The Duke of York, Fitzrovia, W1

I haven't been in here since the late 1980s when a drunken work colleague got us chucked out - and banned - for singing loudly. Now that I'm older than the bar staff, I thought it time for a return visit. Quite a traditional interior as described below: carpeted, lots of dark wood, stools and rather dated orange-hued sconce lights to the walls. There were two TVs with the sound off and a note on the wall informed us that thieves operate in the area. Beers: GK Abbot, Moreland's Old Speckled Hen, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Salopian Brewery's Darwin's Origin at £2.10 a half. This is a perfectly decent place, off the tourist route and is worth a return visit for a quiet drink. Closed Sunday.

Tucked away on the backstreets a Greene King pub serving 4 real ales.

A smallish traditional style Greene King pub tucked away in the heart of Fitzrovia but just a few minutes walk from the bustle of Oxford Street. The carpeted single room has paneled windows, a central horseshoe bar and limited seating around the edges. There are several military themed pictures, wartime newspaper cuttings and theatre posters on display and various odds and sods atop the unusual optics/glass rack behind the bar. The Greene King beers won’t satisfy everyone but the choices were better than I am used to with 3 of the core ales, IPA (with the North & South pull contraption), Abbott and Old Speckled Hen plus 2 seasonal offerings Gangly Ghoul and Howell At The Moon. At £3.30 for the last named, prices are pretty decent for Central London, quality was fine and service friendly and effiecient. The pub dioes get pretty busy, especially during the after work shift when tables are at a premium although there is usually a bubbly and friendly enough atmosphere. It may not have the Bohemian feel that once prevailed in the area but it does retain a fair amount of character and with the more adventurous selection of ales, this is one of Greene King’s better pubs around and makes a decent stop on a crawl.

Randomness Guide to London - Duke Of York entry