The Soak, Belgravia, SW1

99% of people passing through the station would never dream of looking in here and indeed the small doorway off the concourse with the bureau de change in it (and a very handy cash dispenser, never a queue) is hardly inviting. Once you found your way in, gone past the reception and got to the end you get to what was known for years as the Harvard Bar, it's really the dark wood panelled room on the left, rather than the anonymous hotel lounge on the right. For no apparent reason the rowing memorabilia disappeared a few years ago and it's now called the Club bar, though little else has changed in a very long time. It is the only haven of civilisation on the station and indeed the only place within quite a distance where you can meet someone for a quiet drink. But of course with this being a posh hotel in central London you pay for the privilege, £4.50 for a pint of Staropramen. However it's sometimes worth it if you need half an hour's peace before running the Southern Railway gauntlet, and of course has the added bonus of free bogs of the highest standard.

This hotel bar is open to the public, but after my brief visit to check the place out I will not be returning as like most hotel bars it is bland, clinical and very expensive. The barman had a basic grasp of English and kept disappearing for minutes at a time leaving people standing at the bar. There not a great drinks selection as only Becks Vier, Stella, Guinness and Boddingtons Extra Cold are available. I only popped in as I saw the sign outside advertising Sky Sports and although they do have a plasma screen that does indeed show Sky I wouldn't want to watch a match in here as there would be no atmosphere and I would end up walking out penniless. I'll leave this place to the hotel guests in future.