The Southwark Tavern, SE1

This is a late 19th century pub, noted for its fine Meux’s brewery tiling. I had though that this would be a bit of a historic pub, but although some of the dark wood panelling may be original, or at least dating from the 1930s, but otherwise it’s a bit of a black painted affair, walls and ceiling, with a steel square tubular section gantry; has it had a makeover to celebrate Freedom Day? Customers were a bit too-coo-for-school and mouthy. Service, as others have noted, was rather slow; I nearly walked. The ales on offer being a reversed pump, Doom, Oakham Citra (‘coming soon’) and Tribute at £2.70 a half and nice. This pub is just about ok, better than the Wheatsheaf, which isn’t hard, but is no match for the Market Porter; I don’t envisage a return visit.

Yet another decent pub near London Bridge station. 6 beers on when I called. Service was good even though the place was rammed.

A classic London pub building occupying the site of a former prison, the cells of which can still be seen in the basement bar. The ground floor bar is well described below. It was previously a Friary Meux pub and is now run by M&B. Aside from the architectural and historical interest, this visit disappointed. The staff were difficult and indolent, while the majority of the customers, many in family groups, were stroppy non-locals who thought they were in some sort of theme park where they could insult everyone with impunity. The beer was OK, once we'd been around the buoy of what constitutes a full pint a few times: Reunion's Opening Gambit, Alexander's Fine and Dandy and Firebird's Parody sat next to Doombar and Proper Job to provide a promising line-up. I'm not sure it would be my first choice if I'm in this area in future despite the good beer.