The Cutter Inn, Ely

The ales are usually in excellent condition, the music's never too loud and you get a nice mix of customers - boaters and yokels and everything in between. I pop up to Ely a couple of times a year and always end up in the Cutter 'cos it's a good reliable unpretentious local pub which isn't trying to be anything else. Particularly like it in the winter when you can sit in the warm and look out on the icy river.

25 Nov 2005 09:34

Bar Chocolate, Soho

Ideal for afternoon coffee or early evening drink. Not too awful if the latter stretched out until closing time. Nicely tucked away on d'Arblay st in one of the more original areas of Soho (rag-trade, ironmongers and indie record shops, rather than ad/media companies). Cool without trying too hard to be.

23 Nov 2005 10:54

The John Snow, Soho

Typical Sam Smiths pub. Close proximity of magazine publishing companies means that friday nights it's full of young graduates in their first job looking for a cheap pint. So lots of kiddies shouting loudly and trying to impress each other. Which can be fun if you're a) one of them, or b) looking for someone to laugh at.

Downstairs area manages to feel cramped even when it's empty but upstairs is a bit more spacious.

23 Nov 2005 10:50