The Lyric, Soho, W1

Slightly rough and ready corner pub with 13 hand pumps. Three were for ciders, and there were eight cask beers, half of them with hand written pump clips. Beers from Moor, Bristol Beer Factory, Allsopp, Dorking and Tring plus Harvey's Sussex Best and Oakham Citra. I had a half of Tring Side Pocket, which was in very good condition (NBSS 3.5) and only £5.20/pint. I'd be more inclined to put this on my "must return some day" list if the music wasn't so penetrating.

A revisit - again, at closing time. Don't know why I always seem to end Soho Crawls here. Noticed that they have 13 Casks and much more keg on. And I missed Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter. Not that there was anything wrong with my Jaipur. I just panic ordered when faced with so much choice - at a bar, and no table service in freedom week :-)

Today was my first visit to the Lyric in almost 5 years. It is a small pub that appears to be one of very few to have re-opened in the West End. Having been all around the country over the last 6 weeks, I was dismayed to find many of central London's pubs still closed. Most will be bigger than the Lyric. So, this is a great shame. But just wandering around the streets, it can be seen that London is much quieter than normal. A few other customers were in and there were 3 bar staff. The ale and cider range was not as large as normal. But the selection was still ok. The regular ale is Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter. Guests were Tring Pale Four, Big Smoke Distant Lands & Southwark El Dorado. The real cider was Abrahall's Slack Alice. In addition, there were about a dozen craft beers. Certainly one of the better pubs in the West End.