Sir Christopher Hatton, EC1

The name is taken from a former chancellor and rumoured lover of Elizabeth I and local land owner whose name is taken for Hatton Garden, home to diamond geezers both legitimate and otherwise, the local 88-90 Hatton Garden being the site of a recent infamous jewel heist. Indeed, this venue occupies part of a building site occupied by department store Gamages until 1972, now home to a building which until recently housed De Beers' diamond repository in its basement. I haven't been in here since it was the Goose around 14 years ago, so can't really remember it. It's essentially a lower ground floor fake 'old' pub with a rough stone floor with bar to the rear. Lavatories are downstairs along with the cellar bar where my group was to convene. As such it's quite typical of a place that has a faux 'historic' pitch so you probably know what to expect except that it's better than average without flashing TV screens or loud music. Quite comfortable inside with around 5-6 ales; I couldn't see them all as a couple of bar hogs spoiled the view. I opted for a pint of the Adnam's Fat Sprat which was fine and competitively priced. In all this isn't a bad place and is better than one would expect but unless you're desperate, there's better to be found eastward in Smithfield rendering a return visit otiose.