Reviews of restaurants, pubs, hotels, and places to relax, shop, and meet away from the menace of piped music. The reviews are contributed by members of Pipedown: the campaign for freedom from piped music. Quiet corners was launched in June 2009. If you would like to contribute reviews, join Pipedown and help the fightback against Muzak.

Swan on the Stray Harrogate Market Town Taverns group www.markettowntaverns

Useful information: 

Located just outside town centre

(Market Town Taverns Group of pubs) Relaxing,good food and a selection of real ales.

Location

Devonshire Place
Harrogate, NYK HG1 4AA
Phone: 01423 524587

Berkeley Arms Wymondham Leicestershire

Berkeley Arms, 59, Main Street, Wymondham, Leicestershire www.theberkelyarms.co.uk

Neil & Louise Hitchen took over this village pub in January and have made a big difference to it. Out went the piped music for starters. It serves bar meals, and has a small restaurant and the food is excellent. I was most impressed by the fact that the bars were quite full when we arrived for a meal and was very busy when we left (no need for piped music)

Location

59, Main Street Wymondham
LEC LE14 2AG
Phone: 01572 787587

Ideal Sandwiches

Useful information: 

Ideal Sandwiches: opposite Kokos in the arcade of St James Park Station. Serves tasty snacks and meals or good for a quick coffee. Opens very early; closed evenings.

Location

55 Broadway
London SW1H 0BB

Koko

Useful information: 

In the arcade of St James Park Station. Tasty snacks and meals or good for a quick coffee. Opens very early; closed evenings

Location

55 Broadway
London SW1H 0BB

Spreads

Useful information: 

Between Covent Garden and Leicester Square, small café/restaurant, good, reasonably-priced food and pleasant staff – open from early morning for breakfasts until late.

Location

15a New Row
London WC2N 4LA

Broadway Cafe

Useful information: 

Just across the road from St James Park Underground, friendly service with reasonably-priced meals. Opens for breakfast; closes around 4.30pm.

Location

16 Broadway
London SW1H 0BH

Maison Bertaux

Useful information: 

A great place in Soho to indulge! Tea, coffee and delicious fattening cakes!

Spreads, 15a New Row, between Covent Garden and Leicester Square, small café/restaurant, good, reasonably-priced food and pleasant staff – open from early morning for breakfasts until late.

The Stockpot in Panton St, just off Piccadilly has been since the 1950s a legend in its own lunchtime (dinnertime and breakfast time) for its efficient, friendly service, cheap food and music-free atmosphere. But, alas, no longer. Earlier this year, it changed hands. The friendly informality has gone, the prices have gone up and background music has been introduced. Sadly, avoid!

Around St James’s Park

Broadway Café: 16 Broadway, just across the road from St James Park Underground, friendly service with reasonably-priced meals. Closes around 4.30pm.

Koko: In the arcade of St James Park Station. Tasty snacks and meals or good for a quick coffee. Opens very early; closed evenings

Ideal Sandwiches: opposite Kokos in the arcade of St James Park Station. Also servers tasty snacks and meals or good for a quick coffee. Opens very early; closed evenings.

Location

28 Greek St
London W1D 5DQ

Patisserie Valerie

Useful information: 

Long-established, in the heart of Soho, famous for years for its cakes and coffee.

Location

44 Old Compton St
London W1D 4TZ

The Lamb

Useful information: 

On the very pleasant Lamb's Conduit St, about a 5 minute walk from Holborn Underground. A stylish old pub serving a good range of food and drink.

Location

Lamb's Conduit St
London WC1N 3LZ

The Shakespeare's Head

Useful information: 

A Wetherspoons pub on Kingsway (a minute’s walk from Holborn Underground Station). A huge pub with the usual range of Wetherspoons food and drinks.

Location

64-68 Kingsway
London WC2B 6BG
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