the Polar Bear, Leicester Square

It's changed a bit since the last time I was in there (1990 I think)

Not so much real ale, for one thing.

 

If you're looking for real ale, Leicester Square is not really the right
place.

 

There was a place in a village called Broom on the way to Biggleswade that
sold all its ales out of wooden casks - trouble was I got so pissed I
couldn't find it again the next night.

 

The Sun in Lamb Conduit Street was a beer festival in its own right.
Mind ewe that was back in 1985.

 

Malc wibbled forthrightly:

Christ, I remember that place back in 1990 (ish). Excellent real ale,
IIRC.

 

I remember going there once as I said back in 1985. It had something
like 15 or so real ales and at least 4 real ciders IIRC. It must have
made a strong impression as a single visit remains (fairly) memorable
after all this time

 

The Lamb & Flag, or any Nicholsons pub, would be my suggestion in the
west end for a decent pint of ale.

The better option is to avoid the west end entirely. It's ghastly.
Rammed with world-class fanny, mind.

 

I wasn't really that bothered about the real ale selection, just after a
refreshing drink en-route to the HK Diner.

Ku (formerly The Polar Bear) as it turned out was a completely fanny-free
zone. But at least it's an award winning establishment - the Boyz Award for
most attractive barmen 2010 IIRC.

 

Aye, it's not great around there. The Coal Hole is Nicholsons and
isn't too bad but gets busy eith tourists.

Plus, there's the Nell Gwynne, the Round Table, the Blue Posts, and one
of my favourites (but a bit far from the WE "proper") the Edgar Wallace.

Absolutely.

 

If only we could harness the power of your deductive reasoning mojo, the
world's energy problems would be solved once and for all.

 

Try the Harp in Chandos Place.

http://www.harpcoventgarden.com/
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if you forget about the ale, and concentrate on the fanny, you may as
well just head to Revolution and be done with it - it's absolutely
packed wall-to-wall with world-class flange.

 

worse than the tourists, the Coal Hole is packed with luvvies later in
the evening.

Better off wandering down New Oxford Street and heading to the
Princess Louise. Shit beer (Sam Smiths) but a beautiful pub and always
with a strange combination of being full, but quiet.

 

Yes, it is a beautiful pub, but I *detest* Sam Smith's beer so it's a
no-go for me.

 

I have high hopes with The Rose in Fulham tonight for some Sloaney
totty.

 

Try the Phoenix club on Charing Cross Road. After that nowhere will ever
seem packed with luvvies again.

 

my solution to that particular problem is to drink wine. I love the
Princess Louise, and everyone I've ever taken there for the first time
has fallen in love with the place too.

It actually looks older than it is (it was "recently" built in 1872,
and genuinely I didn't have to look that up).

You could do a lot worse on Holborn - the Penderel's Oak, scene of
Ivanfest 3 (i think), or Davy's Bung Hole - I generally like Davy's
but there's something very wrong with the Bung Hole.

 

I was there once. With Simon Kenyon, porl and Kiran Soar.

You can imagine how fucking camp that whole scene was.

 

But drinking wine in a pub is for women & poofters!

 

I used to work in Fulham about 10 years ago, and was in The Rose now
and again back then.

But...The Kings's Road...a gastro-pub...with /your/ reputation?