Covent Garden, London. Located just up the street from St. Martin's in the Fields (one of our favorite music venues in London), The Chandos was established by 1710 and in the late 18th century served as a Masonic Lodge. It was originally known as the Bull's Head, renamed The Chandos in 1885 after Chandos Street, and in 1891 was expanded by Edwin Porter, an artist and cyclist. Soon after it was acquired by the Truman, Hanbury, and Buxton Brewery. During WWI it became a meeting place for Fijian soldiers, during which time their names were carved into the bar. The pub was damaged by a bomb on December 29, 1940, during what was described as the greatest air raid on London during WWII.

Atop the rooftop at the front of the building you can see an automaton of a cooper hard at work applying his trade! Inside a large single room is served by a small side bar, and there are several snug like areas opposite the bar. Upstairs is the Opera Room, available for dining and drinking. Lots of beautiful old wood, stained glass, and mosaic tiles surround you. Now run by Samuel Smith's Brewery, it's great place to enjoy an Old Bitter before or after a concert.