The Clachan, Soho, W1

Decent Nicholson's corner-site pub with fine Victorian exterior and many good Victorian fittings inside - carved wood, mirrors, tiles, etc. The original subdivisions have been removed to form a single, large room with a central bar retaining much of its carving. The normal decent range of well-kept ales you expect of the chain, together with its less impressive menu (although I must say that the scampi and chips was really good). Overall a decent experience of ale, food and ambience.

A Nicholsons-owned corner pub that has echoes of its past as a Victorian gin palace. Though a lot of the original interior features have been lost enough remain (the bar back, for instance) to make it worth dropping in for a swift half – I say ‘swift’ and ‘half’ because the beer usually ranges from ‘tolerable’ to ‘take back’, despite a decent range. The staff are also a pretty useless bunch as well, slow and grumpy.