The Ship Aground, Bermondsey, SE1

Didn't make it inside as the opening hours of 11.00 quoted on most information sites including CAMRA appear to be wrong, the doors were firmly locked at 11.45 on a Saturday, I wasn't going to wait.

There was still no real ale on here when I visited on Thursday lunchtime - although there were four handpumps on the bar counter three of them had clips reversed (couldn't see what they were for) and it looked as if they had been that way for some time. John Smith's, at £1.60 for a half, was the best bet. Also there was no sign of menus or food. This is essentially a single room pub in that any barriers between the different rooms have long gone, but a connected room back to the right of the bar counter looks like it would once have been a snug, or perhaps a private bar. Although this a traditional pub with no airs or graces on show, it was obviously clean and well maintained on my visit. Furnishings are very traditional, comprising metal-framed rectangular tables, banquette seating round the sides, plus some normal chairs. A really nice touch is the red carpet featuring a ship motif, and the ledges behind the banquette seating all have some darts trophies on them, as well as some potted plants. There's a bit of outside seating at the front of the pub. This is clearly a locals' pub serving the surrounding Dickens Estate. It's good to see these basic pubs still surviving, but in all honesty I can't see me paying a return visit unless I hear that they've put a decent ale on.

Quite an attractive exterior, which looks more Bromley than Bermondsey and seems rather out of place between the old warehouses and the ex-London County Council housing blocks near Dockhead fire station. However, once inside, you find a very traditional two-bar boozer. Some patio seating at the front. Several interesting decorative features, including the special carpet, various local photos and a multi-coloured glazed canopy above the bar. Four disused handpumps, so had to resort to a quick pint of John Smiths Extra Cold (£3.10). Overall, had a friendly atmosphere so worth an extra point despite the beer 'choice'.