The George, Temple, WC2

I hadn't planned to visit the George on this trip, but when I was walking from the nearby Cheshire Cheese to the Olde Cheshire Cheese to meet a group of friends I happened to catch a glimpse of a double handful of cask beers on the bar here. I managed to persuade a few of them to join me for a couple of halves on our way to the next scheduled pub. My photos show what I think are seven beers and a couple of ciders, though I may have missed one. I went for a pale beer called Scaramanga, brewed at Gun Brewery in East Sussex and which I can remember drinking in Brighton. Though I don't think it was as good there as it was here (NBSS 3.5 or 4). I was too busy drinking and chatting with my friends to make any notes about the pub, so I may have to come back another time. The beer range and quality would definitely not discourage a return.

Absolutely rammed with the afterwork crowd when I rocked up just before 6.00PM yesterday, so I didn’t get much further than the long thin main bar room. The impressive row of nine ale pumps is still in situ on the bar but the beer choice available pre covid is now long gone. So of these, six were unused and Sambrook Wandel and GK IPA were the only beers available with a third pump being pulled through. The Wandel was a decent pint but I didn’t linger long enough to see what went on the third one in use, as the Edgar Wallace just around the corner awaited. The local workers crowd, presumably from the Law courts opposite, seemed to like it, but it didn’t have any great USP’s for me.

Situated opposite the Royal Courts of Justice, this makes a great stop for anyone awaiting the outcome of their appeal; will they be there at drinking-up time? Or doing time? I came here once before about 20 years ago. It’s a good example of brewers’ Tudor, dating from a rebuild of 1898. The interior has obviously been done up to include compulsory Farrow & Ball colour schemes, Victorian lighting, high and low conventional furniture; all a bit predictable, apart from the multiple air-conditioning boxes fixed to the ceiling. Customers seem to be barristers’ clerks, squawking women, whilst journalists use the place during the day. The most interesting item is the ornate bar back with its carved Corinthian capitals. Food is served, much of it to be found on my table. The women’s lavs were out of order, so one of the squawking women decided it would be fun to use the gent’s, which is definitely out of order. The ale choice was thin, with five unused pumps, then GK IPA, Landlord (reversed) and Old Speckled Hen at £2.45 a half and ok. This was never a great pub, though it’s better than I recall, but with the lame – and ultimately predictable – ale choice, food remains on tables, loud customers and women in the loo, it’ll be at least another 20 years before I return. In any event, the fabulous Seven Stars is on the north side of the RCJ.

Handy for the Royal Courts of Justice. Quite a long narrow interior with a restaurant upstairs. 9 real ales and "craft keg" served.