The Hope Fitzrovia, Fitzrovia, W1

Facebook page of The Hope Fitzrovia - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Hope Fitzrovia - www.facebook.com

A first for us here and I have to agree with most of what has been written below, especially the negative aspects: adjectives such as bland, impersonal or dreary apply. We also didn't take to the large TVs facing one another blasting out football, though at least they provided some illumination in the gloom. The lavatories are downstairs and really are a bit grotty - poorly maintained with graffiti. A friendly barmaid and on offer: 1 clip reversed, Woodforde's Wherry and Redlight and Brew House's American Hop which was good and priced £2.20. I really don't think I can recommend this place and won't be returning. The Carpenters Arms across the road is way better.

Just off the main drag. Interior as described below. 4 real ales.

This is a small, single room street corner pub tucked away behind Goodge Street station. The roughly square shaped room has bare floorboards and minimal seating, mainly comprising a few high tables and stools under the front windows. There is a large open space between the seating and servery which runs along the rear wall, allowing for plenty of much needed vertical drinking space during busier periods. The walls have mainly been painted a rather drab shade of grey, although the wall behind the servery is bare brick, whilst the left hand wall has wallpaper depicting various London landmarks. There were a couple of TV screens facing each other on opposite walls, both showing a football chat show whilst loud music played in lieu of any sound from the TVs. A corridor on the left hand side of the pub has stairs which lead up to a small second bar. The room is carpeted with a long banquette and a few small tables, whilst the walls have been covered with another type of wallpaper which also depicts famous London buildings. There’s not a great deal of interest up here, but I did spot an old window pane bearing the Whitbread logo and a couple of Yorkshiremen were settling down to watch their team play a rugby league match on the room’s only TV screen. The upstairs bar is ale free so you’ll need to get your drinks from the main bar downstairs. This bar had four hand pumps dispensing Harvey’s Best, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Castle Rock Harvest Pale as well as Thatcher’s cider. I gave the Harvest Pale a try and thought it was pretty well kept. It was very busy at the bar and the staff did an excellent job of keeping things moving to avoid long waits. I thought this place lacked a bit of character and would have been almost anonymous were it not for a half decent selection of ales. I wouldn’t complain if I found myself here again, but you can find more interesting places to relax over a pint in the surrounding area.

Small corner pub with high ceiling. Despite its size there were 2 Sky Sports screens, though the sound was low volume. High tables and stools to one wall, lower benches to the other. Lots of glazing allowing lihght in, the bar is against a brick wall. Nice feel, slightly trendy, friendly service. 3 real ales, slightly warm - Castle Pale, Sharps Doom, Harveys Sussex BB.