The Victoria, Victoria

Horrible horrible horrible place that I have the misfortune to be dragged into periodically by colleagues as I work just across the road. I agree with all the postings concerning the rude staff and poor service - they seem to employ several people to walk up and down behind the bar avoiding eye contact with the customers and do no work. The area round Victoria station has numerous similar commuter pubs, but this is definitely the worst. Avoid.

12 Jul 2007 16:22

The Harp, Covent Garden

This is a lovely pub - an oasis of niceness in the middle of West End chains and cavernous bars which feel the need to advertise their "Traditional English"ness. Worth watching out for the traffic in and out of the back door - musicians from the Opera House next door come in for a swift half in the interval.

One thing though. Whatever you do don't sit at the bar, especially not near the front door - glasses are piled precariously high on shelves at head-height, and I've seen them come crashing down more than once, covering some poor punter in borken glass.

7 Feb 2007 15:08

The Royal Albert, South Lambeth

I've been going to this pub regularly for about 8 years now and it must have changed hands about once a year in that time. The current incarnation is straight out of the "How to build a gastropub" manual. I agree that the staff are really good, but the beer is only ok and the food is not up to much at all. Big plus points are the comfy sofas and loads of magazines. However, you'd get that in a doctor's waiting room.

6 Feb 2007 15:42