Masque Haunt, Old Street  

Not a bad pub, it tends to be full of office workers, particularly at peak times (lunchtime, after work) but it also has a strong local following. Situated two seconds from Old Street tube, this pub is very relaxed out of work crowd hours. The beer is kept to Wetherspoon's usual standards, and the lack of music is more than compensated for by conversation. It's all a bit functional though, and the thin shape of the pub and the Wetherspoon ethics, does give the place a slight air of a department store 'country kitchen'. Still, not too many pubs near the Barbican are open at the weekend, so for that reason alone it's worth remembering.