The Princess, Old Street  

The success of the Princess - a veritable cliché of a one time old boozer gone upmarket - is predicable but rather unwarranted. Sure, it's a pleasant enough gastropub but hardly breathtaking: stripped-out with wooden tables and equine-related wallpaper liable to give small children nightmares, its remarkably similar to numerous places dotted around North London. Indeed, it's overtly sparse interior is already looking somewhat dated, not faring well against other more opulent, sympathetic and warm pub refurbishments. Still, its popularity abounds - being a gastropub on the edge of the City means its become popular with those tired of square mile vertical chain bars. Upstairs there's a restaurant which has worked many a restaurant critic into a frenzy of superlatives, but you can also eat downstairs, if you're lucky enough to get a seat, at least. Our most recent visit was thankfully on a Monday, when a few seats were available, but don't expect such luxuries during the latter part of the week - the gutter is often where one ends up. At such times it would be cheaper - and create the same effect - to grab a can of lager from a nearby off-licence and stand outside.

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