Last Updated on May 22, 2026
Enjoy Best of British at the Blue Boar
4.0 out of 5.0 starsThe Blue Boar Pub at the Conrad St James Hotel has introduced a three-course Beef Wellington Experience alongside its traditional Sunday roasts. Anticipating a real treat, I went along to find out if their Beef Wellington resembled those I’d eaten in the past.
Although part of the hotel, The Blue Boar is described as a modern take on the classic London pub. With its own imposing entrance, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a mixture of comfortable seating, the atmosphere is more like a restaurant than a pub. There are quirky Gerald Scarfe prints on the walls, reflecting the proximity to the Houses of Parliament and a convivial, relaxed atmosphere.
My friend and I sat at a table looking out onto the street. The menu offers a choice of Sunday Roasts, all served with the traditional accompaniments of Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and seasonal greens. We were here, however, to try their Beef Wellington Experience that included a welcome cocktail, a choice of three starters, Beef Wellington with sides, and a choice of three desserts.
Sunday lunch is generally a leisurely meal, and since the Beef Wellington takes up to 45 minutes to cook, the star attraction takes some time to arrive. However, in such a leisurely atmosphere, the time was a great opportunity to chat, enjoy a cocktail or two and our starters.
We started with a spicy Bloody Mary served with two green olives rather than the traditional celery. The pub has a signature trolley that adds a theatrical twist to a Yuzu Cloud while serving it, but unfortunately, it was out of service on our visit. We enjoyed our starters of deep-fried, chilli-salted crispy squid and crispy asparagus. Rather scarily, the menu listed the calories for each dish, including the other option of a sausage roll.
Beef Wellington was all the rage in the sixties. It’s a popular dish in London once again, perhaps thanks to being Gordon Ramsay’s signature dish at several of his restaurants, including the Savoy Grill and Hell’s Kitchen. It’s often served as a Sunday lunch option and is on the menu at several of our favourite London restaurants. The Blue Boar version arrived, medium rare as requested, with the beef wrapped in a spinach-and-chestnut-mushroom mixture, encased in crusty puff pastry. A red wine jus was served on the side, which, when poured over the pastry, combined all the ingredients to give a rich but delicious taste. Accompanying this was a very garlicky truffle mash, tenderstem broccoli and crispy green beans.
Desserts were also from a bygone era: strawberry and sherry trifle, Cambridge Burnt cream, and sticky toffee pudding served with vanilla ice cream. My trifle was all that I remembered, layers of custard and cream, although ideally, I would have liked more strawberries and a bigger splash of sherry!
Piped music plays in the background, although on Friday and Sunday evenings from 7 pm to 9 pm, there is live music – a lady on Friday and a man with his guitar on a Sunday. The pub stands on the site where the Brewers’ Society was based in 1909, and near to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
The Blue Boar is dog-friendly, a bonus for me as I have a dog. Poppy had two choices of food too – beef or chicken with brown rice and vegetables. A great venue for our four-legged friends.
If you are in the mood to indulge with a glass of wine or two, there’s also a bottomless option with Bottega Pinot Grigio Blush Delle Venezia, Italy – £40 per person, Vinuva Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, Italy £35 or Reign of Terroir Chenin Blanc, South Africa for £38 per person.
The Beef Wellington Experience at the Blue Boar is served on Sundays from noon to 10 pm at £85 per person and should be booked in advance on their website.
Open 7 days a week
Blue Boar Pub
45 Tothill Street
London SW1H 9LQ.
0203 301 8080
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