Waxy O'Connor's
Waxy O'Connor's is a big Irish pub on Rupert Street, on the edge of Soho, laid out as a labyrinth of four bars across six levels with its famous tree growing at the centre. Live music, Irish and international sport and an all-day bar menu make it a lively West End meeting point for over-18s.
Photos
Massimo Graziosi
A pub to get lost in
The layout is the draw: four distinct bars spread over six levels, connected by stairs and passages, with Waxy's tree at the heart of it all. Arrive early and explore before you settle, and agree a meeting point if you are in a group, because it is easy to lose people. Each bar has its own feel, from snug corners to bigger rooms where the music and the crowd build up on match days and weekends. The scale also makes it easier than most West End pubs to find room for a group.
Music and sport
Live music has been a fixture for around thirty years. Sport is taken seriously too, with fan zones for Gaelic games, rugby, football, horse racing, tennis and golf, which makes it a natural home for Six Nations weekends and GAA finals.
Food and practicalities
A homemade bar menu runs all day. The pub is strictly over-18s and operates Challenge 25, so bring a passport or driving licence. It is a minute or two from Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, so it slots easily around a show or an evening in Soho.
Highlights
- Four bars over six levels
- The famous Waxy's tree
- Live music
- Fan zones for GAA, rugby and football
- All-day homemade bar menu
Good to know
- Strictly over-18s with a Challenge 25 policy; accepted ID is a passport or driving licence.
- Table bookings and private hire are handled through the pub's website.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: waxyoconnorslondon.co.uk