The Newman Arms, Fitzrovia, W1

A teeny-tiny pub which had been on my ‘to-do’ list for a good while. Quite a ruritanian L-shaped interior with low lighting (mainly due to the translucent leaded windows), a basic bar, slab flooring. Of note is the nice Newman Arms frosted glass panel along bar the topper. Pervading smells of damp. Four ales on and an initially eclectic mix of three from Tintagel (Arthur's, Cornish Pride, Castle Gold) and Five Points Railway Porter (I note now that this place is run by a Cornish appreciation society or somesuch). Mixed bag on the quality front, the Cornish was decent but the Arthur's was classic London murk, told my mate to take it back but he wouldn’t. Also noted Hackney Red, Beavertown Neck Oil (not very Cornish!!) and Five Points Pale on keg. I wanted to like this place but the damp smells and slipshod beer quality put me off. Noted a pic of Orwell on the counter (he used to drink here). Wonder what he’d make of London Murky?

The pub has been revamped and is now run by something called The Cornwall Project, who's mission apparently is to bring the finest food and drink Cornwall has to offer to around the country. An unusual concept I thought but why not? The pub itself is a rather small one roomer, just about L-shaped with a handful of small round tables and a drinking shelf opposite the bar, flagged floors, pictures of sailing boats, one of ex-patron Oscar Wilde, nice leaded windows and evidence of a former life as a Charrington's house. The exterior pub sign has a translation below in Cornish. Stairs lead up to a restaurant, not explored, tricky stairs down to the toilets. Beers from Tintagel, four on, Harbour Special (£4.10), Black Jack, Cornwall's Pride and Castle Gold. Bar food inevitably included Cornish pasties (£5.50) plus Scotch eggs and scratchings. This is a nice pub now, one that always seemed closed when I've been near, glad to tick it off finally.

Small back street pub serving 4 real ales.