The Miller, SE1

As the Miller of Mansfield, this pub dates from the late 18th century, this incarnation rebuilt in the ‘60s, the result of estate building or bombing, I know not. It’s pretty hideous from the outside, but inside it’s a rambling affair featuring a red and black colour scheme with a boarded floor but a bar array which looks original; other modern period touches are an egg and dart cornice, some wood panelling to the wall and also a few etched glass dividers. Furniture is mismatched and décor is eclectic, lighting muted and from some lamps which look a bit 1960s (see photo); the ensemble reminded me of the nearby Lord Nelson but less insane. There’s much going on here, with live music, comedy, table tennis, hoopla and London’s largest cider festival, featuring 100 ciders every July. Customers are very studenty, indeed the overall feel is like that of being in a student union bar, which is probably explained by the pub being loomed over by Guy’s Hospital, a teaching hospital with nine campus buildings in the immediate vicinity. On offer were two Seaciders, but I’m not sure if this constitutes ‘real cider’ though. Thereafter there were four reversed clips then Small Beer Co’s Small Beer at 2.8% - custodian 42 would be mortified – then Adnams Southwold at a very reasonable £2.50 a half, served by a decent barman, possibly the proprietor. This place was far better than expected, with a surprisingly good vibe, the whole making for something very different; this would make for a good triple with the Britannia and Simon the Tanner; a wider and more interesting cask selection would have got the score up.

Awful looking pub from the outside. Bit better inside. Long entrance room with the bar to the left at the end. Various hand pumps and ciders, the latter at 6.9% which was quite pleasant. Doubt I'll be back, though.