The Black Friar, Blackfriars, EC4

Proper ornate traditional interior as you would expect with Nicholson's. Real ale and food served.

Occupying a prominent street corner position close to the north side of Blackfriars Bridge and the recently enlarged Blackfriars Station is The Black Friar, one of London’s most well known and iconic pubs that really should be on everyone’s itinerary for a visit at some stage. It’s a Grade 2 listed wedge shaped building built in 1875 ( but remodelled in Art Nouveau style in 1903 ) on the site of a Dominican Priory that dated back to 1278, but which was destroyed when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1538. As we cross the road to the pub, we note its striking and unique distinctive exterior featuring mosaic styling and various copper and bronze panels of friars directing us towards the bar. Note the statue of the monk looking down at us from the corner of the building at its narrowest point. Different doorways tell us that this was once a multi roomed pub, as confirmed by old copper signs on the outside wall. A plaque outside the pub reminds us that it was due for demolition in the 1960’s, but that a public outcry led by Sir John Betjeman saved the building. The interior does not disappoint with distinctive marble and alabaster walls and bronze panels depicting monks engaged in various everyday activities such as eating, drinking, singing and fishing. At the far end is an unusual chapel type snug with various inscriptions on the marble walls such as “wisdom is rare” and “silence is golden”. Since my last visit, this area of the pub has unfortunately been commandeered as a restaurant area with tables laid out for diners and with the usual offputting sign exhorting us to “Please wait to be seated”. Above a fine large inglenook fireplace is a depiction of friars singing. Above the bar, a bronze panel depicts friars frolicking around and tells us that “Tomorrow will be Friday”. Some stained glass and frosted leaded windows add to the overall experience. The newish looking light pine wooden floor does jar somewhat, however. The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Not surprisingly, this pub is very much on the tourist radar and, especially in the evenings, you will often encounter a guided party of wide eyed Japanese or American visitors calling in and clicking away happily with their cameras for a few minutes before being beckoned outside by their tour guide in order to move on. Formerly a free house, The Black Friar has been in the Nicholsons stable for many years now. There’s usually a good selection of real ales on, served by the usual friendly and enthusiastic staff that one seems to encounter in Nicholsons outlets nowadays, even if their competence and efficiency is not always up to the mark. There’s two banks of 4 pumps which, on my recent early February visit, were offering, in addition to the ubiquitous London Pride and Doom Bar, beers from Downton, Sunny Republic, Broughton, Adnams and Stewart Brewing. Also on was the “house” Nicholsons Bitter which is brewed by St Austell. I initially went for Zymic from Stewart Brewing Co – a 3.8% beer described as “refreshingly extra hoppy “, which certainly matched the description. My companions and I had 4 or 5 of the 8 beers in total between us over the course of the evening and we all agreed that beer quality was first rate, but that the “background” music was insanely over loud, rendering meaningful conversation difficult. But for the cold February air, we would have retreated to the seating area on the wide pavement outside. I was tempted to draw management’s attention to the “silence is golden” inscription on the marble wall in the snug, but years of pub going give you a good feel of when you’re wasting your time, so I didn’t bother. They probably wouldn’t have heard me over the din, anyway, but, if they had, I imagine that I would have been told that it’s a directive from Head Office or something. I did, however, write a rather vitriolic comment in the visitors book on the window ledge by the door, which did at least brighten my mood somewhat. Having said that, you really should try and get here sometime. If you can visit when it’s relatively quiet and not too crowded (early lunchtime, perhaps?), the overall experience is likely to be infinitely better

One of London's spectacular interiors, and a fine exterior as well. Now a Nicholsons so the beer is excellent. Shame Nicholsons insist on certain areas for diners only.

One of London's finest pub interiors can be found in this strange wedge shaped building opposite Blackfriars station. The main bar area displays some excellent metal reliefs including one over the grand fireplace. Most of these images show the friars, after whom the pub takes its name, engaging in various pursuits such as eating, singing and even seemingly gardening. The right hand bar is a bit lighter than the rest of the pub thanks in part to the fine leaded windows. There was loud music playing in here on my recent Friday night visit, so I moved into the more peaceful main bar having failed to secure a seat in the pub's finest area - a small, almost snug-like room behind the three marble archways to the left hand side of the bar. This section contains the most amazing mosaic ceiling, which is vaulted presumably due to the train line running over it, as well as some more depictions of life in the friary. A large patio area is available outside the front of the pub for those who would prefer to view the building work over the road rather than the splendour within. A good range of ales awaited me on my recent visit, with Sharp's Doom Bar, Fullers Summer Ale and London Pride, Vale Black Beauty (£3.50), St Austell Tribute and Nethergate Umbel Ale on offer. The Black Beauty was in good shape, although the barmaid initially served me the wrong drink after a communication mix up caused by the aforementioned loud music. A must see pub for anyone remotely interested in pub heritage or wanting to visit a unique building. The decent beer is a definite bonus and it is only the popularity of the place that presents a potential downside.