The title contains one fallacy--two of the pubs visited are in Brighton. However, the other 22 are indeed in London, though many are in its most rural locations. Only four of the 24 visited this time were old favourites; the rest were completely new for us. One pub was visited twice. Grab yourself a fine ale, sit back and enjoy a virtual visit to some amazing establishments...
Rating System for Pubs and Ales
*** Best of the best. Leave me here to die.
** Definitely worth a visit. Maybe even more than once.
* Is it time to go to the next pub now?
1) Kingswood Arms, Kingswood: A Fullers Pub, and on our Sunday afternoon visit it was filled to the brim with friends and families enjoying themselves. Two fires were on. We managed to snag a small table. Coming out of the train station it is likely the first thing you see (if you are specially trained to spot pubs, that is). This place is quite fantastic and pretty large, with many small rooms and nooks. I enjoyed a small glass of Oliver's Island by Fullers.
Pub **1/2 stars
Beer *1/2 stars
If this doesn't look cozy, then stop reading right now.
2) White Hart, Crystal Palace Area (Church Rd. And Westrow St.): Most pubs open at noon. We were walking the Capital Ring today, and our route came within half a block of two decent-sounding pubs. I had to pace in front for about five minutes before it opened. Deb wandered off to Crow On The Hill Bookstore and a cafe, leaving me alone to enjoy this fine establishment. It is a lovely old pub with a cozy interior, filled with dark wood and glass. It has large windows looking out onto a busy intersection, and picnic tables out front. My first ale of the day today was this one....
A word about hand pull pump clips--they are now a pretty serious
art form, and I wish I could photograph all the ones I tasted.
However, if the name of the beer is known, simply google it for
images.
Outside looking in. Is it noon hour yet?
Inside looking out, White Hart.
My little corner of heaven, White Hart. Capital Ring guidebook also on table.
Deb eventually rejoined me, and we moved on to the 2nd pub in this area, just across the road.
Pub **1/2 stars.
Beer **1/2 stars.
#3) The Alma, across the street from the White Hart. The pub is known for its cask ales. I need no further recommendation! Deb and I visited together (Deb is unable to have alcohol due to meds she takes). The interior is small and ordinary, with a wooden floor, fake bookshelves, and tables placed very close together. It is not atmospheric, but there are large windows looking out onto to the street. They have a good selection of ales. I enjoyed a Longman American Pale Ale, a solid beer (4.8%) coming from a well-kept pub cellar (cask ales are required to be served at 10 C). Sussex Brewery makes this one.
Pub **
Ale **
From google images, The Alma
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7197/6972002739_99428dafd2_b.jpg
4) Railway, Streatham Common. Again this one is visible from the station exit. There is nothing like completing a long, satisfying walk and finding a lovely pub to sit in afterwards! The Railway fits the bill nicely, holding down a busy corner very near Streatham Common Station. Dark wood inside is set off by large windows overlooking the busy street scene outside. We got comfy, ordered coffees, and I had my 3rd half-pint of ale of the day. This time it was Redemption's Fellowship London Porter, a bit of dark mystery and wonder in a glass at 5.1%. Here is a description from the brewery website:
"Our dark brown coloured London Porter with chocolate, coffee, liquorice
and dry roasted malt flavours complimented with hints of dark fruit.
Generous late hopping adds some zest and the initial sweetness fades
into a restrained bitter finish. Deceptively drinkable and a SIBA Gold
medal winner."
The coffee was also extra good!
Pub **1/2 stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Railway Pub, Streatham Common
Inside the Railway
Coffee and porter at the end of Ring Segment 5. Railway Pub.
#5) White Horse, Parsons Green. Our fourth and final pub of the day was not even chosen by us. Rather, it was picked by Jennifer, our ale-loving friend from British Columbia. We each have a copy of the recent Good Pub Guide of the UK, and I asked her to choose a pub from the London section and we would visit it and report back to her. Well, she picked a pretty fine establishment! The only thing missing was Jennifer herself. Perhaps someday soon! Leaving the Railway, we took a train to West Brompton, then the District Line back to Parsons Green. The pub is right on the green, very close to the station.
A horseshoe bar has seven ales currently on, so we got comfy once again! I ordered a small glass of Maggs Magnificent Mild (3.8%) from West Berkshire Brewery. It is a minor miracle how such good beer can be made over here with such a small amount of alcohol. The pub was busy but welcoming. My own photos are supplemented with some from the web.
Pub *** stars
Ale ** stars
Ale #4 for today!
It was damp, chilly and growing dark when we arrived at sanctuary.
7 ales were waiting. Mine is center, right.
Interior of the White Horse, from a web photo
http://beerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/rg-0022-1507-1990.jpg
6) Sandrock Pub, Upper Shirley, Croydon. The first pub of the day is always special, especially if you've been walking much of the morning. Tuesday we were walking the London Loop, segment 4, and by noon we needed to sit for a few minutes. Along came this wonderful village pub, way the hell out somewhere, but still in London. It seems to have struck a perfect balance between modern and traditional, with a comfortable and interesting bar area as well as a dining room. Though we were the only customers on arrival, it soon began to get busy. I enjoyed a glass of Sharps Doom Bar while Deb had a J2O (juice). We shared an order of spring rolls, which were a long time in coming. 3 cask ales were on today.
Pub **1/2 stars
Ale ** stars
Ah, time to rest the legs and exercise the liver!
The bar seating area featured great window views and comfy chairs. Sandrock Pub.
Deb relaxes in the bar seating area, Sandrock Pub. Today's guidebook is the London Loop.
7) Julian Huxley, Selsdon. We went out of our way to visit this pub, leaving the Loop. Luckily we did, because as we neared the pub it began to rain miserably. Later, just as we left, it stopped and we resumed our walk. I would say we were destined to visit here! The Julian is a Wetherspoon pub, part of a very large chain. A number of factors makes these places so special for me. Firstly, they have a real commitment to traditional ales, offering several that change frequently. Secondly, they are usually very well managed and very clean. Thirdly, their ales are usually more than £1 per pint cheaper than other pubs.
Julian Huxley has ties to Selsdon, and this busy corner pub bears his name. Sir Julian (!) helped to establish the nearby Seldson Nature Preserve, and he was an evolution biologist. Brother to Aldous, he was a founding member of both UNESCO and the World Wildlife Fund. It was an honour to toast him in the small conservatory at the back of the pub. It overlooked the rain-soaked garden, and I enjoyed a glass of Adnams Broadside ale whilst Deb sipped espresso. The rain beat down on our windows and glass roof, and it felt wonderful to be inside.
Pub ** stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Lovely sunny day view, borrowed from the internet. We sat up in the glass conservatory.
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/~/media/images/pubs/1249/
View of the bar from our snug at the White Lion.
8) White Lion, Warlingham. This is a pub lover's pub, and one worth many visits. In addition to some fine real ales, there are lots of veg options on the menu. We had to take a bus here after our London Loop segment ended, but it was only a few stops from Hamsey Green to Warlingham Green. The pub is on the south end of the green. This is a classic village pub, a member of Ember Inns. This chain is committed to presenting fine ales, and was my first encounter. The pub is sprawling, with many small rooms, low ceilings and tiny alcoves. We found the choice snug down a few steps from the bar, with its own fireplace. With seating for five or six, we were alone down here on our visit.
It was coffee time again, and I also enjoyed a glass of Tight Head Ale, a limited release from Inveralmond Brewery in Scotland. It was really good, with a full body and lots of flavour. Even more amazing is its paltry 4.2% alcohol content. The pub can be reached via Bus #403 from near our hotel in Croydon, though it's a pretty long ride.
Pub *** stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Excitedly approaching the White Lion, Warlingham
The front door beckons...
Our private little snug, down a few steps from the bar.
#9) Horseshoe, Warlingham. Just a few doors down from the White Lion, this is a pub from the Barons chain. A perfectly fine pub is pretty much ruined by over-lighting. It was like sitting under department store lights! I had a decent glass of Black Sheep Best Bitter, at 3.8%.
Pub ** stars
Ale ** stars
A lovely pub, but horribly over-lit inside.
http://www.pub-quiz.com/quiz_image/1401547041_The%20Horseshoe%20Warlingham.jpg
#10) Coachmakers Arms of Marylebone. We spent the morning at the Wallace Collection, then walked around the area a bit afterwards. This is a good but basic pub, one-room only with upstairs. I did score a really decent ale! We sat on two stools as I sipped and enjoyed Lubricant Ale (4.1%) from Scotland, made especially for the pub.
Pub ** stars
Ale **1/2 stars
In Marylebone. We stopped in briefly. Internet photo.
http://www.alpabroad.org/multiattachments/2734/Image/the-coach-makers.jpg
Inside the Coachmakers Arms. Impressive glass walls with great views to the outside. My photo.
#11) Lamb & Flag, Marylebone (Barrett and James St.). This is a Taylor/Walker pub. We found a small table near the door. Pubs in the area seem to be busy all day. I had a glass of Taylor Walker 1720, a sturdy pale ale (4%) named after the year the brewery was founded. It is the first new ale for them in 60 years! Good grief!
Pub *1/2 stars
Ale ** stars
Lamb & Flag. From the pub website.
http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/lamb-and-flag-marylebone/c8503/
#12) The Harp, Charing Cross. Located directly behind St Martins, this is now my go-to pub when in London. It has fabulous ales and ciders, and is a gem of a pub. This is one of two pubs we have visited previously. We had tried to visit last April, but it was after work and we couldn't get near the place. Today we got our "usual" table at the back, downstairs. I had Hecks Perry, and Deb enjoyed a bottle of Cornish Orchard Apple Juice. This is one of the finest pubs in the world!
Pub ***+++ stars
Perry ***
From a previous visit... Doesn't that hint of interior tempt you to enter?
13) Dog and Bull, Croydon. We returned home after our full day in London, and I was eager to get to a few pubs in Croydon. There are six or seven really good ones very close to our hotel, and I have yet to visit them all. I headed to this Youngs Brewery pub alone, while Deb went shopping. She was in search of a new backpack. This is a very old and unfashionably cool pub on Surrey St., right in the middle of Croydon's thriving street market. The market was just shutting down as I arrived, and the pub was still quiet, awaiting the rush hour crowds. I enjoyed a glass of Young's Winter Warmer, an ale I have drunk many times before. It is a seasonal, and I used to drink this 5% ale when we came over during March breaks. It is one of the heavier old school ales.
Pub ** stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Internet photo, Dog and Bull, Croydon.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Dog_and_Bull,_Croydon,_CR0_%286109140742%29.jpg
14) The George, Croydon. My favourite pub in Croydon, and the one that is closest to our hotel. It has 18 ales on handpull!!! I only visited once this trip. It is a Weatherspoons. We had dinner here Wednesday night. I had a pint of Sambrook's 4 Chimnney Chocolate Stout, a dark and very tasty beer at only 4.7%. Not as strong or full-bodied as similar American beer, it none-the-less was a real treat to have on cask. I also enjoyed a generous sample of Old Rosie with Rhubarb Cider (5.5%).
Pub **1/2 stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Cider **1/2 stars
The George, Croydon. Internet photo.
http://zoqy.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/100_3763.jpg
15) Wattenden Arms, Kenley. This wonderful country pub is as cozy and fun as it looks. Sadly, it isn't easy to reach, either. The pub once welcomed WW2 pilots from nearby adjacent Kenley Airfield, which is now home to gliders. The pub is literally a museum for the airfield and the pilots, as the walls are covered with historic photos. This is yet another of those places in which I could happily spend an entire afternoon, though sadly may not visit ever again. I enjoyed a glass of St. Austell's Proper Job, a 4.5% IPA.
Pub *** stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Deb prepares to enter the Wattenden Arms, Kenley. Sadly, public transport does not come very close to here. Still, it's worth a visit and the effort to get here. It is adjacent to the London Loop.
Bay window at the Wattenden Arms. Normally the choice seats are here, opposite the bar.
16) The Fox, a Vintage Inn. Not too much further along the muddy Loop is this pub, a basic but serviceable establishment. Though nice enough, it was nothing too memorable. However, there is hourly bus service from Croydon, and a stop just out front. I enjoyed a glass of London Pride, while Deb had a very gingery Fever Tree Ginger Beer.
Pub **
Ale **
Ladies and gentlemen, the Fox!
17) The Gate Clock, Greenwich. Usually I look forward to my visits to Wetherspoon pubs, because of their wide and interesting selection of cask ales. This pub does not seem to have the same commitment to ales as the others I have visited. Despite having 8 hand pulls, only two were ever working on my visits here. It's a nice enough pub, and somewhat clean. Just get a manager who cares about ales, please. I enjoyed a glass of Gold from Dorking Brewery.
Pub *1/2 stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Wetherspoons' Gate Clock Pub, Greenwich. Internet photo.
http://cdn.ipernity.com/145/62/75/34876275.0b2c972b.640.jpg?r2
18) Spanish Galleon, Greenwich. Shepherd Neame. The only pub we visited twice this time. We went once after a concert with Caroline, then we went back the next night for dinner between concerts. We visited here many years ago, too. We sat in the back conservatory, now covered with closed blinds. A decent pub with some good veg food options. The first time I had Faversham Pale Ale, and then a glass of Late Autumn Ale. Next night I had more Autumn Ale.
Pub ** stars.
Pale Ale **1/2 stars
Autumn Ale *** stars
Veg Sausages *** stars
Veg Sausages *** stars
19) Coach and Horses, Greenwich Market. The front faces the street, but the back opens onto Greenwich Market. All pubs in Greenwich are busy ones, and this was no exception, especially on a market Saturday at noon hour. There was a decent selection of ales. I enjoyed a glass of Adnams' Southwold Bitter, a basic but solid English cask ale (4.1%).
Pub ** stars
Ale ** stars.
Pub ** stars
Ale ** stars.
Coach and Horses, Greenwich market side. Internet photo.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/resources/images/2717177/
20) Trafalgar, Greenwich. Another pub visited many years ago, we went to this one before our final concert at the Early Music Festival. It is a sprawling pub right on the Thames River. I had a fabulous glass of Adnams' Old Ale. A very historic pub and worth a visit, though a bit rundown. A short walk from downtown Greenwich. Just follow the path alongside the Thames, downstream.
Pub **1/2 stars
Ale *** stars
Pub **1/2 stars
Ale *** stars
A fun Greenwich pub.
21) The Quadrant, Brighton. This is a decent enough pub for a busy main street, with a few interesting ales on offer. However, I had a heavenly glass of Orchard Pig Medium Still Cider. I hit the jackpot with this one! The pub is split level, and we sat at the bottom. Cozy enough.
Pub ** stars
Cider *** stars
The Quadrant, Brighton. Internet photo.
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Quadrant, showing lower seating area (ours). Internet photo.
http://www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/img/galleryImages/image/largeGallery/p1011825-10337.jpg
22) Good Campanions, Brighton. Very surprisingly, I only visited two pubs on our day out in Brighton. Not an impressive number at all! However, this was a cracking good one, on a hill atop the railway station. It was busy but we found a comfortable table. It is certainly worth the walk from the station, though in the opposite direction of the sea. I had a glass of Bedlam Porter, followed up with Navel Gazer Cider, again from Orchard Pig. The porter was a mighty fine dark beer, from a brewery in Sussex. At 5%, it featured chocolate and coffee!
Pub **1/2 stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Cider *** stars
Good Companions, Brighton. Internet photo.
http://static.designmynight.com/uploads/2013/11/gc-brighton-8-1200x800.jpg
23) Flying Chariot, Heathrow Terminal 2. Our final two pubs were in Heathrow airport. This one, the finest of them, is BEFORE security. Go early and spend an hour at this pub. Once nicely relaxed after a pint or three, security is a breeze! It is a wonderfully airy and open pub on two levels (three if you count the tiny crows nest way up top, standing only), and it offers free binocular views of the active runways. In addition to a bit of food, I enjoyed a pint of one of the best beers I have ever had! The Smoked Porter was made at Wadsworth Brewery by guest brewer Ishii Toshi. Peated malt is used in this fabulous 5.5% concoction, brewed especially for Wetherspoons.
Pub *** stars
Ale *** stars
Very good Wetherspoons pub in Heathrow Terminal 2. We sat upstairs, overlooking an active runway. Internet photo.
http://www.rnfoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/flyingchariot-edit.png
24) London's Pride, Heathrow Terminal 2. Our final pub, upstairs and past security. Comfortable lounge seating area, though it is largely a restaurant. They have the full line of Fullers ales. There are at least 4 cask ales here, usually more. Last chance to sip some fine English ale. This time I had ESB, always a delicious favourite.
Pub ** stars
Ale **1/2 stars
Lounge seating area, London's Pride, Heathrow Terminal 2. Internet photo.
There you have it! 24 pubs in 8 days. I know I can do better--maybe next time! I am already looking forward to it!
The End
