The Clachan, Soho, W1

Street corner Nicholson's house with a good looking exterior and some fine mosaic on the way in.There is an island bar with traditional tables and chairs all the way around in different sections,towards the rear there is a raised seating area.The ceiling is ornate,there are large mirrors on one wall and the feeling is traditional,which brings in the dining tourists. The bank of handpumps at the front gives the full range.On my trip St Austell Tribute,Proper Job (substandard ,NBSS 2) and Nicholsons Pale,Adnams Eastern Edge,London Pride,Doom Bar,with the TT Landlord being change diligently.I may have been unlucky with my ale choice,the range is superior to many Nicholsons but the transient nature of the client base didn't inspire me to target this pub for a revisit.

Rather typical of a Nicholson’s historic city pub, a single ornate room with some original features, professional and smart but unexciting. Certainly very corporate and I was struck by how extortionate these places are these days - over £20 for a pie and pint! That said, the staff were friendly and I chose a decent Proper Job from a wide range of standard national ales.

Described as ‘Renaissance’, the pub dates from 1898, rebuilt on the site of the Bricklayers Arms (c. 1750) and has a CAMRA listed inventory interior of Regional Importance. Certainly, there’s much of heritage value in here, in the form of elaborate woodwork and etched glass. There’s a raised area to the rear and furniture is dark wood conventional. The floor is part mosaic, the ceiling Lincrusta; all about shows a good patina of age, with lighting coming from Victorian-style glass and brass lamps. There are tea lights in holders to tables, along with little glass salt filled bottles and silk flowers; décor comes in the form of knickknacks in a glass fronted cupboard; framed prints adorn the walls. Music played at a decent level and The Antiques Roadshow played silently on a TV; the efficient staff were transfixed. Ales: Doom, Pride, Nicholson’s Pale and Proper Job at £2.70 a half and nice. This is a pleasant place to spend some time, not appearing to be at the epicentre of ‘nightlife’ Soho.