Lily James and Matt Smith are seen back together in London

Lily James and Matt Smith were seen together for the first time in four months on Tuesday amid ongoing split rumours, but kept their distance during an outing to a London pub. 

The couple of five years were spotted having the tense lunch outing at The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead, London before leaving in the same taxi.

Although this marked their first public outing together for some time, the pair looked frosty as they walked along, with Matt, 37, striding out of a taxi upon arrival and failing to wait for Lily, 30, to step out. 

Sighting: The duo failed to raise smiles as they  left the popular venue, which has previously been attended by the likes of Harry Styles and Taylor Swift 

Their date comes just hours after Lily was seen enjoying the company of actor Max Ianeselli as they exited the star-studded Giorgio Armani Fashion Awards afterparty At Harry’s Bar in Mayfair, London together on Monday. 

It had also been alleged Doctor Who star Matt was leaning on his Crown co-star Claire Foy, 35, for support in the wake of split rumours.

Mamma Mia! actress Lily wrapped up in a black sweater and high waisted jeans, paired with heeled leather boots as she walked behind Doctor Who star Matt – with the pair’s body language looking tense towards one another as they left the pub.

Fast Girls star Lily donned a slate grey overcoat, a berry woolen hat and stylish shades, with her tresses styled in loose waves.

Arrival: Although this marked their first public outing together for some time, the pair looked frosty as they walked along, with Matt, 37, striding out of a taxi upon arrival and failing to wait for Lily, 30, to step out

New pal: Their date comes just hours after Lily was seen enjoying the company of actor Max Ianeselli as they exited the star-studded Giorgio Armani Fashion Awards after party At Harry’s Bar in Mayfair, London together on Monday

Co-stars: It had been claimed that Lily had secretly split from Matt, 37, after five years and the actor was alleged to have been leaning on his Crown co-star Claire Foy, 35, for support [pictured last year]

What’s going on? Mamma Mia! actress Lily wrapped up in a black sweater and high waisted jeans, paired with heeled leather boots as she walked behind Doctor Who star Matt

Still going strong: Lily and Matt have been dating for five years but had not been seen together for months – until now

Matt donned a grey tee, jeans, a chunky gold pendant and a dove grey coat as he strode ahead of Lily. 

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Matt and Lily for comment. 

The sighting of the pair came hours after Lily was seen exiting the star-studded Fashion Awards afterparty with handsome actor Max in tow.

Lily was seen keeping her head down as she made her way to her cab while Max followed. 

Relaxed: The beauty donned a slate grey overcoat, a berry woolen hat and stylish shades, with her tresses styled in loose waves

Stroll: Lily failed to crack a smile as she followed Matt down the street after their pub lunch 

Are they or aren’t they? The couple looked stoic as they made their way out of the pub together 

Max is a rising actor with small roles in the likes of Bad Education and the short comedy drama, Fifth Time Luck.

It is unclear whether the pair are anything more than pals, and MailOnline has contacted representatives for Lily for further comment.    

Meanwhile Matt, who starred as a young Prince Philip in the first two series of The Crown was rumoured to have been supported by Claire (who played Elizabeth II), as speculation over the state of his and Lily’s romance swirled.   

Radiant: Lily looked winter chic in a stylish grey coat as she bundled up for the stroll with Matt 

Chat: The apparent on-again couple looked tense as they chatted while leaving the eaterie 

Foy has been single since splitting from her actor husband Stephen Campbell Moore, the father of her daughter Ivy-Rose, in 2018.  

Matt and Claire have formed a close and mutually supportive friendship, and have been spending time together near their different homes in North London in recent weeks, a source told The Mail on Sunday.

The two Crown stars recently appeared together on stage in an acclaimed production of Lungs at the Old Vic in London.   

Hometime: Matt and Lily bowed their heads as they left the restaurant before heading off in a taxi

Chat: The two actors appeared tense as they had a break from their hectic schedules 

Casual cool: The couple were sartorially in sync as they walked along in matching coats but Matt strode ahead of his on-off girlfriend 

Style: Lily looked stylish as she headed out of the pub behind Matt, who she began dating in 2014 

Taxi: The stars made their way out of the pub before heading into a taxi together after their lunch 

The play, in which they portrayed husband and wife, required them to spend extensive time together in rehearsals and over three weeks of performances.

The friends seemed to revel in each other’s company at the opening night after-party in October.

Speaking to Vogue as she promoted the climate-change drama, Claire gushed of the actor: ‘To me, Matt is my friend and we acted together, as opposed to me seeing him as Prince Philip.

Out and about: Lily looked stylish as she walked along behind Matt before they went to their cab

On/off: The pair kept fans guessing over the status of their romance as they walked along 

Distance: Matt appeared to keep his distance as he walked ahead of Lily while she spoke to him 

Location: More recently its celebrity clientele include former One Direction star Harry Styles, who owns a property nearby. In 2009 it was listed as one of Britain’s best pubs

Last sighting: The couple were last seen on a public outing together in August 2019 – when they went on a dinner date to a Greek restaurant 

‘From the inside it makes sense, from the outside, maybe not. I think the most important thing is I want to be good for Matt – and, I presume, Matt wants to be good for me.’

Around the same time, onlookers said the two stars looked relaxed and happy in each other’s company as they strolled on the streets of London, on one occasion giggling as they shared jokes.    

Meanwhile, Lily had been enjoying a girls’ holiday in South Africa with her stylist friend Rebecca Corbin-Murray.

On screen: Meanwhile Matt, who starred as a young Prince Philip in the first two series of The Crown was rumoured to have been supported by Claire (who played Elizabeth II), as speculation over the state of his and Lily’s romance swirled

Brushing it off: Claire looked sensational in a champagne hued glittering gold gown as she arrived at the presentation of the Pirelli 2020 calendar in Verona, Italy on Tuesday

Describing each other as ‘post-traumatic stress disorder buddies’, the two women have documented their holiday on social media, posting from a variety of spectacular locations on a daily basis.

Lily posted an image of her and Rebecca at an animal sanctuary with the words ‘National Cheetahs’ garishly emblazoned on it – prompting commentators to suggest that she was making a mischievous response to the relationship rumours.

The Cinderella star fell for Matt in 2014 when they met on the set of the film Pride And Prejudice And Zombies. 

But they had not been seen together in public since August, when they enjoyed a night out in Kentish Town with a friend who was visiting from America.

The friend posted pictures of Lily dancing in the street, while Matt was seen joining the friend for a cigarette break under a bus shelter.

Lily, who played Lady Rose MacClare in Downton, was absent from photos from Matt’s 37th birthday celebrations in October.

The beauty once vowed never to talk about Matt in public in case their romance ended in tears, saying: ‘If you’ve never said anything, there are no soundbites to haunt you when you’re crying into a box of Kleenex after it all goes wrong.’ 

Relationship: Lily had not been seen with boyfriend Matt for several months, leading to speculation the pair had called it quits  [pictured in September 2018]