Marquis of Granby, Fitzrovia, W1

It had been some years since I have been here although I often walk past so I decided to include it on my Nicholson's Dick Whittington Ale Trail. Whilst not far from the bustle of Oxford Street, this part of Fitzrovia has a village feel not unlike bits of Hampstead. When quiet the pub has quite a relaxed and calm ambience but I have often seen it in summer with people teeming onto the pavements. The interior is not too overpowering and candles on the tables give the place an intimate touch. The service was excellent from the welcoming and chatty (Aussie) barman. Cask Marque accredited but for a Nicholsons pub the beer selection was quite poor with only 2 mainstream ales. A decent enough pub when quiet but I wouldn't want to be here fighting through the crowds.

Official pages of the Marquis of Granby, contains menu and real ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Official pages of the Marquis of Granby, contains menu and real ale details - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

This is a pretty run-of-the-mill Nicholson's pub – except that they did have Pride, Hobgoblin, Black Sheep Bitter and Harviestoun's Number Of The Beast on handpump when I visited yesterday. The NOTB was excellent – quite light and pretty hoppy. The ales are definitely the best (perhaps the only) things going for this pub.

During my visit last week Pride, Number of the Beast, Deuchars and Hobgoblin, whose clip had red LED eyes peering out from the bar, something that I've not seen before. I thought the attitude of the staff was a little offhand and there are plenty more superior pubs in the area.

Popped in as The Newman Arms was closed. This is a street corner routine Nicholsons, fairly subdued lighting, dark wood floors as expected. A single squarish room with a central squared horseshoe bar. Nothing special but not unpleasant. Pride, TT Landlord, GK IPA, and Camerons Autumn (£2.95). Some round metal topped tables, others wood standard four seaters plus a couple of drinking shelves with stools at the windows. My stay was rather rushed and curtailed due to the impossibility of shaking off the old bloke who persistently tried to engage me in conversation about when Lee Harvey Oswald shot John Lennon....!!!