Crown and Two Chairmen

After a controversial makeover in 2006 this remains very much a drinking pub, with a fantastic array of beers including Budvar Dark, (try it!) and big screen TVs showing sport if there is any to be shown. The place is still noisy and unruly, with drinkers spilling out onto the street, and all the atmosphere of a well-loved local pub. We were pleased as punch to see how little had changed and grudgingly decided to give the food a try, retreating for this purpose to the upstairs room. It isn't a dining room, mind you - it is packed with friendly revellers who struck up conversation in the hope of scrounging a chip. Or so we assume. The food is hardly sensational - medium expensive burgers with bacon and cheese toppings or salsa for more money, toad in the hole, fish finger sandwiches, grilled haloumi, chicken and mango salad - the sort of intercontinental mish mash you might get at any decent 'gastro' pub. The toad was actually really yummy but everything else was just OK and we ate quickly so we could get on with the drinking. The Crown and Two Chairmen has always been an excellent, lively boozer and it still is. The only perceptible change is that now you can eat some decent grub as well. Perhaps they were right, after all... it certainly gives them an edge over our other favourite Soho spots.