The Chandos

Walk down St Martin's Lane and you'll find The Chandos doing what it does best: being a proper pub without apology. The wood-panelled interior feels like it's been here for ever (and mostly has—it's got real history), with a clientele mixing theatregoers, locals and the occasional person who knows what a good pint tastes like. The no-music policy means you can actually hear yourself talk, which sounds basic but feels increasingly revolutionary. Real ales on tap, proper bar snacks, and the kind of unpretentious warmth that's harder to find near Leicester Square than you'd think.