The Bleeding Heart Tavern

Standing just off London's famous Leather Lane, and dating from 1746, when Holborn had a boozer for every five houses and inns boasted that their customers could be 'drunk for a penny and dead drunk for twopence'. It traded until 1946, was a grill for 52 years, and reopened as The Tavern Bar in 1998. Today this Tavern offers traditional real ales and a light lunchtime menu if you're pressed for time. Downstairs, the warm and comforting dining room features an open rotisserie and grill serving free-range organic British meat, game and poultry alongside an extensive wine list. Typical menu choices might start with mackerel and whisky pâté as a prelude to braised beef in Adnams ale with dumplings, or spit-roast suckling pig with sage apple and onion stuffing and crushed garlic potatoes. Desserts include steamed chocolate pudding, treacle tart and a jam roly-poly.