Bars & Pubs

Its mock Tudor frontage spanning the entrance to Manette Street, the traditional Pillars is a popular Soho pit stop for tourists, but is a quality destination nonetheless. Theakston's Old Peculiar, Adnams, Bombardier, Young's and Deuchars are the ales that attract regular locals to this narrow, intimate space decorated with black-and-white photographs of Hyde Park and fog-bound open-topped omnibuses. Russian Baltika and Portuguese Sagres stand out among the international bottled lagers but the management is at pains to point out that all its food 'is seasonal and sourced from excellent British suppliers', so the ribeye steak (£9.95) is 21-day hung, the sausages (bangers and mash £5.95) obtained from Smithfield Market. Spotted dick and custard (£3.25) for afters, of course.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9