G is for the George

After the Faltering Fullback we headed to the George, partly on guest Gary's recommendation. Just a little way down Borough High Street from London Bridge, this is a National Trust property, and the last galleried coaching inn to remain in London.

The Pub

View A to Z of London Pubs in a larger map


Being an old coaching inn, the George seems to go on forever, but the bar is relatively small considering the size of the pub. There are plenty of tables both inside and out in the large courtyard set back from the road. The courtyard has good views of the Shard, which led to a number of puns from both Lager Boy and guest Gary - the best/worst of which was something about shard-enfreude.
The staff were good, serving punters quickly and in order, and swiftly sending packing the couple of less-than-salubrious characters who made their way into the courtyard to panhandle. The drinks were slightly on the expensive side, but that is unsurprising given the location, and the popularity of the George as a post-work drinking venue. More disappointing was the relatively small selection on offer, especially considering the potential capacity of this pub. Lager Boy particularly struggled...

The Beer

• Bulmers Cider - Lager Boy was unsure what to go for with a limited selection, and ended up going for something known and refreshing, since it was such a hot day. Apples, that is all. Guest Gary and I were keen to point out that it was not an Estrella.
• Greene King George - A guest beer, that was maybe served a bit cooler than normal on a hot day. This was a real beer, strong but refreshing. definitely a solid performer, and served well. Guest Gary, having frequented the George in the post-work crowd on occasion, described it as an old friend.
• Growler (not sure of the brewery, and Google has not been my friend in finding out) - Refreshing for an ale, this is definitely a 'one with lunch' beer rather than a session beer. A lingering toffee aroma and taste are not unpleasant, but maybe limit the number of these one would want in one sitting.
• Greene King London Glory - Not for Lager Boy, and somehow not as enjoyable as I was hoping. Maybe too bitter a bitter for me, especially on this day.
• Estrella - Quite simply Spain's best lager.

The Verdict

Generally a pleasing pub, ideal for a revisit when in the area, although perhaps a bit disappointing in terms of the beer selection. Good for a big group, and possibly even as a date venue,

F is for the Faltering Fullback

The first location on our treble pub day was the Faltering Fullback. Apparently a bit of an institution in Finsbury Park and the surrounding area, and is close to Lager Boy's flat, so was chosen as the starting point, particularly as I had never visited.

The Pub

View A to Z of London Pubs in a larger map

Where to begin with the Fullback? From the outside it looks like a fairly small corner boozer but once inside it resembles a TARDIS/Mary Poppins' Bag/Narnia in the back of a cupboard, being huge. Part of the size is given by a large room that resembles a garage or youth club, with screens and a serving hatch for Thai food and the terrace at the very back that wouldn't be out of place on a Thai beach. The rest of the pub is equally eclectic, with various local and sporting memorabilia displayed on the walls. Partly due to this, and partly due 
to the weather, our guest Gary suggested that it reminded him of the bar in a foreign hostel, and that it was maybe busier than it strictly deserved. Prices were fine, and the service was pretty good, and in hindsight I think the Fullback was a better pub than I thought at the time.

The Beer

• Hoegaarden - served with a double slice of lemon, Lager Boy favours a Hoegaaarden, and on this occasion described it as "summer in a pint glass".
• Fullers/Gales Seafarer's - Both our guest and I went for this initially, and found it very easy to drink, even on a hot day. Fairly middle of the road, but certainly a good opener, it retained its head, and ended with a fairly zesty taste, which suited the weather perfectly.
• Peroni - Our guest went to get a beer for me and him, while Lager Boy popped home, and this is what he returned with. We all know a Peroni, but it did provide a freshener on a hot day.

The Verdict

Although we would agree to an extent with our guest's comments, there is definitely something about the Fullback that seems to encourage a return visit, so they must be doing something right.

FGH is for... something in Uzbek?

Three pubs in one day a couple of weeks ago so blogs coming up for:

• The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
• The George, London Bridge
• The Harp, Covent Garden

We visited them on a very hot day, and that probably had an effect on us and our reviews, as did the travelling between them, as minimal as that was.

We also visited some pubs that reduced Lager Boy's options somewhat, as the offerings did not provide anything new and interesting for him.

In the next couple of weeks we'll be heading to the Island Queen and the Jolly Butchers.

F, G and H blogs all coming in the next few days.

E is for the Euston Tap

Following an overwhelming victory in the recent vote on the Blog, the Euston Tap was the venue for pub E, with Monday night chosen as the time so that we could celebrate Lager Boy having handed in his most recent essay.

The Pub

View A to Z of London Pubs in a larger map

So, the Euston Tap... in one of the old gatehouses almost on The Euston Road, with sister pub the Cider Tap in the gatehouse just opposite. The gatehouse itself is a building with character, but does the pub no favours in terms of practicality (one unisex toilet led to a lot of queuing and the odd awkward moment), although they do make good use of outdoor space with a terrace. It took longer than I would've liked to get served on my first visit to the bar. This, along with the slightly incongruous upstairs room (accessed by a spiral staircase that would be 'interesting' after a few too many), initially left me somewhat disappointed. However, the Euston Tap very much redeemed itself with its selection of beers, reasonable prices and excellent staff (current and former).
Firstly, the beer selection. 20 keg and 8 cask, plus what must be into the 100s in bottles, there's surely something for everyone.
Next, the prices. In a city where anything out of the ordinary gets ramped up in price far too often, especially when pubs think punters will forget it only comes from down the road, the prices were very reasonable, and even the most niche offerings were fairly priced.
Finally, the staff, which is where the Euston Tap really excelled. Several things to say here. On one visit to the bar I asked for a number 4, and a number 25. There was no problem, and a bit of a chuckle when 4 pints of number 25 were poured by the barman by mistake, having misheard the order. Recent experience has taught me would not be the case in every pub, so a bonus point there. I'm not always a fan of non-working or former members of staff hanging around the bar, but on this occasion a former member of staff was very helpful in recommending what we should choose next, and definitely didn't prevent those actually working from doing their jobs. The staff were all cheerful, helpful, and even put Kate Bush on for us when we gave an only slightly tongue-in-cheek reply when asked if we had any requests. Essentially, almost every punter appeared to be treated as if they were regulars, which made us feel very comfortable.
We missed out on Famous Ray's Pizza, as it is not available on Mondays, and didn't sample the bar snacks, although the crisps did look pretty tasty.

The Beer

• Redemption Trinity - Lager Boy's opening choice, which was not his finest move. Even for my tastes it was too too flowery and lacked body.
• Moorhouse's Pride of Pendle - Ordered partly to celebrate "Queen" Victoria Pendleton's Olympic performance, but I wouldn't quite give this a gold. A good solid beer, that I would've happily gone back to a couple of times, but not spectacular.
• Jever Pils - A return to form for Lager Boy, who described this as clean, clear, crisp and consistent. Enjoyable, and the sort of lager we'd like to see available much more widely.
• Tyne Bank Monument - A punchy number at first, but then mellowed into a lightly hoppy aftertaste, that makes the next taste a little more punchy again. Very enjoyable, and an experience to drink.
• Schneider-Weisse Tap 7 Unser Original - Chosen on the recommendation of one of the former staff members by Lager Boy, he was certainly not disappointed. He hadn't sampled a Schneider-Weisse before, but was happy with the wheaty taste and relatively crisp finish.
• Blackjack The Blind - Cleverly listed as number 21 on the beer list, this one was definitely a bit of a gamble. Little or no head, and for the whole pint I couldn't get over the initial taste of blackcurrant and soda, that gradually got more bitter throughout the mouthful each time. Odd, but not displeasing.
• Mikkeller not just another wit - The story of this small Danish brewery is a lovely one, and Lager Boy enjoyed expanding his wheaty horizons further. A success.
• Liverpool Organic Best Bitter - This was my stand out beer of the night. I'm confident I could drink it all day and not get bored of it.
• Weihenstephaner - Yet more of the wheaty stuff for Lager Boy. Partly due to the number consumed prior to this the only note I have is, 'ideal'.
• Magic Rock High Wire - Again, limited notes when on to a fifth beer, this IPA style beer was a bit hoppy, even for me, but not unenjoyable.

The Verdict

Well, thanks for voting so well on our behalf. After initially being a bit unsure about it, we think we've found a friend in the Euston Tap. As mentioned above, we were made to feel like regulars, and the beer selection is extremely broad. The staff are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly, which leaves the Euston Tap just needing  a couple more toilets to tick yet another box.

E is for Everyone else chooses

So, Lager Boy has been to the Balkans, and will be providing a bonus Balkan beer blog shortly. In the meantime, there is now a vote over to the right, and it's up to you, our readers, to choose which pub we'll visit on Monday (13th August) to form the E in our alphabet.

The contenders are:

• The East India Arms
• The Edgar Wallace
• The Eleanor Arms
• The Euston Tap

Get voting!

D is for the Dove

This time we decided to head to the pub immediately after a game of five-a-side football. We (the Capital Glovers) lost 5-3, despite having about 18 times as many shots as the opposition. We made the short journey from Islington to London Fields and The Dove.

The Pub

View A to Z of London Pubs in a larger map

What to say about the Dove...? More of a pub for Lager Boy than for me, if based only on the beers. A large choice, with a range of lagers and a few ales on tap and pump, and a huge number of bottles available. I was somewhat disappointed with the selection of British/local ale available, but that isn't really what The Dove is there to do. More about the beers we sampled below. We were also there during the Belgian Beer Fete, which dictated the theme of our choices. Beyond the beer, generally a very good pub. Prices were reasonable, even for the strong Belgians we tried; the staff were friendly and helpful; there's a bit of an old pub feel, despite it being situated in 'trendyville'; there's plenty of seating; and there are loads of board games available for punters to play. Food is also served, although we only sampled a couple of bags of crisps from behind the bar, and the toilets are unisex - we couldn't decide whether that was a positive of not - views welcome.

In the menu there are various recommendations from a Marc Stroobandt, who is the Belgian Beer Ambassador to London. Lager Boy would be happy to take this role as and when required.

The Beer

• Mayfields Ducking Stool - Lager Boy, ever the historian, suggested this should really be a 'cucking stool', but regardless of that I initially found it to be pleasant and very drinkable, but by the end of the pint I wasn't so keen on the aftertaste I was getting.
• Jupiler - Not the best of Beligum, more day trip to Brussels than weekend in Bruges. Steady, but nothing spectacular.
• Crouch Vale Brewers Gold - Light, not too floral, but maybe lacking a little something, although I couldn't put my finger on what that might be. Fairly drinkable, but if it was really good it would've disappeared much more quickly than it did.
• Belle-Vue Kriek - 'summer in a glass' according to Lager Boy. Fruity, but with a good beery aftertaste, and not too sweet. Very drinkable, for one; but unlikely to return for a second.
• Delirium - good things come to those who wheat. I blame Lager Boy entirely for the terrible pun. His favourite beer of all the pubs so far was advertised in the pub as having been 'elected the best beer in the world', and he thinks it lives up to the billing. Also has a celebrity fan in Bradley Wiggins, so if it's good enough for the Maillot Jaune, it's good enough for us.
• Rosarda - It's fruit juice, no? Maybe fruit juice that's been left in the sun for an afternoon and then re-chilled.
• Orval - this trappist beer was so dry it gave me a bit of a shiver when drinking it. Brewed by the monks of Abbaye NotreDame d'Orval, it was strong and full-bodied, and certainly not displeasing. After three other beers, that's as much as there is to say I'm afraid.
• Duchesse de Borgogne - I would struggle to explain just how pleased Lager Boy was to find this available, but he was close to ecstatic. The Duchesse is brewed using traditional methods in west Flanders, and is very much an acquired taste. Lager Boy has acquired this taste, while I very much have not. He would describe her as 'quite the lady', and we both agree that once you try her, you'll never forget. An undercurrent of a balsamic taste is the make or break. I implore you to try it if you see it, to make your own mind up.

The Verdict

A wide selection of beer, good staff, good facilities, but a bit trendy. Generally we would consider ourselves fans of the Dove, with a caveat that the situation has to be right.

C is for Clapton Hart

Pub C, the Clapton Hart, marked a departure from the hitherto standard Friday night approach, and a first foray into alphabetized school-night drinking. It's fair to say the location was therefore influential in our decision to choose this pub for C, despite myriad other suggestions having been put forward. Various positive reviews from a number of sources made it almost a no-brainer.

The Pub


View A to Z of London Pubs in a larger map
The Clapton Hart is Antic's relatively new addition to the East London pub scene, having opened in the former White Hart Hotel (boarded up for as long as almost anyone can seem to remember) only in early May. Sitting in an area that appears to be devoid of decent pubs, the Clapton Hart could well become a beacon for ale drinkers some distance around.
The pub itself is situated on the fairly busy Lower Clapton Road, but that hasn't prevented a few benches being placed out the front. If I'm honest I'm not convinced I'd want to sit there on many occasions, but there were a few hardy souls and smokers making use of them on a drizzly Tuesday evening. Inside it's very open, and the high ceilings made it seem fairly light and airy, despite the aforementioned weather. The plentiful furniture is an eclectic mix that could be described as faux-distressed and wouldn't be out of place down the road in uber-trendy Hoxton, although the sofa I sat on was actually a little bit worse for wear.
Accompanying music was a good selection of mainly older indie, generally at a sensible volume, and prices were as would be expected.

The Beer

• Blindmans Brewery Russian Roulette - Lager Boy took a gamble on this one for two reasons: name and origin (Somerset). Cue many puns about whether he dodged a bullet, and him really taking his life into his own hands. The consensus was that this was fairly pleasant, with a chocolatey after taste that was fairly pleasant.
• East London Brewing Company Pale Ale - I seem to be creating a trend of starting our visits with a fairly safe option, and this was certainly that. An easy drinking pale ale, that's fairly middle of the road, but certainly refreshing.
• Sandford Orchards Devon Mist - Lager Boy decided that this fairly clear, almost still Cider was a good next step, and I was inclined to agree that this would go down very well on a warm, sunny day, especially while watching some cricket. A fairly medium cider that had an excellent balance to it, neither too sweet nor too tangy.
• Windsor Knot from Windsor and Eton Brewery- At first I thought this one was a bit too flowery for my liking, but I grew into it as I drank and became more accustomed to the citrusy aroma. It did appear to be a little cloudy too, which was a marked change from the very clear ELB Pale Ale.
• Cotswold Wheat Beer - This is more like Lager Boy's bread and butter, giving rise to the quote, "wheat is where I'm happiest, not hoppiest". Certainly a tasty wheat beer, and not so overpowering that one would avoid a second, as some can seem.
• Devilfish Apachi - One taste told me that this would definitely not be for Lager Boy, and to be honest it wasn't really for me either. Very flowery (serves me right, some would say) and almost a bit of a chemical after taste that almost gave me a shiver. Unfortunately a disappointing end to proceedings.

The Verdict
Once again, a lot of boxes ticked here, although possibly a less well-received set of beers. Are we already becoming harsher critics, or was it just the fact that the drizzly Tuesday even had dampened our mood? There is certainly a lot going for this pub, and the location means I am very likely to return to sample more of their wares, and maybe even have a bite to eat. Particularly pleasing was the willingness of the staff to serve ASAP at the bar, meaning there was no waiting whatsoever. It will be interesting to see at some point whether this is also the case on a busier Friday or Saturday.