Bars & Pubs

By Ben McFarland

Simply put, this pub is brilliant - go. Proper cosy with pictures of the cigar-chomping chief, and drenched in the comfy glow of a roaring fire. Landlord Gerry O’Brien serves an immaculately kept range of Fuller’s ales as well as seasonal beers such as London Porter, a dark, delicious Dickensian drop. It was the first UK pub to ever serve Thai food and it’s still working that wok in style. On Sundays, the roasts come out too. There's an almighty knees-up for St Patrick’s Day, Winston Churchill’s birthday (Nov 30) and Halloween. By far the best seat is at the bar where Gerry will accidentally spill a fake pint of Guinness and then laugh uncontrollably. It’s hilarious. Regulars include a few tourists and genuine locals, and not just the posh ones neither.

Time Out London Issue 2000