The Stockpot is an eating institution in London, its the kind of place where you could be sat next to an aspiring artist, a pensioner whose lived in the centre of London for 60 years or a tourist. It is located amazingly centrally and is a lovely contrast to the chain restaurants and bars surrounding Leicester Square.

Based on Old Compton Street it is well known to Londoners and entices a really interesting clientele from locals, to suits, to foodies, to tourists to the strange kinds of people you only ever meet in Soho.

We visit regularly and it is like nowhere else in London, the menu constantly changes and there are some classy options on their, but a starter costs around £2 and main courses around £5. The food quality is good rather than great and the place itself is very basic, but I think I would be a total snob expecting anything other than a warm atmosphere for the prices we pay.

From Fishcakes to Spaghetti, from Chops to salads or Lasagne, the food is old fashioned favourites and you can get a drink too. Service is friendly and efficient and the whole place has a really nice atmosphere, probably because customers appreciate this place and staff are just nice, so you have none of the attitude on either side which you see in haughty expensive places where staff think their it and customers feel they have paid enough to be rude. This place is relaxed, fun and warm in every sense.

This truly is an excellent London restaurant and one which we all benefit from, it's the kind of quirky, eccentric place which sums up the City, the menu could have been taken from old fashioned cookbooks as it avoids the fanciness of modern food and simply serves up plates of food you would want to eat that fill you up, provide great value and taste good.

I'm giving this place 5 out of 5, as I wouldn't want it not to be in London, it sums up so much for me, like the old pie and mash or fish and chip shops, it's a quintessential part of our culinary history and a great place to get fed in expensive old soho!