London Pub (Royal National Hotel), Bloomsbury, WC1

Official site of London Pub (Royal National Hotel) - www.imperialhotels.co.uk

Official site of London Pub (Royal National Hotel) - www.imperialhotels.co.uk

From the street, this looks like one of the least appealing pubs in the capital city, and even the most gullible tourists surely can't be taken in by the manufactured name and assortment of stereotypical images on the sign (Big Ben, Beefeaters, Routemaster bus, etc.). However, never having actually ventured inside previously, I finally thought that I would give it the benefit of the doubt. Apart from the tables adjacent to the front windows, it has a dark interior that is almost totally devoid of decoration apart from a couple of TV screens. It does have two handpumps - Abbot and Greene King IPA (cheaper than I expected at £2.40, and actually not that bad) - but also a surprisingly limited number of lager founts and a lack of other drinks behind the bar. Overall, a rather dismal fake 'pub'.

Whilst standing outside to finish off a cigarette I peered through the window and a sense of dread overcame me as I scanned an almost empty pub with eight, yes eight, young bar staff standing around wondering what to do. The barmaid that served me was so young that her parents hadn't yet taught her how to say please or thank you. This is an open plan pub that the Barracuda chain decorators would be proud of, even down to the plasma screens that were on for no reason. The frontage is all glass with a great view of a foreign currency exchange and Greek Taverna across the main road. There is some seating out the back in the square, but I found it rather depressing. Abbot and Greene King IPA were both available alongside a standard draught selection, but my Guinness was below par so heaven knows what the ale is like. I'll not be returning here.