The Cove, West End, London

I like taking people here, mainly because you have to walk through a pasty shop to get there and they always look totally baffled. It's probably Covent Garden's most secret pub in terms of having a prime piazza location, but although it's quirky there is definitely room for improvement.

Well, not literal room, as Cove is pretty darn tiny. It has a great terrace where you can look out over the market, but whenever I've been there it's been too busy to go outside.

If you're in the West End and want to show off some local knowledge then taking them to Cove could be a good option, but don't expect it to become your new favourite local. Unless you like pasties, that is.

At some point I guess this pub was a hidden gem, but you can’t keep a place serving so many excellent Cornish beers a secret for long.

Having recentlvisited the brewery, I was delighted to find that Cornish Knocker was on here. It is a shame that our visit was a bit tarnished by the unfriendly French security guy herding us, rather unnecessarily, away from the bar area.

As this place is above the Cornish pasty place and you can order them upstairs, soaking up the booze should not be a problem.

Well, this is a discovery. A real-ale pub above a pasty shop. In Covent Garden.

Owned by the West Cornwall Pasty Company, downstairs is a shop (with a separate entrance opposite St Paul’s church) selling a range of pasties, which can be bought and eaten in the bar area if you wish.

Upstairs (no level access) is a small bar-like pub, with a small serving area, a low-ceilinged seating area with stools and sofas, and a large balcony, which has both chairs and tables. The interior has brick walls and wooden beams, and is decorated with Cornish themes; it’s a bit twee - murals of pirates, pictures of tin miners and random seafaring memorabilia - but it’s cosy enough.

The balcony has a stunning outlook overlooking the main square in front of St Paul’s Church, which looks just like the film set from 'My Fair Lady’ (or should that be the other way around?). Anyway, it’s a wonderful vantage point and just too good to be left only to the smokers.

The main event for me is the choice of Cornish real ales: Skinners and St Austell brewery products are featured here, including Tribute, Proper Job and Skinner’s Ice Blond. Beware though: the prices reflect the Covent Garden location, so expect to pay £3.50 a pint (ouch). The pasties are similarly priced in the £3-plus bracket. Helpful staff, though.

There were two downers for me. Firstly the door staff: I find it off-putting enough that anywhere has bouncers on the door, and although he was trying to friendly, his welcome of , “Hullo lads, the bar’s upstairs, pasties are downstairs” felt like we were being shepherded.

It didn’t help that half a dozen of his mates from other venues had come over for a chat, so we had to weave our way between Crombie-coated heavies to reach the door. However nice they were - and they were absolutely fine - I still found it quite a reception party.

The second quibble was with the loos. There is one cubicle for men, one for women, and it just isn’t enough. It’s a while since I’ve had to queue to get into the toilet. It wasn’t all that great when I got in, either: I’ll spare you the details…

So, the prices, 'welcome’ and toilets bring it down to three stars. Overall, I’d consider meeting someone there if we wanted to be in the area, but not somewhere I’d head to as a special destination.

Sipping a cool glass of wine overlooking Covent Garden is a great way to spend an afternoon, and I think this is the best place to do it. The Cove is unpretentious and very cosy, the balcony and seating areas are small so it can get crowded, however if the seats are full there are steps to sit on or the bar to lean against!

If you are hungry they serve Cornish pastys and baskets of chips. The music in here is great and usually kept to a low enough level that conversation is possible. I have a feeling the selection of drinks available is quite small but I know they have a good white wine & some real ales on draft!

Climb upstairs and, if you can resist the smell of just-baked cornish pasties on your way, go for the special choice of real ales they offer. The music might not be the best and the loos might get a bit too dirty sometimes, but the coziness of this little pub with a skylight and a lovely little balcony with a privileged view of the piazza make it worth a visit every time I'm in the area.

The Cove is located in the heart of London's Covent Garden and is situated just above the Pastie Company on the Piazza. I managed to get a spot on the balcony which is not easy considering this place is quite small and cozy. The place where I was seated enabled me o see me great views of Covent Garden and was the perfect place from which to do some people watching which I love. However it was the wide selection of real ales that made this place a good choice for the evening. There are quite a few pubs in Covent Garden but the Cove is definitely one of my favorites.

Covent Garden is full of expensive, hectic bars. So thank heavens for this secluded treasure... tucked away above a pastie shop! You enter via the pastie shop which is slightly surreal (and tempting) and walk up the stairs to reveal an intimate bar of oak beams, low ceilings and cosy corners.

The piece de resistance is the great balcony that overlooks Covent Garden piazza. It has a wonderful view of the street performers, the market and the impressive Xmas tree (in season, of course). Its perfect for people watching to take in the buzz of the square.

Avoid the pretentious, overly-rpiced alternatives and seek this little gem.