The Star Tavern, Belgravia

Just what London needs - another historic pub in Belgravia claiming to be special. The Star Tavern sits there in its perfectly posh mews location, practically begging you to be impressed by its Victorian architecture and criminal credentials. Yes, yes, the Great Train Robbery was supposedly planned here. How terribly exciting.

I'll admit, grudgingly, that walking into The Star Tavern feels like stepping into a London that's increasingly hard to find these days. Not the sanitized, Instagram-ready version of a British pub, but something genuinely worn-in and legitimate. The wooden floors creak in all the right places, and the memorabilia-covered walls actually look like they've been accumulating their artifacts since before social media existed. How novel.

Let's address the elephant in the room - or rather, the notorious criminals who once haunted these halls. Bruce Reynolds and his merry band of thieves may have plotted their heinous deed upstairs, but today's crowd is decidedly more Belgravian. Think well-heeled locals pretending they're in a "proper pub" while sipping wine that costs more than most people's weekly grocery budget. Though I suppose there's something endearing about watching hedge fund managers trying to act common.

The bar setup is surprisingly unpretentious for this postcode. A compact serving area that somehow manages to stock an impressive selection of ales - and yes, fine, I'll acknowledge that making it into the Good Beer Guide for fifty consecutive years is no small feat. The draft selection is actually... rather good. There, I said it. Don't make me repeat it.

What's truly infuriating is how they've maintained the delicate balance between catering to the Belgravia crowd while keeping the soul of a proper London boozer. The food menu, while not cheap (welcome to London, darling), delivers proper pub fare that's actually worth eating. Their pies arrive with pastry that's clearly seen the inside of an oven rather than just a microwave, and the Sunday roasts - dare I say it - rival your nan's best efforts.

The staff, annoyingly, manage to be both professional and genuinely friendly, as if they haven't received the memo about London service requiring a mandatory dose of contempt. They remember regulars' orders, make newcomers feel welcome, and somehow maintain their composure even when dealing with the occasional titled regular who thinks their family tree entitles them to immediate service.

Dog owners, rejoice or recoil as you see fit - your four-legged friends are welcome here, adding to that "local pub" atmosphere that so many places try desperately to manufacture. The sight of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sharing space with a scrappy Jack Russell rather perfectly encapsulates The Star Tavern's curious mix of posh and unpretentious.

The upstairs room, besides its notorious history, serves as a decent space for private gatherings, though you'll need to book well in advance. Apparently, everyone in SW1X has cottoned on to this being a reliable spot for everything from birthday celebrations to discrete business meetings. How inconvenient.

For those concerned about modern necessities, yes, they take cards, and yes, there's decent mobile reception - though honestly, wouldn't it be more atmospheric if they didn't? At least they haven't sullied the place with charging ports and WiFi passwords plastered on every surface.

Look, I wanted to dismiss The Star Tavern as just another Belgravia pub trading on its history and location. But the infuriating truth is that it's actually rather good. The beer is well-kept, the food is solid, and the atmosphere manages to be both special and unfussy - a rare combination in modern London. Find it at 6 Belgrave Mews West, preferably before everyone else does. Though with its reputation and track record, that ship has probably already sailed. Just don't blame me when you can't get a table on Sunday afternoon.