Comptons of Soho

About this place Comptons of Soho

Comptons of Soho has been on Old Compton Street since the 1980s and maintains the character of a proper London gay pub rather than a venue designed for visitors. Two floors — the ground floor bar is traditional pub format with draught ales and lager; the first floor is more lounge-like and quieter. The clientele skews slightly older and more local than the adjacent G-A-Y Bar, and the atmosphere is correspondingly more relaxed and conversation-oriented. Comptons is the pub where people actually know each other — regulars who have been coming for years, a social scene that is embedded in the fabric of the Soho community rather than performing for tourists. Good for a Sunday afternoon drink or a weekday evening; it competes on Friday and Saturday nights with the busier venues nearby. The large windows onto Old Compton Street make it one of the best people-watching spots in Soho.