I am now up to 552 pubs visited in two and a half years and amazingly this is my 19th edition of All About The Beer. I would return to about 485 of the one’s I have visited but I know of another 550 yet to go and I may yet discover more. I have discovered many beers I previously didn’t know of, some of which have become real favourites.
The Magpie, Hampton (Rating 9.3) TW16 6AF
This is perhaps pushing the definition of London a bit, but I got off the train in Hampton which is in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames and walked the last bit. Moreover, the pub is right on the banks of the Thames. It is a delightful cottage sandwiched between road and river. It serves Hog’s Back TEA and does so at just the right temperature. There are two other beers from Greene King but TEA is one of my top three beers and thus there was no contest.
Latymers, Hammersmith (Rating 9.1) W6 8BS
This is a modern Fuller’s pub (1988) and relatively recently refurbished. The Jam used to play in The Red Cow that was on the same site until 1981. What you really need to know is that it serves very good beer from the Griffin Brewery and at an exceedingly attractive temperature. All three beers are Fuller’s and I have been here half a dozen times, always have ESB and it is always perfect. Need I say more?
Hammersmith and Ravenscourt Park have 15 pubs that I have visited. Not surprisingly, most serve Fuller’s ales although I count five where I drank Landlord or a Young’s Special. Twelve of the 15 are good pubs; seven I rate as very good pubs. Latymers is up there, close to the top, alongside The Dove [See Blog 11].
The Anchor and Hope, Clapton (Rating 9.1) E5 9HG
This isn’t a very large pub but it has extensive riverside outdoor space and views across the Lee Valley and Walthamstow’s tall towers in the distance. It is a Fuller’s house and I had a pint of ESB and it was a very good temperature. I sat outside and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I had not previously seen the River Lee and was pleasantly surprised. I will go again to explore but will definitely assuage my thirst at this pub again.
The Dog House, Kennington (Rating 8.7) SE11 6BY
A Victorian pub with more space outside than in. It dwells on a past when beer came from Ind Coope and smokes from Senior Service. I liked the atmosphere indoors. It was serving three ales and I had London Pride. It often has alternatives from Southwark Brewery but not when I was there. The temperature was excellent and the taste was all the better for it. It is definitely a pub that I will revisit. It rates as a top five pub in South East London. The second best in SE11 is The Jolly Gardeners.
The Pembroke Castle, Chalk Farm (Rating 8.2) NW1 7AN
This pub is a little bit away from the madding crowds though still very popular. It serves a good range of ales including some of the most ubiquitous – London Pride, Doom Bar, Harvey’s Sussex Best and Tribute. I chose Sussex Best and it was well served. Fellow drinkers represented a lot of North London society and created a pleasant vibe.
I have visited 10 pubs in the NW1 postcode and conclude that it is a rich seam of good watering holes. Half of the ten have scores above 8.0 including Doric Arch, Hawley Arms, Tapping the Admiral, The Edinboro Castle and this one. The Pembroke Castle and The Hawley Arms have the best atmosphere.
Pint of the Week: Vocation IPA 5.5% ABV and a pleasant 14.9 Celsius at the Eight Bells near Putney Bridge Station.