If you were in a horse drawn carriage and the year was 1888 one might suggest a short ale stop at the Inn near Marylebone Village; equally good for a pint before jumping on the tube after a hard day in the office!

The Venue
On the corner of the decidedly English Devonshire Street, Inn 1888 waits sanguinely for your business. With a crimson exterior, there are a few tables located out front and summer standing space along a beautiful mews, onto which they often open large double doors, weather permitting. Nineties fairylights flash through the frosted glass, behind which waits a fully stocked bar with the customary goldfish bowl on its counter - complete with goldfish.

The interior continues the quirky and kitsch style with gold leaf columns, a tiled fireplace, rustic tables, armchairs and a sofa. The furniture is a bit worn, but that only adds to the charm of the decor. Chunky oak framed mirrors and candles tie the room together, which maintains a beguiling low light even throughout the day.

The Atmosphere
Marlybone High Street has become progressively more yuppie, the village feel of the area fading fast as corporate chain restaurants, pubs and shops move in to force the independents out. Fortunately, Inn 1888 maintains a local village appeal. A cross section of people visit; its location being close enough to Oxford Street to pull in the tourists, its appeal smart enough to bring in the suits, and its pub appearance casual enough to allow visits from the tracksuit brigade. What is most refreshing about this pub is the distinct lack of pretension.

The Food
Whilst not a gastropub, Inn 1888 does offer a restaurant-like dining area complete with a decent Thai menu with some nice organic choices. The food itself is delicious, and if you prefer your pub grub more low key there’s also a range of the classic step-up pub food, like wedges served with garlic mayonnaise. They also have daily specials, of which the soup is usually a good bet.

The Drink
For West London the mixed drinks are surprisingly cheap – expect considerable change from a fiver for your vodka orange. The biggest drawback to Inn 1888, however, is the small selection of lagers - Stella and Carling. There are three bitters on tap, offering nothing exciting. That said, the prices of the beers are less than you might expect and they have a wine list, which is not extensive but does go well with the food.

The Last Word
If you want to avoid the yuppie pretension that permeates across Marylebone Village then head to Inn 1888 – it’s like stepping back to a simpler time, in more ways than one.

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