The Crown, Soho, W1

This is a Nicholsons pub on a corner not far from Piccadilly Circus. It's fairly ordinary but well presented. Despite six hand pumps there was only one real ale on the bar at the time of my visit, but this was a very good Sharps Doom Bar, the best of this beer that I'd had for about five years (NBSS 4). The other hand pumps had what may or may not have been a real cider, according to Camra's definition, and three that were marked as being in the process of line cleaning. I'm not sure whether to deprecate the lack of beer choice or celebrate the evidence of one beer being plenty. My notes made at the time go on at some length about a remarkably large dog that was taking up a lot of the floor space while carefully examining my shoes, perhaps with a view to determining whether they, or I, were digestible. I appear to have survived unscathed. Date of visit: 15th September 2022

Dating from the early/mid-19th century and amazingly not owned by Greene King, for once. This is a Nicholson’s outlet, which reopened a few days ago after a refurbishment of some sort. The bar front is match boarded of some type and the floor is newly varnished. Smoky blue paint covers the walls, some of which are panelled. The ceiling is either Anaglypta or match board, but white either way. Furniture is conventional with some studded banquettes. Lighting is typical Victorian-style brass and glass with tea lights in orange holders to tables. There are framed prints for décor, banal music for the ears and lavs up steep stairs. Customers are typically transient and relatively young. Ales: an unused pump, Doom, Ghost Ship (off), Pride and Nicholson’s Pale Ale at a very (for the area) reasonable £2.45 and decent. This isn’t a bad pub by Soho standards and should probably be top of your list if needing a drink in the area.