The Devonshire - The Heart of Soho
If you didn’t know better, you might think The Devonshire had been holding court off Piccadilly for a hundred years. In reality, it’s a newcomer—built on the bones of the old Jamie’s Italian—but it already feels like it’s always belonged here. That’s no accident.
The man behind it, Oisín Rogers, is a publican through and through. He’s known for transforming pubs into institutions, not by chasing trends but by nailing the fundamentals: great pints, warm welcomes, and food that genuinely matters. His past work at The Guinea Grill earned him a loyal following, and now, with The Devonshire, he’s poured that same care into a new setting—one that manages to be both polished and familiar.
Just across the street from one of my favourite spots, Brasserie Zédel, The Devonshire brings something different. It’s proudly a pub, but the kind where ageing rooms are installed for the meat and every pint is poured with pride. I haven’t eaten there yet (I plan to), but you can tell just by looking—and by the way the staff take such care with everything—that standards are high.
Oisín was incredibly warm and generous with his time during our shoot. It’s easy to see how that energy filters down. The staff are confident, kind, and clearly love where they work. The tone is set from the top, and here, it’s set just right.
