Black Horse, Fitzrovia, W1

Official site of Black Horse - www.theblackhorselondon.com

Official site of Black Horse - www.theblackhorselondon.com

Dating from 1746 though rebuilt in 1865, this was formerly a Charrington’s pub as evinced by the green banded stained-glass windows. It closed in 2010 to become a succession of failed restaurants and bars, reopening in late 2021. Accessed up Evelyn’s Passage, this was an office local of mine in the late ‘80s, when it was carpeted, dark and very smoky; so dark and smoky that I failed to notice the inset mirrors, with bevelled edges and rather fine carved wooden details to the walls and ceiling, which sadly now has ugly exposed aircon ductwork. The floor is modern herringbone, walls painted smoky blue with a white ceiling. Furniture comprises tall, modern furniture to the front, a fawn studded banquette to the rear. The bar back is modern mirrored with steel shelving; a similar gantry is above the modern bar, lit from above by fluted glass shaded lamps. Upstairs there’s a smart first floor bar/function room and unisex kazis. Décor is sparse, amounting to just a few framed prints to the rear; mood music played at a reasonable level. There’s a heavy emphasis on cocktails here, so unsurprisingly there’s no real ale, just a selection of Eurofizz and so-called ‘craft’ beers, dispensed from two chrome founts, with a half of Neck Oil cantering in at £3.20, served by a friendly barman. I suppose this isn’t a bad place for what it is, but the lack of real ale and long-lost pub atmosphere, means I’m unlikely to return.

Looked good on approach with original old wood windows, BUT, 4 pumps, just one in action - Pride. Lazy, lazy, lazy! We didn't stop.