Old Coffee House

A traditional looking pub, with loads of knickknacks hanging from the ceiling and pictures on the wall to impress the tourists - plenty of brewery mirrors in evidence, along with recruitment posters from the second World War and stuffed birds. It doesn't have that forced olde worlde look some places do, however, probably because it's looked like this forever. After work, it's packed with local workers, and although some stay and some go, providing a steady turnover of people and an atmosphere which manages to stay relaxed. Every so often a bunch of tourists wander into the place, but the pub takes them in its stride. Inexpensive food is available, plus a surprising compliment of five ales courtesy of Brodies Brewery in Leyton at £3 a pint. Ironic for somewhere which was once a Temperance movement coffee house, which hoped to lure people away from alcohol with promises of caffine. Service is prompt enough, but hardly effervescent, which is a bit of a shame as this pub would be a decent local anywhere (but is especially remarkable in Soho) and we'd hoped the guv'nor might feel the same way.