S is for the Southampton Arms

A Tuesday evening jaunt across North London on the Overground to Gospel Oak and the Southampton Arms. This pub came well recommended and seemed to be our sort of place based on the website. Just don't mention Pub J!

The Pub

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A fairly small building just a short walk from Gospel Oak station, that was remarkably atmospheric as pubs go. Almost continental in decor, it brought to mind Café Rene from 'Allo 'Allo!, with a range of vintage pictures of varying quality and interest. Additionally, the comedy/brusque approach taken on the website was continued in the signage around the pub, which we appreciated. A reasonable space was given over to a piano, which was played by a reasonably good pianist from around 8pm - a strong addition to the evening. We noted the male dominance in the pub, although this did not appear to be deliberate, and the ladies that were there didn't seem unwelcome.
The staff were friendly and helpful, particularly to Lager Boy, who had a more limited selection to work with given his tastes. They could have perhaps been a bit more cheerful at times, but in fairness there were just two of them, and they were very busy - and despite this they were quick to get to customers to serve them. The Ale and Cider selections were very good, with varied options. Lager Boy was a bit less well catered for, but he was aware of that in advance and was prepared to experiment this time. The prices were reasonable, and standard across similar beers, which is helpful to keep track of spending, and to anticipate the cost of a round.
The bar snacks available were good value, tasty, and worth a short wait to reach the table. Lager Boy was particularly enamoured with his pork bap.
There is a nice outside space at the back, but it was too cold to be appreciated during our visit. The gents were off this courtyard, and were also very cold, and a bit smelly. Like a number of previous pubs, they were also reminiscent of the toilets that would be found at a primary school.

The Beer

• Buxton American Rye - not what I was expecting. Very hoppy, and much like the Hops and Mops from pub B. Lager Boy thought it was like dishwater, although I was happier with it, but not overawed.
• Moncada Notting Hill Blonde - at first Lager Boy was disappointed, but was more satisfied as he got further through this one. Started out rather hoppy, but mellowed as he drank it.
• Darkstar The Art of Darkness - very dark! Tastes lighter than it looks, but with a bit of an edge. This was very easy to drink and most enjoyable.
• Thornbridge Halcyon - an utterly leftfield choice from Lager Boy with this 7% IPA. He said the strength of this made it more palatable, without being too hoppy or floral. He wasn't overwhelmed with joy, and it very much tasted like a 7% beer by the final third.
• Truefitt North Riding - proper beer. Almost treacly and a bit sweet, but with a bitter aftertaste. Enjoyable, but I probably wouldn't have more than one.
• Dancing Duck Gold - the stand out performer of the night. An absolute delight. Light, fairly clear, and almost honeyed. A cracking finish to the evening.

The Verdict

A more than satisfying evening, the Southampton Arms is a delightful little pub. The beer selection is good, and the atmosphere more than matches. Affordable drinks and snacks, and a generally contented feeling, so a successful visit.

R is for the Rake

A Saturday afternoon in early March saw us make our way to the Rake, a small pub nestled at the back of Borough Market, that was in the midst of a Welsh beer festival in a nod to St. David's day.

The Pub

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The Rake is tiny, but that should not fool you, it is more than adequate as a drinking establishment. There is a huge selection of beer, mainly bottled, behind the bar. Inside I would say 30 people would feel cramped. There is an outside space with some good patio heaters and a large gazebo type roof structure that more than doubles the available space. This outdoor area also has excellent summer drinking potential, and was well used by us on this cold Saturday.
We had chosen a non-sporting Saturday, which may have contributed to the level of custom that the Rake experienced. There was a fairly diverse group of punters, representing many nationalities, and a large proportion of the clientele were 'hooray Henry's', most likely stopping in after sampling artisan bread and rare olives at the market.
The staff were efficient, knowledgeable and friendly enough, although sometimes a touch indifferent. Prices reached the steep side of trendy, but nothing shockingly so, and all clearly marked so there were no surprises.
The toilets appear to be public, and are well frequented by market shoppers, leading to a bit of an outdoor whiff. They also resemble primary school facilities.

The Beer

• Celt Bleddyn 1075 - almost aggressively hoppy, very bitter with a citrus taste to it. Definitely improved throughout the pint as it was perhaps a bit too bitter to kick off with, but I was still ready to move on after one.
• Veltins - Lager Boy chose this as a livener to open with. Likened to opening with Alastair Cook before moving of to something a bit more like Kevin Pietersen.
• Waen Festival Gold - A mixed reception from the pair of us: fairly standard. Limp and insipid. OK, but not a lot to it. Feckless.
• Celt Castell Coch - A darker tasting beer than it looks. Appears to be a fairly light, straw coloured beer. Has a deeper flavour than expected, with coffee notes and a lingering outdoorsy feel. Very easy to drink too.
• Otley O2 Croeso - Even easier to drink, although not a lot more to say about it. Light, very standard tasting with no stand out flavours.
• Fordham Wisteria Wheat (bottled) - Very wheaty indeed. Lager Boy, the wheat beer fan, was certainly approving of this one, and suggested he would search it out again.
• Goose Island 312 (bottled) - Suggested for Lager Boy by the barman based on the previous drinks he had chosen. Almost a bit like a Sprite with citrus notes and very easy to drink.
• Partizan IPA (bottled) - From just down the road in Bermondsey, and exactly what I think of when I think of a good IPA. A triumphant end to proceedings.

The Verdict

Nothing here not to like. A popular little pub, well placed for a rest after a meander around the market. The selection of beers is probably what really makes it, but it also has a certain something about it in terms of character. A thoroughly enjoyable Saturday afternoon.

Q is for the Queen's Head

The Queen's Head was always high on the list of choices for pub Q, and we were only more keen to visit after our Sussex-based friend suggested it was his favourite newly-visited pub of 2012. We were meeting a friend for drinks before her departure to Australia for an undetermined length of time, and various guests meant there were several beers sampled.

The Pub

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The pub itself is not huge, but well laid out so there's a reasonable amount of space. The decor is very much shabby chic, and is not overdone. Towards the back there is a fireplace that looks old at first, but it clearly gas. Partly due to said fireplace, on the cold evening of our visit it was fairly warm, without being roasting hot. The staff were good at knowing about the drinks on offer, and some more experienced staff members were evidently teaching some newer ones while they worked. The beer was generally served well, and prices, barring one notable exception, were reasonable. We had a couple of platters of food which were tasty and not badly priced. Particularly good piccalilli, and also pork pie (looked as though it could've come from Sainsbury's deli) and various meats. The toilets were awkwardly positioned at the back, and were much colder than the rest of the pub. The hot tap in the gents appeared to be just for show and the tiles were a bit seventies. All of this made them reminiscent of an old primary school toilet block.

The Beer, etc.

• Camden Pale Ale - Tastes like an IPA. Happy that it's local. Could be served a little cooler, seemed a little lacking in freshness.
• Darkstar Hophead - Light, delicious, although maybe a little bit on the 'thin' side.
• Kernel IPA - This was the expensive one, seemingly a lot more so than any of the others, even though it was only about 1% stronger than these others.
• House Red Wine - Passable, but fairly generic, as expected from a house wine. Certainly drinkable, but served a bit cold.
• Windsor and Eton Conqueror - Treacly, but somehow also a bit watery. A first black IPA, and not disappointing, but lacking a bit of body.
• Wildcard Jack of Clubs - Dark, but not over the top. Easy drinking, but nothing really special.
• Harviestoun Schiehallion - A crisp and refreshing lager, served in a chalice. Similar to euro-lagers, and enjoyed by Lager Boy.
• Licher Weizen - Like a Hoegaarden, but better, although the large head did seem to attract a lot of fluff.
• Mikkeller Something (no idea exactly what it was!) - Dark and peaty, definitely not enjoyed by Lager Boy. I can't say I was much of a fan either if I'm honest, a bit too much like drinking a puddle.
• Kernel Export India Porter - Almost like drinking a cup of coffee, very drinkable, but wouldn't want more than one, as it's very dense and rich.
• Lilley's Bee Sting Pear Cider - Not too sweet, easy to drink. Very good.

The Verdict

The Queen's Head is definitely a good pub, and I wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Although it seems a little bit off the beaten track, it's only a short walk from King's Cross tube. Generally a relaxed place to be, and a wide range of well-served beverages to choose from.

P is for the Powderkeg Diplomacy

We tweeted a fair bit from this one, the Powderkeg Diplomacy near Clapham Junction, and have replicated the tweets as our review:


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Arrived at Powderkeg Diplomacy. Initial thoughts: more restaurant than pub. But staff good and beer list extensive. Tasters on the way!

Lager Boy's Canberra

Lager Boy has chosen the Canberra, a break from the norm.

I've got a delightful Citra from Oakham Brewery. Proper glasses, and Roast Beef on the way. Hungry.

Quite trendy, but not oppressively so. Feeling quite welcome at the Powderkeg Diplomacy.

Roast Beef dispatched, excellent, and a good portion too. Well done @BaronPowderKeg

Vintage tennis rackets adorn the walls in the gents. Interesting choice.

On to a fifth @WindsorEtonBrew in three days. Lager Boy has a Republika, and is 'ready to go'

Republika and Seven

Meanwhile, I have a @BrisBeerFactory Seven which is bitter but has all sorts of toffee notes. A delight.

Asked to move to the 'booth area' to allow others to sit and eat. Happy to do so, staff very appreciative.

Big lunch and two beers a piece, and this time we're calling it a day. Thanks @BaronPowderKeg

O is for the Old Red Cow

A Thursday evening trip to the Old Red Cow for pub O. Situated between the Barbican Centre and Smithfields Market, everything we had heard about this pub pointed to it being a good one for us.

The Pub

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The Old Red Cow was smaller than I was expecting from the comments we had heard and the small amount of research I had done on their website. There were, however, a reasonable number of tables both upstairs and down, although all were occupied on arrival. We managed to commandeer a small standing space, which met our needs until we managed to pinch the end of a tall table later on.
The beer was perhaps a little expensive, but this is close to the City. The members of staff we dealt with were all helpful and informative, and clearly know their beer. The beer selection seemed a little out of season, with a larger number of 'summer' beers than was ideal for a cold evening late in November. The beers were also generally served a little on the cold side, which appears to be a storage/dispensing issue, which possibly can't be helped based on the logistics of the building. Food was available, and we were tempted by a sausage platter, but we chose not to partake this time. The toilets were sparse but clean and functional.

The Beer

• Windsor and Eton Windsor Knot - Floral, but seems to be a proper beer too. Dark but clear, and very enjoyable.
• Stiegl Goldbrau - Good lager, and a good receptacle. Amber in appearance, and fairly sweet. Something for other lagers to aspire to.
• Windsor and Eton Knight of the Garter - A heady, summery, amber ale which took a reasonable time to settle. Very bitter, with a long, lingering aftertaste. A good light ale.
• Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted - Citrus and punchy, but develops to a honeyed aftertaste. A beer for Lager Boy, and not just because it looks a lot like a lager. However, it is very summery, and not really for this occasion.
• Old Red Cow House Lager - Almost a wheat beer, this one was very active and maintained its head throughout. A pleasing lager.
• Sandford Orchards Devon Red - A delightful 'proper' cider in which the taste of apples was prevalent. Very well balanced, managing to be neither too sweet or too sharp. Reminded us, and our guest, a fellow Exonian, of summer days at Double Locks.
• Titanic White Star - Weird. Not sure what it's all about. Almost a metallic taste, but sweet. Wheaty at first, becoming much more bitter to finish. The most confusing beer.
• Windsor and Eton Canberra - Autumnal ale territory, in taste and colour. Rich and almost a little bit creamy, making it enjoyably smooth. A dessert beer, perhaps? We couldn't decide whether it reminded us most of Christmas pudding or chocolate cake. 
• Camden Pale Ale - Very floral and hoppy, definitely not seasonal. I could have several on the right summer evening, but there's not a lot more to say about this.
• Camden Ink Stout - Troubled by the aroma which, like the appearance, was reminiscent of river water. Tasted a bit earthy at first, developing into a smoky taste, almost leaving the mouth dry, but not unpleasantly. The odour faded, and we were left with thoughts of chocolate and barbecues.

The Verdict

A good little pub, with a good selection of beer, even if not as seasonal as might be preferred. Good staff, and not a bad location. A good amount of seating, perhaps at the expense of standing room, and a bar that shows off all that is on offer. Beer served a bit too cold, but could be overlooked on pretty much any visit.

N is for the Nags Head

Having visited Lager Boy's 'local' for pub F it was my turn for pub N, so we headed to the Nags Head in Walthamstow Village for a couple of post work beers on a Thursday evening.

The Pub

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The first of our pubs that we had both been to on more than one occasion previously, so we largely knew what to expect. The beer was served well, there were velour tablecloths, there was pizza (and possibly other Italian food) available - a diversification for this pub, it's generally a bit kooky, the cat made me jump, and there were a pleasing number of Walthamstow Wackos knocking about. Staff were quick to serve and friendly without being overly chatty. There are a few tables out the front, and a reasonably sized beer garden out the back, with a covered and heated area used in the winter. Reading this back makes it seem like a pub I wouldn't normally be that keen on, but I must say I have a soft spot for the Nags Head.

The Beer

• Timothy Taylor Landlord - An ubiquitous tipple across the capital, but not one I can remember ever having before. I enjoyed it very much, and I'm not surprised it's so popular. Taking the primacy effect into consideration it's probably fair to say the Landlord is a fairly middle of the road beer, done very well.
• Lager shandy - Lager Boy wouldn't even tell me what lager had gone into this, but he chose it as he was driving, and felt thirsty. It was served cold, and the lemonade was well mixed, but it was still a shandy.
• Brains Merlin's Oak - Lager Boy chose this one, which is a crazy choice. However, he knows what he doesn't like, and he doesn't not like this. Very peaty, and more ruby than dark, almost matching the burgundy tablecloth.
• Colchester AK Pale - A weaker ale, that looks like a lager. Not much else to say about this one.
• Wychwood Hobgoblin - A move much darker, to a stronger tasting beer that seems much more real.

The Verdict

Local (to me at least!), and one that I would normally put in the 'not for me' column. The Nags Head manages to charm in some way, and is an enjoyable place to while away an evening.

M is for the Market Porter

Birthday drinks in order for pub M, the Market Porter, as I reached the grand old age of 30 21! Unfortunately, after a surprise week in an amazing house on the edge of Dartmoor, we were riddled with the lurgy. Hopefully this hasn't affected our view of the pub too much.

The Pub

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The Market Porter is situated immediately next to Borough Market, and opens early in the morning to cater for traders for a couple of hours. Having been to this pub a couple of times before, this was the quietest I had ever seen it, although previous visits had been summer, a weekend, or both.
Five of us in attendance - a special occasion after all! - but just a couple of drinks each as all had some degree of the lurgy. We also wanted to eat, and since the pub serves food during the day only we had to go elsewhere to satisfy our hunger.
While appearing to be a bit of an 'old man boozer', the Market Porter has maybe lost a bit of the charm it once had, although it has doubled as a bookshop in one of the Harry Potter films. We couldn't quite put our finger on why we felt this way, but it does point to a bit of a refurb that hasn't quite done the pub justice, and left the whole place feeling a little sparse. There were apparently, however, some entertaining animal facts to be found by reading the graffiti in the ladies.
Part of the sparse feeling came from the relative lack of seating for the amount of space, although having seen the pub when it's heavingly busy it is understandable that as much space is kept available as possible.
Prices were as expected, if not a little cheaper, for the area, and the staff were very good in answering questions about the beers, and dealing with a disjointed round as we all arrived at separate times. A good number and range of beers were on offer, and they were served well.

The Beer, etc.

• Bateman's Yellabelly - Darker looking than it tastes. Fairly floral at first, but a much deeper taste develops the more of it is drunk.
• Pontypridd Otley O1 - An intriguing aroma, a little like a farmyard. However, taste was refreshing, with floral notes. My notes from the day say 'limericky', but I have no idea why. Otherwise not a lot to say about this one.
• Lime and Soda - Fairly standard, but very strong on lime.
• Gin and Tonic - Like a Gin and Tonic.
• Market Porter Autumn Ale - Chosen since it is Autumn. Surprisingly refreshing, and a pleasing colour. Inoffensive, but at the same time unexciting.
• Red Wine (house) - Considered to be 'alright', but smelled 'a bit rank'.
• Ilkley Wit Marie - One for Lager Boy, we thought. We were not quite right. He didn't hate it, but certainly wouldn't go back again. It was a bit limp, needing something to pep it up. A little bit like a Hoegaarden that's been left out for a while.

The Verdict

The Market Porter is certainly worth visiting, and you're almost guaranteed to find a beer that's for you amongst their selection. The downside is that the atmosphere is maybe lacking something. Was this because we were afflicted? Try it, and let us know what you think.