The Glassblower, Soho, W1

A triangular corner pub with a single triangular public bar on the ground floor and a similar bar upstairs which was closed for a private function. The building was originally a workhouse, and glass was made here in Victorian times, hence the name. The bare floor and gaming machines make it feel Spartan. It’s currently run by Taylor Walker, and it certainly isn’t their best effort. The staff were young, inexperienced and amateurish. Four handpumps on the bar – one advertised Windsor Knot, but that ran dry while we were being served. As an alternative I had Sambrook’s Lavender Hill, which tasted much too much like a megakeg lager to be enjoyable. Other beers on were 1730 and Doombar, but we weren’t tempted. Food was the usual over-reheated slop served in chipped enamel pans, not at all enjoyable. I really wasn’t terribly impressed, but given its location it does OK.

My first visit to this pub for many years left me seriously underwhelmed. Being a Taylor Walker pub I expected something a bit interesting in the way of ales, if only their own Westerham Brewery 1730. The four handpumps had a couple drawing cider (Wilce's Dry, and Millwhite's Apples & Pears - perry/cider mix perhaps?), plus GK IPA and GK London Glory. Very disappointing. With my CAMRA discount, my pint of London Glory was £4.05 - that makes it £4.50 without the discount. It was produced woefully short as well, but the lady who I took to be the bar supervisor came over and gave me a top up. I suppose one should expect top of the range prices in a bar a stone's throw from Piccadilly Circus. The usual Taylor Walker pub grub menu is available, also at top of the range prices for pubco pub grub. Two one-armed bandits greet on the right as you enter; the room is furnished entirely with tall tables/tall stools; and the black-painted false beams seem a futile attempt to imbue it with an "olde worlde" feel. A previous poster mentions two levels, but I only visited the street level room. I didn't find anything to recommend this pub - other than it's still there. But maybe I was just unlucky with the ale choice.

Another very busy pub on 2 levels.4 cask beers on inc Otter -bitter and Trooper.Touristy.