The Horseshoe Inn, SE1

An attractive looking pub with good floral displays situated in a bit of a hidden away location. The main room is staple shaped with the bar along part of the back wall, a return one side has a dartboard with a shelf of trophies nearby, the other side leads to a separate side room which then leads on to a pleasant sunny garden. There are two full sized carved wooden brown bears out here standing guard. Mixed seating, boarded flooring, a fireplace down one end, all sorts on the walls including boxing prints, cases of bits and bobs. A sign above the bar helpfully declares that the pub is in the GBG 2010! The wall mounted TV was off on Sunday so unsure if sport friendly, music played but not too loud. Three pulls, Brakspear Bitter and Hobgoblin, the other unclipped. Food served. I liked it in here, why I can't exactly put my finger on but it just felt the part really. Perhaps because I visited after the fairly disappointing Rose up the road.

Official site of The Horseshoe Inn - www.thehorseshoeinnpub.co.uk

I noted Brakspear & gkipa last night, but believe Pride is a also regular. Either way, the Brakspear (£3) was pretty tired. The dartboard to the right of the bar was certainly not entertaining ‘serious' play by the ladies who preceded us, and our game did nothing to raise the standard. There is another board in the side/rear room. Lack of beer choice & quality leads me to doubt that I'll be back.

I was led to the Horseshoe Inn by a friend who knew its location, which was handy as I would never have found it. The bar stretches along the rear wall of this narrow pub and to the right of the bar is a dartboard. Standard draught was available alongside Ringwood Best, Hobgoblin and Marstons. Standard pub fare was available from around £10 for a main and a member of my group stumped up for a more expensive meat platter that went down quite well, although I ended up with a little more garlic bread than I would have liked. To the left of the pub is a separate seating area with another dartboard and a piano. Access from here can be gained to a beer garden full of picnic tables that stretches around to the rear of the pub. There was some background music emanating from the jukebox and the barmaid was cold and distant, even though we spent over £100 between us. I enjoyed the darts and the company, but not the hospitality… This pub is not on my list of revisits.

Official site of The Horseshoe Inn - www.thehorseshoeinnpub.co.uk