The Opera Tavern, Covent Garden, WC2

This is a decent little boozer with two very friendly and experienced barmaids. Landlord, Black Sheep, Doombar and Beartown Brewery's Bear Ass were all available along with the usual lagers, Guinness and Strongbow. I can now say that I went to the opera and supped Bear Ass and enjoyed it – Oh dear! There are 2 old TVs and the pub was very quiet so I must have timed it just right to miss the show crowds. This is now one of my pubs of choice for this area.

Situated opposite the Drury Lane Theatre, this pub was built in the 1870s during the golden age of Victorian pub design, although there’s little remaining indication of its Victorian heritage inside. Anyway, they had Brain’s Skull Attack; London Pride; Adnam’s Bitter, TT Landlord; and Jenning’s Cumberland ale on. I had the Brain’s SA, which I had never tried before, and thought it was excellent. I believe that this is a Mitchell & Butler pub, as they had a second clip on each of the handpumps with a few tasting notes on the ale in question, plus the price and ABV. All the beers were under £3, with the Pride being a very competitive £2.60. This is a small, one-room pub. There’s a rather nice bar back, retaining what looks like the original mirrors in place advertising Skol Lager; Long Life; and Double Diamond. Luckily these crimes against brewing are no longer available! There’s an attractive fireplace at the back alongside the bar; a TV screen of course, but not on during my lunchtime visit; plus a fruit machine and games machine. Furniture is a combination of high stools/tables, banquettes and normal tables and chairs. There were only a handful of tourists in, so was fairly empty. The service was friendly enough, and they do decent ale at decent prices. It’s a comfortable enough pub, and OK for a pint or two, but not worth going out of your way to find.