The Hercules Pillars, WC2

Lively one bar pub in the front of an office block with a reasonably good attempt at a pub interior. A bar down one side and tables the other, with a central counter affair with stools running between two pillars, presumably alluding to the name. A fair range of beers, usually including one or two from Sambrooks; one sampled was in less than perfect condition but others were fine.

This pub is at least early Victorian but was rebuilt in 1961 at the base of an office block towards the east of Covent Garden, away from Theatreland. I came here once before around 2010 and recall it as being a bit of a lifeless locals’ pub and it would seem that little has changed. It still has the fake ‘old’ interior and there’s a fake marble kitchen counter top masquerading as the bar. Some naff furniture, fixtures and fittings look like they came from a Benidorm-themed pub with the inclusion of substantial trompe l’oeil columns. Furniture is otherwise conventional and there are multiple TVs blasting out the sport. Customers may be Freemasons from the edifice across the road, but I didn’t see any funny hoods or anyone being addressed as Grand Wizard - the pub even features a Masonic food menu though it looks conventional to me – perhaps there are alternative dishes, but only for those who can decipher a hidden code. Ales: at least one unused pump, thereafter Caledonian Brewing’s Deuchars, Sharp’s Cornish Coaster and Vale Brewery’s Best Vale IPA which was good but at an eye-watering £2.85 a half. This is a sports’ bar of sorts so obviously there’s no chance of me returning, unless I’m with my mates and we are actively looking to watch the game, but the sky-high prices alone are a deterrent.

I thought this was a fairly routine and unremarkable pub, although it was rather busy with folk watching the live rugby game so difficult to get comfortable and appreciate the surroundings. Bar counter to one side with a brown granite type top, a pair of Hercules figures are positioned on the bar back, dutifully holding up the said pillars while a bust of the eponymous character sits opposite the bar as does a reclined version in a framed picture. Curiously, the middle of the room has a rather tacky double pillared light wood feature with stools to sit at, didn't work at all for me. Otherwise fairly regular seating with leather buttoned banquettes featuring. Décor included apart from Hercules, a framed picture of Winston Churchill. The beer range was in fact quite decent, Twickenham Naked Ladies and their Yakima Valley ABA, Caledonian Rare Red Rye, The Mad Squirrel's Milk Stout, Vale Brewery Brewer's Choice plus a Black Sheep Bitter from a shiny font rather like the GK IPA version, real or not, I can't be sure. Clips behind the bar indicate a changing guest policy. The beer range alone should make me like this pub however I didn't like the layout and it was very busy with "rugger types". Maybe I'll try it again or maybe not, we'll see.

Quite a plain-looking pub, but there are a few unusual features inside. These include large pillars at each end of the central screen dividing the bar area, and smaller ones along the bar counter. Otherwise, only remarkable for being rammed full of masons from the HQ of the United Grand Lodge of England across the road when I revisited. Beer range better than I remembered, with five of six handpumps in operation and Youngs Ordinary, Bombardier, Vale Best Bitter, Sharps Atlantic and the 6% Ben Truman (£4.00) available. Difficult to believe that this place is run by the same out that own the Belushi's chain.

Only three beers available available on my Saturday lunchtime visit,Sambrooks Lavender Hill, Trumans Tail Feather and Twickenham Naked Ladies, I went for the Lavender Hill which was drinkable but not as good as tried elsewhere, I suspect it was maybe the first drawn of the day. It was fairly quiet inside but was a reasonably decent enough pub without being remarkable in anyway ,Sky sports was on with volume showing Rugby but no-one seemed to be watching it. Worth popping in if passing but not a pub I would make a bee-line for.

Update.Seem to have a better beer range on and I like this pub more each visit.Friendly staff.Busy on my Thurs night visit.Beers on Sambrookes -mild Trumans -Swift, Mcmullens -flying frog and Twickenham -nooksack.The two beers I tried were in perfect condition.

Decent enough one room pub with 5 beers on.My Portobello -vpa was in good order.Not much else to say.

This is a one-room pub slightly off the beaten track between Kingsway and Drury Lane. It has one or two unusual features inside, most notably the busts of Hercules himself glowering down at the punters in there, as well as the mural on the wall at the back featuring the eponymous Greek demi-god lounging around. There is also a drinking ledge running down the centre of the room (with attendant tall stools of course), with a gold-framed divider in the middle of the ledge, and with Greek style pillars at either end of it. As you enter the pub you are greeted by a large vase of flowers on the end of the dividing ledge. Furnishings comprise banquettes and normal tables and chairs. The ales available during my visit at Monday lunchtime were Adnam’s Lighthouse, Sambrook Junction, Bombardier, Twickenham Grandstand (£3.15 a pint) and Black Sheep Bitter (£3.20 a pint). These prices are reasonable by London standards. The food available was mainly pub grub, with standards like burger and chips, or pie, salad and chips or mash coming in at £8.95. Sandwiches are around £5 - £6. The decor does give the place something of the look of a louche cocktail lounge. Nevertheless, it is comfortably furnished, and has a decent ale selection which obviously outweighs any concerns about it appearing like a cocktail lounge.