The Calthorpe Arms is a dusty old pub in Bloomsbury. And that’s no bad thing.

The Venue
The Calthorpe Arms comes straight out of the past. The traditional mirrors, (old) tables and chairs, and the wooden bars muddled from different shades of trunked plant aren’t there for an old fashioned look, they’re merely old fashioned. This isn’t a bad thing. If you can put up with a range of colours so faded that they actually make you think you’re a bleary-eyed baby discovering sight for the first time, then you’ll be just fine.

They may be old and mottled in colour with a hint of frosting for good measure but the seats that run the whole way around the pub are comfortable and it’s commendable that the old fixtures are still there. There are a range of stools near the bar and a foreboding gap reserved for standing between them and the tables by the windows. There isn’t much to remark on in the Calthorpe, its carpet is the norm, its walls and ceiling are covered by the usual slightly sickly prints, and it’s a good size.

The Atmosphere
Despite being in the proximity of a large bundle of office blocks, the Calthorpe Arms doesn’t seem to see much trade during the day. The emptiness will prove a good test as to whether the pub can rely on its own personal romance. On this test it fails. It feels a bit like you’ve taken a day off sick and gone to the pub, only to find that everyone there is sick too and watching the same daytime TV that you just left to overcome the cabin fever it gave you.

The evening is much better, however, Lemsip has been gulped and the pub has a lot more life. It won Pub of the Year awards in 1999, 2004 and 2007 and the brighter atmosphere puts paid to the haters, if only for a while. The noise levels are quiet, both voices and music need to be increased to make the pub a place of occasion.

The Food
The food choice is slim and the list of dishes is only to be found on the blackboard at the end of the bar. It’s typical pub fare with plaice, gammon, scampi and lasagne all served with chips.

The Drink
The wine choice is basic with only a couple of different bottles of each colour but then a varied range isn’t to be expected here. The beers and ales are the main event. There is a choice between Kronenbourg, Fosters, Carling and Heineken and Young’s Bitter and Tribute ale.

The Last Word
The Calthorpe Arms offers a warm seat for a cold beer but little intrigue beyond.

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