If you can’t wait until October, then it’s like Halloween every day in the Ben Crouch Tavern.

The Venue
Swathed in darkness, cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, gargoyles glaring out from behind the bar, the Ben Crouch Tavern probably sounds like the least welcoming pub ever. On the contrary, the Hammer Horror style decorations are impish and tongue-in-cheek, putting it roughly on a par with the Vampire Ride at Chessington World of Adventures in the scare stakes.

Apparently named after a notorious grave robber, this spooky hangout is a curious concept but its ghoulish garlands are sure to pique the interest of passers by, and it certainly makes for an unorthodox drinking experience.

The Atmosphere
Too tacky to be considered a Goth’s paradise, the Ben Crouch Tavern still attracts more than its fair share of youngsters in touch with their dark side, but the clientele are far more varied than you might imagine.

Evidently aware that death metal blaring from the speakers would make the place inhospitable to all but a niche few, the proprietors instead opt for a backdrop of jangly indie pop. It’s a music policy popular with the HMV staff from next door, who appear to have made it their home from home, but they’re regularly joined by Oxford Street shoppers and Fitzrovia office workers.

The Food
Slightly more extensive than the average pub menu, the Ben Crouch Tavern choice of dishes takes in starters, sides, sandwiches, sharers, mains and puddings, plus a daily list of specials. The 6oz 35 day matured British rump steak beef burger is a favourite – at £7.25 it doesn’t come cheap for a burger, but the prices are ok for the area. You can’t help but feel they’re missing a trick with such a thoroughly sensible menu though – surely anything served with ketchup should be described as ‘dripping with blood’?

The Drink
Forget the wines (typically £10-£15 a bottle for a reasonable array of reds and whites from around the world). Forget the lager (£3 plus for a pint of Fosters, closer to £4 for Leffe or Staropramen). Spirits can wait another day. The tipple of choice at the Ben Crouch Tavern has to be the Seven Deadly Sins cocktails, and at less than £4 each you can probably afford to try all seven. If they don’t grab you, how about an Addams Family shooter, each a different colour and served in test tubes?

The Last Word
It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but Ben Crouch Tavern’s sense of fun prevents it from being a nightmare on Wells Street. Just don’t venture into the toilets alone.

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