The Coach & Horses, Soho, W1

Very basic and now called Normans Coach and Horses.Three cask beers Redemption -hopspur,Fullers -seafarers and a more than decent Fullers -esb.Quaint.

I was surprised I hadn't reviewed this pub before as I've been in it loads of times in the past.It is of course as Blackthorn describes earlier this year, it has a basic but pubby charm about it, the only slight detraction was the two wall mounted Tv screens, but it is the World Cup. My Redemption Hopspur was in excellent condition and was my favourite beer of the day. Nice pub.

An attractive looking street corner pub in the heart of Soho, it is quite dated internally and whilst certainly not unpleasant, it is much more basic than many London boozers and could perhaps do with a little TLC. That said, it is at least authentic I suppose, I can image that it hasn’t changed at all for many years. There was an old, and slightly tatty patterned carpet on the floors, whilst much of the walls were clad in light wood panelling. Elsewhere was pale yellow paintwork on both the walls and ceiling and large windows on two sides made it light and airy. A couple of unusual features were the old brewery names cut in to the woodwork behind the bar, such as Skol, Ind Coope and Double Diamond and there was also a small stone trough running along the base of the bar. A quick bit of internet research suggested that this may have had water running through it and was used as a spittoon by punters chewing tobacco. We didn’t study the menu, but did note that it was apparently all vegetarian. Beers on tap were Fuller’s ESB, Seafarer’s Ale and Redemption Hopspur. Ciders were well represented with Stowford Press, Old Rosie and Aspall’s Suffolk.

This place is a dump. A beautifully shabby dump and I love it. Its like drinking in the 50s. Especially if you go in on a Wednesday night and they are belting out Knees up Mother Brown on the piano. I avoid Wednesday nights. Been coming in for years, since I read about the author Derek Raymond who used to frequent it. If he was alive now, the only thing he would have noticed changed would be its now rumoured a Fullers house (although only appeared to have Chiswick Bitter on my last visit). The Lowenbrau has long gone. I go at least 4 times a year for the last 15 years and have not been served by the same person twice. Worth checking out if you like to drink in a different era. Skol, Inde Coope and Double Diamond will all make sense when you go in.