The Marquis is a real breath of fresh air in an area populated by tourists and party animals. Quietly tucked away on Chandos Place lies this jewel in Covent Garden’s drinking crown. If you’re in the area and want to experience a proper local then this is one of the only places where you’ll get even close.

The Venue
The Marquis is an attractive pub that suddenly appears as if from nowhere on relatively quiet Chandos Place. A large frontage with attractive windows allows you to glance in at a stylish but charming pub and is certainly enticing for an area populated with tacky tourist venues. It’s lengthy exterior spans the street, and is dark in colour, making the clever use of lamps outside appear all the more intriguing.

Walking through the heavy door, you’ll be enveloped by the warm, cosy pub that is traditional but maintains a stylish edge. You’ll immediately be met by a small set of heavy wooden tables, flanked by low stools and wooden benches, separated from the rest of the pub by wooden partitions. Just past here you’ll spy the long bar, spanning the length of the pub. In the same deep black that adourns the exterior, rather than being dreary it actually works with the dimmed lighting and attractive lamps to give a warm glow. Bottles gleam behind the bar and a huge array of glasses hang down from above, waiting to be filled. Written along the bar is the story of The Marquis in white calligraphy-style script, adding a historical point of reference. Just in front of the bar the wooden flooring is nicely broken up by black and white diamond tiling. Running alongside the bar are high tables and chairs with further high stools lining the outside wall, pushed against a shelf where you can lazily glare out onto the quiet street. Towards the back of the pub, behind more heavy wooden partitions, lies low tables, benches and stools, and the clever positioning of the furnishings and good use of its layout lends plenty of space to cosy up, without cramming it so full of furniture that you can barely move.

Upstairs is a little-known second area, with a small bar and lots of tables for dining when downstairs is too full. Mirrors and a fireplace lend more of the charming touches that make downstairs so pleasant, and the styling and decor is the same, but this is definitely more of a place to settle into for the whole evening.

The Atmosphere
The problem with pubs in and around Covent Garden is they quickly lose their soul as they become ever more appealing to tourists. What stands The Marquis apart, however, is it definitely has more of a local charm, and is one of the only pubs in the area to offer a genuine warm service and a feeling that this is a proper pub. The clientele are mostly made up of people living or working in the area, and its tucked away location lends an ‘in the know’ feel to the atmosphere. People are friendly and accommodating, quick to clear space if most of the seating is taken up, and the element of trouble that permeates nearby Leicester Square is refreshingly absent here.

The staff are particularly worthy of note, and help to keep the local feeling of this pub firmly in mind. They remember you if you attend more than once and welcome you in with warm smiles and gentle banter. Service is quick and efficient without being harried, and it’s hard to find fault with what they offer.

The Food
The Marquis has a small but well formed food menu for reasonable prices given its WC2 postcode. This is definitely no gastropub, but the food is decent quality. Baguettes are standard and priced at around a fiver a pop, but are made with organic ingredients. Alternatively, you can opt for light bites in the form of bubble and squeak (£4.35) or a Caesar salad (£5.95). You can also buy a bowl of chips for less than 3 quid. You can get a beef roast dinner here for just £8.45 with regularly changing chef’s specials coming in at around the same price point. When the full menu isn’t offered later in the evenings, then delicious sharing platters are available for around £10 for plates heaped with quality nibbles. Well worth the money.

The Drink
There’s a great selection of drink at The Marquis, with a brilliant choice of draught lager. Amstel, Heineken, Cruzcampo, Moretti, Pauliner, Hacker Pschorr and Guinness (with an average price of £3-£3.30) are available on draught with London Pride flying the flag for ale. There are also 22 bottles of beer from around the world, including a cherry and strawberry beer for those not too keen on the stronger flavoured options. There is a small choice of wine, sparkling wine and even Champagne with all the usual spirits (including some premium options). However, this is more a lager-lovers paradise (although this isn’t reflected with a rowdy beer-fuelled crowd).

The Last Word
The Marquis is a breath of fresh air for an area populated with tourists and tacky watering holes. For a real local with charm, friendly staff and a great selection of draught lager, this is definitely worth checking out.

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