Dog & Duck

Small boozer with limited seating but best in summer when folk stand outside and people watch as there are shelves provided so you can stand and chat after work. Nice selection of ales but as its a busy pub sometimes you have to wait to be served. The loos are fairly clean too (rare indeed)

A lovely olde Nicholsons pub with a decent selection of beers.

My only minor criticism might be regarding the lack of variety of styles (mostly if not all dark beers). It didn’t bother me one jot as I supped a delicious cherry porter!

There were some unusual beers in the fridge too, almost alcopopesque in appearance. Hadn’t seen them before so had to have a taste. Was very easy drinking but not enough flavour to tempt me again.

Lovely intimate pub in busy Soho
go on a Sunday for peace & quiet

A great little pub, but it really is little. It gets very busy, which means drinking outside (weather permitting) or squeezing in amongst the one too many tables. Still great though.

Nice boozer in Soho, tiny inside, so a good atmosphere at any time of day. A nice selection of sausages to choose from if you want some stodge.

Good to stand outside in the summer, the staff are either very quiet or a little too keen, but they have Staropramen on tap, so how bad can it be?

Standard Westend boozer with actually rather cheep ale. It is pretty tiny though, so the pub is great for one of those “let’s drink outside moments” but perhaps not so great when the weather isn’t upto it. An area I tend to stay clear of, but this venue won’t offend so I’ll probably go back to it.

This is a charming little pub in the heart of Soho, but it can get packed to overflowing of an evening. They used to have a real fire downstairs, but last time I tried to pass through the downstairs bar it was so rammed I don’t know if it’s still there.

For a more relaxed atmosphere (and room to breathe), try the bar upstairs – it’s really cosy if you can get a seat. Windows overlook the street below and you quite often get into conversation with the people on the other tables (they’re that close!). The wine is quite good too, unusually for a pub, and they do a nice Valparaiso chilean cabernet sauvignon.

If I’m meeting someone in Soho, this is definitely where I’d choose. But probably best for a one-on-one, as it would be difficult for a group to all get seats. Although, apparently, you can hire out the upstairs bar for private functions. Something I might consider in future.

A lovely old pub that was a favourite of Orwell and continues to attract a mixed crowd now. It’s beautifully decorated and a good size.

The only small quibble is the awkwardness involved in reaching the downstairs loos. In addition to the inconvenience of having to squeeze between other tables to reach the stairs the walk down can be just that little bit perilous.

Well worth a visit though. It’s definitely one of Soho’s gems.

The pub’s name recalls the rather cruel sport of duck hunting, which had been popular when this was a far more rural area.

The Dog and Duck pub was built in 1718 and so little changed since the 19th century that the Victorian Society have applauded it as a rare if not unique survival of a small Victorian town pub. It’s now a Grade II listed building.
The front bar is tiled to dado level with plain and ornamental tiles, some depicting a dog holding a duck in its mouth. Above this, large mirrors in mahogany frames, advertise mineral water and cigarettes. These are separated by columns of decorative tiles.

Author George Orwell came to the Dog and Dick to celebrate the fact that the American Book-of-the-Month Club had selected his latest novel Animal Farm.In fact pop upstairs to the George Orwell room (he used to drink here). One of the better places in Soho for a pint.

Nice pub in the middle of Soho

This tiny pub in Soho is a gem. Built in 1897 on the site of an 18th century pub of the same name, from the outside it looks like your average, traditional corner pub.

The interior, however, is an amazing survivor, with elaborate tiling and mosaics, and large mirrors. No wonder it is a Grade II listed building. As well as the ground floor bar, there's a small upstairs bar, named after George Orwell, who apparently drank here at one time.

Owned by Nicholson's, the excellent beer selection included London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Adnam's Broadside and Harvey's Sussex Bitter. Another nice facet of Nicholson's is the 'try before you buy' option, offering a taster. OK, nothing unusual there, but a good choice all the same. Food is also served, though I've not eaten here.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the clientele very mixed: gruff locals, students and assorted Soho media types. There are two downers: the downstairs is so small, not to say cramped at the rear, that you do find yourself tripping over coats and bags: and the Gentlemen's toilet. This is in the basement, and as you descend, there's a notice saying: 'Steep and Slippery Stairs'. They're not kidding. It's like the North Face of the Eiger. Definitely a challenge after a pint or three.

Overall, a nice little pub, especially if you can visit when it's a bit quieter.