The Ring, Southwark, SE1

This is a classic street corner boozer opposite Southwark tube station, which, as its name suggests, has a bit of a boxing theme. The pub has a good-sized interior, with a lovely parquet floor, low dark wood wall panels and large windows along two sides which ensure the place feels bright and airy during daylight hours. The servery runs in a curved L-shape on the back wall, boasting an attractive dark wood counter and matching bar back, smart brass footrails and a generous collection of pewter tankards on display. At the end of the bar, there’s a head height set of drawers with two stuffed ducks sat on top, which surprisingly doesn’t really look out of place at all. Seating is almost entirely in the form of high stools serving either small high tables or else arranged along ledges and fixed tables around the perimeter. The walls have been comprehensively covered with loads of old boxing photos, including a few familiar faces, whilst at least one pair of boxing gloves was spotted hanging from a light fitting. A TV screen to the rear of the room was showing a muted news channel with loud music playing in the background. Out the front, you’ll find a surprisingly large number of benches along the pavement, many of which are sheltered by the pub’s awnings. The pub has made it into the Good Beer Guide occasionally in recent years, and there were four cask ales on the bar when I arrived – Southwark LPA, Brockley Pale Ale, Purity Ubu and another beer from a London microbrewery that I forgot to note down. A very friendly barmaid served me a pint of the LPA (£5.50), which was in very good condition, and I really enjoyed taking my time with it whilst soaking up the vibrant mid-week evening atmosphere. I didn’t have any particularly high expectations for this place but was pleased to find a well looked after pub offering a decent selection of mainly local ales, in good condition and with friendly, welcoming service. I found it very easy to settle down here and had I not needed to head off elsewhere, would’ve happily stopped for another pint. Date of visit - 6th June 2023

A mid-Victorian pub, originally called the Railway Tavern, the Wagnerian name arising from its location opposite the Southwark Ring, a famous boxing venue destroyed in World War II and now the site of a rather futuristic office building called Palestra, by Alsop Architects. The interior here is good and as mentioned, the walls are absolutely covered with framed prints of former boxers, Cooper being the only one I recognised; a pair of old boxing gloves hangs from a sconce light, lighting over the bar being white, translucent spherical lamps; further décor arises in the form of what looks like a floor-to-ceiling-height ‘tree’(?). The only annoyance I found, was the bright TV showing the news with the sound off. Helpful bar staff were dispensing, aside from an unused pump, Doom, Bermondsey’s Mayflower Session Ale and Saltaire’s Triple Choc, at a very reasonable £2.40 a half and moreish, but the novelty may wear off after more than a pint. This is a solid venue, making for a crawl with some other good pubs in the immediate vicinity, especially if included with the Market Porter and Old King’s Head.

Used to be the closest pub to my london office at a former company. I was quite surprised to see it in the Good Beer Guide 2021, so 8 years after leaving that company, I headed back to check it out. Unchanged from as I remember it - single roomed, boxing photos/gloves all around (apparently a gym/ring upstairs), some bench seating out the front under a canopy. Four real ales on - Doombar, Butcombe, Saltaire Cascade and one unremembered. I went Butcombe and the barman was struggling to get a pint out. He handed over a pint of sludge, that looked bad, smelled worse and didnt get as far as the tasting. A mere look at my disappointed face caused it to be changed without fuss. Not really what you would expect in a CAMRA endorsed venue.

The Ring has a small L shaped interior that was busy with some very shouty people during my visit one evening just before Christmas. The din meant that the background music was pointless. The walls are covered with boxing paraphernalia. The bar was stocked with premium draught products and I counted five hand pumps. Due to the popularity of this pub I was only able to make out the Sharp’s Doom Bar pump clip. Burgers and hot dogs were advertised, but I didn’t note the prices. I would like to return here when it is less busy.