The Volunteer Pub

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There are few pubs in better locations than animated Volunteer. Set upon the cusp of Baker Street, you benefit from a 2-3 minute walk from the tube station and the gates of Regents Park lie within view of the pub. As an added benefit, you have the quaint Sherlock Holmes Museum one door away, which may be a worthwhile visit for those interested.

Once finished in the Sherlock Holmes museum, The Volunteer provides the perfect location for a quick drink before home, or a full evening stint. It is not the biggest pub in the world and crowds do frequently spill out the door but it does benefit from an exciting atmosphere and a blend of characters. Due to the location, at times, you can find yourself blending with businessmen with colleagues, locals and tourists clad in deerstalker hats. This may seem odd at first but can develop into a charming feature working in favour of the pubs friendly, dynamic atmosphere. This is enhanced by the way the front windows all open up to give an airy free space vibe to the pub. This works especially well in the summer with the opportunity to sit out on Baker Street and people watch. On the inside the interior is fresh with leather sofas and a relatively small bar.



In terms of drinks available, you do get a good selection of 21 draft beers, lagers and ciders. One to look out for is Früli the strawberry flavoured beer. I do recommend however, trying it before you move on to bitter or you may be in for a sweet surprise. Peroni and Becks are other more popular lagers available. There is a good selection of wines and the house wines (Shiraz and Chardonnay) are of a good standard and they are also currently offering a summer drinks menu which has a classic British feel to it with Pimm's and Gin's used.

The traditional vibe continues with the food on offer being classic British grub. Steak and Fish and Chips are a good representation of this, although it does chop and change throughout each season. There are other, more sophisticated dishes on offer with bar snacks suggested to match your drink, which is a nice touch. Another plus on the food front is the large specials chalkboard on the wall which is impossible to miss from any point within the pub's interior.

One more thing to add would be a warning to be extremely careful on the narrow steep stairs leading to the toilets. This can be a hazard if you are coming up and have a punter who has consumed one-to-many staggering down the other way.

This pub is a must for anyone who is interested in trying London's traditional pubs. The atmosphere matched with the drinks available make for an enjoyable stay on one of London's most busy and infamous streets.

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