The Nags Head, Covent Garden, WC2

Perma-rammed corner boozer an Orang Utan's throw away from Covent Garden. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much (was forced here by others meet-up plans due to its close proximity to the tube station) but was pleasantly surprised - there was a decent range of the McMullen's ale on which was a nice change to the norm and they were served fairly well too. The pub’s interior and exterior retain some nice olde worlde touches – the decorative floor tiling by the bar, for example. The large glass plate windows make for a nice, light feeling inside which makes up a little for the transient atmosphere of people who are in one minute and out the next, rucksacks in tow. Worth a stop if you can find a seat – if you can’t, move on.

As rexrattus states below, this is a tourist trap pub in a tourist trap location. Its still decent though, and it gains novelty value for its McMullen's beers which were in good shape. Standing room only on a sunday evening; Staff were efficient and the beer decent but it just doesn't feel like a place you'd want to spend a lot of time in.

A deceptively large and spacious corner pub barely 30 yards from Covent Garden market, the Nag's Head is perhaps a bit more “touristy” than some of the other pubs in the area. That is not say it's not worth a visit, you just need to dodge the rucksacks. The pub is very appealing with many interesting traditional features: stained glass windows, bar frame, etched mirrors, alcoves, dim lighting. The decorative tiled floor around the bar immediately draws the attention. The pub is owned by McMullens brewery so it does offer a change of scenery from the usual Ales although it was a bit pricey compared to other pubs in the area (McMullens Best was £2.80 compared with Youngs Best at £2.35 in the White Lion opposite). Plenty of seating – I managed to get a stool even on a Friday lunchtime although beware of the stools towards the rear of the pub – they are barely 12 inches off the ground and make you feel like a kid at the dinner table.

This is a McMullen's house. I had my favourite – Country Bitter, which tasted great, and at £3.20 or so a pint pretty much the going rate for the area I suppose. It's smack bang in the middle of the tourist hell that is Covent Garden. Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against tourists – I am one myself on occasions – I just don't much like the areas that they create, especially the pickpockets and other miscellaneous miscreants that prey on them. Anyway, this remains a pretty decent enough pub. It's a high-ceilinged, one-room affair now, that still behaves like a pub. Being on a corner, it has glass windows to the ceiling on two sides making it very light inside. There's some really attractive floor tiling around the bar, and the furniture is comfortable enough. The decor is minimalist, but with the high windows, and McMullen's mirrors on the back wall, there isn't much wall space left to decorate. The fact that they serve McMullen's ales, thus representing a welcome change from the usual suspects, makes this one of the better Covent Garden pubs.