Three Jolly Butchers, W1

This is a small one-room pub downstairs, although there is another room upstairs, to which I didn’t venture. As previously reported, there is a mass of dark painted wood all over the place, including some bulbous wooden pillars on the bar counter stretching up to the ceiling. I can’t see what structural purpose they would serve, so I suppose they must be part of the decor. Seating in this room is exclusively tall tables and tall stools, although I recall that once upon a time they did have some normal tables and chairs. But the place was heaving, both inside and on the pavement outside, when I dropped in on Wednesday evening so the formula seems to be working. But there again all the pubs around the Market were heaving, so I suspect that any pub here would be busy straight after work. There was a TV on the wall, muted and showing a rolling news channel. I didn’t get to see a menu, but as this is a Taylor Walker branded pub I would be very surprised if it didn’t do the usual pub grub. Some large jars of nuts and the like were on display behind the bar, and a sign there exhorted drinkers to have a “dish of olives with your beer today”. Sorry, not today or any day as far as I’m concerned. There were four ales on – London Pride, Doom Bar (£3.40 a pint), Bombardier and Young’s London Gold. All a bit predictable and uninspiring, but at least it does offer some drinkable ales. But I don’t think it’s the sort of place to which I’d rush back.

Underwhelming pubco outlet, featuring Pride, GK IPA and Doombar at expensive prices, although this is Mayfair we're talking about. Sky sports on the TV and more seating upstairs from what is a fairly small room at ground level. Nothing special about this place at all, I'm sure the area has better.

This place had Pride, Doom Bar, Greene King IPA and Spitfire alongside a standard draught selection, all of which were overpriced – probably to pay for the steward outside who took it upon himself to order people about that weren't even drinking in the pub! I knew that I wasn't going to like this place when I spotted the tip trays on the bar for the unsuspecting tourists to fork out even more money. There is another bar upstairs which has more seating for people who choose to dine and both bars have a TV which were both off during my visit and I also noticed that the pub does not have Sky Sports. I wouldn't drink here again as there are better pubs in the area.