The Marlborough Arms is a friendly, bustling pub in the backstreets of Tottenham Court Road.

The Venue
The Marlborough Arms is a well known pub in the Bloomsbury area. Situated in Torrington Place, a couple of minutes from Tottenham Court Road, this large pub can be found on the corner of the street in amongst several new build developments. After an extensive refurbishment, which could be due to the exclusive apartments that popped up next door, it’s trying hard to impress.

Gone are the pool tables that used to sit at the back of the room; these have been replaced with tables and chairs for the pub’s diners. The venue itself is a large, oval shaped room of typical pub design. A brown, wooden theme runs throughout, and there’s plentiful seating and tables for the punters. The bar runs along the far end of the pub and there are a few TV screens scattered around the room.

The Atmosphere
The Marlborough Arms is popular with the locals. It’s always busy, with a lively hubbub of chat ringing round the room. On very busy days it could be described as quite hectic; once all the tables and chairs have filled up people try and squeeze in the gaps between them, creating an unpleasantly squashed scene. Luckily, the bar staff are always pleasant and in good spirits even when swamped with orders, although service can be slow at times. As with many pubs in the area, the busiest times here are at lunch and after work on Fridays.

There’s a mixed clientele at The Marlborough Arms, consisting mainly of office workers, builders and shoppers. Being located close to UCL means it’s also popular with the students in the area. Such a mixed bag ensures the atmosphere is always bustling and friendly.

The Food
This pub offers a typical selection of reasonably priced meals. Starters such as wedges with cheese and bacon, garlic bread or chicken wings will cost you from £3-£6. Main meals such a rump steak, pie of the day and sausage and mash cost around the £6-£7 mark. Lighter bites such as jacket potatoes and sandwiches are also on offer.

The Drink
The drink at The Marlborough Arms is also priced very reasonably for a Central London pub. A pint of Fosters will set you back £2.40. Other beers on offer include John Smiths, Hoegaarden, Leffe and Staropramen. There is also a decent wine list offering a vast range of wines (with an especially large choice of whites). A small glass of Pinot Grigio Blush Rose is a reasonable £3.50. Soft drinks and a range of hot drinks are also available.

The Last Word
A large, friendly pub with fairly priced food and drink makes this a good choice for a mid-shop stop.

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