The Volunteer, NW1

Not a bad pub but no ales on during my Sunday dinner visit! Had some type of craft ale but at £5.05 for 2 thirds of a pint I only had one!

A first in here the other night and surprisingly it is indeed, as mentioned below, better than one would expect. Largely devoid of tourists, despite its close proximity to the self-styled 221b (in reality 239, the former Abbey House down the road is the real 221) to the south and seemingly free from Westminster University students; customers seemed to be younger and more fashionable and not drawn from offices. The interior is not multi-roomed, rather multi-zoned with a snug to the rear with a fireplace, sadly not used. The floor is bare boarded and furniture is largely conventional. The ceiling has beams (more likely exposed rafters), the colour scheme is the hackneyed dark blue/grey as to be expected; the bar top is copper, which is a bit naff though fortunately the lighting is gloomy enough so that it doesn't stand out too much; music played at an agreeable level. Friendly staff were serving Sharp's Doom Bar, Greene King's Mighty Moose, Ilkley Brewery's Mary Jane and Truman's Zephyr at a fairly reasonable (for the area) £4.30 a pint and good. I quite liked this place and would be happy to return if passing; the seven-day midnight licence is a bonus. It's miles better than The Globe down the road and superior to The Allsop Arms across the way.

Much better than you have any right to expect, next to the tourist hoardes or 221B. Four real ales on. I went for an absolute superb Redemption Urban Dusk. Easily the best pint of the day and one to look out for again. Very busy - efficient staff. Good atmosphere.

Nearest pub to 221b. An open plan layout as described by Malden man below. 4 real ales,"craft keg" and food served.

I found the interior of this place rather bland and featureless, effectively two areas, the main bar area with the bar straight ahead on entering and a side area up a small step which was more of an eating area with cutlery laid out on the tables. Beamed ceiling, painted cream, lower wall wood panelling painted a rather sickly shade of light green, wood flooring, whirring ceiling fans. Seating in the bar was rather limited with just two butcher's block type high tables in the front window and an absurdly low square table with a few pouffes. Nominal regular seating was provided in a return area to the left of the bar. This could however be due to the fact that there was a Championship Play-Off final being played at Wembley that particular afternoon and the Baker Street area is a main transport hub and meeting point for football fans on transit to the stadium. Not that bright of me to choose this particular afternoon to sample a few local pubs then, however I was certainly still rather grumpy about being made to drink out of plastic (and paying £4.15 for the privilege!) bearing in mind the match was by now in progress and therefore all the fans were long gone from the area. Various food menus on chalkboards and paper versions on the tables, snacks, fixed price menu and a la carte. Mains £9.50 to £11.50 with steaks at £17. The beer menu was quite good, price notwithstanding, I still baulk at the £4 pint, Redemption Urban Dusk, Hook Norton Lion, Portobello VPA and Doom Bar. Not my sort of pub, it isn't very traditional but a reasonable pint to be had if you've just been paid.