A drinker's Diary: 2007

Pig's Ear Beer and Cider Festival

It's December therefore it is time for the 24th Pig's ear festival. Get yourself down to Ocean on Mare Street, Hackney. Thanks to, 'The East London & City Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale' (CAMRA) for brining us this festival. See you there! gmap View Larger Map

The Hawley Arms

Located in Camden Town at No.2 Castlehaven Rd. Great pub with great ales in fantastic condition. Wonderfully kept and run by its staff. Full review on way and pics gmap
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Mawson Arms

Located on 110 Chiswick Lane South, Chiswick. Right next to Fullers brewery. A short walk from Turnham Green station. All of the Fullers range of bitters and ales. Quality real ales in great condition fresh from brewery next door. Friendly bar staff and locals. Brewery tour rally point. gmap

London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival

Located near Kings Cross underground, on Bidborough St. at the Camden Centre. £3 on the door for non-Camra members. I will be there tasting the great selection of ales,perrys, taking photos and videos. Hope to see you all there. Enjoy! update will follow. gmap

Bricklayers Arms Beer Festival

being written up soon. Timothy Tailor & Co - Landlord, Ram Tam and Golden Best on tap. gmap

St. Johns

Located in Archway. Full review on the way.

Nambucca

Located on the Holloway Road. More of a indie gig night than a bar or pub. Very tatty seating (the type of place where you might find a dead rat tucked between your seat cushion), unpleasant smell in the air and pointless selection of typically rank lagers. Staff on the wrong side of the bar most of the time. Wonderfull interior and exterior architecture but aged and not well looked after. It's just a shame that these idiots are in charge of such a nice venue. What this place needs the most is, a good clean with disinfectant and some adult staff to prevent it from becoming even more ransid than it already is. Empty most of the time, apart from when there is a gig. gmap

The Weavers Arms

On No.98 Newington Green Road, N1. Directors on tap. Large island bar, tiny interior with pool table and tv screen. Impressive exterior architechture with outside seating. Very quiet when i visited. gmap

Museum Tavern

Opposite the British Museum, on the corner of Museum Street and Great Russell Street. Nearest tube is Holburn and Tottenham Court Road. IPA, London Pride, Old Peculiar, Youngs, Landlord and Tribute on tap. Tourists and suits are the main resident clientel. Can get quite smokey and packed. gmap

Classic Guinnes Ad

Best drinks advert ever made at the time.

Alma

Situated close to Newington Green. Beautiful exterior and a dissapointing interior design. Lots of seating and comfy leather sofas. Bombadier is the only Ale on tap and in terrible condition when I visited. Amstel, Red Stripe and Hoegarden are the foreign lager selection.

The Plough, Enfield

Located near the Crews Hill gardening centre district on Cattlegate Road, in Enfield. Georgeous architectural exterior and modern gastro function interior with plenty of seating inside and out. Menu. Ales in crap condition and warm. McMullen's AK, Country Best and Festive Stout on Tap. gmap

Princess Of Wales

Located in Clapton on the Lea Bridge Rd. A Young's pub with partial wood panelling on the interior. It has a public and private bar with sports on the tv. Can get very smokey. Wonderfully situated on the canal, so in summer months a joy to visit. Young's Special, Bombadier and Winter Warmer on tap, quite expensive prices compared to any other local. Bog standard English menu and moody staff. gmap

Too much Hungarian Palinka..methinks

Disposing of a tree root is not a good idea whilst drunk...but funny. Remember to drink responsibly..!

The Constitution

On 42, St. Pancras Way, near Camden Town tube, perched on the Regent's canal. Bombadier, Deuchars and a guest ale. Garden and outside seating. Country music nights as well as a jukebox. Mainly for the locals. gmap

The George

Situated at No.213 Strand, Adnam's Old Ale, IPA and London Pride on draught. Terribly awful toilets, so avoid passing water. Fish and chip menu, so dont expect too much in terms of quality. Otherwise nice with a fantastic interior and exterior architechture. Tourists and suits gather in groups, beware. gmap

The Sherlock Holmes

Located on No.10-11, Northumberland St, near Charing Cross tube and railway. Sherlock Holmes Ale, London Pride and IPA on draught. Nice but packed with curious tourists most of the time.Brilliant interior detailing for the namesake. Worth a visit. gmap

Bunch of Grapes

Located on the Brompton Rd, IPA and London Pride On Tap but truly shit quality. Complete amateurs with ales. A pint of Vinegar most of the time. Such a shame as the pub is beautiful both inside and out.

Packhorse and Talbot

Located on 145 Chiswick High Rd, a few mins walk from Turnham Green tube.London Pride and IPA on draught and the usual lager crap. Even at quiet times it has a very smokey atmophere. Old git clientel. gmap

Nobody Inn

Located on one of the corners of Newington Green. Quite a large pub with a spacious interior, sofas, large plasma screens and two pool tables. Black Sheep, London Pride and one guest, ale wise and Lowenbrau, Hoegarden and Leffe for the foreign lagers. gmap

The Alwyne Castle

Situated on 83 St. Pauls Rd near Highbury and Islington tube. Ale festival until the end of january. Modern spacious interior with lots of comfy seating. Takes an age to get served even on quite days, mainly because staff are on the sofas most of the time. gmap

The Daniel Defoe

Situated on 102, Stoke Newington Church St, not too far from Clissold Park or Stoke Newington rail station. Well's-Bombadier, Abbot Ale, Youngs-Bitter and St Austell-Tribute. Open late (midnight) most days. Nice gmap

Prince of Wales

Located near the canal in Angel on 1 A Sudeley Street, nearest transport is the tube and buses on Upper Street. Stunning wood panelled interior divided into two. Out of the way from the usual local crowds therefore nice and pleasant. Spitfire and other real ales on tap. gmap

Wenlock Arms

Located on 26, Wenlock Rd near Old Street tube. Always busy whatever the time, full of locals. A lady plays the piano in the corner sometimes. Truely unique pub in london, a time capsule. Great selection of ales.

Acorn Brewery - Barnsley Bitter 3.8% 8.5/10 York Brewery - Nippy Nights 4.8% 7.5/10 Grand Union - Liberty Blonde 4.3% 9/10 Argyle Fyne Ales - Highlander 4.8% 7.5/10 Most between £2.30-£2.60 Dark Star Brewing Co.- Critical Mass 7.8% 8/10 --> £3.00 Mordue Brewery - Geordie Pride 4.2% 6.5/10 Mighty Oak Brewery - Oscar Wilde 3.7% 6/10 Pitfields - East Kent Goldings 4.2% 7/10 Adnam's - The Bitter 5/10 Liefman's - Kriek 6.0% (Cheery beer) 7/10

Food finishes whenever it runs out. The selection is various pasties, sandwiches, wedges and wings. gmap

Highbury Barn

26, Highbury Park, a short walk away from Highbury and Islington Tube station. Recently refurbised interior with sofas and big screens. Gooner hangout on match days. Deuchars IPA, Rosey Nosey on tap but not great condition. gmap

Hobgoblin - Bucks

Located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire @ No.35 High Street. White Horse, Spitfire and Directors on Tap. Nice old pub with character. Low ceiling and low light with wood and stone interior, can get quite smokey. Varied clientel (goths, bikers,students, theatre goers +1 or 2 weirdos) and good jukebox. gmap

The Lion

Located on 132 Stoke Newinton Church Street, only a short walk from Clissold Park. The name of this pub seems to change quite regularly, although the atmosphere doesn't. Big screens and outside seating. Overpriced for what it is.Tribute, Bombadier,Youngs on tap. gmap

Remember to drink responsibly - always

Treat your liver well..

Jerusalem Tavern

Full review on the way. 55 Britton Street near Farringdon tube. Owned by the St. Peter’s Brewery Co. Ltd in Suffolk and stocked
with their own ales and stouts. Very old pub with wine and good food. Also check out their funky bottles in the bitter bottle list in Flickr. Crampted but nice old interior. The staff have a half-hearted attitude to serving customers. Full of suits most days, closed on weekends. gmap