Review

The Marquis of Granby isn't the biggest pub in the area, but it is one of the better ones. Being on Cambridge Circus it gets its fair share of theatre goers in the evening in for a swift half before the show starts, so if you hang around for a while the rapid turnover means you'll get a seat soon enough. Interestingly, the turnover of bar staff seems equally rapid, though one thing remains constant; they're generally Aussies or Kiwis. We reckon it works like this, the antipodeans fly into London, head for the Walkabout on Charing Cross Road for their first night on the town, stumble out bleary eyed in the morning and do what comes naturally to them, head for the nearest pub to find some bar work. The Marquis finds itself in a prime position. There is currently a quality blond behind the bar, though whether she will be there next week is difficult to say.

The Marquis scores high on entertainment, with a fairly well stocked juke box, a quiz machine (though sadly The Weakest Link) a fruit machine that deserves special mention because it is The Italian Job, shame the volume isn't turned up and Sky Sports on a large screen; the fact that the pub isn't that big means you generally get a good view and makes the Marquis one of the better locations for watching your sport. Egg chasers amongst you take note; the Marquis tends to show a lot more rugby than most pubs in the West End so if you like a bit of peanut hugging, this is a good place to head for. The pub also has the full sized version of Jenga, but you'd probably have to be in there at 11am on a weekday to have the room to play it.

The Marquis does a fair selection of food and the prices seem reasonable, until the food actually arrives and you find the portions are anorexia friendly.

Review by AJS