The Hope is a standard pub that offers some calm among the winding Fitzrovia streets.

The Venue
Located north of Oxford Street, The Hope finds itself in a quiet side street that matches the serene calm that emanates from the traditional building. The location is certainly quaint, with an old-fashioned toy shop and museum next door.

Inside, there is a simple wooden bar with a row of stools propped neatly against it. The big windows that cover the two sides of the bar shed a lot of light on the dusty old interior and the beige walls bounce the beams around. Cushioned benches run around the space with a group of tables and chairs for extra seating. It is a traditional approach to decor but just what’s needed to escape the buzz bars of Oxford Street and its surroundings.

The Atmosphere
The Hope has a hardcore contingent that seems to stay for hours on end and it’s not hard to see why with a cosy wooden cabin of a pub to huddle up in. The usual Central London mix is sidestepped here and an individual looking crowd is made up of people that work nearby as well as those that have stumbled upon it by chance and returned. The staff are friendly and chatty during the fairly quiet days and although they are a little slow to serve, you could possibly put that down to the relaxed atmosphere that exudes.

The flat screen television placed high in one corner almost seems out of keeping with the pub’s other features but is just another positive when you think of the lack of genuinely good pubs in which to sit and enjoy live sport in Central London.

The Food
The old floorboards just wouldn’t tolerate any of the gastro style nonsense and so The Hope keeps the wooden ones happy with a menu as classic as they are. The pub grub is in full flow on the blackboard with chicken kiev and chilli con carne both looking good. There is also the ubiquitous sausage and mash but with the added excitement of a choice of sausage of the week.

The Drink
The choices of wine and spirits are fair with a good range of bottled beers in the fridge, too, but the beer selection is where the place excels. Among the varied range on draught there is Stella, Staropramen, Carlsberg and Becks with special mention to the beers from the cask. These include Timothy Taylor, London Pride and Greene King.

The Last Word
The Hope is a sweet little place that combines good beer with a genuine and cosy atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

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