The Chandos, WC2

Randomness Guide to London - Chandos entry

Randomness Guide to London - Chandos entry

I’m not sure why, but The Chandos remains one of my favourite SS pubs in London . It hasn’t got the opulent decor of some of the others or the intimate feel of cosiness, but I am usually drawn here when in the area. As eloquently described by Roger below, it’s like two pubs in one, with a plain vertical drinking barn on the ground floor, but a great place if you can get to occupy one of the six wooden booths, and then a more comfortable multi area lounge room upstairs with its own bar and service. It is easy to overlook the upstairs bar if you are not in the know as it has to be reached by external staircases outside the downstairs bar area. Usual SS drinks offerings and fortunately I do like Old Brewery Bitter on pump and it’s still under £2 a pint.

This is a Sam Smith's pub that has OBB on handpump, at the usual SS cheap prices. It occupies a fairly large corner site at the bottom of St Martin's Lane. One large bar downstairs (ground floor level) and another upstairs. The downstairs bar features a number of enclosed booths that are ideal for small groups of drinkers. This is an OK pub I suppose, but The Harp, only a few yards away is far better and does better (if more expensive) ales – unless you're a Sam Smith's fan of course!

I was pretty worse for wear on my last visit here but I had a nice pint and time to gather myself whilst finding my second wind. The barman was very friendly and he let me have a sample before I made my decision and parted with any money. I wouldn't want to stay all night in here, but I do like this pub (which is strange as I'm not the biggest fan of Sam Smiths pubs).

I don't know how it has taken me so many years to get round to commenting on this place. Apart from the occasional lick of paint, the pub hasn't changed a jot since my first visit over 25 years ago. The main downstairs bar is fairly basic with 6 snugs of varying capacity lined along the window side. The plainness of the décor, bare floors and unremarkable furnishings is offset by some attractive coloured glass latticed windows. Tucked away at the back next to the stairs to the rather pungent loos is a darts room that is easily overlooked and a bit of a rarity in the West End. Thanks to the pub's location things can be very busy with seating at a premium but service has always been first rate and I have rarely had to wait to be served. Being a Sam Smiths pub, the prices are dirt cheap, currently £1.90 for a pint of Old Brewery Bitter and, unlike some Sam Smiths pubs in London, the Ale is on hand pump. Obviously the downside of any Sam Smiths pub is the lack of choice and the beers will not be to everyone's taste. Upstairs is the Opera bar that, far from being an extra room used as an overspill, actually functions as a fully operational pub with its own character and ambience. Unusually, there is a bar that is as fully stocked as the main bar downstairs. The Opera bar is roughly split into 3 areas, a large sofa laden lounge bar with multiple Chesterfields and some interesting little window seats, a smaller central split level area with a more pubby feel and a more homely bit at the other end with a mix between the two. Whilst it can be equally as busy, the Opera Bar is less easily overlooked and tends to get a bit quieter as the evening goes on. So basically the Chandos is 2 pubs for the price of one, cheap and busy but lacking in drink choice. There are numerous pubs and bars within spitting distance of the Chandos coming in all shapes, sizes and styles but the Chandos has always been a long standing and solid servant to my requirements.