Tea Clipper, Knightsbridge, SW7

Situated in a Knightsbridge side street not too far from Harrods is The Tea Clipper, a single bar street corner pub. The pleasant interior features bare boards and much wood panelling, with many shipping photos and prints. We learn that the pub was established in 1863, although it doesn't have that "olde pub" feel to it. Perhaps not surprisingly, there's a rather upmarket ambience and prices for both food and drink are predictably high. There's no feeling that this is in any way a community local, but one that has set out its stall to pick up passing trade from Harrods shoppers and museum visitors. On my recent visit, beers on were Ringwood Best, Marston's EPA and Pedigree. The Ringwood Best - £ 3.30p - was in good form. This is a reasonable enough establishment, but it's not really a drinkers pub, and there's better alternatives not too far away.

In this quarter, between Exhibition road and Scotch Corner, the Ennismore, Prince of Wales, Nelson, Lancelot, and the George IV have all gone, leaving just the Clipper, Paxton's Head and Tattersall's to carry the torch. I guess the Tea Clipper is the better of the three if you find yourself here, run by the small "Convivial London Pubs" chain, which is about half a notch up in quality from the many Punch Inns outlets in the area. Decorations as described by the others below. Very much food led but reasonably atmospheric, more choice of lagers than anything else, the only real ale on was Marston's EPA just now.

Official site of the Tea Clipper, includes menus - www.teaclipperknightsbridge.com

Official site of the Tea Clipper, includes menus - www.teaclipperknightsbridge.com

Real ales on were Pride, Hogsback TEA, and Sharp's Cornish Coaster. Average sized corner pub with essentially nautical themed (of course) bric-a brac and prints on the walls. Bare-boarded floors and wood-panelled walls give a somewhat Spartan feel, but I found it welcoming, with the friendly and chatty barman giving my chum and I a rundown of the pubs hitherto in the area that are no more. Depressing. It would have been a very small pub at some stage, but it has clearly been extended at some stage. I thought that it was a rather nice little pub – not an absolute gem, but well worth dropping in for a pint if you're in the area.

This is a nice enough pub given its location in a popular tourist area. There is a nautical theme running through the pub and there is also a huge mirror on the back wall which had me thinking that the pub was much bigger than it actually is. Oxford Gold, Purity Brewing Co Pure UBU and Jennings Redbreast were the ale options a week before Christmas along with a standard and premium draught selection. The barman was nice enough and he served me a decent pint of Guinness. There are a couple of plasma screens that were showing muted Sky Sports News, but I didn't see any signs advertising Sky Sports proper. This place is ok for a pint or two if you are unfortunate enough to be dragged shopping by the other half, but I wouldn't make this a destination pub.

Nice corner pub. Dark wood interior with bare floorboards. Real ale on sale, but cant remember what it was. Lunch served, though not sure about evening meals. Not very helpful am I!