London Region

De Hems

11 Macclesfield Street
London
W1D 5BW
Telephone(020) 7437 2494
Real AleLunchtime MealsEvening MealsRestaurantSports TV
Opening times: Mon 12:00-23:00; Tue–Fri 12:00-24:00; Sat 11:00-24:00; Sun 11:00-22:30

See more about this pub on CAMRA's national web site

Situated in the north of Chinatown and named after a previous owner, a Dutch ex sea captain, this pub was once the rallying point for Dutch fighters based in England in the Second World War. At around the same time, the spy Kim Philby was also reputed to have been a patron! Now the pub offers mainly Dutch & Belgian brews including Trappist, Lambic, Sour, Fruit and Saison; plus a mixture of Dutch & English cuisine and there are still plenty of Dutch expat customers here. For novice customers who dislike crowds do not come here on Dutch national holidays, particularly King's Day on 27th April (or 26th if 27th is a Sunday).

The "Shell Room" bar upstairs reflects the thousands of oysters once consumed in the pub, by the likes of the poet Swinburne. It is often less busy than the ground-floor bar, which can become very crowded.

No handpumps, but bottle-conditioned beers are available via Dutch and Belgian ranges, plus a good keg range on draught. Food includes British pub classics plus various Dutch and Flemish-style dishes; there is also a small bar-food menu if you just want something snacky. Expect to pay tourist-area prices. Last refurbed in early 2024.