The Soho pub that somehow offers a little village in a West End world.

The Venue
The Coach and Horses is a pub without quirks – there are no flashing lights or retro seating. In an area of London packed with tourists, it gives back some central city tradition. Expect to see wooden tables, a sturdy wooden bar and wooden beams – there’s not even a whiff of sleek, shiny surfaces. It’s cosy whilst remaining a rickety lair for Soho’s more restrained characters. An orange glare lights the pub by night, tables are pushed against the walls and space is left for the stand up drinker – that the place certainly attracts with its ‘local’ appeal.

The Atmosphere
The popularity of the Coach and Horses is built upon its local vibe; however, this doesn’t attract a one-dimensional type of person. It’s as if someone has gone out canvassing to lure in as vast a spectrum as possible of Soho’s drinkers. Charming eccentrics prop up the bar, surrounded by tope, Mulberry men, who listen to old fables being spilled – occasionally interrupted by the exhalation of vast bellyfuls of laughter.

There’s no need for bouncers in a pub so obviously lacking in aggression, with no thought given over to the fact that the merriment could turn into anything other than a joyful catharsis by the end of an evening. Every silver lining has a cloud, however, and the time between paying for your drink and receiving your change is hardly rapid. The staff indulges in ‘Heat’ style chitchat and gossip - at the expense of your feet. This is a small price to pay for a central pub with a touch of honest charm.

The Drink
An old fashioned type of place that is beyond the bottled imports and Czech mates of other public houses. You’re as likely to find a drunk as a duke in the Coach and Horses, sampling an array of alcohol. For anything out of the ordinary, the staff seem like the types who would be keen to experiment.

The Last Word
There are no boundaries being pushed at The Coach and Horses, but Soho would miss this local bolthole if it wasn’t around.

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