The Gregorian, Bermondsey, SE16

Travelling back through London after a meeting in Crystal Palace, I'd decided to visit The Hand & Marigold, but espied this place about 3 minutes after exiting Bermondsey Tube: set back from the road, it stood out with its brewers' Tudor (thank you, Tris) façade and yellow "in-between" paint job. Plus the unique name piqued my curiosity. A little tired from the outside, I was initially (ton)sure whether this place was open, but although it opens at 4pm on weekdays, this is relaxed to 2pm on a Thursday, and the door was thankfully open as I crossed the threshold as the clock struck 3pm. With four manned handpumps, I thought I was seeing things, especially as a Titanic pump clip shone out at me, but indeed, there was Titanic Iceberg, Kirkstall Three Swords, St Austell Tribute and Timothy Taylor Golden Best. Pints of the first two were successfully consumed before my departure, and jolly good they were too. Tris has very thoroughly described the interior, and although not as distressed as some other Antic outlets, there was a slightly worn appearance to the place. The only punter in, I got chatting to the landlord who had been in situ for a month and had the experience of ten years at The Lamb in Bloomsbury, so clearly knows his stuff. One of those serendipitous "glad I went in" moments, and solid, not great; like the kind of player that would earn twenty caps playing for England at full-back (no goals).

This pub has been well described by Trish below. It's an unusual building, but a bit rough around the edges. There's some good wood panelling and the bar counter is a handsome beast. Four hand pumps offering beers from Yorkshire and the south west, but I went for the Vilden Pale, which was very good (NBSS 3.5, £4.40/pint).