A traditional pub in the heart of Fitzrovia, The Fitzroy Tavern may not have a huge range of well known drink brands to choose from but they do offer low-priced unusual options.

The Venue
The famous area of Fitzrovia, just off Tottenham Court Road, is home to many traditional old pubs. One of the most famous of these is the Fitzroy Tavern. Originally constructed as the Fitzroy Coffee House in 1883, this building was made into a pub in 1919, making it one of the most historic pubs of the area. Situated on the corner of Charlotte Street and Windmill Street, this charming old building is nestled amongst various cafes and restaurants, opposite the famous Charlotte Street Hotel.

Overall, the pub has a basic but adequate layout. Squarely shaped, there’s a cordoned off drinking area outside in the summer. Pretty climbing plants and hanging baskets adorn the outside, making this a pleasant place to drink on a warm day. Once inside, you are greeted by a large central bar in the middle of the room with all four sides offering service. Surrounding the bar, and covering the remaining space in the room, are many different tables and chairs ranging from stools to comfy loungers and hard backed seats. Downstairs in this large pub are the toilets and a function room that can cater for up to thirty guests.

The Atmosphere
Like many other pubs in this area, the Fitzroy Tavern gets very busy from 5pm. With lots of large businesses in the area, this is a popular choice for after work drinking. However, if you arrive around this time don’t expect to get a seat. Despite the crowd, the vast amount of space here means it never feels too claustrophobic and there’s never a long wait to be served. Background music is kept to a minimum and can hardly be heard over the bustle of voices.

The bar staff are quick and efficient, albeit not the friendliest bunch. Drinks are poured with minimal interaction with the customer - this is not a local’s pub. However, if all you want is a quickly served pint and to get back to your table, the service is fine. Despite the lack of well known alcoholic brands, they are knowledgeable about the different range of drinks on offer and will recommend alternatives for you.

The Food
The Fitzroy Tavern offers a large range of food to punters. Jacket potatoes, baguettes and the famous cheese board are popular lunchtime choices, whilst for a more filling dish they have traditional fare such as pasta, fish and chips, curries and the like. Main courses cost around £6-£8 whilst smaller snacks are around £3-£5.

The Drink
Like every Sam Smith’s pub, larger brands names are not on offer. Instead, all their beers are brewed by Tadcaster Brewery, and only lesser well known spirits and soft drinks are available. Whether this appeals to you or not, the prices are very competitive. A pint of Alpine Lager (affectionately known as Man in the Box) will set you back just £1.90. There's a wide range of beers to choose from along with some lagers, ciders and stouts. Popular choices include Old Brewery Pale Ale, Yorkshire Bitter and Organic Cherry Beer.

The Last Word
A popular pub steeped in history, The Fitzroy Tavern is well worth a visit.

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