Monday, 10 December 2012

Farringdon bar crawl

 91) The Jerusalem Tavern, Farringdon
Although this pub is small it is unique and sells good ales from St Peters Brewery. Definitey worth a visit if it's not too busy. 7/10.
 90) The Bleeding Heart Tavern, Farringdon
A box pub which although was not busy felt cramped. Not one for me. 5/10.

89) The Eagle, Farringdon
You can watch the chefs preparing the food ni the area right next to the bar which is novel. Unfortunately this pub is just a box which has been filled with people most of whom are there for food not a drink. I was happy to leave. 5/10.

88) The Well, Clerkenwell
Serves decent food and has a downstairs area for event which was a bit more rowdy when I visited. 6/10.
87) Ye OldeMitre, Nr Farringdon
Easy to miss the entrance to this pub but it's a nice treat once you walk through the small arch and find a decently sized pub with lots of little nooks and crannies. Serves all the normall Fuller's ales. Much better than your average London pub. 7.5/10.

Day out in Clapham

86) The Masons Arms, Battersea
A decent enough watering hole, I imagine it gets pretty busy in the evening with a good 25-40 year old crowd. It lacked distinctive characteristics but, whilst I was drinking with my friend, we were befriended by a very nice chap name Joe who was waiting to do an audition round the corner. Whilst I have been to better pubs I do alway enjoy a place where strangers engage in conversation with each other (in a not drunk and really annoying way). 6.5/10.


85) The Royal Oak, Clapham High st
Very friendly staff. A good pub to have a comfortable pint and some friendly banter but nothing to make it stand out. 6.5/10.













84) The Belle Vue, Clapham Common
Not particularly memorable, in fact I have been there twice and cannot recollect a single detail worth writing about. In fairness one of those times I was very drunk, but not both. 5/10.

Wedding in Greenwich


 83) The Cutty Sark Tavern, Greenwich
Not often I go to Greenwich, so when I went to a wedding reception there I new I had to tick a few pubs off. The Cutty Sark Tavern has a nice view of the river and a very boat like interior. I specifically remeber liking the stairs, which is a little strange. I also found a table at the top which, for some reason, begged for a group of friends and some drinking games, probably the best pub table I have seen. Those comments may seem strange but I was neither drunk or on drugs. 7.5/10.









82) The North Pole, Greenwich
This seemed more like a tacky discotheque, with a shisha lounge at the back, than a pub. 5/10.
81) The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
I had to leave my friends to try to sneak this one in before we went to the reception. Having had a great chat with a good looking bar girl and a local couple, to whom I explained my pub guide adventure in great detail, I left to meet everyone again only to realise that I had been in the wrong pub. I was meant to be in the pub next door. The Greenwich Union was younge and vibrant with a good garden at the back. If I'm being honest though I had a better time in the pub next door. 6.5/10.

Edinburgh Fringe

80) Bennets Bar, Edinburgh
This pub is split into two halves with one geared more for drinking and the other for eating however you wouldn't feel awkward drinking in the eating room or visa versa. Some good books and games available to keep you entertained. 7/10.
79) The Bow Bar, Edinburgh
If you like whiskey this is the place for you, the selection behind the bar was phenomenal. Unfortunately seating is a bit of a rare commodity in what is a pretty narrow pub. 6.5/10.
78) The Dorice Taver, Edinburgh
As with the Bow Bar there was a limited amount of seating downstairs and it was a little dingey. 6.5/10.
77) The Shore Bar & Restaurant, Leith
A bit of a way out of Edinburgh to be honest I don't think it's worth the trip. This felt like a 1930's dining joint, not really my seen. Whilst it was originally amusing watching the waiter walk into a stiff door which kept jamming as he opened it, it soon became a bit tragic. It clearly wasn't his first day and you'd hope he would have sussed it by now. 5/10.

Previous top rated - Barnes


76) The Idle Hour, Barnes
Great Saturday afternoon. This is a small but very quirk pub. There are clocks all over the place, even in some of the furniture, and all the clocks tell different times. There is a small bar which has only ever had one bar man behind it when I've been there. Having one barman is fine on a Saturday but this place really fills up on a Sunday as it does a superb roast, this meant that when I returned the service was very slow and only roast chicken was available. After the Saturday I rated this as a 9/10 but I have since demoted it to 8.5/10.

Also of note: The Sun Inn, Barnes
Whilst not in the pub guide I have also visted this pub a few times. It is a great family pub which serves big portions of very tasty pub grub. Although just accross the bridge from Hammersmith you definitely feel like you are in a little countryside village. 8/10.

Work lunch in Buckinghamshire

75) The Chequers Inn, Wooburn Common
Cheeky pub lunch on a Friday... don't mind if I do.
A short drive outside of Wooburn, this pub serves great food and local ales. Plenty of space in doors and out. 8/10.

Hampstead Heath

74) The Holly Bush, Hampstead
Being tucked away makes this pub a little dark but also cosy. Could definitely while away a Saturday afternoon here. 7.5/10.
73) The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead
A fairly busy pub with a decent outdoor area and a car park. I couldn't really fault the pub as a whole but something didn't quite work for me, in honesty I think it was the clientele. 6.5/10.
72) Ye Olde White Bear, Hampstead
This is a well lit bar with friendly staff but it has been refurbished since the guide was published and whilst is was pleasant it was a little modern to get a good rating. 6/10.