The Clachan, Soho, W1

Tucked away behind the iconic Liberty's, this is a nice, ornate Nicholson's pub with a notional two bar interior. You enter through an attractive porch with a sadly damaged mosaic tile floor, into the front bar area, which is bare boarded with dark painted walls and some low level panelling. Large windows let plenty of light in to a room furnished with high tables and stools at the front and some regular tables and chairs to the side. The room is dominated by a very large island servery with an attractive, curved, dark wood counter and a matching bar back, which has some intricate carved features, a few etched glass mirrors and a central clock. The bar has been decorated with potted plants and various random ornaments, and has a central doorway through to the rear part of the servery, which faces a small seating area with more high tables and stools, plus a raised, snug-like space at the back. Here you'll find a large board on the wall giving the pub's history, a long button backed banquette and lots of police themed memorabilia on display. Elsewhere, the decor is more in the standard Nicholson's vein, such as plain mirrors and local black and white photos. A door to the rear was signposted for the Liberty Bar, which I didnt manage to explore. Loud music was playing on my Thursday evening visit and a decent post-work crowd were creating a bit of atmosphere. Like most Nicholson's pubs, a reasonable ale range is assured, with options on this visit amounting to Fullers London Pride, Sharps Doom Bar, Oakham Citra (£6.65 a pint), Taylors Landlord and St Austell Tribute, Proper Job and Nicholson's Pale Ale. The Oakham was in good nick and the service was prompt, if a little bit more functional than friendly. I thought this was a modest branch of this chain, with a broad but ininspiring ale range, a pleasant but modernised interior and some half-decent service. It's a good option to have in mind if you need a bolthole from the misery of Oxford Street, but probably won't be somewhere I'd seek out again in a hurry. Date of visit - 2nd May 2024

Street corner Nicholson's house with a good looking exterior and some fine mosaic on the way in.There is an island bar with traditional tables and chairs all the way around in different sections,towards the rear there is a raised seating area.The ceiling is ornate,there are large mirrors on one wall and the feeling is traditional,which brings in the dining tourists. The bank of handpumps at the front gives the full range.On my trip St Austell Tribute,Proper Job (substandard ,NBSS 2) and Nicholsons Pale,Adnams Eastern Edge,London Pride,Doom Bar,with the TT Landlord being change diligently.I may have been unlucky with my ale choice,the range is superior to many Nicholsons but the transient nature of the client base didn't inspire me to target this pub for a revisit.

Rather typical of a Nicholson’s historic city pub, a single ornate room with some original features, professional and smart but unexciting. Certainly very corporate and I was struck by how extortionate these places are these days - over £20 for a pie and pint! That said, the staff were friendly and I chose a decent Proper Job from a wide range of standard national ales.

Described as ‘Renaissance’, the pub dates from 1898, rebuilt on the site of the Bricklayers Arms (c. 1750) and has a CAMRA listed inventory interior of Regional Importance. Certainly, there’s much of heritage value in here, in the form of elaborate woodwork and etched glass. There’s a raised area to the rear and furniture is dark wood conventional. The floor is part mosaic, the ceiling Lincrusta; all about shows a good patina of age, with lighting coming from Victorian-style glass and brass lamps. There are tea lights in holders to tables, along with little glass salt filled bottles and silk flowers; décor comes in the form of knickknacks in a glass fronted cupboard; framed prints adorn the walls. Music played at a decent level and The Antiques Roadshow played silently on a TV; the efficient staff were transfixed. Ales: Doom, Pride, Nicholson’s Pale and Proper Job at £2.70 a half and nice. This is a pleasant place to spend some time, not appearing to be at the epicentre of ‘nightlife’ Soho.