John Snow, Soho, W1

Sam Smuth's pub that is split into a public bar,saloon and snug. Practice limbo dancing.

This Sam Smiths pub is named after the physician (ironically a staunch teetotaler) who discovered that cholera was water borne (and not airborne as was originally believed) by disabling a nearby contaminated water pump and finding that the cholera deaths suddenly ceased. A replica of the pump can still be seen a few yards down the road albeit not in the original position. There are some who would argue that turning off the Sam Smiths pumps in the pub could have similar results to the drinking populace but for all Sam Smith’s marmite appeal, they do generally have quite interesting pubs and the John Snow is no different. The building dates from the 1870’s and the pub was originally called the Newcastle-Upon Tyne, changing its name to the John Snow in 1955. The pub is very in heritage territory with an old fashioned ground floor layout divided into 3 sections, the etched windows spelling out whether you are in the Saloon Bar, Public Bar or the Snug. The snug is a separate room wheras the Public and Saloon bars are divided by a wooden screen with a small and very low door between the two. Furnishings are simple with a single padded bench in the snug, some leatgher banquette seating in the saloon which to all intents and puroses is the bar. An open staircase in the public bar leads to the John Snow Room, an additional and comparatively spacious L-shaped bar on the first floor with high ceilings and quite a contrast to the ground floor. There is a good range of Sam Smiths products – Old Brewery Bitter, Sovereign Bitter, Cider Reserve, Taddy Lager, Pure Brewed Lager and Organic Wheat Beer, all at bargain bin prices (OBB was currently £2.21) but unfortunatley they are all keg - there are no handpumps. Also, plastic glasses were used and I wasn’t given an option despite the fact I was not drinking outside. The pub was recently propelled into the headlines following the great male snogging scandal that divided opinions and attracted mixed publicity but things appear to have moved on and the pub’s popularity was clear from the hordes of pavement drinkers although the inside was relatively calm. Personally I like Sam Smiths pubs and their traditional character. I even don’t mind their beers although the cask ale version of the Old Brewery Bitter wouldn’t go amiss here. Other than that this is as cosy as any of its other West End outlets.