The Crown, Soho, W1

A small Nicholsons corner pub sticking to a tried and tested and frankly boring formula,beers were a rather bland Hop Stuff Session IPA, Stewarts 80 Shilling,Doom Bore and London Pride, It serves a purpose but not for me.

By Nicholson's standards quite a small plain interior. 6 real ale taps.

This small but busy Nicolson,s pub seemed to be popular with the tourists.Six beers on handpump and I went for an old favourite.Copper Dragon-golden pippen.Good but not as flavoursome as I remember it.Good pub.

This smallish Nicholsons pub is located just off the northern side of Piccadilly Circus in the heart of Soho. It has all the traditional Nicholsons trademarks and is cosy and attractive enough without being anything too noteworthy. The Nicholsons “Famous for…” blurb claims that the pub stands on the site of the Hickford Room, an 18th Century concert Hall where a 9 year old Mozart is supposed to have performed (one report I read said the event was actually cancelled and he was indisposed on the rearranged date) however the venue, which was controversially demolished in 1934, actually stood on the other side of the road and was replaced by the staff annex for the Regent Street Hotel. The name does however linger on in the pub’s upstairs overflow bar which is now known as the Hickford Bar. The L-shaped main bar has bare floors in the bar area with a carpeted rear section. The décor and furnishings are all neat and tidy with leather banquette seating, striking wallpaper and theatre style curtain drapes creating a slightly underwhelming sense of elegance. The rear section has half paneled walls and a large display cabinet in one corner. The decent enough selection of 6 ales included Sharps Doom Bar, St Austell Tribute, Fullers London Pride, White Horse Wayland Smithy, Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted and Thornbridge Jaipur IPA. Food is the general West End chain pub stuff with main courses ranging from around £8-£15 with a few slightly cheaper lunchtime specials also listed. As Nicholsons go, this is about average and the more interesting ale selection does give the place a nod over much of the local competition but you can’t help feel that pubs like this are all too commonplace throughout the West End.