English in Phoenix

960 W. University Dr., #105 Tempe

480-894-6261

The original Cornish Pasty Co., at Hardy and University drives in Tempe is a lovely place to enjoy hearty food and thick beers from the U.K. But it’s more of a restaurant than a bar; it’s even family-friendly to some degree. Do a little exploring inside Cornish, though, and you’ll stumble upon The Beast, which is where you can get some real drinking done. The Beast can be accessed by either the dark front entrance, the trash-piled back entrance, or by weaving through the Cornish, past the bathrooms, and toward the red, glowing light on the other end of the restaurant. You might also follow the sound of blaring metal, even a live show, though you’ll have to let your eyes adjust to discover which. At the bar, you may order food, a frothy Guinness, or any number of house cocktails, and watch the cooks prepare dishes using the warped, worn, and charred pots and pans (presumably Cornish’s secret sauce). There are pool and darts, too. The Beast is so named in honor of the now-gone 6 East Lounge that was on Seventh Street east of Mill Avenue, which everyone called The Beast because the 6 looked like a B.

The British Open Pub

1334 N. Scottsdale Rd. South Scottsdale

480-941-4915

Bar Food, Brewery, English, Irish, Bars and Clubs, Best Of, Menu

Cozy British-themed pub with a fair selection of British and international beers, and some pretty decent English grub: sausage rolls, fish and chips, bangers and mash, and an excellent beef and Guinness pie. Baskets of Wallys -- deep-fried spears of dill pickles -- make for terrific bar food when paired with a cold pint. For a happy ending, look to the dessert menu, offering such blood-sugar-raising delights as bread pudding with Grand Marnier.

7 articles

Clancy's Pub

4432 N. Miller Rd. Central Scottsdale

480-990-8797

American, English, European, Pizza, Traditional, Bars and Clubs, Menu

The American Midwest meets the Irish cliffs at Clancy's Pub. Banners proclaiming loyalty to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Omaha Nighthawks, and Green Bay Packers share space alongside Guinness clovers and Killian's flags. Night owls recline on green leather stools, watching Bruce Campbell on Burn Notice while sipping draught beers and snacking on burger specials. In keeping with a Midwest sensibility, the vibe here is humble and unassuming, though the right game brings out the cheers and whoops from the blue-collar crowd. Saint Patrick's Day emerald clothing is certainly welcome, but no one is going to differentiate between that and Packers green, and Cornhuskers red is certainly okay, too.

The Codfather

1618 E. Bell Rd., #101 North Phoenix

602-788-1199

English, Irish, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

An offer you can't refuse: traditional, English-style fish-and-chips shop run by British expats, serving cod, haddock, halibut, and salmon with thick, house-cut chips. Monday is all-you-can-eat night, and worth the drive. Also worth the drive are the steak-and-kidney and chicken-and-mushroom pies, as well as the pineapple fritters (fried pineapple rings). Makes for a perfect palate-cleanser. Forget Pete's, Turk's, and all the rest. The Codfather beats them all. Read our review.

4 articles

Cornish Pasty Co.

3800 N. Goldwater Blvd. Central Scottsdale

480-945-1220

English, Irish, Menu

This small chain of English-focused, somewhat-metal-themed restaurants is either referred to as Cornish or Pasty, depending on which circles you travel in, but never just Cornish Pasty. (We're in the Cornish camp.) Around since 2005, Cornish is known for its ... pasties — savory ingredients entombed in a flaky, baked shell with a crimped edging. Popular pasties include lamb and mint, pesto chicken, the Pilgrim, and the Cubano. Pro tip: Select a pasty, but have a backup, too. Some are so popular the kitchen runs out. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, as well as an entire B-side of the menu offering fresh salads, tandoori wings, house-made bread and butter, oven chips, Scotch eggs, and English desserts. Equal to Cornish's impressive menu is the vibe‚ especially at the original Tempe location (shout out to The Beast, the hidden bar inside). Always expect alternative music, a lively patio, and a short wait at the bar. Cornish Pasty Co. has multiple locations with open-air patio seating for those uncomfortable dining in.

12 articles

Cornish Pasty Co.

7 W. Monroe St. Downtown Phoenix

602-374-8500

English, Irish, Best Of, Readers' Choice

This small chain of English-focused, somewhat-metal-themed restaurants is either referred to as Cornish or Pasty, depending on which circles you travel in, but never just Cornish Pasty. (We're in the Cornish camp.) Around since 2005, Cornish is known for its ... pasties — savory ingredients entombed in a flaky, baked shell with a crimped edging. Popular pasties include lamb and mint, pesto chicken, the Pilgrim, and the Cubano. Pro tip: Select a pasty, but have a backup, too. Some are so popular the kitchen runs out. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, as well as an entire B-side of the menu offering fresh salads, tandoori wings, house-made bread and butter, oven chips, Scotch eggs, and English desserts. Equal to Cornish's impressive menu is the vibe‚ especially at the original Tempe location (shout out to The Beast, the hidden bar inside). Always expect alternative music, a lively patio, and a short wait at the bar. Cornish Pasty Co. has multiple locations with open-air patio seating for those uncomfortable dining in.

21 articles

Cornish Pasty Co.

960 W. University Dr., #103 Tempe

480-894-6261

English, Irish, Bars and Clubs, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow

This chain of English-focused, somewhat-metal-themed restaurants is either referred to as Cornish or Pasty, depending on which circles you travel in, but never entirely Cornish Pasty Co. (We're in the Cornish camp.) Around since 2005, Cornish has been known for its ... pasties — savory ingredients entombed in a flaky, baked shell with a crimped edging. Popular pasties include lamb and mint, pesto chicken, the Pilgrim, and the Cubano. Pro tip: Select a pasty, but have a backup, too. Some are so popular the kitchen runs out. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, as well as an entire B-side of the menu offering fresh salads, tandoori wings, house-made bread and butter, oven chips, Scotch eggs, and English desserts. Equal to Cornish's impressive menu is the vibe‚ especially at the original Tempe location. Always expect alternative music, a lively patio, and a short wait at the bar. Cornish Pasty Co. has multiple locations around the Valley and statewide.

50 articles

The Cornish Pasty Co.

1941 W. Guadalupe Rd. Unit 101 Mesa

480-838-3586

English, Irish, Recommended, Best Of

Hip, railroad-car-size establishment specializing in Cornwall's answer to the potpie, the pasty (pronounced pass-tee). Traditionally, these jumbo turnovers are filled with steak, onion, rutabaga, and potato, and are referred to as oggies. The place also has porkies, which are (you guessed it) stuffed with pork, sage, onion, potato, and apple; and lamb and mint varieties. But owner Dean Thomas has pulled a Ben & Jerry's on the concept, adding everything from a pesto chicken to chicken tikka masala and a Philly cheese-steak version. Try 'em all, and you're sure to end up an oggie addict. Read our review.

16 articles

Fibber Magees

1989 W. Elliot Rd. #19 Chandler

480-722-9434

Brewery, Irish, English, Bars and Clubs, Music Venues, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Owned by the same lads that operate the Skeptical Chymist, Fibbers is also a popular Irish pub of the traditional bent. Its authenticity extends beyond just having Guinness and Harps on tap and Jameson behind the bar. The place is loaded with Celtic curiosities aplenty -- from antique cigarette signs to various and sundry trinkets. It also prides itself on filling patrons with "craic," a term straight from the Emerald Isle describing an uproarious vibe, much like what you might witness on any given night when live music and ample drink specials are offered. Bonus -- there's a real chef in the kitchen, cranking out some truly top-notch cuisine. This is way better than average pub grub, with silky smoked salmon, homemade brown and soda breads, fresh grilled fish, and an incredible shepherd's pie. Read our review.

10 articles

George & Dragon: An English Pub

4240 N. Central Ave. Central Phoenix

602-241-0018

English, Bars and Clubs, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow, DrinkHere

Phoenix’s first English pub lives up to its pedigree: Portraits of Queen Elizabeth, photos of Buckingham Palace and other UK-related ephemera adorn every nook and cranny. Footy matches air on TVs above the bar, which is surrounded by jerseys and flags of beloved teams. And traditional selections like bangers and mash, pasties, and fish and chips are cranked out by the kitchen. Come on Sundays for roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Moving beyond the British Isles, G&D’s bar has an impressive selection of imported beer on tap, going beyond Guinness to include the likes of Smithwick's and Boddingtons. There’s also trivia on Thursdays hosted by owner (and native Englishman) David Wimberley, who got yelled at by Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer on a 2016 episode of the show. Catch Wimberley haunting the front patio, and he’ll tell you the tale himself, likely peppered with enough vulgarities to make the royals blush.

52 articles

George & Dragon English Restaurant and Pub

4240 S. 48th St. South Phoenix

602-470-0018

Brewery, English, Irish

4 articles

The Rose & Crown Pub

628 E. Adams St. Central Phoenix

602-256-0223

English, Irish, Bars and Clubs, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

If nothing else, the British definitely know how to tie one on. So it's only fitting that the Britannia-themed Rose & Crown is stocked with enough brews and booze to keep any Englishman or Anglophile happy (and properly soused). Imperial pints of Smithwick's, Newcastle, Tetley's, and Guinness and 10 other import and domestic beers are available, as are dozens of microbrews and other alcoholic delights. The pub also shows off its U.K. roots on its walls, as the premises are adorned with numerous pop-style paintings by local artist Alexander Scott Hughes featuring such English icons as Johnny Rotten, Winston Churchill, James Bond, and even Monty Python's Minister of Silly Walks (a.k.a. John Cleese).

30 articles

Rula Bula

401 S. Mill Ave. Tempe

480-929-9500

English, Irish, Bars and Clubs, Menu, Slideshow

Situated inside the Victorian-era Andre building, Rula Bula is an authentic-looking pub that's steeped in history. It's housed in an old Mill Avenue saddle shop that dates back to the 1880s, while its walls are lined with vintage Irish relics that were imported from Ireland by owner Steven Goumas. The menu also offers a few historical tidbits, like the origin tales behind such traditional Irish fare as the boxy, as well as dishes named after the renowned Saint Patrick's Battalion that fought in the Mexican-American War. The name of the establishment itself is a reference to an old Gaelic phrase that roughly translates to "uproar and commotion," which is a fitting description for the raucous revelry that takes place inside Rula Bula on a nightly basis. Acoustic artists and Irish musicians offer live music throughout the week, while the staff behind the antique bar serves up pint after pint of imports like Guinness and Smithwick's and various European brews.

35 articles

Shakespeare's British Pub & Restaurant

1744 S. Val Vista Dr. Mesa

480-507-7827

American, Bar Food, Deli, English, European, Sandwiches, Seafood, Bars and Clubs

We stopped in for a Newcastle Ale and ended up staying for dinner-and what a dinner! Moules Mariniere: mussels with onions, steamed in white wine and herb liquor. We'll never recover, it was so tasty. We went back for a more traditional British dinner that started with Scotch Eggs (hardboiled and wrapped in sausage, then deep fried) followed by a sirloin-stuffed Cottage Pie with onions and carrots and topped with cheddar-mashed potatoes and a helping of fresh veggies. Next time we plan to try the traditional Yorkshire Pudding, which we hear is the best in town. Meantime, cheerio, old bean-we're counting the days until we can return to this bit of Britain.

Skeptical Chymist

15668 N. Pima Rd. North Scottsdale

480-609-8677

English, Irish, Bars and Clubs, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Looking very much like a kind of place you'd find on the Emerald Isle, Skeptical Chymist is a charming place resembling an old apothecary with rustic wooden furnishings and hundreds of books lining the walls. Besides having an abundance of the obligatory Guinness on tap, you can get ice cold pints of Harp, Bass, Newcastle, and numerous other import drafts, as well as other Irish booze and brews. Several specialty cocktails, like the Chymist Royal (a concoction of Bushmills, apple liqueur, and ginger ale) are also on the menu. It's definitely good for what ails you.

11 articles

English in Phoenix

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