BrewDog Seven Dials, WC2

Took BF's advice and entered on the West Street door to find an empty pub, other than barstaff of course. Had to go for the Campden Hells @ 4.6%. Not the greatest selection of ale, I have to say, so I doubt I'll be back.

If you enter this Victorian corner building by the main door at the apex ,you will feel you have entered a restaurant despite a small bar to your left,all tables are set for diners and you may get accosted by a waiter .I have eaten here ,the restaurant is known as Polpo@Ape & Bird,and serves very decent Italian dishes in a tapas style with reasonably priced Italian wine. However to the rear of the building is a drinking area with it's own bar,and downstairs is another bar with an atmospheric seating area.The first floor is reserved for diners and is far less hectic with lots of light coming in through the various windows. Beer is served through unclipped taps,possibly using vacuum pressure but I didn't order any so wont comment further. If you want to use this place simply to drink in,and many were on my Wednesday evening visit,try using the West Street entrance to avoid being directed to a dining table.There are pub features around the interior but the split personality leads to a feeling that it's neither fish nor fowl.I do like the food ,however.

This is a strange pub which seems to have had a makeover. I entered to find a waitress service area full of diners and a bar with fonts but no beer on as I was about to leave I was directed to the bar which is at the rear with a side door. 8 keg fonts and 2 handpumps again no named beers. You have to get the menu to find out whats on keg then at the bottom it tells you the real ale is on a board high up above the bar.Hackney -best and golden which was decent but expensive. I like to go into a pub and see straight away what,s on but this pub thinks the style of the stainless steel handpumps is more important than beer- clips. Smart pub with industrial style trunking on the ceiling.