Be careful when your mates suggest meeting up at Waxy's as this little sister has a more popular older brother in the form of Waxy O’Connors. Be sure you know which one they mean or risk standing alone, pint in hand, wondering why nobody has turned up.

The Venue
A short stroll from Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Soho, not far from its big brother, sits Waxy’s Little Sister. Located on Wardour Street, just behind Chinatown, this compact two-floor bar is something of an oasis in a hectic and tacky part of town.

As soon as you step in, your attention will be drawn to the brown wooden flooring and the cavernous ceiling, giving the bar a rather charming rustic edge that can be likened to a traditional pub. The first floor bar area is mainly standing, furnished only with a few wooden stools that run around the periphery of the space. However, decorative features such as a heavy iron chandelier and wrought iron candelabras protruding at regular intervals from the wall help to create a cosy feeling. Red mottled walls and rich, warming woods only add to the charm.

A staircase leads up to the second floor lounge where comfortable green and red leather sofas and stools and cute little wooden tables are evenly laid out across the four corners of the room. Although there is no bar up here, a clever addition of a dumb waiter has been installed so that drinks can easily be sent up to you from below. Both floors benefit from a fireplace that add to the inherent charm of this bar – especially on blustery winter nights. The large windows allow in plenty of light during the day and cast a happy natural glow across the space.

The Atmosphere
Waxy’s Little Sister attracts a local after work crowd and the inevitable Central London tourists out to enjoy a drink among friends and the charm of the Irish. However, although this is an Irish themed bar, there are none of the tacky typically craic touches that undermine many of its competitors.

Although the bar can appear understaffed at times as the Friday hordes descend, the staff are friendly and endeavour to accommodate the punters wherever possible. The ground floor bar quickly fills to capacity at peak times and can feel suffocating; luckily, there’s welcome respite upstairs. An extensive soundtrack of nostalgic pop rock plays out in the background and includes tracks from the likes of U2, Oasis and Billy Joel.

The Drink
Waxy’s Little Sister obviously does great business with their pints of Guinness, but they also offer draught Caffreys, Carling, Fosters, Stella and Blackthorne Cider for an average £3.40 a pint, which isn’t bad given its central location. Bottles of Becks, Corona, Budweiser and Magners range from £3.50-£4.40.

If you prefer the grape, then there are a handful of wines to choose from, ranging from just £12.75 a bottle. The Long Beach Shiraz is a decent choice and won’t set your teeth on edge with its acidity. For special occasions, the Champagne selection includes a cheap bottle of Heidsieck Monopole for just £29.50 or the more expensive but better quality Laurent Perrier Rose for £60. As you might expect, there’s also a great selection of Irish whisky, ranging from £3.50 for the increasingly popular Black Bush, rising to £9.50 for Middleton Row.

The Last Word
Waxy’s Little Sister is a surprisingly charming pub for this typically tacky part of town and is worth seeking out if you find yourself trapped in the area with few drinking options.

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