Betsey Trotwood, Clerkenwell, EC1

This is still a Shepherd Neame pub so expect the usual beers; this one had on Bishop's Finger, Spitfire, and Spitfire Gold, plus something called Yeaster which was a new one one me. Food was available on a weekday lunchtime - sausage & onion, or fish finger sandwiches are £6, and the sausages were good quality having been sourced from a local butcher. Pie of the day, with mash, peas and gravy is £9.50. This is a comfortable and largely traditional pub. There are normal tables and chairs, plus some settles, but no tall tables/tall stools or sofas. There's a fair amount of modern pine wood cladding about, notably on the walls to dado level and bar counter front. Upper portions of the walls are painted emerald green, but I didn't see any evidence of it being an Irish themed pub. There were only a handful of people in when we arrived at lunchtime, and it was almost empty by 2.0 o'clock. This was in contrast to the vastly inferior and gloomy City Pride a few yards away where we couldn't find an empty table. There's no accounting for taste of course. I would be happy to visit this one again.

Wedge-shaped Shepherd Neame pub with windows (albeit small) on three sides. Attractive interior with a mix of theatrical and other decor above the low wood-panelling. Traditional furniture inside supplemented by a few wooden benches out front. Disappointingly, I found just two of five handpumps in operation on this visit, offering Bishops Finger (£4.20) and Tribute as a guest, with reversed clips for Spitfire, Spitfire Gold and Bootleg Fool's Gold also noted. Beer quality good, though.

Named after a character from a Dickens novel, this is an ostensibly large building which in actual fact hosts a very small pub run by Shepherd Neame. Situated on the junction of a busy main road it has an unusual curvature shape inside, a single roomer with varnished floorboards, original ceiling moulds, bottle green walls with quarter length tongue n’ groove panelling and a dash of floral wallpaper. One downer were the terrible 60s prints above the bar (Chinese Girl by Tretchikoff, that sort of thing). Upright piano spotted, don’t know whether it gets used. Those who want an authentic London experience can enjoy the vibrations and rumblings of the Tube trains which appear to go directly underneath the building. The pub hosts a small theatre, well-known for hosting comedy nights and Henning Wehn is a regular performer here. Five pumps with four Sheps ales on and an unusual roster; Spitfire Gold, Whitstable Bay, Bishops Finger (good nick), Sam Adams Blonde Ambition with a Spitfire clip turned. My little drink was made complete when a pair of Corbynistas turned up, separated a table from mine and then proceeded to blame the world for their political ills. Overall, I quite liked it here for a swift beer and I’m not sure why others seem to have a downer on it.

Taking its name, for no obvious reason, from the great aunt of the eponymous hero in Dickens' David Copperfield, this is a simple, single room Shepherd Neame pub. The room has bare floorboards with pew and standard seating around the perimeter and a couple more tables in the centre, either side of a large wood clad pillar. The servery is in the rear corner and has a tongue and groove panelled counter which follows a rather odd zig-zag route, and a plain mirrored bar back adorned with a few obscure CD covers from random folk albums. A number of potted plants in the window sills add a splash of colour and there were a few more on an upright piano at the far end of the room. Several music posters cover the walls which have either been painted in neutral colours or hung with busy floral wallpaper. Portraits of what appear to be old female movie star can be found around the bar area whilst another wall displays a blackboard with some decent sounding food options listed on it, surrounded by a collection of pump clips (main meals clocked in at around a tenner, which can't be too bad for this part of the city). A few mirrors round out the décor and I also spotted a bevy of origami swans suspended from the ceiling. Music played throughout my stay at a sensible volume and there are a few picnic benches on the pavement to the side of the pub. Three Shep's ales were available on handpull - Early Bird, Whitstable Bay and Kent's Best, with a reasonable pint of the Early Bird setting me back £4.20. There was a mixed early evening clientele in here, with more fashionable youngsters than suits to my surprise. The staff were friendly enough and busied themselves with various odd jobs in-between serving customers. This felt a bit like a standard Shep's pub from a small provincial town, rather than something you'd expect to find in the heart of London. In many ways, that is part of the pub's appeal, in that it generates a feel that isn't entirely in keeping with other pubs in the area, but by the same token, it's hardly a description that sets the pulse racing. I was quite pleased to have finally got round to visiting this long term target, but I can't imagine returning for more than a quick, cursory pint in the future.

Until the mid-1980s this was The Butchers Arms and occupies a corner/island site on Farringdon Road and Farringdon Lane, a somewhat noisy location opposite the former Guardian and Observer offices. There's a lot of relatively modern wood in here which gives a bit of a 'World of Pine' feel to the place - indeed, as mentioned below, it does feel a bit 1970s. The lighting is a bit dim making it a little gloomy. Some walls are covered with Shepherd Neame beer mats. The lavatories could certainly do with some cash, and the urinal trough needs lowering; users who are shorter than 5' 8" will probably have to stand on tiptoe to use it. The pub makes mention of the fact that it is built atop the world's first tube line. No kidding! Every time a train passed, the pub shook to the point that my gentleman's apparatus oscillated. The pub was virtually empty on our midweek 8.30 pm visit. Several drinkers were under the outer awnings and almost all appeared to be local office workers; no 'locals' seemed to be in evidence. There are premium lagers and, naturally, a lineup of around 4 Neame ales. My pint of Goldings cost £3.90 and was very decent; service was friendly and efficient. This place was better than expected and I'd come here again. It's more down to earth than the other local pubs, but next time either I'll stand or bring a cushion.

Official site of The Betsey Trotwood - www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Official site of The Betsey Trotwood - www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Reasonable sort of locals pub in an area crowded with pubs.Sadly they only sell Shep Neame beers which are an aquired taste imo.Very 70,s feel about the pub.Not for me.