The Imperial

You're on Leicester Street, tucked just off the chaos of Covent Garden's tourist sprawl, and The Imperial feels like the kind of pub Londoners actually use. It's got that reassuring Greene King solidity—dark wood, proper bar setup, the kind of place where regulars know their spot. The crowd here skews pleasantly mixed: theatre-goers grabbing a pre-show pint, office workers from the surrounding postcodes, people who've genuinely chosen to be here rather than defaulted to the nearest chain. Food is serviceable pub fare at reasonable prices, and the beer selection, whilst not adventurous, is reliable. It's not trying to be cool or ironic about being a pub—it just is one, competently run.