Ye Old White Horse, WC2

Given the 'Ye' affectation, it should come as no surprise to learn that this was once just The White Horse and is leased from the neighbouring LSE which explains the preponderance of students. Bare boarded, the place has one large impossibly high table at front, no furniture in the middle and a small raised area to the rear with some conventional furniture and a modern bare brick wall - essentially this is a vertical drinking establishment-cum-student union bar with muted music and Sky Sports when required to make the place even less appealing to the discerning pub-goer. Ales: Brakspeare's Best, Hog's Back TEA, Timothy Taylor's Golden Best and Woodforde's Wherry at a steep £2.30 a half and not great. My university days are long over so I'll not be returning - The George next door has a student bias and is far superior.

Hidden away down narrow St Clement's Lane, between Kingsway and the LSE, this is a tiny fronted pub which once inside belies its appearance and goes back a fair way. One room, bar to the middle side with limited seating consisting of one table in the front window, a ledge opposite the bar then up a couple of steps a few small tables with leather banquette and stool seating at the back. The walls and textured patterned ceiling are coloured blood red, decor includes plenty of old Guinness adverts (the pub has a vaguely Irish feel)cartoons of the legal profession, hunting and golfing scenes. At the end of the bar is an old cast iron fireplace with tiled sides. The front door and windows have some decent looking etched glass and a couple of large mirrors on the side wall make the narrow space feel a bit roomier. The overall feel is comfortable and quiet, even with the rugby on TV yesterday, you could easily be some distance from central London. There are four handpumps, just two working at the time, Pride, Landlord (£3.60) with Black Sheep Bitter and Tribute reversed. Food served, there was a burger menu on a chalkboard and I saw some reference to bangers and mash night. This is one of those tucked away surprise London pubs, away from the tourist trails and well worth seeking out.

Randomness Guide to London - Ye Old White Horse entry

Randomness Guide to London - Ye Old White Horse entry

There were four real ales on last Wednesday - I had the Woodforde's Norfolk Wherry, which was just fine. They also had Taylor's Landlord on plus Young's Special as guest beer (forgotten the fourth, but it was not one of the usual suspects). Friendly service, and I enjoyed a chat with the landlord about East End pubs that we had known. Place could do with a little bit of a smarten up, but I still appreciate the atmosphere of a simple little boozer that serves as an oasis away from the soulless drinking establishments that abound round the corner in Kingsway. They have got rid of the "no students" sign, but I gather that all but mature students are still barred. Definitely worth seeking out you you like "no-frills" pubs.

Tucked away is not the word - I have wandered around this area many a time and never noticed this place until I accidentally stumbled upon it. The first thing that hits you is that the interior is very dark; dark wall coverings, dark ceiling and dark carpet. Several mirrors on the walls probably help to reflect some of the natural light but the overall the lighting is very dim. The pub consists of a single room with just one table in the front bay and a raised seated area towards the back. It would appear that sitting at a ledge by the wall is the order of the day. A decent selection of 4 ales (Deuchars IPA, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Woodforde Wherry and Breakspears Bitter) and reasonable prices (the Wherry was £2.60 – pretty good for the area). Aside from the rather plain mirrors, the walls are adorned with legal cartoons that suggest the pub is popular with the guys (and gals) from the nearby Royal Courts of Justice. The service was friendly and efficient albeit there were barely 4 or 5 people in there, and this was Friday lunchtime. Facilities were few – I didn't notice any games machines or the like (no bad thing), piped mainstream radio, small TV, basic food counter and that's about it. A down to earth, common or garden boozer with nothing special apart from a decent selection of beers but I doubt whether there is enough here to entice anyone other than the local students here on a regular basis.