school with an upmarket polish: an eclectic selection of art lines the walls, and the space is decked out in dark woods and maroons, ornate bespoke wallpaper and preserved original plasterwork features. The downstairs events room hosts live music, quizzes and a weekly night by Tommyfield regular Always Be Comedy; upcoming gigs feature Nish Kumar, Rhys James and Sam Campbell.
Tom Peake, who co-founded the group with school friends Mark Reynolds and Nick Fox, says The Trafalgar is purposefully “welcome to all”. “There’s a lot of wealth in Chelsea. The property prices are very high, and a lot of the shops cater to that demographic. But what makes a good pub is that everyone feels relaxed and it’s got a real mix of people.”
To suit this egalitarian approach, the menu features classic pub fare – scotch eggs, ham and cheese toasties, fish’n’chips – but with flourishes for those with a little more cash. There are oysters from Wright Brothers and the Thor Hammer (a massive bone-in cut of beef that resembles a hammer) on a Sunday, which serves between four and six. Small plates like the rich and unctuous oxtail and black truffle croquettes with a dainty splodge of Bovril mayonnaise are worth the tube ride alone, as are the pan-seared Orkney scallops with a sweet onion jam.
“It’s the same thing with the drinks list,” Peake explains. “As some people will be happy to spend a bit more, you can have a chablis by the glass, which you just couldn’t [in some other pubs] because there isn’t the demand.”
Though there are more decadent touches befitting of the postcode, the ethos of The Trafalgar remains much the same as any of the Three Cheers venues, with Peake and his team working within the existing structure of the building to ensure that it felt like a proper, authentic drinking spot.
“What I really didn’t want was for people to walk in and think, ‘Oh, they’ve put a pub into somewhere that used to be something else’,” he says. “It’s really important that you walk in and immediately think, ‘Wow, what a handsome pub.’” To achieve that, the ceiling is a mix of black and bronze, to give a “classic pub feel”, while four six-foot Flemish chandeliers fill the space with warm light.
Having undergone a £2.4 million renovation, it’s far from cheap and cheerful, but it’s also relaxed, with a creative spirit that runs through its programming and a desire to appeal to visitors and Chelsea locals alike in need of a pint and a pew.
“It’s all about community. I hope there will be a diverse crowd that grows to love it,” Peake says. “Pubs become quite special for people because they’re that place that you can go to that should always be warm and welcoming. We want it to be that space for everyone.”
The Trafalgar
224–226 King’s Road, SW3 5UA
020 4631 7162
Hours:
Mon to Thurs midday–11pm
Fri midday–midnight
Sat 11am– midnight
Sun 11am–10.30pm
