The Porcupine is a historic Nicholson’s pub on Charing Cross Road, close to Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue and London’s theatre district. A pub has stood on this site since 1725, giving the venue a long story that includes former associations with freemasons and the Lodge of Confidence.
The food follows the traditions of a central London pub, with British classics, pies, sandwiches and satisfying plates suited to lunch or dinner. An upstairs dining room provides a more settled place to eat while the main pub retains the sociable energy of its busy West End location.
Cask ale is central to the drinks selection, accompanied by an extensive whisky range, gin and other familiar pub choices. This makes The Porcupine equally useful for a carefully poured pint, drinks before a performance or a complete meal with friends.
Sunday brings roast dinners with meat or a vegetarian option, crisp potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy. Bookable spaces, wheelchair access at the entrance and the convenient Theatreland position help the pub serve both spontaneous visitors and planned gatherings.
Address: 48 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0BS, United Kingdom
Porcupine Menu
Mains
8OZ CHARGRILLED SIRLOIN STEAK
21-day-aged sirloin steak with vine cherry tomatoes, watercress and chunky chips (1023kcal). With a choice of Béarnaise* (123kcal), craft ale mushroom & bacon* (67kcal) or peppercorn* sauce (82kcal). Perfectly paired with ‘Huntsman’ Shiraz Mourvedre, South Africa (14%vol).
SAUSAGE & MASH
British pork sausages on buttery mash, rich caramelised onion gravy & crispy onions. (1311kcal) Vegetarian serve available.
NICHOLSON’S FISH & CHIPS
Hand-battered haddock in Nicholson’s Pale Ale. Chunky chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. (950kcal) Large 21.00 (1069kcal)
OCEAN FISH & CHIPS
Hand-battered* haddock & breaded wholetail Scottish scampi. Chunky chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. (1154kcal) 50p from each dish sold will be donated to Social Bite.
CHARGRILLED CHICKEN & CHORIZO
Chargrilled chicken breast, pan fried chorizo, long-stem broccoli, baby potato wedges. (793kcal)
GRILLED FILLETS OF SEA BASS
Crushed baby potatoes, long-stem broccoli and a king prawn, mussel & white wine butter sauce. (850kcal) Perfectly paired with The Ned Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (13%vol).
GARLIC CHICKEN SCHNITZEL
Schnitzel smothered in garlic, skin-on-fries, watercress and pickled red onion salad. (1364kcal)
PESTO, CHEESE & SPINACH GNOCCHI (V)
Basil pesto, rustic garlic ciabatta. (877kcal)
NOURISH BOWL SALAD ▲ (VE)
Kale, brown rice & quinoa salad, with mango, long-stem broccoli and pumpkin seeds. (399kcal) Add Smoked Salmon (123kcal) 3.50 | Halloumi (415kcal) 2.50 | Chicken (232kcal) 3.00
SIRLOIN STEAK SANDWICH
21-day aged sirloin steak, served medium, with chimichurri sauce & baby watercress, on rustic ciabatta. With skin-on-fries (1082kcal).
CHICKEN, BACON & AVOCADO SALAD
Seasonal salad base with pumpkin seeds. (478kcal)
Our Famous Pies
BEEF RIB, SHIN & BRISKET PIE
Cooked in a rich red wine sauce, topped with light pastry. (1670kcal)
BRITISH STEAK & NICHOLSON’S PALE ALE PIE
AWARDED GOLD AT THE BRITISH PIE AWARDS Blade of beef in Nicholson’s Pale Ale gravy in a thyme pastry pie. (1235kcal)
CHICKEN, MUSHROOM & CIDER PIE
Chicken and mushrooms in a creamy Henry Westons Vintage Cider sauce, in a short crust pastry. (1366kcal)
FISH PIE
Cod, salmon & king prawns in a creamy white wine sauce, topped with thyme & mature Cheddar mash. With long-stem broccoli and thyme roasted carrots. (906kcal)
MUSHROOM, RED WINE & TARRAGON SUET PIE (VE)
With long-stem broccoli, thyme roasted carrots and a rich gravy. (864kcal)
RABBIT PIE
Rabbit in a creamy white wine & leek sauce, topped with buttery mash. With long-stem broccoli and thyme roasted carrots. (781kcal)
Add Long-Stem Broccoli to any pie
(57kcal)
Small Plates & Sharers
SMOKED SCOTTISH SALMON*
On toasted rustic ciabatta with horseradish cream & pickled pink onions. (334kcal)
VENISON, PANCETTA & RED WINE CROQUETTES
Brown sauce mayo, watercress & pickled onion salad. (269kcal)
GARLIC MUSHROOMS ON RUSTIC TOAST (VE)
Roasted mushrooms with spinach on toasted rustic ciabatta. (395kcal)
HAND-CUT NACHOS TO SHARE (V)
Tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. (949kcal) Add Pulled beef brisket 3.00 (608kcal)
LANDLORD’S PLATTER
Glazed pork sausages, venison croquettes*, sticky chicken, Padrón peppers and halloumi fries, with a selection of dips. (1897kcal)
OVEN-BAKED CAMEMBERT FOR TWO (V)
Topped with pumpkin seeds, honey & thyme. With beer chutney and toasted rustic bread. (1028kcal)
Bar Snacks
STICKY CHICKEN
Sweet chilli & Som Tam dressing. (568kcal)
LIGHTLY DUSTED CALAMARI
Mango & sweet chilli salsa. (205kcal)
HALLOUMI FRIES (V)
Sweet chilli mayonnaise. (516kcal)
HONEY GLAZED BRITISH PORK SAUSAGES
Honey & mustard dressing. (480kcal)
PADRON PEPPERS (VE)
(63kcal)
LOADED CHUNKY CHIPS
Pulled beef brisket, mature Cheddar cheese. (923kcal)
SCOTCH EGG
With brown sauce. (346kcal)
CRISPY CAULIFLOWER FLORETS* (V)
With a sweet chilli & Som Tam dressing. (308kcal)
HAND-CUT NACHOS (V)
Hand-cut tortilla chips, cheese sauce, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapeños. (495kcal) Add Pulled Beef Brisket 2.00 (304kcal)
Burgers
Our mouth-watering burgers come with lettuce, gherkin, tomato, mayonnaise and are served with BBQ salsa and skin-on fries, unless otherwise stated~.
THE NICHOLSON’S BURGER
Double beef patty, cheese sauce, smoked back bacon, crispy onions, hash brown. (1601kcal)
BUTTERMILK CHICKEN BURGER
Crispy chicken breast, smoked back bacon, avocado, Cheddar cheese. (1265kcal)
CLASSIC CHEESE & BACON BURGER
Chargrilled beef patty, smoked back bacon, smoked Cheddar cheese. (1173kcal)
BEEF BRISKET BURGER
Chargrilled beef patty, hand-pulled BBQ beef brisket, cheese sauce. (1502kcal)
SPINACH & FALAFEL BURGER (VE)
Pink pickled onions, Applewood slice, baked mushroom, tomato salsa. Served with a house salad~. (560kcal)
Pulled Beef Brisket
(152kcal)
Smoked Cheddar Cheese (V)
(166kcal)
Smoked Back Bacon
(51kcal)
Sides
SKIN-ON FRIES (V)
(401kcal)
CHUNKY CHIPS (V)
(423kcal)
LONG-STEM BROCCOLI (VE)
(57kcal)
HOUSE SALAD (VE)
(36kcal)
GARLIC CIABATTA (V)
(378kcal)
Desserts
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE (V)
With Bourbon vanilla ice cream. (993kcal)
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING (V)
With Bourbon vanilla ice cream. (724kcal)
APPLE & BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE (VE)
With creamy vanilla custard. (616kcal)
ZESTY LEMON TART (V)
With berry coulis and freshly whipped cream. (585kcal)
Hot Drinks
CAPPUCCINO
LATTE
AMERICANO
ESPRESSO
FLAT WHITE
HOT CHOCOLATE
SELECTION OF TEAS
CUP OF KINDNESS
No cup, just kindness.