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.

L is for the Larrik

On a Monday back in October we headed to the Larrik, tucked away just to the west of Marylebone and just to the east of Paddington. An early evening start this time, as I had unusually been working in central London for the day.

The Pub

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As I was strolling towards the Larrik I was expecting to find a busy pub, as I was arriving at the end of the workday. Clearly nobody has told the workers of Marylebone/Paddington, as when I arrived there were only a handful of other punters in evidence, and it turned out half of them were staff who appeared to be planning a menu change or somesuch. Surprised, and almost a little disappointed, that I could immediately wander up to the bar, I perused the relatively meagre selection of ales, made a choice and requested it. The barman was not particularly upbeat or talkative, which might have made me feel more at home, but I paid (almost £4 for a pint of standard ale) and went to take a seat and wait for Lager Boy.
While waiting I took in the surroundings. The pub was pretty much one large room, very open, although around a quarter of the floorspace was curtained off, which made sense while it was so quite. Everything seemed very clean, with pale wood furniture, candles on the tables and fairy lights around the not unsubstantial windows.
Once Lager Boy had arrived he informed me that one wall of the pub housed a big screen for rugby matches, and the pub attracted quite a crowd for those. We also observed the music being played at a sensible volume, adding something to the ambience. The pub also started to fill up a bit, although was by no means busy at any stage. At one point a few children with masks and collection receptacles came in to 'trick or treat' everyone - ten days early and a complete lack of effort. They were soon turfed out by one of the staff, who remained friendly with them, avoiding too much of a scene.
We also had some food, which we were both pleased with, and was good value for money for a London pub.

The Beer

• Sharp's Doom Bar - This was my first, and I was a reasonable way through it without really thinking about it, and it was only when Lager Boy arrived that I realised it wasn't quite right. It stayed a bit cloudy and almost tasted weaker than I would've expected. Not quite right.
• Staropramen - As expected. Refreshing for Lager Boy after a long day at work. Well chilled and had a suitable amount of liveliness.
• St Austell Tribute - Initially served short,  my request for a top up was well received and the barman was much more talkative and friendly on this visit to the bar. Cleared much better than the Doom Bar, although a reasonable amount of sediment remained at the end of the pint. A sweeter beer, feeling very smooth at the same time, slipped down fairly easily.
• Beck's Vier - Standard delivery of a standard lager. A safe choice, especially considering it's a school night.
• Leffe Blond - A choice out of 'leffe-field' as the ale selection had been exhausted already. Not a regular choice of mine, but it was Lager Boy's round and I had allowed him free reign to choose. A good finisher on this occasion with a strong, almost orangey taste. Very enjoyable.
• Budvar - A pragmatic choice for Lager Boy's final tipple. A classy Czech number, which is a non-standard standard lager.

The Verdict

A surprisingly quiet pub, which appears to look after lager better than ale. Staff were a bit hit and miss, but the food was good, and reasonably priced. Not the place to seek out new talent, drink wise, but a place to nestle with old flames.

K is for the King's Arms

K was a surprisingly difficult letter to find a suitable pub for (cue abuse for missing 'obvious' choices!), and we were hosting a vegan and wanted to eat, so after a quick search we found ourselves heading south of the river to the King's Arms on Roupell Street, close to Waterloo

The Pub

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Tucked away on a Victorian street, the King's Arms is just far enough away from Waterloo to be missed by the masses, but near enough that a discerning visitor to make the short walk to a 'proper' pub. Removing the cars from the street would make it feel like a century ago, and entering the pub almost feels the same at first. It would seem that the front part of the building has not changed much for many years, and the dark furniture and plentiful décor adorning the walls made it seem homely and welcoming.
It was very busy when we visited, but we even managed to find a table, and didn't feel too cramped even though four of us had squeezed into a small corner. Studying the bits and pieces on the walls led us to learn that numerous Hollywood celebs are 'regulars', so we kept our eye out for any of them too, but didn't manage to spot Kevin Spacey or Ben Affleck.
Service at the bar was fairly swift, despite the number of punters, and the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. There was a reasonable selection of standard lagers, and a good selection of ales, maybe a touch on the expensive side, but certainly not surprisingly so. A couple of them weren't served quite as we would have expected, but there was nothing so drastic that we needed to complain about it.
After a first drink we headed through to the back of the pub, where a large room also serves excellent Thai food. South-east Asian cuisine in London pubs has become something of a cliché, but the offerings here were both excellent to eat, and reasonably priced.

The Beer

• Theakston's Black Bull - I started with this, and found it a little bit dull, and lacking in depth. A little bit soapy rather than fruity, giving rise to comparisons with dishwater. It did, however, improve as it went along, although there was very little prospect of me ordering another pint.
• The Theakston website features a very clever set of sliders, to help you find the pint that would be best. An interesting novelty.
• Truman's Runner - Chosen by our guest, Kate, for two reasons; the low ABV (4.0%) and the picture of a large bird on the pump clip. An autumnal ale that had a hint of berries, was mild without being bland, and wasn't too overpowering. Fairly dark, and all in all a good balance. It also seemed to be an ideal choice for this pub.
• Pilsner Urquell - Lager Boy had to plump for something we have already covered, so see our entry for the Island Queen. This time served in a more traditional nonic glass.
• Dark Star Partridge - A delight. Beery, but not over the top, could be called a 'proper' beer. Eminently drinkable, I feel as though I could happily sit and drink this all day.
• Sharp's Ale of Kings - More of a bastard prince, and not as good as brewery-mate Doom Bar, and a bit wishy-washy. Also served a little bit cold, and was more lively in the glass than anticipated. Too many condensation nuclei perhaps.
• Brains Rev. James - Lager Boy chose this for origin reasons. Having eaten a Thai curry he struggled to really give a review, so described it as 'fairly middle of the road'. With a hint of citrus, the Rev was not disappointing, but also nothing special.
• Lime and Soda (not a beer!) - Our other guest, Sophie, was on the wagon for the evening, so had a soft drink. The lime and soda was served with lots of actual lime (almost a whole lime's worth of wedges) and wasn't too strong on the cordial, which was a positive. There was also no scrimping on the ice, so it stayed cold to the end.

The Verdict

Having taken a bit of time to make a choice about where to go for pub K, we were very satisfied with the King's Arms as our eventual choice. Good beer, good food, good staff and a good pub provide an excellent combination. Will definitely consider returning either when using the station, or for drinks with friends who work in the area.

J is for the Jolly Butchers

A Monday evening saw us arrive at the Jolly Butchers in Stoke Newington with a couple of guests in tow, and full of enthusiasm as the pub was highly recommended. Pub J also saw us move back towards the North, following a few more southern jaunts.

The Pub

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Two words: TOP TRENDY. Not that being trendy is any sort of problem here. A great beer selection meant we were immediately very happy with the Jolly Butchers. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly, without being pushy, and the prices at the bar were reasonable. The pub itself is a very open space, which is definitely a positive, but if we were really picky it maybe lacks the intimate corners of a more traditional pub. Despite this, it felt atmospheric, and a bit bohemian. I was personally not convinced by the illuminated Brooklyn Lager signage on the wall behind the bar, and the whole group were a bit disturbed by the moon-faced woman adorning one of the walls, but we are being picky here. One of our group commented that a bit of music would be a good thing, although we agreed that it probably wasn't the right sort of room for it, as the noise level was fine to have a conversation. The toilets added a certain something in terms of the fixtures and fittings, and were clean and tidy. On the Monday evening of our visit there was an eclectic clientèle making the place feel busy, but not rammed, which was helped by the reasonable amount of seating available, with a range of table sizes. We commented that a couple of sought-after sofas were almost expected in this sort of establishment, but the lack of them didn't lessen our experience at all. On this occasion we also partook of some food from the open plan kitchen in the corner of the room. This was an excellent decision, and we were impressed by the standard and value of the couple of platters we shared.

The Beer (and Wine)

• Kent Brewery Beyond the Pale - 'Top of the Hops!' A light and fresh beer, although taste-wise it's clear that it's on the strong side. Very much enjoyed, but certainly not for Lager Boy.
• Hacker-Pschorr - 600 years of brewing excellence have been put in to produce this classic example of Teutonic efficiency. Lager Boy referred to this as Franz Beckenbauer.

A side point here: if Lager Boy and I were to go on a double date, the Beyond the Pale and Hacker-Pschorr would be our ideal partners.

• Bavo Pils - A crisp and clear Belgian Pilsner, which regular readers will be aware meant it was right up Lager Boy's street. At 4.2%, he suggested it wouldn't be a bad choice to stick with for a session.
• Arbor Ales New Zealand Pale Ale (not listed on the link) - A little bit limey and extremely floral, with a dry, almost chemical, aftertaste. It was served clear and cool, but is not my favourite offering from Arbor.
• Glass of House Red - a good choice of house wine,approved by both of our guests.
• The Kernel IPA Scanners - Served very cold, which was a surprise that I never became completely convinced by, the Scanners is a strong (6.9%) IPA that has a hint of fruitiness, but remains dry and crisp. A big tick for this one from me, although I wouldn't want too many at this strength.
• Hopf Helle Weisse - very wheaty, and almost a bit sweet. Certainly a good one for Lager Boy, who enjoyed this cloudy German offering very much, but equally not for me. David Hasselhopf?
• Glass of Chilean Red - Not as good as the house red!

The Verdict

We were very happy with the Jolly Butchers as our choice for Pub J, and left disappointed that we had chosen a weeknight for our visit, as there were several more beers that we would have liked to sample, and it was an ideal place to do just that.