Smollensky's, Strand, WC2

Huge place with nothing in the way of real ale at all. The piano player was the only decent thing in here.

A subterranean cocktail bar with a fine wooden floor and a pleasant hum about the place. It is amazingly spacious, largely achieved through conjoining several neighbouring basements. It sells food, cocktails and over-priced wine, has a piano for entertainment and is staffed by some helpful PYTs. It's OK for a meal, but the lack of ale precludes it from a crawl.