The Lemon Tree, WC2

A revisit after many year on the back of a GBG listing ,but ultimately disappointing. The previous USB was the memorable decolletage of a former landlady,but sadly these days it all much more PC.Open plan at the front,a urinal on the ground floor level,but up the stairs to the shitter,beyond which is a "secret " lounge with around 4 tables in a square room with an unused fireplace. There are 5 handpumps drawing on my visit Doom Bar,Harveys Sussex Best,6X and a tired Hop Stuff Fusilier.The food was thai,but unmemorable and I just cant see why the local CAMRA branch feel this is worthy of the GBG. Much better options within a stones throw.

A late Friday night visit for a pub tick and a quick pint. Not a very wide pub so it felt extremely busy, though was a bit emptier away from the small bar. 5 hand pumps with 5 ales on, my pint of Trumans Swift was decent at £4.50 a pint, in addition there was a couple of ales on keg. I'd never been here before, so from this visit I'd say its a decent pub with a mixed clientele and well kept ales. Appears in the 2017 GBG.

The compact, attractive little pub is well positioned between Covent Garden and Charring Cross, although it tends to be overlooked by many in favour of the Harp which is just around the corner. The pub has a very typical Central London single room set up, although a sign at the rear of the room pointed out that there is a 'Secret Lounge' upstairs which several punters seemed to be taking advantage of. The ground floor room has modern floorboards and some decent half panelling around the walls. A long, wide drinking ledge under the front windows allows you to do a bit of people watching from one of the high stools here and there is a similar ledge down the right hand wall plus a smaller one to the left under a large plain mirror. More high stools serve the single table in the centre of the room, with the rest of the space given over to vertical drinking only. A small servery stands in the rear left corner with a smart curved counter and nicely lit mirrored bar back. A huge pictorial map of old London covers much of the right hand wall and it was quite interesting to spend a bit of time studying it, whilst it is flanked by technical drawings of various landmark London buildings such as the Globe Theatre. Pop music of dubious quality was playing in the background throughout my visit whilst a muted TV to the left showed BBC News 24. A very reasonable Thai menu was available with nothing on it priced any higher than £9.00 - no-one seemed to be eating from it on a midweek evening visit, but it struck me as good value for the area. The pub is listed in the 2017 Good Beer Guide and there were four ales on the bar - Harvey's Sussex Best, Sharps Doom Bar, St Austell Proper Job and Trumans Swift. A very friendly barman served up a top quality pint of the Proper Job which went down very well and quite a few other customers seemed to be enjoying the ale too, suggesting they might enjoy reasonable turnover here. This is quite a nice little venue that doesn't really do a great deal to distinguish itself from many similar Central London pubs apart, perhaps, from the quality of their beer. I found it was quite easy to settle down here, although things could be very different at busier times, and agree with previous reviewers that this makes a good double header with the nearby Harp.

Official site of The Lemon Tree - www.lemontreecoventgarden.com

Official site of The Lemon Tree - www.lemontreecoventgarden.com

Popped in again last night, pre theatre, great atmosphere,Harvey's on top form. Give this place a visit, its worth it.

In last night, couldn't get in the Harp so decided on The Lemon Tree, glad i did, friendly, fast service, and a great pint of Deuchars, ok they are never going to have the range of the Harp, but what they are doing, they are doing well. Good atmosphere, buzzing at the bar and good beer. Worth a visit.

Popped in last week, very friendly Aussie barman, quite busy for a Monday, although it is only a small place, so not many needed to make it feel busy. The Doombar was in good nick, i just feel this place needs a little tweaking to make it a "must visit"

Randomness Guide to London - Lemon Tree entry

Randomness Guide to London - Lemon Tree entry