The Old Shades, SW1

This place has something of the look of a gentleman’s club about it, which is something of a Nicholson’s trait. At one time it was a Heneky’s Wine Bar. They had Reverend James on at £2.90 a pint, which is not bad for Central London, and pretty good it tasted too. It’s changed a bit since last time I was in here. A fairly major refurbishment has done away with the entrance door on the right (which no longer forms part of the pub) to be replaced by a door on the left – which must have always been there but not in use. But the makeover seems to have been very sympathetic and I think this is one of the better Nicholson’s houses. Despite being a tourist stopover, I highly recommend this pub.

I liked it in here and have to say that it is one of the better pubs in the area. The very nice barmaid served me excellent Deuchars during an afternoon session last week. The chatter can get a little mind numbing as people start competing to be heard over each other and their voices echo through the long thin bar, but other than that I was impressed and will go back.

The Old Shades is the middle of three pubs in a line down Whitehall. The Silver Cross is right next door and The Clarence is a few doors further down from Trafalgar Square. Only had time to do two of them so decided to skip the Silver Cross on the basis that it's a GK house and in theory , this place being a Nicholson house should have a better choice of Ale. And in this respect The Old Shades did not disappoint, having six hand pumps dispensing TT Landlord and Golden Best, Fullers Pride, Bateman's Rosey Nosey and two other Xmas Ales. It's also a bit more traditional décor than the other two having leaded windows, what looked like original interior wood paneling and leather bench seating. So of the three, if you only have time for one, I'd go for the Old Shades.