Snuggle up at The Old Bell

A bona fide classic - this pub could be literally anywhere. Busy Fleet Street evaporates the moment you step through the front door, the back door opens onto the courtyard of the gorgeous St. Brides church.

The pub in between is a dark little warren of snug homely places to sip a pint and relax (Timothy Taylor's Landlord on draught - apparently Madonna's favourite tipple now she's a flat cap wearing cor blimey Londoner) - our favourite spot is under the stairs.

If you narrow your eyes you can almost detect the layout of the Georgian house this used to be - plonking a bar, a fag machine and a golf video game in the middle of the old back room seems to be about all they've done to update it since.

And the atmosphere is excellent owing to the fact the people you're in there with also deliberately chose not to go to a wine bar.

CLIENTELE: office workers
NEAREST STATION: City Thameslink station
PHONE NUMBER: 020 7583 0216

The Old Bell Tavern
95 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DH