The Porterhouse, Covent Garden

Very well built with lots of open spaces and levels. Brass marble and wood decor. Similar design to Porterhouse Central and Porterhouse North in Dublin. The small Dublin based Porterhouse Brewing Company brews and supplies a wide range of stouts and beers to it's pubs in London and Dublin. The Plain Porter stout has won many awards and tastes more like Guinness did in Ireland 20 years ago than Guinness does now! The food is excellent.

Even though the premises is vast it can become very crowded and the bouncers, though maybe necessary, are a bit off-putting.

3 Sep 2008 12:48

The Nell Gwynne, Covent Garden

Nice small traditional pub with good beer and very friendly staff. Space to drink outside in the lane when it's too crowded.

3 Sep 2008 12:36

The Harp, Covent Garden

The Harp is my favourite pub in London. It's a beautiful old-style pub with a traditional wood interior and stained glass windows that are opened in hot weather giving great views of the people and street outside. The place is very well managed and the bar staff are all very friendly and efficient. The selection of drinks is excellent and they serve a very good selection of sausages in rolls. The customers are from a wide variety of backrounds - office types, local residents ( unusual to meet in London) shoppers and staff from the nearby theatres. It's quite easy to strike up a conversation at the bar, which as a Dubliner, I like to do.

It can get very busy at lunchtimes and in the early evenings but there's plenty of space to drink outside at both the front and the back. There's a very comfortable upstairs room too but I haven't tried it yet!

2 Sep 2008 17:29