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LONDON W1 FITZROVIA

Jack Horner, 236 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9AE

Owner- Fullers

Beers- Fullers Chiswick Bitter, Discovery, London Pride, ESB. Hoegraaden and Leffe Blonde on draught, Budvar in bottles.

Telephone 020 7636 2868

A Fullers Ale and Pie chain pub. Standard décor with wooden floorboards, leather seats and various bits of odd furniture. I don't know why, but this pub reminds me of how the Firkin pubs used to look like. Nearby are the electronics shops of the Tottenham Court Road where you might be able to hammer out a bargain for your new computer! Good pint on last visit.

John 8/10 visit Dec 2008

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One Tun, 58 Goodge Street, London W1T 4NB

Owner- Young's

Beers- Young’s Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Warmer. Wells Bombardier.

Telephone-020-7209-4105

A ex Finchs' pub now owned by Youngs which is close to Middlesex Hospital, which is now shut (a prime bit of real estate). Wonderful Bass and Finchs brewery mirrors are well worth the price of a pint. Wood panelling, island bar and dart board (rare for central London) all adds to the good atmosphere. Bar service was good. A underrated pub.

John 9/10 visit Dec 2008

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LONDON W1 MARYLEBONE

Golden Eagle, 59 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2NY

Owner- Free House

Beers- Brakespear Bitter, Fullers London Pride, St Austells Tribute.

Telephone-020-7935-3228

Small cosy pub which has been recently decorated with metallic blue seating around the side of the pub, yellow walls, white ceiling, but the photos of old Marylebone-the Marylebone Road which are now gone. Good bar service in this friendly local’s pub. Good to see the landlord serving behind the bar. Usually has a Cornish beer on sale.

John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2008

A good locals pub in middle of London! Very nicely furbished with blue décor. Older parts of the pub on show are stained glass windows and the toilets area downstairs, which is low ceilinged and has the feel of a very old pub. Street sign for ' Marylebone Lane ' and flower arrangements in the stairwell complete this image. I wish I knew this pub's history. Excellent atmosphere.

Sue 8.5/10 visit May 2001

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LONDON W1 MAYFAIR

Shepherds Tavern, 50 Hertford Street, London W1J 7SS

Owner- Free House

Beers- Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Wells Bombardier.

Telephone-020-7499-3017

While Mayfair is one of the richest parts of London (and the monopoly board) this pub has a nice regulars' feel to it. Quiet and intimate, it’s a good place for a relaxing pint; the pub also has a choice of snack meals at reasonable prices for the area. The January Sale has Greene King IPA at £2.20 and meals for £5. Shepherd Neame Spitfire was £2.90 a pint, not bad for Mayfair when the nearby Guy Richie pub is selling real ale at £3.90 a pint. Impressive bow windows are at the front of the pub. Live Rugby a big feature here

John 8/10 visit Jan 2009

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LONDON W1 SOHO

Argyll Arms, 18 Argyll Street, London W1F 7HP

Owner-Free House

Beers- Fullers London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Hydes Insulation, Thwaites Nutty Black, Springhead Polar Bear. Erdinger and Amstel on draught

Telephone- 020-7734-6117

Web site http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=149

Pub near Oxford Street shops and the London Palladium. A narrow corridor leads to the bar and its separate drinking areas. Lovely acid-etched glass partitions and dark mahogany wood panelling. This pub is in a busy part of London; if you can find a nice alcove this place can be very cosy, but I have seen people take one look at how crowded this place can get and walk straight back out. Nice beer barrel tables outside. London Pride was £2.60 and Landlord £ 2.90 a pint, not bad for central London!

John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2008

Been here several times before. Glass in profusion, long bar with seating at the rear with food.` Good beer - 3 different real ales.

Stuart 8/10 visit Feb 2002

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Clachan, 34 Kingly Street, London W1B 5QH

Owner- Nicholson

Beers- Fullers London Pride, Chiswick Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Nethergate Dirty Dick, Mordue Pudding Bowl. Erdinger and Amstel on draught.

Telephone-020-7494-0834

Pub which has a gin palace feel to it, with brewery mirrors, acid-etched windows and dark mahogany wood panelling. Interesting old pictures at the rear of the pub. The place is now more open planed since my last visit, but still a nice pub. There is a drinking area upstairs if busy. The pub name is Caelic for meeting place. Nethergate Dirty Dick was £2.90 a pint.

John 8/10 visit Dec 2008

Nice pints of Timothy Taylor. Lovely ceiling with flower patterns, plenty of seating areas. 3 real ales on tap.

Stuart 8.5/10 visit Dec 2001

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Coach and Horses, 29 Greek Street, London W1D 5DH

Owner- Free House

Beers- Fullers London Pride, Wells Bombardier.

Telephone-020-7437-5920

This unpretentious pub is immortalised in Keith Waterhouse's play 'Jeffery Bernard is unwell' which starts out with Bernard being locked in the pub toilets after closing time. Pub with no music or fruit machine which was run by no nonsense landlord Norm, who's also mentioned in the play. Wood-panelled walls with pictures and cartoon strip 'The regulars' from nearby Private Eye. Pub of great character(s). If you visit this pub at the right moment it goes from great to excellent. Beer is expensive there does not seem to be a happy hour any longer. Norm retired in June 2005, the portrait of Norman above the bar, seems to have gone as well!

John 8/10 visit Dec 2008

Greek Street - near the Private Eye offices - haunt of Jeoffrey Barnard - the landlord is called Norm for whom he wrote a play - Basic pub with no fruit machines or music.

Stuart 9/10 visit Dec 2001

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Ship, 116 Wardour Street, London W1F 0TT

Owner- Fullers

Beers- Fulllers- Discovery, London Pride, ESB. Budvar on draught

Telephone-207-7437-8446

Good honest pub right in the centre of Soho. A nice place for a quiet pint and a cosy chat; the green décor is not memorable but I have seen a lot worse. In the 1960s and 1970s the Marquee music club where a lot of big bands started, was nearby. Was the hangout of many a rock star and fan. Interesting old drinking photos at the back of the pub. London Pride was £2.90 a pint.

John 8/10 visit Dec 2008

I like this pub. Friendly with music playing, very pretty dark wood bar with little arches over the bottles. Chandelier lights and pretty matching curtains and ceiling paper in green patterning. Windows frosted with Fullers emblem. Liked the atmosphere - for a pub off Oxford Street it has a very good feeling to it. John says Jimi Hendrix used to come in here!

Sue 8/10 Visit Feb 1993

Blown up by a gas explosion in the 1950's! Staircase leading to private rooms. Etched glass and mahogany. Pictures of pubs in the 1940's - 1960's.

Stuart 8/10 visit Dec 2001

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LONDON WC1 HOLBURN

Cittie of Yorke, 22 High Holburn, London WC1V 6BS

Owner- Sams Smith

Beers- Sams Smith OBB

Telephone-020-7242-7670

Present pub is over 350 years old; there's been a pub on this site for over 550 years. A large pub, with 3 different bars - all of them well worth a look. The back bar has a long bar counter, with a nice wooden frame ceiling and barrel tables. The front bar is nicely panelled and if that’s crowded there's an intimate non -smoking cellar bar. Sam Smiths OBB £1.86 a pint on last visit. Open on Saturdays, but closed Sundays. Never crowded on a Saturday, the barman told me he once had only 15 people in all day!

John 9/10 visit April 2008

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Lamb, 94 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LZ

Owner- Young's

Beers- Young's Bitter, Special, plus seasonal beers

Web Site http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=149

Telephone-020-7405-0713

Magnificent Victorian pub with the Young's emblem on the impressive front windows. Wood panelling on the ceiling! Nice dark green leather seating and genuine snob screens on the bar adds to the place, to make this a great pub. Not so busy at the weekends. Best Young's pub in London.

John 9.5/10 visit April 2008

Still unchanged - Sadly, the Sun Pub across the road is no more. Etched glass, snob screens and a lower area at the back. Visited many times in the last 25 years. handy for Great Ormond St Hospital.

Stuart 9/10 visit April 2002

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Old Red Lion, 72 High Holburn, London WC1V 6LS

Owner- Greene King

Beers- Greene King IPA, Abbott, Moreland Old Speckled Hen, Bath Ales Gem. Budvar in bottles

Telephone- 020-7405-2892

Nice stained glass windows, with the Greene King emblem on them. The pub has two bars; the one downstairs is a stand up bar with a few bar stools. Upstairs is a small bar with pictures on the wall and paperbacks above the fireplace. Friendly bar service, and a nice pint. Closed at the weekend. Now has a guest beer.

John 8/10 visit April 2008

Two real ales on tap. Mahogany central bar area with stained glass and prints on the wall.

Stuart 8/10 visit April 2002

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Pakenham Arms, 1 Pakenham Street, London WC1X 0LA

Owner- Free House

Beers- Adnams Boardside, Fullers London Pride, Sharp’s Coaster.

Telephone-020-7837-6933

Web site http://www.pakenhamarms.com/

A nice lively busy pub at the back of Mount Pleasant sorting office which gets a lot of posties. Pub has some nice brewery mirrors ( Youngers and Trumam ) and a whiskey mirror,as well as some B movie posters and a darts area. Opening hours for this pub is 09-00 to 01-00 on weekdays and Saturdays, 09-00 to 10-30 Sundays.So if you want a early or late drink this is the place to go. A reduced beer range since my last visit.

John 8/10 visit April 2008

Right by Mount Pleasant sorting office - frequented by the staff. It does not close until 1.30 AM because of that. Nice beer. U shaped bar with plenty of staff.

Stuart 8.5/10 visit April 2002

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Penderel's Oak, 283-288 High Holburn, London WC1V 7HJ

Owner- Wetherspoon

Beers- 10 real ales and 2 real ciders on for the Wetherspoons beer festival. Festival real ales £2.35 a pint.

Telephone-020-7242-5669

A large Wetherspoon pub with lots of different drinking areas including a basement bar. The Gents toilets are well worth a visit, as they are done out in a unique and original way! Downstairs cellar bar which has a TV, which is unusual for Wetherspoons- does Tim Martin know!-Open on Saturdays, when it is not so crowded.

John 8.5/10 visit Nov 2010

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Princess Louise, 208 High Holburn, London WC1V 7BW

Owner-Sam Smith

Beers- Sam Smiths OBB

Telephone-020-7405-8816

A marvellous Victorian pub named after one of Queen Victoria's daughters, with some great original fittings. Nice woodwork on the bar; tiles and mirrors add to the grandeur of this place. Wonderful old gents' toilets which has a preservation order on it! Pub used to be a free house with a good range of beers, now owned by Sam Smiths. Sadly there is only one beer on. Sam Smiths OBB was £1.86 a pint, up 2p on my last visit!

John 9/10 visit April 2008

A lovely pub which we have visited many times. The Sam Smiths beer is average and is the weakest link. Lovely etched glass and mahogany U shaped bar inside. The ceiling is worth a look with the relief pattern. The Gents toilets are worth a visit (sorry ladies) with massive urinals with a grating you stand on. A relic from a forgotten era!

Stuart 7.5/10 visit April 2002

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LONDON WC2 COVENT GARDEN

Chandos,29 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ER

Owner- Sam Smiths

Beers- Sam Smith OBB

Telephone-020-7836-1401

Large pub near Trafalgar Square. The ground floor bar has a modern, wooden feel to it, while there are lots of seats, there's a fair amount of space to stand also. The first floor has a feel of a gentlemen's club with its plush furniture and seating. Sam Smiths are a Yorkshire Brewery who brew their own beer range including their own ales, cider, keg beers, lagers and stouts. They don’t usually stock beers from other breweries, but there prices are very reasonable with Sam Smith OBB £1-88 a pint. Sam's even have their own brand sprits including their own brand malt whisky! Only dartboard in central London? Is next to the stairs for the loo.

John 8.5/10 Jan 2009

On a corner near Trafalgar Sq. Large downstairs drinking area serving Sam Smiths. There are small cubicles with seating. As you leave by on entrance there are some stairs. Climb them to enter a comfy chair heaven. This is another bar in which you can chill out!

Stuart 8/10 visit April 2002

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Coach and Horses, 42 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7BP

Owner- Free House

Beers- Courage Best Bitter, Shepherd Neame Spitfire

Telephone-020-7240-0553

Small Irish pub with hanging baskets outside and a cosy intimate atmosphere, from a mixed clientele inside. This pub was one of the few pubs in London to sell non pasteurised Dublin brewed Guinness when there was a Guinness brewery in London. All Guinness is brewed in Dublin now, but the pub still seems to get the Dublin brew because it tastes great. Guinness was £3.40 a pint. Interesting pictures of golf and Ireland on the walls, as well as over 70 whiskeys including Irish and Scotch Malts. No Fruit machines or music just a good criak. Who needs fake Irish pubs! Are you listening big pub chains!

John 8.5/10 visit Jan 2009

Brilliant unpasturised - creamy Guinness. Full of city gents on a Friday but full of character. Near the Royal Opera house - I know where I would rather be. Red mahogany, small bar, pictures of old Guinness barges, golf tournaments and hurling teams.

Stuart 8.5/10 visit Feb 2002

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Knights Templar, 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT

Owner- Wetherspoons

Beers-Courage Best bitter, Greene King Abbot, Marstons Pedigree, Shepherd Neame Spitfire. Guest beers Tring Jack o’Legs, Cottage golden Arrow, Banks & Taylor Golden Fox. International bottled beers.

Telephone-020-7831-2660

Wetherspoons pub in an ex-bank done out in a lovely grand style on Convent Garden/ City of London borders. Nice ceiling, chandelles and drawings on the wall. There is a raised upper area, as well as stone tables. While traditional, there is a cashpoint in the pub. Enjoyable. On one visit half the pub was being set up for filming. Guest beers are £2.49 a pint. Greene King IPA at £1.49 a pint had run out, was replaced by Courage Best at the same price.

John 8.5/10 visit Jan 2009

Another very large Weatherspoons interior looks like an old Bank. High ceilings and a big drawing of a knight at the far end. Several real ales on tap. Loads of high tables with stools - but we found a low one!

Stuart 8/10 visit April 2002

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Lamb and Flag, 33 Rose Street, London WC2E 9EB

Owner- Free House

Beers- Courage Best Bitter, Harvey’s Sussex Bitter, Wells Bombardier, Young’s Special Bitter, Winter Warmer.

Telephone-020-7497-9504

Web site http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=204

One of the oldest pubs in London, with lots of history. A small pub with bare boards, old prints on the wall and a nice intimate atmosphere. Not many seats, mainly bar stools. More choice of real ale, than from my last visit. Friendly middle aged bar staff from my pervious visits, replaced by Eastern European bar staff.-service is still good. Pub is not easy to find (it is down an alleyway from one direction) but keep looking - it’s worth it! Harveys Sussex Bitter was £3.00 a pint

John 8/10 visit Jan 2009

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Lowlander, 36 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5RR

Owner- Free House

Beers- 9 Belgian and Dutch draught beers plus a good range of Belgian and Dutch bottled beers

Web site- www.lowlander.com

Telephone- 020-7379-7446

Great name for a place with a excellent choice of Belgian and Dutch beers. Sit down and make your choice from the beer menu. Modern place, with high ceiling fans and a upstairs drinking area. Bottled beers served chilled or at room temperature. Place a little foodie, but it's okay too just drink. Gets more like a restaurant later on in the day. Is expensive mainly mainstream beers, but there are a few interesting beers to be found. Look at the blackboard.

John 8/10 visit Jan 2009

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Moon under Water, 28 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LE

Owner- Wetherspoons

Beers- Courage Best Bitter, Greene King IPA, Abbott Ale, Marston Pedigree, Guest beer Calendonian Ale Lang Syne. International bottled beers

Telephone- 020-7839-2837

First a bit about Wetherspoons. Wetherspoons are a pub chain which tend to divide real ale fans. Those for them say they offer a good range of well-kept beers at reasonable prices, with good service and good surroundings. Those against them say they have the same beers at each pub except the guest beer, the pubs all look the same, and the new bigger pubs are impersonal. You pay your money, you make your choice. This pub is in the heart of central London, included in the guide for its reasonable beer prices, on my last visit, the regular beers were £2.09 and the guest beers £2.49. No wonder why the pub was so busy.

John 8/10 visit Jan 2009

This place must have been a shop - near Chiquitos - a great Mexican food joint - which reasonably priced food. Flag stone floor - slate and sandstone with WC at the back end, the beer was really cheap - 6 real ales.

Stuart 8/10 visit Feb 2002

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The Porterhouse,21-22 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7NA

Owner-Free House

Beers- TSB, Hersbrucker, Porter, Oyster Stout, Red Ale, Templebrau,Wrassler. Adnams Broadside

Telephone-020-7836-7991

Web site http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/

Opened in July 2000, this new pub must be one of the largest in London. As well as a main bar there's an upstairs and basement bar too. Décor is well done out for a new pub, with slatted wooden ceiling, copper piping and metal ships' girders, which creates a good atmosphere. Porterhouse have a home-brew pub in Dublin which supplies beers to this pub. When you first come in try finding a table and study the beer menu, before going to the bar. As well as Porterhouse's beers, the beer menu has a great section of beers from all over the world. In the cabinets you will see a good collection of bottled beers. If you bring in a full bottle of one they have not got, they will give you a free pint. Welcome addition to the London pub scene. Very popular, but not so busy at the weekends. Beer menu explains beer styles well, for people who are not a beer geek like me!!

John 9/10 visit Jan 2009

Very large newly opened pub which is an outlet for a Dublin micro brewery! Many different levels, quite an expedition to the toilet as it is so big. Great selection of beers of which Oyster Stout was my favourite. Also a large range of food available. The pub is in a back street, so take a good map!

Stuart 9/10 visit Feb 2002

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Nags Head, 10 James Street, London WC2 8BT

Owner-Mcmullen

Beers- Mcmullen AK Mild, Country Bitter, Cask Ale

Telephone- 020-7836-4678

Popular pub near the Opera House and Covent Garden shopping centre. Pub done out in a Victorian style with Mcmullen emblems on the window. Pub has a fair number of seats, but it's still hard to find one. People do move on after a while! Lively atmosphere and old opera posters add to the place. Mcmullens are a Hertford brewery with a few pubs in London. Pub is close to Convent garden tube station. Pub was very crowded on my last two visits.

John 8/10 visit Jan 2009

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Ship and Shovell, 1-3 Craven Passage, London WC2N 5PH

Owner- Hall and Woodhouse

Beers- Badger Best Bitter, Tanglefoot, King and Barnes Sussex Bitter, Picked Partridge.

Telephone-020-7839-1311

Web site http://www.pub-explorer.com/gtlondon/pub/ship&shovellcharingcross.htm

From the Sherlock Holmes pub in Northumberland Avenue walk up the alleyway until you get to the Ship and Shovell, and you will have a pub on either side of you (a pub of two halves!). Both bars are very nice with nice wood panelling, mirrors and beers from Hall and Woodhouse. Name of the pub is explained on the menu. Pub is closed all day Sunday. Well hidden pub, which is worth finding. Always has a good atmosphere on my visits.

John 9/10 visit Jan 2009

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Worth a try

Freemasons Arms, 81 Long Acre, London WC2E 9NG. Now a Shepherd Neame pub, after former being owned by Greene King and Sam Smiths. This pub is truly the home of football. The first draft of the rules of the game, happen in a meeting room upstairs.

Salisbury, 90 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AP. Victorian pub with wonderful décor, in the heart of theatreland. Beer is just about passable.

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