Star & Garter, Soho, W1

A right old-fashioned (in a good way) pub retaining two entrance doors just one seat-width apart. Compact rectangular bar with the counter set against one wall and a smattering of furniture on the other three sides. Benefits from just the sort of traditional decor that you would expect having seen the attractive baskets of hanging flowers on the façade. Three real ales on handpump: the never-changing Greene King IPA, Pride and Spitfire (£4.10, but in fine form).

Update – January 2013 Beers on were unchanged from my December 2009 visit – GK IPA, London Pride and Spitfire, the latter being in good form. I didn’t see anything to indicate that this range ever changes. If they brought the carpet back and improved ( or even varied ) the beer range, this would easily be one of my favourite Soho pubs. Original review – December 2009 Pleasant, small, but reasonably characterful Soho pub that still retains something of a slightly old fashioned community feel to it. It's a wood panelled pub decorated with old photos, plates, jugs etc. Seating consists of comfortable banquettes and chairs. I seem to recollect that the pub was carpeted on my previous visit several years ago, but, disappointingly, it's now got the ubiquitous trademark pine flooring that one associates with pub chains and which, I feel bound to say, does feel at odds with what is otherwise a cosy and comfortable pub. Externally, it still retains evidence of its earlier days as a Courage pub, but the most striking external feature is the bright green painted exterior. The beer range on my recent visit was unexciting - normal for Soho pubs so it seems - consisting of GK IPA, Pride and Spitfire. The London Pride - £3.20p - was on reasonable form, but was slightly too cold. As a pub, I quite like this one and I'd recommend including it in any Soho crawl, but I do hope they've brought the carpet back by the next time I drop in.

I didn’t think that there were any real, unspoilt, pubs in this part of London, but my visit to this pub has me delighted to be proved wrong. This pub is named after the insignia of the Order of the Garter, the most senior order of chivalry in this country. It has an attractive pub mirror at the back, bearing said insignia. It’s now a small one-room pub, but the several doors to the street indicate that it once had two bars (I noticed that one of the doors was signed Saloon Bar) and probably also a jug and bottle bar. Furnishings are banquettes around the sides, small round tables and small stools. Shelving high on the walls display numerous china plates, and copper utensils and assorted jugs hang from the beams. They did have three ales on, even if none of them were terribly exciting – GKIPA, Spitfire and London Pride (£3.50 a pint). The picture of a traditional pub is completed by the tray of rolls encased in clingfilm sitting behind the bar. I’m astonished, but delighted, that an unspoilt traditional pub can be found just a skip and a jump from Oxford Circus. This is certainly one that will require a return visit.

Randomness Guide to London - Star And Garter entry