Jono's, Ilford

Having walked past many deserted and converted to alternative faiths pub, I was delighted to find this Good Beer Guide entry, doubly so as it was open before midday on a Monday. I was expecting a micro shop conversion, knowing nothing about it. I didnt expect an Irish pub conversion. I also didnt expect a sign on the front door saying "Guinness is for the locals only". We could argue about whether the great Guinness shortage of 2024/25 is a marketing myth but in my mind, it should be first come, first served. If the locals aren't here, their look out. And the locals that were were on Carling anyway. Still, their pub, their rules. So what could I have and why is it in the GBG? Well, almost as is they are embarrassed, a solo Tribute is around the corner from the array of keg. For the first pour of a Monday lunch, it was in pretty good shape. A long thin pub, decorated with the usual irish theme.... although disappointingly, no signs telling me how far I am from Galway or bicycles in the window. Show me an odder Good Beer Guide entry!

A Paddy pub which is a somewhat surprising GBG entry. Relatively characterful interior with the style and trimmings you'd expect from the genre. The local CAMRA branch aren’t that savvy though, as, the single cask of Tribute was poor (NBSS 1.5) and an emergency half of Galway Nitro Stout to replace was fusty. Deeply unimpressed which is a shame as it is a decent hole on cursory inspection. Proof that the GBG down this way is about as hit-and-miss as you just plucking some random entries out of this website.