The Mayfair and Marylebone area is not one that I have had the pleasure of pub crawling to any great extent in the past. This anomaly was redressed on Saturday 16th July 2011 when Avril and I met up with Richard Bradshaw to visit some pubs that we had identified as being good. We found Richard enjoying a pint in the very traditional Nag's Head, which we had been in before, and we joined him for our pints too. They had three varieties of Adnam's as well as Bitburger and Aspall's. This time we sat in the front part of the pub, rather than venturing into the split level part. Of course though we did get a bit of split level fix because the floor behind the bar is somewhat lower than the floor in the front part of the pub.

We made our way through some mews to the Grenadier which was absolutely packed because some upper class sorts were having a few pre-wedding drinks. The beer selection however more than made up for this and there was a good choice of Woodford's Wherry, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Bombardier and Young's Special. But it was very crowded so we couldn't get a very good look at the pub beyond our mantlepiece vantage point. When we got outside, we noted that there is a sentry box outside for some reason, so we took a picture of that for good measure. Nice, but too full to merit staying for another, and anyway, more pubs to do!

Next stop involved a bit of a walk to the opposite side of the underpass and into Shepherd Market. The pub that we had chosen from the several on offer was the Market Tavern. This pub was a bit trendy with lots of nicely painted wooden furniture and large windows, but for some reason seemed just right for that time of day especially because it was quiet. They also had quite a nice selection of ales on, with Sambrook's Wandle, Somerset Northern star (deliberately cloudy) and Doom Bar. We had pints and because of this were in a position to use the toilets. The door of the gents has a rendering of Michaelangelo's David on it. Well worth a return and we hope to be back.

It has now become customary to pay a visit to Guy Richie's pub, the Punch Bowl in Mayfair. Even though it is expensive, for some reason we had pints in here, and my notes inform me that I had an excellent pint of Deuchar's IPA, and that Spitfire and Bombardier were also on offer. There's always an attentive young chap serving behind the bar, and if you get a table near the front, you can see well heeled types coming and going. There is a magnificent upstairs dining room which can be seen if you go upstairs for a piss.

A more down at heel pub can be found in the shape of The Audley. This is a pretty bog standard boozer with Young's products and a lot of wooden panelling, and quite a long and tortuous route through the bar to the gents'. Swift halves were consumed as the quiz machine was observed. Not a lot else that is noteworthy to report really! We happened upon a statue of Ronnie Regan shortly after leaving it. Similarly the Running Horse near Bond Street is pretty nondescript, being a small quiet pub where we perched for crisps at an island table. Beer was moderately interesting with Cornish Knocker and London Pride available, but only enough to prompt us to stay for halves.

The Three Tuns at Marble Arch is in the heart of the shopping area and was very busy on the occasion of our visit, perhaps too much so and our visit was not overly enjoyable because of all the tourists. It was however quite amusing to see a group of Americans with their teenage children sent to the back room where there was no space to dine. Halves again, with London Young's Gold, Doom Bar and Landlord on offer. Quietness was restored at the Cock and Lion as we headed towards Marylebone, a narrow pub with some nice seats towards the back. Black Sheep, Landlord, Tribute and Pride were available.

A very miserable landlord greeted us at the Golden Eagle in Marylebone, who requested that we did not tinker with his piano. It was a shame really as this was an otherwise splendid and homely small pub with a lively crowd and a good array of beers in the shape of Pride, Tribute, Sadler's Sundown and Keltek Golden Harvest. Pints were taken at the Angel in the Fields, a Sam Smith's pub doing the usual array of their products at cheap prices. Very traditional interior in common with many other of their London establishments.

The Tudor Rose in Marylebone is done up with an ornate exterior in turquoise to look like a Tudor House, although inside the similarity is less. We sat at a nice table situated midway between the bar and the downstairs toilet and enjoyed Old Speckled Hen and Adnam's Bitter. Perhaps the best pub of the day was one which we encountered quite late was the Barley Mow at Marylebone, not to be confused with the one near Marble Arch. It was quiet, but they were playing good music, and they had a welcoming and unfussed vibe as we enjoyed their traditional interior. Most importantly though, the beer was excellent, being Pontypridd, Pride and Seafarers'.

Evening was upon us by this time and we had an abortive attempt to locate the home pub of the Handlebar Moustache club. A quick piss stop was however required and the Duke of Wellington allowed this. It was not very memorable, so the beer can't have been up to much, but we did stand up whilst we were in there. The final pub of the day was the vaguely Swedish themed Harcourt Arms near Marylebone. There was a bit of stripped pine and a Freddie Ljungberg picture so I supposed this is true, and maybe there were a couple of things on the menu. No matter, the beer was good and we enjoyed leisurely pints of Hobgoblin, Pride, and Doom Bar (the former perhaps being an unwise choice), before we headed for the train back to Banbury via the pasty shop on the station concourse.