THE GRENADIER · AT A GLANCE
Location:📍18 Wilton Row, Belgravia, London SW1X 7NR
Nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line)
Best For: Independent wanderers, historic-pub enthusiasts, ghost-story fans, military-history buffs, and curious photographers
Pub Operator: INEOS
Drink Pick: Adnams Grenadier house cask ale or the pub’s famous Bloody Mary
Why the Grenadier is Worth Seeking Out
⭐ Traveler’s Pick: Hidden at the end of a quiet Belgravia mews, the Grenadier is a tiny, atmospheric London pub with a money-covered ceiling, military prints, and a ghost story that gets more complicated the closer you look. Its bright red sentry box marks the spot—but until you reach it, you might wonder whether you’re on the right street at all.
Finding the Grenadier: The Belgravia Mews
The Mistake: If you’re coming from Hyde Park Corner, don’t let all the Wilton street names make you think you’ve taken a wrong turn. Wilton Place, Wilton Crescent and Wilton Row are all part of this little pocket of Belgravia, and it’s surprisingly easy to get your bearings crossed.
The Fix: You’re looking for Wilton Row. Once you’re on the right street, the surroundings may still make you hesitate: this is a quiet residential mews, not the kind of place where you’d expect to find a famous London pub. Keep going.
The Turn: Follow Wilton Row toward the end of the mews. The Grenadier’s bright red wooden military sentry box gives you the confirmation you’re looking for: yes, this is the place. The sentry box itself is a modern addition, rather than an original 19th-century feature.
What to Look For
The Money-Covered Ceiling
Once you’re inside, head into the front bar and look up. The ceiling is covered with banknotes from around the world, many carrying handwritten messages from visitors. It’s one of those wonderfully strange pub details that makes you stop and wonder how it got there in the first place. This is where the Grenadier’s famous ghost story comes in…
Is the Grenadier Really Haunted?
According to pub lore, a young officer named Cedric was caught cheating at cards and died after being punished for it. The legend says visitors began leaving money behind to settle his unpaid gambling debt and finally allow his spirit to rest. And because this is London pub history, there’s a twist…
Dig a little deeper into the Grenadier’s past and Cedric’s story appears to have originally belonged to an earlier tavern nearby called the Horse Grenadier, which closed in the 1830s. Somewhere along the way, the ghost seems to have moved down the street! The banknotes are still there. Visitors are still adding to them. And Cedric has ended up with a considerably more famous home than the one he apparently started with.
Take a Quick Look Around
The Grenadier is tiny, so you won’t need long to get the lay of the land. The compact front bar is lined with wood panelling and prints depicting the history of the Grenadier Guards. Look at the bar itself, too—the counter has an old pewter top that adds another bit of character to the room.
Beyond the front bar are two rear rooms generally used for dining. Don’t expect a sprawling historic pub with room after room to explore. Once you’ve looked up at the money, taken in the military prints and had a look around the front bar, you’ve seen the main visual highlights.
Find the £5 Note That Started a Car Company
There’s one surprisingly modern artifact hiding among all those banknotes. In 2017, the idea for the INEOS Grenadier 4×4 was sketched on a £5 note during a conversation here at the pub. The vehicle was eventually named after The Grenadier—and according to INEOS, that original £5 note is still attached to the ceiling. See if you can spot it among all that money.
Before You Leave, Find the Green Plaque
Step outside and look for the green World Origin Site plaque unveiled in 2026, officially marking The Grenadier as the birthplace of the INEOS Grenadier 4×4.
How to Order a Drink at the Grenadier
Where to Go: If you’re just here for a drink, head into the small front bar and order at the counter. You don’t need to find a dining table first; the two rooms beyond the bar are primarily used for dining.
What to Order: For a traditional pub experience, try the house cask ale, Adnams Grenadier. If it isn’t pouring that day, ask the bartender which cask ale they’d recommend instead.
For something more specific to the Grenadier, try its famous Bloody Mary. The pub has a longstanding reputation for the cocktail, made from a secret recipe traditionally passed from licensee to licensee.
How to Order: Ask for a pint or half-pint of ale—or order a Bloody Mary—and pay at the bar. Take your drink to your chosen spot.
Tipping: Do I Need to Tip When I Order a Drink at the Bar?
No. Tipping isn’t customary when ordering drinks at the bar in a London pub. You don’t need to add a percentage, leave money on the bar, or leave cash on your table when you go. If the card machine prompts you for a tip, you can skip it.
Also Looking to Order Food?
You have two options. If you just want something with your pint, the Grenadier has a separate bar-snacks menu, so you don’t need to commit to a sit-down meal.
If a proper meal is part of your plan, the small rear dining rooms serve a more upscale British pub menu, with Beef Wellington as the signature dish. Space is limited, so booking ahead is sensible.
Know Before You Go
Check the Hours Before You Go:
Check the Grenadier’s official website for current opening and kitchen hours, particularly if a meal is part of your plan.
Walk-Ins Welcome:
You can stop in for a look or a drink without booking a table. Don’t let the tucked-away mews location fool you, though—the Grenadier is tiny and can get crowded, so a seat isn’t guaranteed.
Keep Exploring Haunted London
If the Grenadier’s wandering ghost story has you curious about London’s other haunted pubs, keep going with two very different legends.
The Ten Bells
Head to Spitalfields for a historic pub tangled up with Whitechapel murder history and generations of ghost stories.
The Viaduct Tavern
Head toward the Old Bailey for an extraordinary Victorian gin palace with persistent tales surrounding its cellars and supposed hauntings.