What makes a good pub? I ask because of late the question has be niggling me a bit. Jubilee Monday we were stuck in South Kensington, not a haven of hostelries it must be said. After quite a hunt we founf the Hoop And Stick. It has a fine name for a pub but inside was a bit dingy, the place was a bit pricey and it did not really seem to have anything special going for it. However it did have the advantage of being where we were – so much so that later suggestions to move to a non-specific paleft us dissenting in our seats. Sometimes the secret of being a good pub is just – as Peter Sellars might put it – being there.