The Montagu Pyke

Just a run of the mill Spoons. It’s a big venue with entrances both on Charing Cross Road and Greek Street which is handy. The toilets are in the typical Spoons style of having to walk up a million stairs, but it does keep you fit. The beer selection is vaster than your average Spoons and the value here is definitely to have food as drinks are quite expensive. The food was decent and staff friendly. All pretty standard stuff. No surprises no treats.

It's hard to fault this chain. The prices are always competitive. The drinks are always of a good standard and quality. The food, though basic, is ok. This particular venue has an interesting and rich history as an old picture house and last venue of The Marquee. The Marquee Club first opened its doors on the 19th April 1958, at 165 Oxford Street. First as a jazz venue, and then from the early 1960’s, at the forefront of Rhythm and Blues, led by Cyril Davies and Alexis Kroners’ Bluesbreakers. 1964 saw the advent of the Yardbirds, Rock music and the Marquee Club’s move to 90 Wardour Street. The next 24 years saw the Marquee presenting cutting edge rock performers, from the Who, Jimmy Hendrix and Pink Floyd, to David Bowie and Punk Rock’s Sex Pistols and The Clash. The club moved to this site in 1988, opening on July 3st with hard rock bands Kiss and Silverwing. It remained here for eight years, continuing to re- invent itself as a major rock venue.

"How can you give Wetherspoons food 5 stars?" I hear you ask. Well, it's about quantity and price more than anything. The quality of the food is 3 stars, but for overall value, you would have to give it 5. The service was excellent, as always. Even though they got my bespoke wrong, the server couldn't have apologised enough and soon came back with the large breakfast with extra toast and beans to replace the eggs. The Montague Pyke is one of the most expensive Wetherspoons in the country, but the large breakfast with my extras to replace the egg was only £7.69. Unlimited hot drink refills at £1.59 are also more expensive than most Wetherspoons, but still an absolute bargain. Located south down Tottenham Court Road from its namesake station, it is well located for everything in the shopping district and surrounding areas.