The Coach Makers Arms, Marylebone, W1

The reviews below sum this pub up well with the part exposed brickwork and chunky scrubbed tables, pale grey paint, bare boards and unattractive marble bar top. Music was at least muted but with all the hard surfaces, acoustics were terrible - I couldn't hear myself think in here, not helped by the loud conversation emanating from the vocal suited crowd. On the ale front there was Sharp's Coachmaker's Lubrication and Coaster, Twickenham's Wandle and Truman's Zephyr which was good. I didn't clock the price but doubtless it was pricey. I shan't be coming here again and my sentiments have been reinforced by their ridiculous Heath Robinson website with its annoying soundtrack which I can't shut off!

This one had on four ales - St Austell Tribute; Butcombe Bitter; Sharps Coachmakers Lubrication (a 3.6% house ale presumably); and Windsor & Eton Windsor Knot (£2.10 a half). This is a gastropub with food and drink at gastropub prices. Main courses, with nothing resembling pub grub, range from £12.50 to £18. A chicken sandwich with chips (or "fries" as they call them here) is £9. In here we have the obligatory distressed leather sofas, scrubbed wooden tables, re-cycled school chairs and solid round pouffes. The wall behind, and along from, the bar counter is exposed brickwork and displays a gilt framed mirror and the chalkboard menu. This place is nothing much like a pub now - but the Windsor Knot was in fine shape.

Coach Makers official site - www.thecoachmakers.com

Nearly square bar with a high ceiling, large windows and light furniture / decor. 'Gin Palace' on the first floor. Gastro pub menu and table service. Some patio seating out front. Miserable-looking staff. Four handpumps, offering Sharps CM Lubrication £3.80, Doom Bar, Greene King IPA and Flying Scotsman. (NB - Review dates from July 2012.)

Coach Makers official site - www.thecoachmakers.com