London Pub Tour 48 - Potters Bar / Borehamwood: Duke of York, Green Dragon, The Mops & Brooms and The Old Guinea

It was Good Friday and as I had the day off work and no other plans I decided to head out and visit a few rural pubs which I'd never visited before. I headed out of London on the bus to Potters Bar. Just before heading the Potters Bar Tesco I turned and walked back towards London, under the M25, via a busy A road (Barnet Road). The road led directly to my first stop the Duke of York (EN5 4SG). This is an old coaching inn which is now owned by Brunning and Price and is very much reverted in style to a country pub which trades well on food. The pub sits on a T junction with a car park to the rear and lawn space both out front and at the rear.

I arrived at the pub just after 3pm and it appeared to be towards the end of the lunch rush. I entered via what appeared to be a side door, with some dinning space off to the right. Continuing straight ahead led to a choice in bar area, front or rear. The rear seemed more dinning so I went to the front, which turned out to be the correct choice. There were stools at the bar and I plonked down on an empty one and waited for the attention of the bar staff. The staff were busy rushing round delivering food to tables and dealing with a complaint on how long it was taking for food to come out. The bar man who was dealing with most of these issues, once sorted, came over to take my order. There were 5 hand pump with only 4 on offering up Marston's EPA, Hobgoblin, Brunning & Price Original Bitter and Off The Hook by Mighty Oak Maldon. Riverbed red by New River was the ale coming soon. On tap the selection was more standard with Peroni, Aspall Suffolk, Guinness, Carling, Becks Vier and Sambrooks Pale. As I was at a Brunning and Price pub it would be a shame to turn down one of their own beers, so I went for a pint of the Original Bitter. The beer I would assume was poured with a sparkler as it had a lovely head with a smooth texture. The beer wasn't strong in taste but was perfect as a first pint, and a steal at only £3.75. I also ordered a bowl of chips and garlic bread to line the stomach for the journey ahead.

A bit more detail on the inside of the pub. The pub had a few different sections for dinning, which was it main aim with tables scattered everywhere. There were a few log fire places dotted around, which were unlit due to the fine weather, but would make for comfortable drinking in winter. The bar was a large horseshoe which ducked round into the rear bar, but no service was offered in the rear and it was a collection point for staff to take orders to tables. There was a conservatory off the left, which again was setup for dinning. The floor in the pub varied between large black tiles and wood flooring. Gentle soft lighting is on throughout the pub, with neutral coloured walls. Throughout the pub there were artwork and photos of the local history, along with the occasional shelf with books. I would have loved to stay for another but that would have been dangerous and perhaps the end of the pub tour.

So after finishing my snack I left the pub and rather than carry on the A road I was, took the T junction turning down Dancers Hill. For the majority of this walk there were no real pathways and it was either walking against the traffic on the verge in slightly in the road. The roads were busy and cars passed frequently, meaning I had to give way quite a bit, slowing down my progress. My next stop was just under 2 miles away on yet another A road (St Albans Road).

I could actually spot my second pub on my walk due to the large white building standing out from the higher ground I was on. I arrived at the Green Dragon (EN5 4RE) just before 4pm and was actually unsure whether it was opened based on the deserted car park and the run down look of the pub from the outside. The pub was also an independent so the opening hours listed can also vary. Thankfully the pub was opened and looked in much better condition inside.

Upon walking through the door you are presented with the straight bar a few steps ahead of you. To the left there is a brick wall with a fire place, and behind this is a small dinning area. To the right there is a small room with extra seating and some large tables and the traditional dark red leather style sofas you only ever see in pubs. The bar actually felt quite dark which I put down to the dark green wood painted bar. There were fairy lights on one of the beams above the bar, which I think proves maybe the bar is meant to be dark. The floor was a nice solid wood, and there were some empty bar stools at the bar. On my count there were about 8 people in the pub, all eating, in the dinning area.

There were three hand pumps on the bar, but only two were in use offering Tribute and Trelawny. Printer by Upham was coming soon. The kegs on offer were Sam Adams, Thatcher, Truman Roller IPA, Camden Pils, Carlsberg, San Miguel and the ubiquitous Guinness. As can be seen in the photo I went for a pint of Trelawny at £3.80 which was in good form but just not a favourite beer of mine. The pub was quiet with music playing quietly in background. I took a seat opposite the bar and overheard the staff trying to pick someone up from a nearby station, only to find later it was the wrong station. It wasn't until I went to use the facilities before I left that I discovered the pub was actually larger than I thought. There is a rear dinning area which looks out over a field and the room was very light, compared to the rest of the pub. After using the facilities is was time again to make my way along some country roads.

I turned onto the brilliantly named Trotters Bottom which I followed down alongside Dyrham Country Club to the A1 pedestrian crossing.
Just as I got to the other side of the crossing it began to drizzle and having looked on my map I seen there was a closer pub, leading away from where I wanted to head, but in which I could seek shelter until the shower was over. I turned down Rowley Lane passing a scout brigade who were out on a walk and putting on their water proofs. I shortly arrived at The Mops & Brooms (WD6 5PD) a McMullen's pub with an interesting name and pub sign. It was exactly a 2 mile walk

The pub was large and painted white, and had the quite standard McMullen's country eatery look of rope barriers and benches outside in the car park. The main entrance is actually round the corner and upon walking in you are enter a very modern decor pub with pristine wood flooring, modern panels on walls up to waist height, pastel coloured walls and element light bulbs. You have to walk quite a few steps to reach the bar on the back wall and sadly it was a standard offering of beer. On cask we have AK and Country with the third pump off. On keg we have Guinness, Peroni, San Miguel, Fosters and Aspall's Suffolk. There wasn't much of a bottle selection either, as I could have really done with a bottle of McMullen's Hertford Castle, instead I went for a pint of Guinness. At £4.35 this was to be the most expensive of my walk, but reasonable compared to more central prices.

The right side of the pub was for dinning and the left side for drinking, though could see that the right would turn into dinning also on a Sunday. I took a seat next to the radiator on the front window, looking out to see if the sky was getting any darker. The pub was quite busy with a large group by the door, and about 15 others in the drinking area. I noted a picture of Nelson above the fire place, though couldn't figure out any connection to the pub, but later found out that this was actually the original pub sign for the pub in the cottage next door. According to WhatPub.com the strange name for this establishment comes from the instruments that gypsy's used to fight each other...

The rain actually held off and nothing more than a light drizzle took place, so I decided to venture on to my original final destination and pub in the town of Ridge which was, again, exactly 2 miles away. Though I was slightly amused when I had walked barely half a mile and come across my first sign for the pub. The first half mile of the walk was on a pavement, then on my turn to Buckettsland Lane it was walking in the road. Thankfully either the traffic had died down or these roads were less traversed, and I only encountered two cars. This part of the walk also provided the only off-road part of my journey, with a walk alongside and the through some of the fields, leading me up to Ridge. The path looked underused and as such was overgrown in areas with the plants and weeds reaching above my waist for some stretches. I could spot the village of Ridge about half a mile before I got there, and I thought I could spot the pub assuming it was again a white coloured building, always a good guess. I turns out that I was right as I arrived at the Old Guinea (EN6 3LH) to find a brick building with a white coloured top.

The Old Guinea looked large but turned out to be a one room small pub, with the rest of the pub being given over to a pizzeria. I arrive just after 6pm and the pub was packed with worker's who didn't have the day off, unlike me. Although this was a single room pub it was very modern in design with a lovely marble top bar, wood floor and a grey/white wall colour. It was standing room only, but considering the number of seats in the pub, this would probably be standard. There is an 8 seater table just to the left of the entrance and to the right are some stalls and smaller tables. Surprisingly there was a TV on showing sport and there was a dart board.#

The bar was a straight bar, and the staff serving were wearing the same uniform advertising the pizzeria. This is a freehouse pub, the second of my journey, but due to its size had a small selection. There were no bottle beers and two hand pumps serving up Tribute and Southwold Bitter. On keg there was Guinness, San Miguel, Pravha, John Smith, Fosters, Stowford, Becks Vier and Birra Moretti. I got a glass bottle of coke, a pint of Stowford Press and a bag of cashew nuts, all for £7. The pub was cosy and could definitely be a nice local but lack of seating prevented me from relaxing and enjoying my surroundings after a long walk.

I wasn't too tempted to stop at the White Horse

I left the Old Guinea with the longest part of my walk left, which was just over three miles to Potters Bar train station. I left the village of ridge, crossing over the M25 into South Mimms. I passed another McMullens on my way, The White Horse, which was completely dead. I avoided stopping for a drink as it was nearing 7pm and I had 2 miles still ahead of me on main road back to the station. Also the pub is outside of the M25 so doesn't count for my boundary of London Pub Tours.

A solar array outside Potters Bar

On my walk back to the station I reflected on the variety of pub I visited. I would certainly re-visit the Duke of York for either a drink or food, without hesitation. I wouldn't go out of my way for the Green Dragon or Mops & Broom, though perhaps could see myself stopping again at the Old Guinea due to it's location on further walks onto Shenly. All in all, four pubs ticked off, nice but overcast weather with the rain holding off, and a few nice drinks had, though only one of them new to me.

London Pub Tour 47 - South Lambeth: Duke of Cambridge, Priory Arms and Flanagans

I jumped on the Victoria Line and headed three stops south to Stockwell for the start of my next three pubs in my London Pub Tour. Walking round the back of Stockwell bus garage I arrive at my first stop the Duke of Cambridge (SW8 2DQ). This is an estate pub under housing which had a few people outside smoking on seating. The pub looks like it might have originally had two sides but currently the pub occupies the right side and the left is a Venezuelan restaurant. Upon entering the pub the bar is on your left and runs down to the rear wall. There is cushioned seating under the front windows, with tables and then stools opposite. The majority of the pub space is taken up by a pool table which was in use an operating on the classic winner stays on, and as is always common, the better man loses to a fluke pot. The floor was a hard wearing grey carpet, that at first glance I thought was concrete. The walls are red and white and there was a table on one of the walls with the racing on, whilst a modern jukebox sat in the corner.

As is quite common with locals pubs all of the men were stood drinking around the bar which makes it impossible for you to find space to order. There were no ales on offer and the keg selection offered Strongbow in original, dark fruits or cloudy, Fosters, Guinness, San Miguel, Stella and Old Speckled Hen. The bottle selection was small but they did sell Super Bock and Super Bock Stout. I grabbed a pint of Stella for an amazing £3.80 and found a space on a table under the window. I watched the pool match ongoing and noted that the pub was mainly older Irish men who appeared to be in the building trade, with the rest being bus drivers who I hope had finished their shift.

I only stayed for the one and moved on to my main stop for the day the Priory Arms (SW8 2PB). The Priory Arms is not a large pub, but sits on a corner and has space outside for benches. The front of the pub has green boarding around it, and I understand is listed. The pub doesn't open till 5pm and I was a few minutes early but the lady setting up the outside let me go and sit inside till they opened. This gave me the perfect opportunity to browse around at the beer selection. The bar on the right hand wall and had 7 hand pumps. Only 4 hand pumps were on which were Kent Brewery's Brewers Reserve, Prohibition, Oakham's Enough Rope and Scarlet Macaw. On keg there was Paulaner Munich Hell, Pirate Life Stout, Gamma Ray, Schremser Hausbier, Jakes Kentish Cider, Drifter, Day Tripper and Easy Answer. There was also Blackberry Bush cider on cask. By the time I had finished perusing the bar was open for serving. I bought a pint of the Brewers Reserve for £4.50. The beer was very clear with a good lacing. Considering it was an american IPA the beer was quite bitter.

Now the pub has two levels to it, with the bar being on the lower level, and only having a few high tables with chairs. The rest of the seating is in the raised area which is only accessible by going past the front door again. The seating here is a long black 'leather like' cushioned seat running along the walls. I sat down on a small table that overlooked the bar. The walls of the pub are adorned with pump clips but if you look closely it appears where pump clips have been stolen they're putting XT Brewing or Tiny Rebel pump clips. On the pillar directly in front of me there were probably about 8 examples of this. The pub was very light and in the corner there were board games and books. I was still the only customer in the pub when I went up for my second beer, Stout by Pirates Life Brewing. As this beer was 7.1% I only went for a half and also bought a packet of the wonderful Synders jalapeno pretzels. The beer had a wonderful tan head and a great roasted flavour though you could taste the ABV, so was glad I went for a half (Or there abouts as they did pour in my favour). By my final drink, Day Drifter by Sand City Brewery four more punters had come into the pub. Again I only went for a half with Day Drifter, which was only 5.5% and had a very sweet aroma. The immediate taste is sweet with a bitterness in the after taste. Accompanying my drink this time was a packet of Tayto's Bang Bang Spicy Thai.

I left the pub though returned mere minutes later once I realised I had left my bag behind. Thankfully I don't have a dog nor child. Now with my bag in tow I made my way towards Battersea Park Station. Prior to arrving at the station I made a stop, mainly due to my bladder requiring emptying. I stopped at Flanagans (SW8 4AG) which is a nice looking stand along pub, with flower boxes on the outside, next to the train tracks in Battersea, surrounded by new developments going up in all directions. The outside normally has lots of benches but there appeared to be gas works going on, so the area was all dug up. The pub inside is very cosy and is exactly as advertised, an Irish Pub.

Irish Pub checklist
The pub is carpeted - Tick
Proper wooden bar - Tick
Solid wood seats - Tick
Female bar staff apart from owner - Tick
Irish Sports shown - Tick (Though Horse Racing currently on - Double Tick)

The pub itself is nice inside. As I said, cosy is the word I would use to describe as it was busy with lots of workers from the building site, and all the seats were taken. There is a raised seating area just beside the door with one table on it. The bar is in an L shape and had bar stools which all the regulars were sat on and chatting with the bar staff. On the top shelf of the bar there were a selection of unopened bottles ales, though they clearly weren't for sale.

The pub had two hand pumps which I wasn't expecting. Only one was one and it offered up Wandle. On keg we had Becks Vier, John Smith, Strongbow Original and Dark Fruits, Guinness (lots of), Coors Light, Stella, Carling and Fosters. I went for the Stella which much like the Duke of Cambridge can in at £3.80. There were a selection of Tayto crisps but after the pack I had at the last pub, I decided to steer clear this time. This pub isn't going to win any CAMRA pub awards but its a pub that I feel comfortable walking into, ordering a pint and either choosing to chat to people or just sit in quiet. It has a fire for winter time, and a nice outdoor area. Testament to this is how busy the pub always seems to be and the varying age of the customers. I enjoyed my pint and made the short walk to the station, happy with my pit stop.

London Pub Tour 46 - Barnsbury: White Swan, Brewhouse & Kitchen and Famous Cock Tavern

This was an unprepared London Pub Tour. My train route had delays so I got off at Highbury & Islington and decided to pop into a pub there and wait for the rush hour traffic to die down before getting my train home. I decided to pop into the Spoons - White Swan (N1 1RY) as it was only to be a quick drink whilst waiting for the trains to sort themselves out. This spoons is always popular with arsenal fans prior to and after the game so I wouldn't recommend visiting on a home match day. The pub takes the ground floor in an office block and to enter you walk up a few steps. The pub is very much to the spoons style with a large open plan floor stretching back quite some distance. The difference being that there is a mezzanine area with more seating which looks directly over the bar area. Underneath the mezzanine section there are low tables aimed more for the diners whilst the tables in front of the bar are all high tables with stools. The carpet is red with orange and black patterned leaves. Wood wavy blocks feature throughout on the walls, the bar and support columns. The pub certainly has that art deco feel to it, though the art on the wall looks like block patterns from Minecraft.

The queue at the bar was quite big and there wasn't an orderly service though I did get served by the nice assistant manager who was my name sake. As to be expected from a Spoons the normal keg range was available including Guinness, Shipyard, Carlsberg and Fosters. They also offered Asahi, Four Hour Session, Erdinger and Tuborg. Thankfully the Bud Light was off. There were 10 hand pumps which were serving Pride, GK IPA, Black Eel, Golden Host from Jennings, Via Ferrata, Ghost Ship. Abbott, Jamboree Elb, Doombar and Market Porter. I selected a pint of Four Hour Session from Hop Stuff Brewery which came in at £3.75. The beer is 4.2% abv and certainly wasn't hoppy in the way that I was expecting. The hops came with light floral taste and not the big hop hit I perhaps was expecting. Though the pub was busy there were plenty of tables free so I found one to drink my pint on. Whilst there I noticed there was quite a bit of natural light coming in for a spoons and realised there was a large floor to ceiling window opposite the bar and along the mezzanine staircase. Having the natural light really does bring more colour to the pub. Whilst sitting I noted that European Football was on tonight so texted a mate and decided to make an evening of it.

Now I've been to Highbury and Islington a few times but it's always to the same two pubs next to the station (the Famous Cock and the White Swan). I opened up WhatPub.com and decided to see what other places were nearby that I could visit. The one that stood out for me was the Brewhouse & Kitchen (N5 1JJ) which was directly across the square. When walking towards you see the large sign at the top of a building which you assume is the pub. As you enter the pub grounds you realise that the ground drops down to a lower level and into the large brewpub area and the stairs up to the hut like building are not where you're heading. I understand the upstairs does also have a bar and seating but on this day it wasn't deemed busy enough to be opened. The main downstairs area though was busy with quite a few people outside and all the tables inside taken or reserved. The pub had a very industrial look, with pipe work, exposed brick walls, vents, bottle lights hanging down on chains and more bottles used to make a tree of lights.

The bar is against the left hand side wall and offers up a selection of lagers from different breweries on the large copper pipes on the bar. There are also beers being dispensed from the taps on the rear wall. Sadly the own brewed lagers were all off but the house ales were on. A board on the rear displays what is available but is a bit confusing hence why it wasn't just me that enquirer about the house lager due to seeing it on the sign. For those who wish to know for a future visit, if there is a number next to it, its on, if its on the board and no number, its not. I guess I'm just used to signs showing what is on. There was a very large bottle selection. I'll just list everything that I could see available on keg and hand. So of the 8 hand pumps there were 2 off. The ales on were Trashed, Goal Scorer, Astronomer, Illustrator, Old Major and Orchard Pig Ginger Chili (I guess bag in box and not hand pump). On the keg there was Tongeelo Blond, Whistable Bay Black Oyster Stout, Aspall Suffolk, Sam Adams, Oranjeboom, Weihenstephan. There were some further keg beers on the back bar as see in the photo above. As I'd never come across the Whitstable Bay Black Oyster Stout, and the house lagers were off, I went for that. The beer was more creamy than their Double Stout but was of a similar good quality. It was to me a delightful beer and one I would have again.

As there were no seats I stood at an empty end of the bar and had my drink. The bar had a smooth stone top which was chipped in a few sections behind the bar. There were tiles around the bar floor but wood everywhere else. The cooper tanks for brewing were at the far end of the pub. Down the sides of the pub there were soft seating and tables, whilst the middle row houses high tables. The furniture was laid out where everyone had space, and I'm certain they could have added additional tables and seating if they wanted and still be spacious. There was an open kitchen area, and besides this there were a selection of boards games. Towards the front there was a large open raised fire pit, which wasn't on, but would certainly be a draw on a cold day. The pub was slightly dark as is normal with the element light bulbs some pubs use now days.

Sadly I was only able to stay for one as I had to rush across to the Famous Cock Tavern (N1 1RU) right next to Highbury & Islington station, to meet a mate to watch football with. As football was on the Cock was busy and no tables were free. But as the match had already kicked off there was no queue at the bar and I was easily able to order. There were 6 hand pumps with only three ales on - Landlord, Doombar and Atlantic. There was more choice in keg with Carling, Groslch, Sharps Orchard, Sharps Pilsner, Wolf Rock, Doombar, Budvar, Cheiftain, Blue Moon and Stowford Press. I got my pint of Wolf Rock and stood by one of the large centre pillars which had space to rest your pint. The beer was a sweet red ale which was fruity but not sessionable.

Down the middle of the pub were high tables, whilst on the side were booths. Towards the front it was just low tables and wood chairs. There were multiple screens in the pub, with a large projector towards the rear. The bar in this pub is actually towards the rear, probably because the closest entrance from the station is here. There is a covered beer garden out back, but at present due to construction work there are no tables out front of the pub. The bar is a dark wood and the floor has worn wood floorboards. There are some nice hanging lamps above the bar, and you almost don't notice the dark red paint on the walls and ceiling. This isn't a pub generally you would head to for a night out, and is more a pub for watching football or a quick pint whilst waiting to meet someone at the station.

After switching to the Pilsner and having a few pints, I actually went back to the Brewhouse and Kitchen. I managed to grab a table near the front door and had a pint of their ale. Goalscorer. It wasn't that great tasting but that could perhaps be my taste being affected by a mixture of drink by this stage. All in all it was nice to finally stray a little further in an area I do often stop by, but never explore. It's certainly an area that needs more exploring based on the Whatpub.com results.

London Pub Tour 45 - Hornsey: Great Northern Railway Tavern, Three Compasses and Hornsey Tavern

On a lovely warm Sunday I went to pay a visit to an area I used to hang out and visit some of the pubs I frequented. I selected this day as one of the pubs had just been re-opened by Fullers so I was interested to see what they had done with the pub. The location - Hornsey, the pub - Great Northern Railway Tavern (N8 7QB). I had fond memories of the GNR Taverm. This was a large pub with a beautiful wooden interior and a partition between the rear of the pub and the front. My over-riding memory was sitting drinking beer whilst a choir were practicing next door and hearing beautiful voices filling up the air. The pub though was in need of a good repair and it did close for while whilst undergoing a refurb. I never visited after the refurb but learned last year Fuller's had bought out the pub and it's been on my list to visit since.

I arrive early into the afternoon with the sun still high, and only four days after the official opening of the pub. The outside has remained the same with the etched windows and Fuller's have brought some of the lovely iron works back to life. I entered via the eastern door closest to the station and immediately could see the difference from before. The bar was facing straight at you and then turned down some steps, turned again and run all the way down the middle wall ending just prior to the conservatory area. This was now a large 'horseshoe' style bar. There were taps displaying about 6 beers on this short end of the bar. Walking down the steps and into the main pub area you are confronted with all the rest of the taps and 4 hand pumps. In all there were 21 taps serving up a selection of Fullers beer (Black IPA, Pride Unfiltered, Frontier...), some standard Fullers options (Veltins, Sierra, Kozel...) and a variety of small London brewery beers (N1, Crate). The four ales on offer were Howling Hops Chocolate Coffee Vanilla Milk Porter (Which was the first beer to run out at the Reading Beer Festival this year), Redemption Trinity, Sound Wave and of course London Pride. To go alongside this large offering we also had a large bottle selection offering the likes of Delirium and Kwak for the high ABV lovers.

I got speaking with the manager who gave me a taster of the Howling Hops Choc Coffee.....Porter which was okay but I really couldn't taste all those flavours in the one beer. I though had my eye on the Fullers Black IPA which I had not come across before but did know of its existence. The barmaid I ordered from tried to tell me cool kids don't call it Black I.P.A but Bipa. I'm not one for turning initialisation into words, and retorted do people come in and order ipa's or epa's? I took my lovely dark looking Black IPA, which came in 5.7% and cost £5.85, and walked to the conservatory of the pub. Now the area I entered the pub from seemed small and had a few tables. Then the area opposite the bar was more spacious and had quite a few tables against the wall. The conservatory area though is in a class of its own. From the four large high back chairs/sofas, to the grandfather chairs in front of the mirrored fire place, and tables around the outside. The ultimate piece was the stain glass windows on the ceiling. I sat down and just took in the look of the pub and though my pint had a sticky after feel it went well for the hot day and location.

I went back to the bar and ordered a pint of Brick Field Brown from Five Points Brewing which was also charged at £5.85. This was a dark caramel brown beer which has that sticky malty taste you expect. It was good but not a session beer. The pub wasn't that busy as it seemed a lazy Sunday and people were out elsewhere and perhaps unaware of this excellent establishment being open. The majority of people were sat outside in the beer patio area which didn't have a spare table. The back wall in the garden had multiple sloped roofs that make it feel like sheds lined up in a row. I would recommend people come visit this pub to see how a pub can be beautifully restored and brought back to be a central focal point. My only concern with such a large pub being run by Fullers and having such a large beer option is the knock on effect at the other local pubs. My next stop was to visit the Three Compasses (N8 7NX) which used to be the more upmarket Gastro pub.

The pub is a short walk and across the road from the GNR Tavern. The pub is beautiful to look at from the outside which a curvature to the building, and the white frontage fitting in nicely with the brick above. There are two entrances on either side of the pub. The floor is wood, with tiles around the bar floor and some bar stools available. The back bar is also tiled which I always like the look of. The pub is an L shape and the bar also, and the bar is made of a beautiful solid wood. The pub stretches back further than it's width. In the front half of the bar are lots of small numbered tables for dining and drinking. The rear has a sofa area opposite the bar which gathers around the fireplace but the rest is mainly setup for dining. The rear area has a sunlight and glass partitions which help the area look nice and bright. The pub has been refurbished since I last visited and seems to have become more food focused. Originally it would have been aimed at the city type who lived nearby but the area seems to have become younger and more upmarket which is who the pub are aiming at.

The bar had 6 hand pumps serving Pride, Knowles Spring by Tim Taylor, Rutterkin, Landlord, Last Suspect by Upham and Pride (again). The keg front was Carlsberg, Brooklyn, London Pale Ale, Pravha, Heneken, Stowford Press, East Coast IPA, Angelo, Poretti, Guinness and Amstel. I went for a pint of Rutterkin at £4.10. This golden ale had a slight citrus nose and quite a bitter taste to it, which they may classify as the zesty finish. The pub wasn't too busy and had about 10 people inside relaxing. This is Hornsey's oldest public bar and I don't see it being impacted too much by the Fuller's opening and should at least provide them with the need to up their game. The pub always has a good selection of ales which are non-gimmicky compared to perhaps the GNR Tavern's offerings.The pub was nice and airy and had a relaxing environment, with the furniture fitting in perfectly with the atmosphere.

I only stayed for the one as I had one more pub to visit which falls into the local pub category compared to the previous two pubs. The Hornsey Tavern (N8 7PB) is an ex-Greene King pub which I understand has been bought out and become independent. Upon entering though I seen that out of the three hand pumps, only one was on offering GK IPA, and bizarrely this was gravity drop and not from the tap. Just like the previous two pubs this is a large corner pub with multiple entrances. I entered through the front door where the bar slightly separates out the front and rear, but not entirely. The floor is carpeted with a dark colour and there is an array of low and high tables throughout the pub. Football was on TV and everyone was looking up at the many screens around the pub. The pub actually feels lighter than when I previously visited.

Since the only ale offering was GK IPA I knew I would be having a lager. The options were Coors light, Carlsberg, Stella, Peroni, Carling or Fosters. I went for a Stella which cost £4 and came in a Carling glass. The pub also served a variety of cheap snacks such as Space Raiders and Cheese Moments, so I obliged in picking up a few. I took a seat at an empty small table which had those accompanying small stools. There was a pool table towards the rear of the pub next to an electronic juke box. There were some cuddly toys above the bar. The pub was actually quite open and so felt empty considering there was at least 15 people in the pub. There is a small outdoor patio area which is mainly used for smoking and doesn't, as I learnt, lead to an outside exit.

I watched the first half of the football and made my way back down to the GNR Tavern to see whether it had picked up at all. The pub hadn't got any busier though more people were sitting inside as the Spring sun started to set. I picked up a pint of the generically named Lager by Crate Brewery and took up a seat again in the conservatory area. The pint wasn't that great as it had a strange after taste but it didn't ruin me harking back to fond memories of nights out always ending in the GNR.

London Pub Tour 44 - Clapham Junction: Slug and Lettuce, The Falcon and The Junction

Clapham Junction is a station and the surrounding Clapham area has a wealth of pubs. Being that Clapham Junction is only one train stop from Victoria, I felt it time to chronicle the three pubs right next to the station in my next London Pub tour. The sun was out and it was Friday after work. I stepped off the train at Clapham Junction and made my way to my first stop the Slug and Lettuce (SW11 1RU). Now I've debated whether the Slug and Lettuce chain can be considered a pub and I've yet to set down any true defined rules but in planning this trip I came to the conclusion it does indeed qualify as a pub because its primary purpose is to serve alcohol, it has draught beer and you aren't required to sit at a table to drink. I think I do need to flesh out the what counts / what doesn't a bit more but I feel Slug and Lettuce (and therefore also All Bar One and Yates) would meet any qualification as a pub, as to discount them would also discount many other venues.

It's been a few years since I've been to a Slug and Lettuce, and that was to watch a football match at the O2. I've never been in this venue before and hardly ever noticed it before. It is actually quite easy to miss when coming out of the station due to no standout branding, glass frontage and no outside drinking area. The pub inside is very modern and sleek. The bar is on the left hand wall. From the door to the bar, and around it, there are no tables in the way, creating a large open space. There are a few tables towards the rear near the kitchen, which is where I sat, but the majority of the tables are on the raised seating area directly in front of the bar. There were TVs on showing sport, whilst music played out at a low volume. The bar frontage is entirely tiles, which was a nice feature. There are some fake exposed bricks on the wall but the majority is just white painted walls, adding to the brightness of the pub.

The bar had two hand pumps but sadly only the GK IPA was on, with the Adnams Ghost Ship off. The keg selection was Guiness, Vedet, Amstel, Peroni, Stella, Estrella, Hop House 13 and Mortimer's Cider. I selected a pint of Hop House 13 which came in at £5.25. Sadly it was a bad pour which created a flat looking beer, but it tasted okay in this heat. When seated at the table drinking I realised all the tables are slightly taller than you would normally expect but the seats are at the perfect height to sit at and still have your feet on the floor, so it was a selected design reason. The clientele was mixed though the pub was sparsely populated and felt quiet. I finished up my pint and moved onto my next venue The Falcon (SW11 1RU) which was the complete opposite in crowd level. Everyone had spilled outside onto the pavement outside to drink and enjoy the sun, so I was slightly concerned how busy it might be inside. The inside was also busy but mainly around the front bar area. The bar is set as a large orbital bar that runs through the whole pub, but as there is no longer any service on the rear half of the bar, this area was quiet / empty.

The pub has three distinct sections. The main bar which is at the front facing out onto the road and has plenty of light coming through due to being on a corner. The rear bar now appears to be reserved for large groups or diners (if it wasn't a Friday). Lastly there is a little snug area connecting the main bar and the rear bar. The snug is carpeted and has grandfather chairs and book shelves. It only fits a few people and I've never sat in there as it's always taken. As a Nicholson pub there is a large ale selection and a variety of keg and bottle beers. The ales on during my visit were Pride, Christopher, Nicholson's Pale Ale, Ghost Ship, Doombar, Ilkley Hanging Stone, Sussex Best, Rev James Rye, Black Sheep and Sharp's Atlantic. A few pumps were off or coming soon. In the keg front there was London Lager, London Pale Ale, Stella, Carling, Guinness, Peroni, Hells, Amstel and Mortimers. I opted for a pint of Christopher's from Great Heck along with a pack of crisps for £5.60. The beer was cellar cooled which was perfect for this warm day. It was a slightly bitter pale ale but clear, good lacing and no bad tastes.

I had my beer in the main bar but at the rear where there was space and ledges to rest the pint on. The pub is well maintained from the wood panelling, to the booth seating facing out the window at the old Arding and Hobbs department store (now Debenhams). There are electric light chandelier's hanging from the ceiling and hops running above the bar. I did pop into the rear bar and seen that it was empty and lots of tables reserved, so it goes to show how many more people the pub can handle. I would certainly recommend visiting this pub for the wood interior and normally large and varied selection of ales. I walked round the back to avoid the crowd to leave the pub and head onto my final stop The Junction (SW11 1SA).

This pub was previously known as the Windsor Castle and had a small front bar and large rear bar, with no connection to walk between them. After a refurb the bar was moved against the side wall allowing the pub to be one large room. The pub is a large detached building with a mock tudor beam front and is quite long but not that wide.. At the front are a mix of high and low tables. Beyond this is the bar area and a few tables against the walls. Then the rear area of the pub where there are quite a number of low tables. The pub also has a walled beer garden which has some amazing art work on them. The floor is carpet apart from block wood around bar area. Unfortunately the walls are the standard Taylor Walker with fake bookcase wallpaper in places. There was a large number of people inside the pub (40+) and as such no seats available. The crowd here was slightly older than the previous two pubs.

The bar 6 hand pumps with one offering cider (Lilley's Mango) and one being off (Thankfully GK IPA). The other 4 pumps were London Glory, Grandstand, Sheep Dip and Hairy Hooker. The keg options were Asahi, Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Hells, Camden Pale, Over Easy, Spaten, Fosters, Guinness and Hop House. I started by having a half of the Lilley Mango Cider as I have a sweet spot for this drink. It is so sweet and delicious that you would think your drinking a soft drink and not an alcoholic beverage. After that I got two halves of the Plain Ales beers - Hairy Hooker and Sheep Dip. Both the beers were Bitter's which I wasn't expecting. The Hooker was more expensive at £2.50, and came in at 4.1%. This had a lovely toasted taste to it whilst also feeling sweet. The Sheep Dip half cost £2.10 and came in at 3.8%. This beer had the same aroma but had a reduced flavour. It was bitter with no sweet after taste. It was all upfront and nothing after.

I raise this just as a final pondering point. Whilst at the pub there was a table of 3 who had food delivered to their table. Then a fourth member of their group came in with a take away from McDonald's and sat down and joined them eating it in the pub. I raise this as I feel it's pub etiquette not to bring in your own food unless permitted and also strange he brought a McD's rather then order something better from their menu. Staff didn't mention a thing to them and considering three had bought food and they were all drinking there, from a business point of view it makes sense, but if it was the other way round with 1 eating and 3 bringing a takeaway, I've no doubt it would have been a different outcome.