The Coach & Horses

The Coach & Horses in London is that rare gem of a pub that makes you feel like you've stumbled into your living room – if your living room happened to serve exceptional craft beer and had a rotating cast of lovably eccentric regulars. Nestled in the heart of the city, it's the kind of place where the wooden floors have absorbed decades of stories, and the brass fixtures gleam with the kind of patina that money can't buy.

Let's be honest – London isn't exactly hurting for pubs. They're practically sprouting from the pavement like well-watered English roses. But there's something different about The Coach & Horses. Maybe it's the way sunlight streams through the Victorian windows on lazy Sunday afternoons, creating those perfect golden-hour Instagram shots without even trying. Or perhaps it's the way the bartenders remember your usual after just two visits, making you feel like you've been coming here since before Netflix was a thing.

The beer garden here is worth writing home about – and I mean actually writing, not just sending a quick text. It's a verdant escape that feels miles away from London's bustling streets, despite being right in the thick of things. On summer evenings, when the fairy lights twinkle overhead and the last rays of sun paint the sky in watercolor hues, you'll find yourself wondering why you ever bothered with those overpriced rooftop bars. The garden has that magical quality of always seeming to have one table free, even when it's packed – like Mary Poppins' bag, but for outdoor seating.

Inside, The Coach & Horses plays its trump card: a pizza oven that turns out the kind of thin-crust delights that would make a Neapolitan nonna nod in approval. The pizzas here aren't trying to reinvent the wheel – they're just doing the classics really, really well. And at prices that won't make your wallet weep, they're the perfect accompaniment to that third pint you definitely weren't planning on having (but will absolutely enjoy).

Speaking of drinks, let's talk about their beer selection. The taps read like a greatest hits of craft brewing, with some surprising wildcards thrown in. The Lonkero (a Finnish long drink) on tap is an unexpected delight that's become something of a local legend. It's the perfect refresher when London decides to remember it can actually do summer properly.

Sports fans, you've found your new home away from home. The screens are positioned so strategically that you'd think a geometry professor moonlights as the pub manager. Whether it's rugby, football, or cricket, they show all the important matches with the kind of dedication usually reserved for Olympic training. The atmosphere during big games is electric – but somehow never crosses that line into rowdy sports bar territory.

One of the pub's most charming features is its upstairs function room, which feels like a secret club within a club. Yes, sometimes you might get shuffled up there during a particularly busy sports day, but it's got its own special atmosphere. And while there's no bar up there (fair warning), the staff are quick with service from downstairs.

The Coach & Horses has mastered that delicate art of being both a proper local's pub and a welcoming spot for newcomers. The regulars here don't give you that "you're sitting in my seat" stink eye that's practically a tradition in some London pubs. Instead, you might find yourself drawn into a conversation about the dart board's mysterious magnetic pull on errant throws, or getting insider tips on which pizza toppings work best together.

For those keeping score on the practical front: they take cards (including contactless), the loos are clean (a miracle in London pub terms), and they're dog-friendly – because what's a proper pub without a four-legged regular or two? The prices sit comfortably in that sweet spot where you can treat yourself without having to remortgage your home, which in London is practically a public service.

Here's the thing about The Coach & Horses in London – it's not trying to be the next big thing. It's not chasing trends or serving drinks in plant pots (thank goodness). Instead, it's focusing on being exactly what a great London pub should be: welcoming, unpretentious, and reliably excellent. So next time you're in the area and fancy a proper pint, some surprisingly good pizza, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to cancel your evening plans, you know where to go. Just don't blame me if you end up staying longer than you intended – it happens to the best of us.