The Old Coffee House is not a coffee house at all but a traditional pub on Soho’s Beak Street.

The Venue
Tucked into the corner of one of Soho’s many side streets is the Old Coffee House, and while its location isn’t the most obvious, the venue is a busy bean. The interior of the pub has obviously evolved over time and as it happened wall space comes at a premium, as framed pictures were mounted in every available space.

The look is one of organised clutter with old army enlistment posters, branded beer mirrors and, oddly, a stuffed pheasant in a glass box. Within the walls and under the coat of light shed by red bulbs is a traditional array of tables and chairs, buttoned leather benches and wood in every direction.

The Atmosphere
During the day, the Old Coffee House has a feel of the Twilight Zone about it; the red lights offend the eyes whilst the combination of stuffed animals and supposed war-happy battle-mongers staring down from the walls may leave you feeling creeped out.

However, as the gates of Soho’s media institutions open, the pub swells with drinkers and the change is huge - incredible even. The pavements are lined outside when the sun makes warmth and the noise inside is enough to draw out any lingering whispers from evil spirited propaganda posters. There are no gimmicks or particularly overt reasons to be here, but the sweet location and interesting interior seem to be enough to attract a good crowd.

The Drink
The prices of wine at the Old Coffee House are good value for money for the area, all at around £13 a bottle, the quality may be doubted by some, but it’s standard fare with Chardonnay and Merlot on the wine list. Gigantic bottles of white are also suspended upright with measures waiting to be drained, spirit style. There are a good number of beers with Fosters, Stella, Kronenbourg, Amstel and Heineken on draught and Bombardier and IPA ales.

The Last Word
With odds and ends, knick knacks and bric-a-brac, the Old Coffee House makes a good place for those with short attention spans to let their eyes wander during stale conversations and the alley at the side is a quiet piece of pavement where summer drinks can be savoured.

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