A traditional pub with some interesting features. And it's more spacious than it first appears.

The Venue
Fitzgeralds has a gold and glass facade, and its golden-handled doors lead into a narrow entrance with a terracotta floor and a green fabric banquette on the left. This is split into train compartment-style booths in a railed-off area. There’s a section of mirrored wall on the right, as well as lovely pre-Raphaelite paintings and Tiffany lamps.

Gold Victorian standing lamps channel you into the corridor which is quite deceptive as the walkway then breaks out into a spacious room where the long bar is to be found in the sunken area on the right. It's all done out in dark woods and cream walls and what catches your eye is the exuberant stained-glass peacock-style glass in the middle of the ceiling. Otherwise, the place can appear rather gloomy and it is on the list to be refurbed — the carpet certainly needs replacing, but hopefully the basic character will be left intact.

The People
With the offices in this area — from accountants and IT companies to research and financial institutions — Fitzgeralds pulls in a business crowd at lunchtime. In the evenings it's popular with a theatre crowd and at the weekend it hosts an older bunch who have been coming for years — all welcomed by the friendly young barlady.

The Food and Drink
You can choose from an excellent draught selection including John Smith's, Stella, Woodpecker, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Black Sheep, Strongbow, Carling, Fosters, Guinness and Beck’s, as well as Mordue Brewery's Workie Ticket. In bottles, you've got Budweiser, Corona, Beck's, Magners, Kopparberg and Irn Bru.

It's around £11.25 for a bottle of wine (£2.95 for a small glass, £3.95 for a large one) and there are eight whites and reds and a couple of roses, including a Zinfandel Blush Beringer 2004. Cocktails are served by the jug only — pitchers of vodka and Red Bull, Moscow Mule and Black Russian cost £9.95.

Sandwiches cost just £3.15 and there are wraps, ciabattas and baguettes, as well as jacket potatoes. There are four types of club sandwich too, including chicken, bacon, tomato and mayo for £3.65. Mains include a chicken kiev with fries and salad for £5.75.

The Last Word
A comfortable boozer with a few hidden charms and an art nouveau twist which takes care of its more mature regular crowd.

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