London pubs

I'm visiting London this summer, and intend to do some serious pubcrawling. I need suggestions for the top 10 pubs of London (zone 1-6). Some are pretty obvious, such as the Wenlock Arms/Royal Oak/Priory Arms, but are there any hidden gems out there? The pubs mentioned are good examples of the sort of pubs I'm after.

Are there still pubs in London with outside toilets, or are those days gone?

Reply to
Bard O Haland
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Any list is going to be very subjective of course, but a good place to start would be CAMRA's National Inventory of pubs of historic interest

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Can't help you with the outside toilets though. It's not a feature I go loking for! :)

Reply to
loobyloo

Unfortunately the National Inventory doesn't really take account of beer quality. The Kings Arms in Hanwell is in the Inventory, but I wouldn't drink there unless I was exceptionally thirsty.

While talking of West London I should mention the Red Lion in Ealing (historic links with Ealing Studios) and The Fox in Hanwell (classic canalside free house). Both have been voted pub of the year by the local CAMRA branch on several occasions.

Cheers,

Martin

Reply to
Martin

That's a good point, which reminds me of an awful pint I had in The Tottenham at Oxford Circus once. Wonderful unique C19th tiling and mirrors it may be, but the beer - ugh!

Two I gravitate towards if I'm in London (with good beer, last time I looked) are:

The Barley Mow, Dorset St (off Baker Street)

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There are some very unusual late C18th private boxes adjoining the bar, which were used for pawnbroking.} The pub's more or less unaltered since the days when agricultural workers would come in from the surrounding fields for a drink. They've banned smoking in the main bar (which may or may not be a good thing to you.)

Kings Arms, Roupell St. SE1 (behind Waterloo station)

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It's in a gorgeous looking street of early C18th houses, and is a former funeral parlour! Lovely atmosphere. Only Pedigree and Adnmans, but well-kept.

Reply to
loobyloo

Not exaclty hidden, but the Market Porter, Borough Market?

The George near London Bridge has toilets across a yard from the pub. Not open air, though.

Reply to
Arthur Figgis

Are you sure? I stand to be corrected, but isn't that the large Tudor-ish looking pub in a courtyard, with some sort of horrible plate glass offices on one side and the galleried pub on the other? If that's the one, then it's definitely open air, or the square is in the middle anyway.

Reply to
loobyloo

The Dog and Duck on Frith Street and the Pillars of Hercules on Greek Street, both in Soho near Tottenham Court Road tube station. They're only a stone's throw apart and you've got an exceptionally strong chance of an exceptional pint. D&D always serves Landlord.

Reply to
Jeff Pickthall

In message , loobyloo writes

The Tottenham is almost at the far end of Oxford Street (east) from Oxford Circus.

The OP could check out Beer in the Evening, though not many of its top

40 are in London.
Reply to
congokid

Sorry - my mistake. You're right, it's just near Centre Point.

Reply to
loobyloo

Well - we probably have something useful for you - developed for real-ale-pubcrawls in London:

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Choose "Lists". Publist will give information where to (probably) find drinkable beer, and pubs of historic interest.

This is a Norwegian site under construction. The most under-developed right now is the language of the travelreports - but I think you will have no problem.

To your question: There are a lot of gems out there. Be sure to define what type of gems you are looking for. English breakfast at 8AM with a well-kept Adnams Best Bitter in nice surroundings is a rare gem - in our eyes.

Happy crawling!

"Bard O Haland" skrev i melding news:4268ddcd$ snipped-for-privacy@news.wineasy.se...

Reply to
Realale

There is the pre - Ealing Beer Festival Real Ale Trail that visits both of those.

Have a look at

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. It has a pictures of 10 pubs in the area and a brief description. I don't think any of them have outside toilets though......

Central London I would always recommend for the Victorian splendour, the Argyle Arms right next to Oxford Circus. Beer is good too, although the Wenlock will probably always have the edge.

The Magpie and Crown in Brentford High Street always has excellent quality beers in a traditional local pub.

Cheers Andy.

Reply to
Andy Hame

Seconded, but 19thc. not 18thc.

I'd also add the Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell.

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which /is/ 18thc :)

Reply to
mym

Thanks! That's a very good list. Obviously you like to start drinking in Norway very early, as "breakfast" is listed on every entry :)

Thanks very much. It's very flattering when a foreigner shows such a detailed interest in our culture.

Reply to
loobyloo

Sorry! Thanks. Never been to the JT, but it's on my list.

Reply to
loobyloo

snip

as a lurker I find this ng very interesting. so try that for some more flattery.

I'll be in London next week (from Melbourne Australia, although I'm a Kiwi) and looking at the list will give me plenty to do & see down the Balham High Rd.

If anyone here is in the Balham area and would like to meet up for a pint on Sunday 8 or Monday 9 May my mate and I would be starters.

Email me off ng before 4/04/05. remove the NOSPAM

Kind regards Dave Milligan

Reply to
Dave Milligan

Why do you want a pub with outside toilets?

We have one near here in Cum,bria if you really want one!

Reply to
Chris de Cordova

pubcrawling.

UK pubs are either 'tied' to a brewery (offering their own products and possibly one 'guest' beer), 'free' (independently owned, often offering a changing selection of guest beers) or 'chain' pubs run by a management company (with varying policies on the choice of beer offered). Many London pubs are tied to one of the city's two indenpendent breweries, Young's and Fuller's, and will always offer tradtional atmosphere, good beer, and reasonable prices. Breweries outside London also own pubs in the capital. One to watch out for is Samuel Smith, who own some of the city's most historic pubs, but tend not to serve real hand-dranw ale in them -- although they have an intersting selection of bottled beers. The T.J Bernard, Hogshead, Whetherspoon's and Nicholsons chains are generally the best for beer.

WEST END/SOHO.(The main tourist area is stronger on trendy bars than traditional pubs).

The Bear and Staff-- Charring Cross Road-- pricey, but good selection of beers.

The Roundhouse -- Covent Garden -- good selection of beers, vertical drinking is customary.

Lamb and Flag -- Rose Street, near the Roundhouse -- historic pub with OK beers.

The Cross Keys -- Endell Street -- small,packed pub with interestingly cluttered interior, 1 guest beer.

The Porterhouse -- Maiden Lane -- sister to the Dublin Brewpub. Copper interior, several draught stouts, large selection of bottled beers.

The Lowlander -- Drury Lane -- authentic Dutch/Belgian style Grand Cafe.

THE HOLBORN CRAWL (slightly north and east of the centre):

Lamb -- Lamb's Conduit St -- Youngs. Much admired, lovely old pub.

Cheshire Cheese -- Fleet Street -- Sam Smiths, very historic.

The Cittie of Yorke -- High Holborn -- Sam Smith. Baronial interior.

Ye Olde Mitre -- Ely Court, off Holborn -- very historic pub, hidden down an alleyway.

The Black Friar -- by Blackfriars station -- Ok selection of beers and extraordinary decor.

(NB The Yorkshire Grey no longer brew, the Princess Louise is now Sam Smiths, there are some good Fuller's and Wetherspoon's pubs in the area too).

ISLINGTON MEGA-CRAWL.

(These pubs are the best of the best in many ways, but it is a good 15 minutes walk between them, and the tube stations are not helpfully located).

Bierodrome -- St Johns Street -- modern style bar with 100 Belgian beers.

Jerusalem -- Britton Street -- Unusual beers from the St Peters Brewery, unusual and pleasant layout.

Wenlock Arms-- Wenlock Street -- Traditional local with one of the best selections of guest beers in the city. Hard to find though: get out of Old Street Tube, follow signs to Moorfields eye Hospital, cross road, and look for side street called Shepherdess Walk.

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In the area is the Pitfield brewery and shop, Pitfield St. O'Hanlons (name may change)-- Tysoe Street -- Charmingly disorganised Irish Pub, with beers from O'Hanlons Brewery.

NORTH CENTRAL MINI-CRAWL:

Jeremy Bentham -- University Street, Bloomsbury -- comfotable university pub with good selection brews.

Head of Steam -- Euston Station-- excellent selection of brews.

WEST LONDON.

White Horse -- Parson's Green, Putney -- One guest beer, always excellent condition, frequent festivals. Yuppie clientelle.

SOUTH LONDON MINI_CRAWL

(Both pubs are very near London Bridge Station and each other).

Market Porter -- Stoney street -- Possibly the best guest beer policy in London, very keen Lanlord. Raucous Hooray Henry customers, though.

George -- Borough High Street -- historic galleried pub, good selection of beers. No real regulars, so lacks atmosphere. (not sure of the current status of the Wheatsheaf, formerly the Porter's neighbour and rival).

UNUSUAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL.

already mentioned: Bierodrome -- St Johns Street -- modern style bar with 100 Belgian beers.

already mentioned: The Porterhouse -- Maiden Lane -- sister to the Dublin Brewpub. Copper interior, several draught stouts, large selection of bottled beers.

De Hems -- Macclesfield street (off Leicester square) -- Anglo-Dutch pub with late licence.

already mentioned: The Lowlander -- Drury Lane -- authentic Dutch/Belgian style Grand Cafe.

Reply to
Uncle Dunkel

The Chandos, Cheshire Cheese, Princes Louise and Citte of York serve real ale, at least.

...

I've usually found quite a cross section of city types, beer anoraks, tourists, etc etc. It is simply busy, more than anything. Well worth a visit.

Now functioning again, as a decent enough Youngs pub. Handy if the Market Porter is too full (the MP tends to quieten down dramtically after about 20:00 or so).

Reply to
Arthur Figgis

This thread has been very interesting! Although I should have written down some of the names! Something I'll do when I sober up!

I'll also be in London in June with a friend who is attending the Siebel Institute in Chicago later this year. He's never been to the UK before but loves good beer (of course) and is interested in traditional pub design and architecture. I've got a mental short- list of places to go but will try and add some the recommendations in this thread, along with a tour of Young's brewery.

Cheers all

Wayne

Reply to
Wayne

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