The Coach & Horses, Soho

"Ye Olde Factor: This quintessential journalist haunt is home to one of—if not, the most—gloriously hideous carpet in the world. We also like to think of this Soho classic as the birthplace of the Great British Working Lunch (a casual bar lean, minimal chat relating to your job title, alcohol units in the high thousands). Alleged Notable Regulars: Private Eye legend Jeffrey Bernard and a politician so sozzled he accidentally admitted that he got his mistress pregnant." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, sinead cranna

"The One Where You Go For A Quick One There’s something in the name of pubs called the Coach & Horses and great pints of Guinness. We’re basing that on precisely two pubs: the Wellington Street one and this Greek Street one. This corner pub is a lively spot for a quick pint after work, but only if you don’t mind standing. It’s busy with local workers spilling out of offices and face planting straight into consistently great Guinnesses." - sinead cranna

"Look above the sign of The Coach & Horses and you’ll see the name Norman’s—a tribute to the much-loved Greek Street pub’s former antagonistic landlord. This Soho pub has long been a social club for local journos and although they (nor anyone) can no longer share barbs with a landlord who was famous for both giving and taking it, it remains one central London’s go-to drinking holes. From around 5pm every day, it’s a scrum. Weighing up your best entrance (on Greek or Romilly) is essential but, if you’ve got an afternoon off in Soho, finding a quiet corner to have a couple of pints and while away the day is a joy. That said, if there’s a sing-a-long happening on the piano that evening, forget about any peace and quiet." - jake missing

"Look above the sign of The Coach & Horses and you’ll see the name Norman’s—a tribute to the much-loved Greek Street pub’s former antagonistic landlord. This Soho pub has long been a social club for local journos and though they (nor anyone) can no longer share barbs with a landlord who was famous for both giving and taking it, it remains one of central London’s go-to drinking holes. From around 5pm every day, it’s a scrum. Weighing up your best entrance (on Greek or Romilly) is essential but, if you’ve got an afternoon off in Soho, finding a quiet corner to have a couple of pints and while away the day is a joy. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Jake Missing

"Famed for: Jeffrey Bernard, Private Eye lunches, and hot political gossip. Long before millennials were claiming to be hardcore for downing six flaming sambuca shots whilst on a Magaluf trip their mums paid for, there was the 70s Soho crowd whose weekly alcohol units presumably hit the high thousands. If you too wish to channel the debauchery of Soho’s heyday, then get yourself to The Coach and Horses, the setting of some of history’s booziest ‘working lunches’. These days it’s a Fuller’s pub and although some of its original charm has left along with those infamous regulars and unsuspecting politicos who merrily spilled their secrets (not to mention the £1 sandwiches and £2 doubles), it’s still very much a Soho classic. When the sun is out, opt for a casual lean against one of its outdoor standing tables and pretend your gossip is illicit enough for someone to overhear and put it in print." - heidi lauth beasley