The Britannia, SE1

A basic but pubby pub with a central bar upon which I spotted just the two handpumps, these were offering a Sharps duo of Doom Bar and Atlantic, the keg options were a basic ensemble.

This is a mid-19th century pub nestled amidst local authority housing along the exceedingly dinky Kipling Street, still featuring a Taylor Walker sign frame, devoid of its gun carriage motif. The interior is quite deliberately basic, with boarded floor and a bar back of some vintage; of note is the brass water tap on the bar top, so much more attractive than some Kilner jar full of water with ‘orrible green shavings floating in it. The overall aesthetic is one of a dive bar with low lighting, mixed furniture, some industrial and at least one table with legs fashioned from a couple of black painted kegs. The ceiling is white t ‘n’ g, with décor featuring a couple of fine brewers’ mirrors – one Bass – two maquettes of Ziggy Stardust and John Lennon in his ‘Imagine’ suit, then eclectic prints; two functional incense burners rested on the bar top and loud Techno music played. Customers were either some very earthy older locals, then Australians (?) and probably some students, one – outside obviously – smoking a large cigar, purchased from the pub’s cigar menu which features whisky pairings, whisky being a major selling point here. Unfortunately, the ale front was barely worth mentioning, with just one unclipped pump, then another clipped for Pride, me going for a bland Orbit Nico at a very reasonable £3.10 a half, served by a friendly barmaid. The Britannia offers something different, especially when coupled with the Miller and Simon the Tanner but would get a higher mark if it catered for the discerning cask drinker rather than assuming that Pride is the go-to choice for cask drinkers which it isn’t, but it’s worth smoking out.

Official site of The Britannia - www.britannia.smokd.co.uk

Official site of The Britannia - www.britannia.smokd.co.uk

One room pub with the bar to the left. Various kegs and, surprise surprise, Ringwood's 49er which was quite pleasant.

A backstreet pub a little off the beaten track despite being only a few minutes’ walk from the throngs of Borough Market, this was inhabited almost entirely by locals on a recent mid-week evening visit, with us being the only tourists I suspect. It’s quite attractive looking from the outside, and has a traditional U-shaped interior with sanded wooden boards on the floor, dark timberwork and large windows on two sides with some flock wallpaper elsewhere. A TV was up in the corner and although the volume was not on, there was instead a radio station playing, slightly too loudly I thought. A sign outside said that a new kitchen was opening in a week or so, with the food offering on our visit seeming to consist of a few jars of nuts on the bar and a small selection of pies. The solitary beer on tap was Pedigree Amber, although a further pump appeared unused so there may on occasions be others. Ciders meanwhile were Kingston Press and Old Rosie. Whisky seems to the main focus here though, with a chalk board on the wall listing fifty or more. A small copper tap on the bar counter was presumably for punters to help themselves to splashes of water – an unusual feature and not something I’ve seen before.

In most ways, quite an old-fashioned backstreet pub, benefiting from high ceilings, large windows and a reasonable amount of space around the 'U'-shaped bar. Simply furnished and very plainly decorated, with the large whiskey list board and traditional water tap on the counter being the main features of note. Menu limited to Pieminister pies (£5) with mash, peas and gravy extra (£3). Two of three handpumps in use, offering Pedigree (£4.00) and Old Rosie cider. So nothing special, but I thought the place had a good atmosphere early on a Thursday evening.