Old Fountain, Old Street, EC1

Randomness Guide to London - Old Fountain entry

Randomness Guide to London - Old Fountain entry

Not too far from Old Street station, this is one of the capital's best ale houses. The split level bar has eight hand pumps and a recent visit saw Dark Star Over the Moon, London Pride, Crouch Vale Amarillo and Sovereign, Otley 01, Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde, Adnams May Day and something from Walton’s available alongside a good bottled selection of Otley beers. I tried a pint of the Amarillo which was absolutely fantastic and indicative of the excellent quality maintained here. The larger room has plenty of seating and most of the regulars were sat along the bar at this end. The smaller, lower room had a food service area (Mains £5, Pizza menu £6) and a few more tables. The decor was fairly bland except for a colourful fish tank whilst a dartboard was visible, but unplayable due to the table layout. An outstanding ale destination pub and one that I'm keen to return to next time I'm in town.

After sinking a few too many pints I happened upon this place and thanked the beer fairies for the big fat slice of luck that I was dished up. This place has a good atmosphere and a large selection of very good beer. There's a small glass display area at the front of the pub with a selection of sandwiches and a chalk board advertising jacket potatoes and omelettes at reasonable prices. The governor seems ok and there is a dartboard, although there were a few tables on the oche during my visit. After an evening visiting some very uninspiring pubs I was glad to find this place and I will make a detour to visit it again.

This pub does not look very inviting from the outside, but ignore that because inside for the real ale buffs is a gem to experience. Decent looking traditional interior and its two distinct areas support enough seating and standing areas to enjoy the ale, and something you don't see in pubs very much now, a tropical fish tank bubbling away on one of the walls. 8 Real Ales on, which included during this visit Test Brew 2 and White Mountain IPA from the Red Squirrel brewery in Hertford, Ascot Ales Posh Pooch and Alligator Ale, Whitstable Brewery East India pale Ale and Adnams Old Ale, all dispensed by three hard working bar keeps who knew what they were doing. There are four pumps on each bar section, but as they are double clipped, you can see all the beers on irrespective of where you are standing.. Also apparently it does plain simple pub nosh as well from the display counter but have only visited in the evening and never tried this.

A well regarded and celebrated house with an exceptional choice of traditional ales. There are eight handpumps in two banks of four, shared between the upper and lower bars of this pub, split between two front and rear street entrances. Both sets of pumps are double clipped to show the full range. The interior is a little dated, and functional, traditional tables in fours, plus banquettes around the external walls. A dart board and fish tank complete the picture. Brewery mirrors,occasional photos but a bit spartan really. Never mind all that, for the real ale drinker it is heaven, on my visit seven on, Oxfordshire Marshmallow, Weltons Horsham Old, Skinners Cornish Knocker, Pride, fff Altons , Adnams Broadside, and Moorhouse Black Cat. No one will knock that choice, and the pub is welcoming to real ale drinkers, even if the interior and decor seem from a different age

Official site of the Old Fountain, contains real ale list - www.oldfountain.co.uk

Looks small from the outside, but don't worry: there's plenty of room inside for discerning drinkers! 6-7 ales in great condition (and reasonably priced too). Paulaner & Bitburger from Germany if you'd prefer something a little cooler. Serves good pub food & sandwiches at lunchtime, pizza in the evening. A great pub, and the website can keep you updated on upcoming guest ales, so you've no excuse!

Official site of the Old Fountain, contains real ale list - www.oldfountain.co.uk