My local village pub was called The White Hart, so when I found out my new work local had the same name, it was obviously fate.

The proximity to theatreland, Holborn and Covent Garden means this place is always fairly busy in the evening, and there are loads of photos of famous folks lining the back of the bar. That said, we’ve never seen and ‘slebs in our time there (and that’s quite a lot of time).

The decor’s a bit of a mix. Lots of pictures of chickens on the walls for some reason, a space invaders game in one corner that doubles as a table, and seats ranging from stools to sofas depending on where you sit. The further back, the less crowded it feels, with a dining style area right at the back. Beware though, Tuesday night is Jazz night up there. The pianist and clarinet player are definitely talented, but don’t sit anywhere near them if you’re there to talk, because the music’s pretty loud.

The menu is fairly small, and food is good enough but not memorable. Sharing the nachos is your best bet - just beware the jalapenos.

This pub is conveniently situated to the City Lit so you will find a lot of students wandering into this pub after their studious sessions. I like it because it is very close to Holborn tube station and is just slightly off a main road. It does feel a little cramped as you wander through the doors and there is a little seating area followed by the long bar. Then the ambience of the pub changes as you fight your way past the bar to a more sophisticated style. It’s then more spacious with comfy sofas. I must admit I’ve only ever tried their chips, very nice too and feel they could offer much more in the way of food but certainly no complaints with the drinks. It has a good atmosphere, lively, yet also laid back.

This is an interesting pub. I tend to look at it as three pubs in one.

As you first walk in, it’s a traditional pub. The bar is set up a bit like a galley so it’s quite narrow when it’s crowded. But once you get past the bar, near the toilets, I find it more like a small bierhall environment. Then past that area, you’ll find a decently-sized seating area with nice couches and tables. All three are good areas, but I find them really distinct.

But in all honesty, the only reason I go to the White Hart is because it’s generally open much later than other pubs in the area. Usually at least until 1:30am. So when I’m not ready to go home at 11, I’ll always suggest the White Hart.

"The oldest licensed premises in London", apparently, thankfully The White Hart has had the odd refurbishment since it reputedly opened for business in 1216.

It retains a fair amount of olde-worlde character though, and in the evening tends to be dimly-lit. This has a strange effect on females, I find - a glass of wine more often than not tends to become a bottle. After work it tends to have quite a lot besuited sorts hanging around the bar, but gradually the vibe tends to become more laidback. Um, Tuesday appears to be jazz night, and the jazz tends to be played at quite a high volume - so choose a different night if you're going for a deep-and-meaningful.

The food is good, if a little limited - and if you're a veggie, even more so. Had a weird lunch experience there once; a colleague and I were kept waiting ages for a Chicken Caesar Salad, but were kindly informed by the bar staff that this delay wasn't our fault. Which was nice to have confirmed, I suppose...