The Chandos, Trafalgar Square

The Chandos is one of my favourite pubs around and one of few in Central London that does good beer at affordable prices. The main bar is low ceilinged and smoky and has a number of excellant booths for you to occupy. The beer is of a very good quality and at 1.70 a pint upwards you can't go wrong. I particularly like the Sam Smiths cider on tap, it is sweet and crisp and very thrust quenching. The bar staff are lovely if slightly rushed off their feet and the room is always scattered with ash trays and empties but this is easy to look past. If you're in town and you want a drink before or after you've been out then pop in for a pint and watch as all sorts of people walk in and stumble out.

31 Jan 2007 13:54

Kensington Arms, Kensington

The Kensington arms is fast becoming one of my favourite places to drink. The modern decor took a while to get used to,(photos of Martin Keown grimacing don't help), but I have certainly grown to love it. Although the Arms has the look of a classy bar and concentrates quite heavily on sit down meals it manages to retain the aire of a traditional pub. The beer selection is top; at least two British ales are always on tap and they are well looked after, as is that superb selection of not-your-bog-standard lager. The Doom Bar (in a beer mug)is a firm favourite as are the huge portions of chunky chips. The fact that the pub has 5 or six big screens showing sport almost all the time only further encourages drinkers to stay for long periods of time in what is a cosy yet classy drinking establishment. The staff are fantastic and friendly and the whole ship is steered rather succesfully by Alex. Get there early on a match day, take your seat (at the bar preferably), get in some chips and a beer and sit and relax as your afternoon or evening disapeers.

31 Jan 2007 13:48