Royal Sovereign, E5

Official site of Royal Sovereign - www.royalsovereignclapton.co.uk

Official site of Royal Sovereign - www.royalsovereignclapton.co.uk

I didn’t expect to see a Casque Mark sign around the Clapton area, so was a very welcome sign as I walked up to the door. They had on Sharp’s Doom Bar, a London Pride clip reversed, and St Austell Tribute (£3.60 a pint). Not the most exciting range, but the Tribute was in excellent condition. I suppose that the pub is named after Admiral Collingwood’s flagship at the battle of Trafalgar, but I forgot to ask the barman to confirm this. This was no doubt once a Charrington’s pub judging by the trademark green-banded glazing in the windows. There’s a bit of etched glass in one of the doorways, but otherwise it’s all comparatively recent stuff in here. Other features are the exposed brickwork wall on the left, which has on it an old wooden Flowers Original sign. It’s bare-boarded, furnished with banquettes and standard tables and chairs, and apparently has a beer garden at the back, although I didn’t visit it. There was an open plan kitchen at the back and to the right of the bar counter, but there was nothing going on there when I was in on Saturday lunchtime. They clearly have music, as there was a twin deck DJ system by the main entrance with all the attendant cabling trailing around in the corner. Actually I quite liked this pub for some reason. The friendly barman and the decent drop of Tribute must have helped somewhat.