Amidst the incessant noise and bustle of London's West End it comes as a refreshing surprise to find this oasis of calm and quality on New Oxford Street. The Old Crown Public House is a very personal place in that the team here own, designed, built and live in it. This almost medieval concept of running an eating house works brilliantly.

Amidst such elegantly traditional surroundings the customary extensive range of libations, including excellent beers like Spitfire seem thoroughly at home, and Continental bottled beers also get a look in. A wine list of distinction is quite sufficient to ensure that return to your place of work after lunch can only be a matter of some doubt.

Talking of lunch a great selection of dishes await such as pan-fried steak sandwich, battered Whiting fillets and rack of lamb. The evening menu could include nachos rancheros, char-grilled chicken wings and homemade cappuccino pannacotta. The Old Crown is the sort of place to which it could be very easy to become addicted.