Bars & Pubs

There's nothing immediately special about this corner boozer, either from the outside - big glass windows and a few hanging baskets - or inside (in spite of the refit: dark stripped boards, couple of mirrors, blood-red walls, and swathes of pinstripe; sorry, that's the clientele), so it hardly seems worth the detour off High Holborn, until you check the drinks list. This is one of the only pubs in the city to serve such an extensive range of cask ales: eight on pump, and, written on the blackboard, a list of eight to come. On our visit there was Nethergate's Redcar Best (3.0%) and Elgood's Greyhound (5.2%), with Tower Pale Ale and Stonehenge Pig Swill expected soon. There are eight decent whites and reds (from £4.50 by the glass). Then there's the food: quality door-stop sarnies, toasties, ploughman's and several roasts, plus free finger food from 6pm on Monday and Tuesday.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9