The Sussex, Covent Garden

I like this pub. There are tables outside so you can sit and smoke or you can have a drink outside when it's nice weather. It's literally 1 min from Leicester Square station so easy to pop into on the way to somewhere else. There are cash machines across the road which is handy. The bar staff are always friendly and seem to have a good choice of beers and ales as well as a good choice of wines and spirits. A lot of tourists come here but also a lot of locals who just want somewhere nice to hang out or to people watch. There is a restaurant downstairs or you can eat upstairs if you want. Food is regular pub fare and looks good.

2 Oct 2009 18:06

Henry's Cafe Bar, Covent Garden

This place seems to be either really busy or totally empty. When it's busy it's really difficult to get served because people drink and sit at the bar so a queue tends to form behind the only available spaces. G&T costs �5 for a single so it's not exactly the cheapest place. They do food which looks good but I've never eaten. They have some tables out front which people use to sit and smoke at. Music is nondescript - seems to attract men in suits after work and girls on their way to somewhere better. They have a lot of tables downstairs which people reserve for work's dos. There is a bouncere on the door but all they seem to do is check ID and click people in and out. Clean enough. No toilet attendant which is good and they are always clean.

2 Oct 2009 18:04

The Porterhouse, Covent Garden

I love the Porterhouse. The bar staff are friendly. The place is huge and goes on forever. They show live sports, they have live music and the brew their own beer in Ireland. I love the Fruli and the Chiller. They have recently refurbished it and the outdoors now has funky green chairs and tables, fake hedges and a bar all around the umbrellas so you can drink outside even in the rain. Gets very busy on a Friday night.

18 Sep 2009 12:20

The Bell And Compass, Charing Cross

This pub has the unfriendliest staff I've ever encountered in London. I have often stopped in there for a quick drink coming from Embankment tube station. You stand at the bar for ages until someone eventually comes over to you with a bored look on their face. I think the staff are mainly Polish girls. They never smile or say thank you. A smile would go a long way. I know avoid this place and go to the Ha Ha bar where at least the bar staff are friendly.

18 Sep 2009 12:17

Air Balloon, Horley

Thought this would be a great pub to go to with our daughter for a Sunday lunch. What a mistake. Turns you you have to pay �3 for the kids to go into the small play area and you have to stay with them so cannot eat your lunch at the same time. The play room was small and cramped with juice spilled on the floor. The toilets had no soap, were filthy and there was toilet roll everywhere. The main restaurant was quiet (we found out why). We ordered food which was the worst food I've ever been served at a pub. Husbands pie was pure lard, kids pizza was one of those microwave ones and my "breaded" chicken was battered and deep fried. The clientele were mainly families swearing in front of their kids and wearing tracksuit bottoms. Will definitely find a different place next time. They should be ashamed of this place - have eaten the same meat at one in the same chain in Hyde in Manchester which was spot on and wonderful.

19 Apr 2009 17:38