Calthorpe Arms, WC1

My late afternoon midweek visit to this pub found it fairly quiet, though I received a friendly welcome from behind the bar. It's a single room corner pub in an unadorned box-like brick building, with a few seats and tables on the pavement in the side street. There were six hand pumps on the bar, with Youngs Original, Timothy Taylor Landlord and two from Purity. I went for the Mad Goose, which was in good enough condition. Date of visit: 14th September 2022

Visited 3rd March 2016 - rating: 4 Much as described below. This is a traditional old geezers' pub in a none-too-fashionable area. There's a TV, fruit machine, carpets...Food, somewhat incongruously, constitutes homemade hummus and marinated olives - I wonder how this goes down with the hoary old Marxist philosopher in the corner? Beers: Truman's Blindside, Twickenham's Redhead and Young's Bitter only (this is a Young's pub?) at £1.75 which was ok. With the lack of punters and resultant lack of atmosphere, this is one for the tickers and locals only. I won't be returning, but I wish it all the best. ------------------------ A return the other night to a pub which did indeed have something of a modernised makeover during Lockdown. An interesting gobbet of history here, in that in 1830 it was used as a temporary magistrates’ court for the trial of a person accused of the world’s first-ever murder of a policeman. The bar front looks original, but now there’s a back with chunky stained wood and fluted glass lamps over the bar top. Otherwise, the interior has been substantially altered, with wood elements painted dark grey, black Anaglypta to the dado then bare brick painted white, a white Anaglypta ceiling but now with ugly office fans. There are incongruous drape curtains and décor comes in the form of trendy prints. There are studded black banquettes to the periphery, furniture may be remaindered and the carpet is probably new; the games machine and jukebox certainly are. Customers are still resolutely older locals, so no change here, though all seemingly on first name terms with the staff. Ales amounted to just Young’s Original and Landlord at £2.60 a half, fine and served by a very friendly barmaid. This isn’t a bad place as such; actually, I preferred it in its previous no-nonsense guise, but there are better pubs locally, such as the York, Blue Lion and especially the Queens Head. Having lost much of its former character - not to mention the homemade hummus - I doubt I’ll return, but I still wish it well.

the ale was fairly humdrum today too. Apparently it has just had a refurbishment. The clientele inside and out were a bit rough around the edges. It’s pretty basic but fine as a local i’m sure.

Official site of Calthorpe Arms - www.calthorpearmswc1.co.uk

Official site of Calthorpe Arms - www.calthorpearmswc1.co.uk

The exterior of this street corner pub looks great,traditional with an apex door and lots of etched glass,but sadly this is the high point for this Youngs Pubco. establishment has had a refurb which has stripped the interior of a lot of charm. It's small inside ,but a white ceiling,faux brick wallpaper,modern carpeting and light fittings made to look old are just out of place.At least bench seating around the perimeter and a good sized mirror have been retained,a flatscreen was showing rugby and the pub was busy with local residents.Pub grub is available from a short menu ,while daily specials were on a blackboard at reasonable prices but dining will attract families detracting from any boozing atmosphere. There are 6 handpumps ,not all working,offering on my Saturday afternoon visit CW Youngs Bitter,Special and guest Sambrooks Pale (reasonable nick,rip off at £2.20 the half).Old Rosie cider also had a pump devoted to it. It's in the 2019 GBG but I struggled to see why.A very ordinary ale line up ,in quite an ordinary pub didn't suggest either a longer stay or a revisit.