The Cock, Fitzrovia, W1

Sam Smith's pub so the usual selection and cheap prices.

Situated on the next street corner going northwards from The George ( on which I have just posted ) is The Cock Tavern, an archetypal Sam Smiths pub Immediately noticeable as you approach the pub are several splendid glass lanterns outside. A blackboard by the entrance greets us with the words " The Cock - making people laugh for over a century", although on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, the sullen barmaid obviously hadn't read the script. Inside we find a fairly typical Sam Smiths "Victorianisation", with fake snob screens, a colourful re-tiled floor, much dark wood panelling and comfortable leather banquettes.There's an upstairs lounge bar doing food at certain times. On my visit, it was very noticeable how relatively empty and quiet the pub was compared with The George a block or so away and from where I had just come. The Sam Smiths OBB is on handpump at the standard price of £ 1.99p. If you like the Sam's style of pub, you're pretty sure to like this one, but it's not a pub to go out of your way to visit.