Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 26 and Version 25 of Calthorpe Arms, WC1X 8JR

Decent Young's pub in Bloomsbury, with a bookable upstairs area, untouched by the gastro rebranding a lot of Young's pubs have gone through in recent years. As such, it's a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide.

This is a real locals' pub, and although it's not particularly close to any Tube station (Russell Square is closest), this does mean that it has the advantage of never being particularly crowded. It has a few benches and tables outside for al fresco drinking in the warm weather; they're around the corner from Gray's Inn Road itself, so don't suffer too much from passing traffic.

There are six handpulls for ale, which on a November 2009 visit were dispensing Young's ordinary (on two), Special (on two), Winter Warmer, and Tribute.

Food is served noon-2:30pm and 6:30-9:30pm Monday to Sunday. The cheese and bacon burger (around £8) is particulary good in Ewan's opinion, juicy and tender and served in a soft white bun, with chips and coleslaw on the side.

The toilets leave something to be desired; they've had problems with the drains for years, though it has got better recently.

Kake says: I've never been particularly impressed by the food, but it does the job of soaking up the beer. This is also one of the very few pubs in London where another (male) patron has struck up a friendly conversation with me (woman having a drink on her own) in a non-creepy manner. I like it here.

See also:

• Fancyapint review
• Pubs Galore comments
• Beer In The Evening comments
• Stonch's Beer Blog review
• Qype comments
• Freaky Trigger review

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