Cittie of Yorke, WC1

This pub is a total one off. I'm not a great fan of Sam Smiths beer but I'm a big fan of the way they look after their pubs. The back bar is a massive baronial drinking hall, with vast barrels above the bar. I believe these were in use until the 2nd World War blitz made it too dangerous to have huge quantities of flammable liquid above the staff & customers. Also has a strange triangular heater in the middle of the room and churchlike alcoves down one side. It's a very impressive place. Go in the afternoon 2 - 5 or after 7 to see it though, as it's very popular at lunchtime and after the offices close.

Definitely worth a visit for the spectacular interior if not for the Sam Smiths OBB, although at least you get the handpulled version in here. The stone flagged corridor entrance has a decorative ceiling featuring the white rose of Yorkshire, the side door leading into a carpeted wood panelled front room with a few Chesterfield type sofas, feels a bit like a drawing room really. On the walls are a series of portraits of eminent erstwhile Holborn residents such as Sir Thomas More, Francis Bacon, Charles Dickens et al. The pub's main room though is to the rear, a long bar runs along the side wall opposite which are a series of small booths seating fours. More booths run along the opposite wall once the bar stops, the last one housing a dartboard. If you look up you see a huge open beamed vaulted roof, some stained glass and the series of huge vats and casks above the bar top. The floor is boarded, décor includes several legal related cartoons and caricatures. One unusual feature is the triangular flat topped fireplace/heater which stands on the pub floor, how this operates I'm not sure as there is no flue. The carved bar back centrepiece features a clock and has several pewter tankards hanging on hooks. Huge globe lights gently illuminate the space and provide some atmosphere. As said, not one to aim for to sample the ales but a must visit to see the fine interior.