The Chesterfield Arms, W1

Woodforde Wherry, Timothy Taylor Landlord, London Pride, and Young’s London Gold were all on handpump. This is not the most exciting of ale choices, but it’s a decent enough selection nonetheless. This is a small one-room pub, and being Taylor Walker branded the usual pub grub menu was available. Furnishings were mainly standard issue tables and chairs, but with a couple of tall tables/stools on the left by the window. Just like any other Taylor Walker pub then. There was a TV on (muted) showing a news channel. The pub has some nice latticed bay windows, but otherwise I didn’t spot anything of note. This pub was desperately busy on a desperately hot day in late May. In fact Shepherd Market pubs always seem to be very busy, and this one’s no exception. It’s OKfor a swift pint, but to be honest there’s nothing about this pub that would entice me to make a special effort to return.

Single room pub adjacent to the Curzon Mayfair which myself and a friend ducked into after a film. Pride, Courage Directors and Bombardier on cask, and rather disappointingly a music channel was on the telly rather than soccer saturday. If I was in the area again, I'd give it a swerve and duck into the Market Tavern nearby as it has a better selection of ales.

There's nothing spectacular about this pub and it is a lot quieter than its peers, partly due to it's location just off the main square and also due to it being very average. The Spitfire was off, but Pride and Greene King IPA were available alongside Staropramen, Leffe and a standard draught selection. There's not really much to the pub and although there is a plasma screen there are no sports shown on Sky. Even standing on the pavement outside isn't the nicest experience due to umpteen black cabs whizzing around the back streets. I didn't have any problems with the staff, but I'll still not bother with this place again.