London Pub Tour 24 - Strand: Champagne Charlie's (Revisit), Coal Hole and Savoy Tup

A Wednesday after work I decided to make a quick pop over to central (Strand) and tick off a couple more pubs on my London Pub Tour. My first stop though was a revisit to Champagne Charlie's (WC2R 0BA) which I had visited previously, and for my very first time, in London Pub Tour 6. For those of you who haven't (or don't wish to) read my previous visit, I shall give a brief description of Champagne Charlie's. The pub is just off the pedestrian walkway between Charing Cross station and Embankment. The entrance is just a door way downstairs into a cellar bar. The pub is actually quite spacious and serves two ales alongside a few lagers.

Last time I visited around the same time, and again the pub wasn't busy with only 3 other customers in there drinking. The same beers were available as the previous visit (Meantime, London Pale Ale, Old Wallop and Whitstable Bay). As the Old Wallop went down so well last time, particularly with the tankard, I opted for it again, and it didn't disappoint. Served once again in a tankard with a nice head and good flavour, it went down well. I sat in the seating area just to the left upon entering, which gave a view down the corner and a better view of all the seating on offer. Whilst drinking nobody else popped down, and this pub has certainly gone on my list for a nice place to enjoy a quiet read and pint on a early evening.

After finishing up I went back to the surface and down the Strand to the Coal Hole (WC2R 0DW). The Coal Hole is a Nicholson's pub facing onto the main road amongst theatres and restaurants. The pub itself is built into the Savoy hotel complex, but isn't part of nor does it have a direct link to the hotel. The exterior has been kept in good condition and certainly fits with the lights of the surrounding theatres. Inside the pub was heaving. Fighting my way through to the bar I seen the usual lager offers from Nicholson's of Peroni, Meantime Pale Ale, Camden Hells, Carling and others. On the ale front they had Pride, Nicholson's Pale Ale, White Ale and Musselburgh Broke. As I'd never seen the Musselburgh Broke by Knops Beer Company, it was clearly the beer I went for. This was a nice dark Scottish ale that wasn't complex in flavours, and was just simple and easy to glup.

The inside of the Coal Hole is actually very nice, and is certainly more enjoyably when less busy, though this is a very popular pub. This is a small upper level in the pub with some nice paintings but also a view across the pub and of the hanging lights. Sadly this is the most popular area so is difficult to get seating there even on non-busy days. The bar is large but even on busy days like this it's not enough to cope with the competing demands of thirsty customers. As it was so busy and noisy I wolfed down my pint and made my escape onto the Savoy Tup (WC2R 0BA).

I've not actually been to the Savoy Tup previously and never actually seen the frontage to it. The pub is just off the Strand and only a short walk from the Coal Hole. The pub was also busy but not heaving and I was able to find a resting point to put down my drink. The drink selection was varied though only two out of the four hand pumps on, but offering up Hophead and Talisman by Pilgrim. On keg they offered Angelo Poretti, Becks Vier, Riegele, Erdinger and San Miguel. Though I instead was drawn to the the can beers I could see from Backyard Brewing. I ended up selecting The Lawn Mower which came in at 4.8%. It was a pilsner beer with hints of grass clippings taste, which I guess is the reasoning for calling it Lawn Mower, though it was so subtle it didn't impact upon what was a good tasting pilsner.

The Savoy Tup was decorated quite traditional, and had a dinning room and the toilets upstairs. The clientele were mainly suits but the atmosphere didn't come across like many others that way (The Guineas for example). Sadly my quick whistle stop tour of two new pubs and a revisit was over as my phone rang and I had to be on my merry way. The Coal Hole is certainly recommended during less busy times, and the Tup will be one I would revisit for some of the beers I seen there.