Shakespeare's Head, Holborn  

Let's face it, you don't go to Wetherspoons for the atmosphere. You might be drawn by the lack of music, the high chance of getting a seat or most importantly the cheap food and booze. And if you're after any of these, you'll find them in this branch of said chain. Unfortunately, what you'll also find is a dark, messy pub that never has enough staff behind the bar. But this doesn't seem to put the punters off. We've visited at various times of the day: late morning, it's packed with students tucking into the £2.49 all-day breakfast; at lunch it's full of office workers; and in the evening, it's a mixture of the two, along with lost tourists looking for Covent Garden: out the door, cross the road, keep walking, you can't miss it. If you're in the area and you don't want to pay too much for your beer, they sell it in pint glasses and bottles. But let's be clear - this is not a destination pub. It's a one-drink-and-go pub, a meeting place and also a loo-stop if you're caught short.