Holborn

[david_carnell]

I'm moving jobs at the end of Feb and leaving Victoria/Pimlico for (High) Holborn.

Don't really know that bit of town too well and hoping for recommendations for pubs/restaurants/luncheon venues, stalls, shops etc that might be different to the normal pret/eat/itsu rubbish.

I love the 7 Stars in Lincolns Inn already but otherwise I'm a bit clueless. I'll be at the Kingsway end if that makes any difference but happy to wander about.

[Jah Lush]

I loved working in Holborn though it is 20 years since I did. You being at the Kingsway end you're not far from the Princess Louise. Not been in there for a very long time but it's beautiful old pub so you really should give a whirl.

[StraferJack]

slightly the wrong end for you, but Leather Lane for street food

Kingsway itself is barren - better off heading a few yards into Covent Garden to Hawksmoor

[adonirum]

You could try the old Bonnington Hotel. It is now called something like The Yewtree at the Hilton (or very similar). It is on the opposite side of Southampton Row to the large building, Victoria House.(Southampton Row is what Kingsway becomes after it crosses High Holborn).

Avoid at all costs Parkers Restaurant in Parker Street. ate there once and when going to the loo saw rats in the toilets.

[red devil]

If you fancy a bit of lunchtime culture, pop into the Soane Museum, fantastic interior. It doesn't sell food directly, but it's run in association with nearby Fields Bar and Kitchen... http://www.soane.org/your_visit/fields-bar-and-kitchen/

[david_carnell]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> I loved working in Holborn though it is 20 years

> since I did. You being at the Kingsway end you're

> not far from the Princess Louise. Not been in

> there for a very long time but it's beautiful old

> pub so you really should give a whirl.

Sadly, it would seem the curse of Samuel Smith is upon it.

http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/princess-louise

So many beautiful boozers have fallen prey to this curse - it's tantamount to abuse. I'd almost rather it was a Wetherspoons. At least their ale is nice and well kept.

[Jah Lush]

Err... oh, dear. I second Leather Lane market and a little gem of a pub down an ally way off Hatton Garden is The Mitre.

http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/ye-olde-mitre-tavern

[JohnL]

Bad reviews there - although ok when I popped in.

But still not sure of the divisions :)

david_carnell Wrote:

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> Jah Lush Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I loved working in Holborn though it is 20

> years

> > since I did. You being at the Kingsway end

> you're

> > not far from the Princess Louise. Not been in

> > there for a very long time but it's beautiful

> old

> > pub so you really should give a whirl.

>

> Sadly, it would seem the curse of Samuel Smith is

> upon it.

>

> http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-and-pubs/prince

> ss-louise

>

> So many beautiful boozers have fallen prey to this

> curse - it's tantamount to abuse. I'd almost

> rather it was a Wetherspoons. At least their ale

> is nice and well kept.

[womanofdulwich]

check out the silver vaults too!

[DaveR]

I work just round the corner, so, in no particular order, my top 10 lunch places within 10 minutes walk:

Asadal (Korean), in a basement next to Holborn Station

Hummus Brothers, Southampton Row

Hi Sushi Izakaya, Catherine Street

Siam Eatery, Wellington Street

Takeaway falafel and kofte wraps from the guys in the churchyard at St Dunstan in the West, Fleet Street

Koshari Street, St Martin's Lane

Bahn Mi Bay, Theobalds Road

Mishkin, Catherine Street

Takeaway Thai from the back Of Pu's, Gate St, Lincoln's Inn Fields

Asap (Malaysian), High Holborn.

Also worth mentioning great bacon rolls from Wright's Bar, Houghton St (next to the main LSE building), and the Craft Beer Co on Leather Lane - a bit of a walk but good for working up a thirst.

And it's only 15 minutes walk to Chinatown - I had dim sum for lunch today at Joy King Lau, off Lisle Street.

[david_carnell]

DaveR wins the prize. Good man.

[????]

Cheshire cheese and the. Jerusalem Tavern both in walking distance

[StraferJack]

Cheshire cheese another Sam smith tho

[DaveR]

I don't go out drinking much in the area - a lots of the pubs have been tarted up in recent years and consequently are a bit rubbish. The Princess Louise is definitely still worth a visit, just for the decor. If you like proper German beer try the Bierschenke on Essex Street - they also do German food, but only open for lunch on Fridays. If you like Belgian beer, the Lowlander on Drury Lane is good.

And for lunch (or even better, breakfast) the Delaunay Counter is very good; they're aiming for that non-specific Central European capital grand cafe feel, and they just about pull it off.

[david_carnell]

Well, my contract forbids drinking during work hours but post work drinks should be a lot better than here in Victoria.

[El Pibe]

I intend to take up lunch time drinking with some gusto

[PeckhamRose]

Is there still a pub called something like The Star near Great Ormond Street? Am I in the wrong area? I believe that pub had some record for having the most beers on sale, at some time or another.

[Jah Lush]

Good call on The Cheshire Cheese, Quids. I really must take a walk around some of my old haunts soon as I'm sure the area has changed quite a bit since I worked there but I always found that the beauty of working in Holborn is that you're not that far away from Covent Garden and even better, Soho.

[????]

The Olde Bell is another cracker

[mancity68]

And Lambs Conduit St is good for a wander. Wild and Wood for offer on New Oxford Street. Oh and the Fleet River Bakery behind Holborn tube is good for lunch, tea and cake.

[Otta]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Cheshire cheese another Sam smith tho

Serious question, because I honestly don't know. What's wrong with Sam Smith pubs?

The only one I know is The Chandos / Opera Rooms near Charing Cross, where I used to meet a bunch of old friends. Haven't been there for ages, but have good memories, posibly just because they were good nights with friends... So what's the problem with them if they're taking pubs that might otherwise close and keeping them more or less as they are? (again for all I know they may rip the interior out of once lovely places, I'm genuinely asking here)?

[StraferJack]

I don't mind them at all Otta, but DC was pretty specific in his dislike of them so was just warning him

That said they aren't as cheap as they once were (used to be amazingly so) and the beer does give me a bit of a headache. But I still prefer them to most city watering holes

ETA: for the ale drinker they offer pretty much nothing. Doesn't affect me so much but for many people it's a deal breaker

[Jah Lush]

Yeah! What's so wrong with SS pubs? ;-)

Another Sam Smith pub I used to enjoy a few ales in at lunchtime was the Cittie Of York on High Holborn with its long bar and old booths. If it is still there and I sincerely hope it is and hasn't been turned into an Abbey National or something then it's worth checking out. Actually, sod it. I think may get my arse out of the house today and take a wander around the old haunts and check 'em all out for myself. It's been a very long time.

[JohnL]

Still there and good for a pint (seems like a lot of lawyers talking business when I went in)

Like a church at the back still with the booths :)

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Yeah! What's so wrong with SS pubs? ;-)

>

> Another Sam Smith pub I used to enjoy a few ales

> in at lunchtime was the Cittie Of York on High

> Holborn with its long bar and old booths. If it is

> still there and I sincerely hope it is and hasn't

> been turned into an Abbey National or something

> then it's worth checking out. Actually, sod it. I

> think may get my arse out of the house today and

> take a wander around the old haunts and check 'em

> all out for myself. It's been a very long time.

[El Pibe]

I ahven't been to one since i bumped into you behind TCR that time SJ.

I'm not sure they're quite so deserving of ire other than being rather identikit, see also youngs and nicholsons.

THey certainly used to be staggeringly cheap for central london, and the beer was always potable if not exactly interesting.

But then I probably used to frequent them before anyone thought beer could (or rather should) be interesting.