Nell of Old Drury, 29 Catherine Street

Nell of Old Drury, 29 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JS

Situated opposite the Theatre Royal, this traditional English pub could have easily been turned into a horrendous tourist trap. Thankfully it isn’t. On walking in you are faced with the choice of drinking in the intimate downstairs bar with the banter of all the regulars or retiring to more ample surroundings upstairs, where it is often possible to get a seat at one of the tables. Numerous theatre posters from a more innocent age decorate the walls upstairs. On the drinks front, there is enough to keep most people happy and all in all the pub makes a nice change from the more raucous and expensive alternatives closer to Covent Garden. This pub apparently closes mid afternoon and is not open on a Sunday, however in spite of the more traditional opening hours we still give it our recommendation.

Reviewed by Paul Melton, Mar 2009

Telephone: 020 7836 5328

Nearby pubs: The Globe, 37 Bow Street (70 metres), The Lyceum, 354 The Strand (150 metres), The Opera Tavern, 23 Catherine St, Covent Garden (0 metres), The Cove, 1 The Piazza, Covent Garden (180 metres), The Punch and Judy, 40 The Market, The Piazza (180 metres), The Corner Store, 33 Wellington Street (50 metres), The Wellington, 351 The Strand (150 metres), Cellar Door, Zero Aldwych (100 metres)

Nearest station: Covent Garden, Zone 1 (280 metres)