Nellie Dean of Soho, Soho, W1

I am genuinely shocked that I have never reviewed The Nellie Dean on PuG considering how many times I utilise it in a calendar year. There’s been a pub on the site since the early 1700’s and this current building dates from 1900 and took its current name in 1967. Over two levels as described below it used to be quite a rough and ready boozer with a wooden floor downstairs bar with five ale hand pumps and a second upstairs bar dominated by a pool table and a small bar at the back with just fizz taps. But then a few years ago it was taken over by the Pieminister chain who converted the upstairs bar into a bare bricked walled restaurant section laid to tables and chairs round the two long sides and bigger bench seating in the middle. The main street level bar was given a bit of a make over, but fortunately not enough to lose that traditional Soho pub feel and in the process the number of hand pumps were reduced from five to three. Post covid these have regularly dispensed Twickenham Bare Naked Ladies, Sharps Doombar and TT Landlord with Purity UBU occasionally replacing the Landlord or Twickenham brew. I’ve never troubled the middle pump with the round blue clip but the Bare Naked Ladies and Landlord have always been good for my visits. There is a smallish flat screen at one end but this invariably only shows sport and usually muted. Its small and more often than not rammed of an evening with alfresco drinking on the pavement being the order of the day on fine evenings. One key advantage of this one is its proximity to the Pizza Express Jazz club. Basically, it is dead opposite and you can see the entrance to the subterranean Jazz Club from the pub windows, and therefore a great spot for a pre gig pint of ale whilst you wait for the club to open, which is something you might want to do when faced with the prospect of being on Fullers Honeydew Organic ale from bottles for the rest of your evening. Another advantage is that with the opening of the Elizabeth line, the new Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth line exit spits you out onto Dean Street with the pub literally yards away and your gateway into Soho if you come using this route.

Official site of Nellie Dean of Soho - nelliedeansoho.co.uk

Official site of Nellie Dean of Soho - nelliedeansoho.co.uk

A basic but decent pub and I found the beer range to be a little less exciting than I was expecting maybe due to being visited during the Christmas break and festive offerings taking the place of more interesting guest beers.My Timothy Taylor's Landlord was in good condition albeit a little ordinary tasting. Worth a look if passing by though.