John Snow, Soho, W1

The John Snow is a street corner Sam's pub in the heart of Soho. It's done out in their usual traditional style with a U shaped bar divided up by partitions to create a number of different rooms. There's the usual etched glass and wood panelling in abundance. I didn't see anything in the pub to indicate why the pub is so named, but I gather it's named after a Dr John Snow who was around during the cholera epidemic of 1854 and realised that it was water that was causing the problem. Sorry to disappoint those sports fans who thought it was named after the former England fast bowler ! On my recent early Saturday evening visit, the pub was quite busy with a youngish crowd of people who looked like media types. The Sam Smiths OBB - £ 1.99p - is not real ale and tasted rather chilled and tasteless to me. If they could only start serving decent beer in here, I'd happily come here again as I quite liked this place as a pub.

Randomness Guide to London - John Snow entry

Randomness Guide to London - John Snow entry