The Lady Ottoline, Bloomsbury, WC1

This former Charrington pub (as can be seen from some of the older glazing) has gone partially down the 'gastro' route, but everyone seemed to be drinking rather than eating on my early evening visit. The place benefits from a fair amount of window space on two sides and a generally uncluttered rectangular bar arrangement (although this does mean that seating is at a premium, although there may be more space up the unexplored stairs). Solid, traditional furniture and not much decoration, but the overall effect is not unappealing. Two of four handpumps in operation, offering Doom Bar and the local Bloomsbury IPA (a bit cloudy, but tasted OK, £4.70).

A first time in here and it's not anything like the gastropub I was fearing - I think all the dining guff seems to go on upstairs. Downstairs it's a fairly straightforward pub once called The King's Arms, as evidenced by the presence of some nice original Charrington's windows and recently renamed in honour of society hostess Lady Ottoline Violet Anne Morrell. Furniture is old school stuff and there's a tiled bar apron and log burning stove. Muted music played, and the few drinkers in here were probably office workers. Ales: a blank clip, something not logged, Adnam's Broadside and Ghost Ship, well served and at £4.30 a pint, quite good value for the area. This is a perfectly decent backstreet pub and I'd be happy to return, but I don't understand why they ditched the historic name.

A gastropub (table service upstairs) with a fairly simple knocked-through L shaped room quite nicely done out with burgundy button back banquettes. Dimmed lighting and candles on tables for an attempt at upmarket sophistication, as well as framed modern art at the far end of the room. Unused wood burning stove (why not light it?). A working dumb waiter behind the bar. Nice moulded ceiling cornices and chequerboard flooring by the bar. Unusual but attractive bar back with built-in glass-fronted cupboards, quite 2002 but I liked it. Four ales on and a decent selection - Adams Broadside, Sambrooks Wandle, GK Abbot and Sheps Whitstable Bay. Adnams and Meantime on keg. I tried the Sheps and got a decent half in return, supped in quite a nice, communal atmosphere. As to be expected the food prices were outrageous, a burger and chips weighing in at 14 quid. For that price I’d expect the finest burger and chips in Britain. Drinking-wise, it’s a solid pub for these environs.

Small narrow pub with upstairs room.Most tables set for dining and only a small area for drinkers.Gastro-pubby but no longer thai food.Very warm inside.Good beer selection.Four cask ales inc Beer Engine -piston bitter and silver bullet and Portobello-VPA.