Back in the 7th century Covent Garden was a busy Saxon market-town and farmers ploughed acre-long strips on Long Acre. Then it was literally a garden, growing herbs and fruit, then vegetables and seasonings for Westminster Abbey. When the garden was built over, fruit and vegetables were still sold, incongruously enough from the elaborately designed piazza, which covered it – and for centuries, Covent Garden Market was the most famous in the world. Incidentally, it was also where my Great Grandfather, Albert Difford worked as a porter.

But in the mid-70s, the old fruit and veg market moved south of the river, the street entertainers and gift shops began to move in, and cocktail culture arrived in Covent Garden. The Zanzibar Club – a members only cocktail oasis, much loved by the music industry, movie biz and bartenders alike – flourished in Great Queen Street; Peppermint Park launched the pinâ colada on an unsuspecting nation (tellingly, the site is now a Slug & Lettuce); Cafe Pacifico brought Tex Mex and Tequila across the Atlantic; while Browns was the hotspot for anyone who was into the 80s.

Covent Garden today is tourist heaven, bordering theatre-land and has more than its fair share of pile-it-high sell-it-cheap bars. However, some gems remain for the discerning drinker as the following pages illustrate.