Hat & Tun, Farringdon  

With a return to its original name, the recent refurbishment of the once below average Deux Beers has brought the Hat & Tun solidly back into pub territory. Run by the same people who own the nearby Well and the further away Gun (amongst others) this is rather more focused on being a pub than some of their other efforts. As such, food is only available until 3pm, presumably to capture the lawyers-who-lunch crowd, while those coming for an evening drink will have to settle for a few traditional English bar snacks (pickled eggs and the like). This happily allows the pub to still be a pub, which makes a nice change. Inside, this is a handsome, well composed place, with a distinct hunting theme; a perching pheasant is complimented by numerous stuffed animal heads (we recall a couple of angry badgers and a grumpy fox), while the spoils of a fishing trip are captured in a painting which sits above the original fireplace. The bar glows with wooden lustre, while the green leather benches and reupholstered stools provide a warm, luxurious and gently old-school upmarket feel. Like many other establishments in the area, it can get busy immediately after work, especially towards the latter half of the week, so if you want to enjoy the Hat & Tun at its most pleasant (when it is most pleasant indeed), we would suggest avoiding these times.

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