Duke of Argyll, Soho, W1

This is another Sam Smith’s house without a real ale. This one has none of the internal screenwork that we see often in their London estate, although the ornately decorated ceiling is an attractive feature. There are a couple of slightly raised areas separated from the main bar by balustrades, and are furnished with banquettes and normal tables and chairs. A few tall stools are at ledges around a central pillar and next to the window, but Sam Smith’s doesn’t seem to go in for sofas. Being near to Christmas there are flashing fairy lights and other Christmas tat, but the walls do have some decent quality prints on them. On a wall by the counter there is a large display of foreign banknotes, plus a framed display of coins. The gents toilet is downstairs and the ladies upstairs, so it’s not disabled friendly. The keg version of Old Brewery Bitter is £1.45 a half, which is cheap (and a beer of this quality should be) by Central London standards. The usual reasonably priced pub grub menu is available – e.g. bangers & mash is £5.95. But I’m afraid that for me the absence of a real ale is a big minus, so I’m unlikely to visit again. But when I frequented this pub in the 70s I recall drinking Watney’s here, so I guess that keg OBB is a big step up.

Rather dull drab pub with the usual Sam Smith dull drab choice of beers but with a new one LIGHT MILD 2.8 on keg. Yep dull drab taste.Very quiet even for a Sunday night.