The Crutched Friar, Fenchurch Street, EC3

The Crutched Friar is a large modern pub that is almost underneath Fenchurch street station and i think it is a replacement for an older pub with the same name that was demolished in the name of progress. Once inside there was one very large room that went back quite a way,there was a long bar and there were four real ales on it i had a drink of Snaith Summer Ale and this was a very nice drink the other beers were London Pride, Taylor Landlord and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. The pub was very quiet as it was before the dinner time rush,the beer was nice enough but i would'nt stay for more than one here.

A pub that is a lot bigger than what it looks from the outside.The entrance seems to be in a driveway with a couple of drinking areas each side.At the end there is a small extention that leads out to a small outside drinking area that is below the platforms of Fenchurch St.Railway station.It all feels very claustrophobic.The Taylor Landlord was well below par and was served up by a barmaid who gave the impression that she was a robot and didn't really want to be there.First and last visit.

This is a Nicholson's pub. It has a bright, light wood modern decor which is a bit sterile and gives it the aura of a chain pub. Although obstensively one room there are enough separate areas and divided places to be comfortable enough. And then the bar serving area is spacious enough supporting 5 real ale handpumps, which to memory included GK IPA, Brakespears Bitter, TT Landlord and Jennings Cumberland Ale, and the Brakespears I tried was perfectly passable. Was fairly quiet on the early evening of my visit and got served easy enough. But I can imagine it gets rammed with local workers during the lunchtime period. It does have an outside drinking area in the shape of a concrete courtyard at the back of the pub, which is quite a rarity in these parts and does mean that you don't have to stand on the pavement for an alfresco pint.