The Harrow, Fleet Street, EC4

In a side street off the lower end of Fleet Street, is The Harrow, a Fullers pub with that typical black painted fascia frontage that Fullers seem to like nowadays. It’s a split level pub with the main entrance on Whitefriars Street. There’s evidently been a refurbishment since my previous visit with the bar counter moved around 90 degrees which does create a bit more room and makes it easier to get served than previously. Although the fine Charringtons Toby Mirror is still in situ, the main bar area is somewhat featureless, with bare boards, pastel coloured walls and some circular high tables and stools, and ledges by the tall front windows. A booklet on each table tells us that there has been a pub on the site since 1769, but that the present building was erected in 1826. Reference is made to some original features in the upstairs dining room, but the main downstairs area has that rather sanitized feel and it certainly doesn’t have anything like the character of some other pubs nearby. Up a few steps from the downstairs bar is a fine snug bar, The Vincent Mulchrome Room, named in honour of a former Daily Mail journalist, which is cosy and comfortable. And, which we’re told, “must be one of the smallest in the City” It’s infinitely preferable to the main downstairs bar area, but this room is only small and I imagine that space is at a premium at busy times. The booklet tells us that this snug bar was originally part of a barbers shop, but was later incorporated into the pub as trade grew. This bar can be accessed directly from the higher level street entrance on Primrose Hill. The full range of Fullers beers are served and my pint of Jack Frost - £ 3.90p – was pretty good, but it feels and looks very much like a typical corporate Fullers managed house nowadays and, as a consequence, this isn’t one of my favourite pubs in this area of the City

Well presented Fullers pub on quietish side street slightly off the main drag, with three hand pumps service Chiswick, Pride, and, on my last visit, Front Row, plus the usual other stuff. Sandwiches start at £4.75 and main courses at £7, though I haven't eaten here. Lots of wood, with brown walls around bar and green/gold wallpaper round the rest of the pub. The mix of high table/stools, low tables/chairs, some bar height surfaces round the edge that you can prop up if you wish, a smaller upstairs area, and some tables and chairs outside, provide well for different conditions and drinking styles. Barmaids very good looking, courteous and efficient although looking a tad bored most of the time, given irregular levels of custom. But they serve a good pint and I think this is a decent, comfortable place to come for one or two.

Only London Pride was available on my recent visit, but there is a standard draught selection and Staropramen is also available. The barmaid that served me was pleasant enough as were the few other customers. There is a plasma screen and a couple of portable TVs that were all showing Sky Sports News which was muted as there was some background music playing. I thought that this place was very basic for a Fullers pub and it was one of the quieter pubs in the area, but I still would have no problem in returning.