The Flying Horse, Fitzrovia, W1

The only remaining Oxford Street pub boasts a superb brick and stone front elevation above the ground floor dating to the 1892 rebuild. Inside the well-preserved Victorian interior enjoys a wealth of carved wood, tiles, mirrors and murals as well as a lantern to the rear with post-WW2 glass. The welcome was warm but the pub was almost empty (mid-afternoon on a Thursday). Five ales on - London Pride for me at this stop, delicious and well kept without being too cold.

Another of London’s Nicholsons houses, this one located in close proximity to Tottenham Court Road tube. This one had five handpulls on the go (Pride, Adnams Ghost, Doom Bar, Hobgoblin and a turned Cropton clip on my visit; my Doom was fairly good and came in a pint pot). Like many-a-Nicholsons there’s a nice interior, though the layout is basically a small narrow room lacking seating. Look upwards and there’s an interesting ceiling and lower down the wall décor (wood and tiled) with some old paintings behind glass panels is very pretty. Noticed a working dumb waiter for food orders, which I always think is a nice touch. Clientele were quite touristy (unsurprising, as this is now the only pub on Oxford Street). The woman behind the bar (who I took to be the manageress) was quite switched-on which is a good sign, she wasn’t taking any gyp but in a good-natured way. Maybe things have moved on here since Roger’s review in 2008. I’d say it’s worth calling in for a pint to take in the visuals on a quiet afternoon based on this visit.

Randomness Guide to London - Tottenham entry

Randomness Guide to London - Tottenham entry

Definitely worth popping in here before disappearing down the tube to head home. Splendid interior as covered very well in the reviews below, and a Nicholsons house with up to six ales on the go. And I can’t better Rex’s description of these being the usual suspects (Pride, Doombar and Landlord) and then a couple of guests. Unfortunately there was only one guest left on by the time I got there late evening, but it was Jaipur IPA, so all was well..