Inn 1888, Marylebone  

The Inn 1888 used to be a magnificent Victorian pub (the Devonshire Arms), once run by Nicholson's, which was subsequently vandalised in order to convert it into a restaurant, now it's back to being a pub, it's a shadow of its former self. The problem now is we can can't go in the place without remembering what it used to be like. The bar is now situated in a completely inappropriate position, lost in a corner, no vestige remaining of the old central bar. The ornate tilework and fireplaces thankfully do remain, although they're suffering from the "renovations" applied in recent years. We could go on, but it will only make us even more disconsolate. The newer place tries to create a bar type vibe, with laid-back tunes and a bar oriented tariff but it does feel like it's struggling. On our last visit it was uncomfortably quiet - it's a little off the main Marylebone drag and there's little here to tempt punters away from the bright lights and bustle of the main thoroughfare. If Inn 1888 could only restore some of the elegance and jollity of a much earlier incarnation, it might stand a chance.

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