The Academy, Holland Park  

A done up boozer? In Holland Park? Hardly a shock that. The real surprise here is that it still plays host to a few of the old regulars, you'd have thought paying 3 quid for a pint would have scared them away - although, perhaps they've been hired to give the place an authentic feel. The relatively small size of this one and the cheery nature of its patrons, lays the basis of a friendly venue. Unfortunately, that's somewhat undercut by the serious looking bar staff and woeful lite jazz on the stereo. Everything else is par for the course: a stripped out interior, local art on the walls and a menu heavy with gastropub standards. We're sure it's a decent enough local - if you can afford it.