Coach & Horses, London

One of the smaller pubs in Covent Garden, it's a one room drinkers pub yet comfortable and warm. Mostly standing room though there are tall chairs of varying heights to sit on - at the one round table, around the side of the room, or in front of the main window etched with 'Watney Combe Reid'. One large mirror. etched 'Coach and Horses', overlooks the table and is adorned with a generous vase of fresh exotic blooms.

The back bar is recessed with a mirror in a moulded surround, highlighting the various spirits etc., available. Blogged as one of the best traditional pubs in central London. An independent pub with a lot of Irish influence and hence big Guinness sales (and the claim to be the best in London, probably, as evidenced by the Irish Post), very much used by locals, office workers, and occasional visitors. There's always plenty of good, odd characters in the corner who've been here since whenever!

Whatever the day, there's always for some a reason to have a bottle of 'shampoo' on the go - as if you really needed an excuse. In the heart of Theatreland, and close to the Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal, Bow Street Police Museum and London Transport Museum, the many retired stars of back-stage and back-screen drink here in the corner to the left of the bar counter. There are of course the inevitable theatre-goers in the evening, when the pub can get very busy.

This house has a fantastic collection of about 70 Irish whiskeys and gin, and Scotch whiskies. There are photos and posters for Gaelic football and Irish hurling, plus theatre posters, on the walls. Run by the same Irish family for around forty years now, when you visit, say hullo to the bar team: Jodie, Michael and Sean. And if you need a newspaper ask Michael for a borrow of his. All music is selected by the establishment - no musak here! - so expect an eclectic play list with some good golden oldies thrown in among Oasis and others of the more recent era.