Simmons, WC1

A GBG fixture this, popular with the local office crowd and UCL students. It's pleasingly old fashioned and hasn't been given a trendy makeover like most of the pubs in the area. On my most recent visit, Youngs Bitter, Doom Bar, Deuchars and a guest from Robinson's were on but in the past I've seen landlord, Black Sheep and others. The outside seating is pleasant enough as the roads aren't that busy or used as a rat-run by cabs. There's an upstairs lounge available for hire and some nice old photos of London adorning the walls. It's a decent place this, long may it continue as now.

This pub is named after the 18th/19th Century philosopher and social reformer who was associated with the institution of the nearby University College of London. This is a small one-room corner pub. It has an attractive parquet wooden floor, broken up by what looked like some cheap rugs. There are a few banquettes, small stools and standard tables. The walls are half panelled in light wood, which looks fairly modern. The decor on the wall seems to be prints relating to Jeremy Bentham and his peers, including JB’s will (or perhaps a facsimile thereof). The beer choice was quite reasonable for such a relatively small pub – Black Sheep Bitter (£3.50 a pint), Doom Bar, Hobgoblin and Young’s Bitter were on handpump, as well as Old Rosie cider. When I was in at around 3.0 PM on Wednesday I didn’t see any menus, but a small group (the only other customers in there) at one table clearly had eaten there. This is a decent enough little pub, and I reckon a bit nicer than its nearest neighbours on Tottenham Court Rd. It’s not a gem, but a comfortable enough pub in which to enjoy a pint away from the crowds thronging the main thoroughfare nearby. It probably gets a fair bit busier in the evenings though.

Jeremy Bentham was an early 19th Century political reformer and a bit of a local hero around Bloomsbury where is is credited as the spiritual founder of the nearby UCL. His his mummified corpse is on display in the University (although his head has been replaced with a wax copy). The pub that bears his name is a fairly smallish and simple affair, a single room main bar with parqued flooring and rugs, a couple of open fires, oak paneling and some original window signage depicting the original bar layout. There is a further lounge bar upstairs which I didn’t visit and some pavement seating outside. A few snippets and caractures of Bentham’s life and works are on display, some of which will be a bit over the head of most people unless Tables of the Spring of Actions get your juices flowing. The juices from the bar are far more interesting with 5 ales available on my visit, Youngs Ordinary, Wadworth 6X, Woodford Wherry and Ringwood Best and also Old Rosie Cider. The Wherry was n’t cheap at £3.60 a pint but expensive beer in London is probably no longer a surprise. There was no obvious food menu but some specials were advertised on a blackboard for around £8. The place doesn’t have any great airs or graces and is largely populated with medical students and office workers being a bit off the tourist track. Pubs in these backstreets are a bit thin on the ground so this does make a decent enough stop if passing through.

I didn't think that this place was anything out of the ordinary for a London boozer except for the efficient staff that seemed to be coping very well with the early evening rush that occurred during my visit. The pub is named after Jeremy Bentham who was a 19th century philosopher and social reformer who, according to the pub sign outside, looked like a Gorg from the popular 1980's cartoon Fraggle Rock. His unflattering picture hangs outside over some picnic tables that are located on a handily wide path that people can spill out onto during the busy periods. Batemans GHA and Bank's Bitter were available, but the XB was off as was another unidentified ale. San Miguel was also available alongside a selection of standard lagers and I was surprised to see Stowford Press and Old Rosie being sold at the same pub. I'd drink here again.

Below advice of 'comfortable' may be slightly too much, as its not the biggest pub and seating is limited, but this is a nice back street London pub, wood block flooring and benches or stools for seating. Service was very friendly and efficient and beer quality excellent so it is well worth a vist.