The Old Grey, Fitzrovia, W1

As the Yorkshire Grey, this pub dates from the early/mid-19th century, rebuilt probably in the 1930s or by at least the ‘50s. It had been a style bar called Potion then from 2014 a branch of the increasingly declining Simmons chain of Barbie bars, to reopen at the end of September 2025 as the Old Grey. The exterior features a purple neon sign with pithy epithet – see photo – then an interior with battered black floor, shiny green tiles or patterned wallpaper to the walls, then raised areas with tan coloured banquette seating to the periphery with tall, modern tubular steel furniture to the small central area; there’s also a jukebox and ugly games machine. Thereafter, the bar back is modern and customers amounted to just one – me – at 9.00pm on a Tuesday evening, though as I was to find out, there was another customer – or barmaid – in the basement bar called Dirty Deeds; Vacant Space would be a more appropriate name. There’s no cask unsurprisingly, then a range of Eurofizz and pseudo craft, a half of Siren Breakfast Stout for £3.30, poured by a friendly barmaid. There’s little around here worth visiting, this pub hardly upping the area’s game. Rated: 3.5.

Facebook page of The Old Grey - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Old Grey - theoldgrey.co.uk

Facebook page of The Old Grey - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Old Grey - theoldgrey.co.uk