Butchers Hook & Cleaver, Smithfield, EC1

Sumptuous building, which has had a recent refurb according to the lad who served me, though it predates his employment here so he couldn't specify any details. The bar counter has green tiles, a dark wooden top and gleaming copper taps (or copper-coloured). There's a mezzanine with fairly steep stairs and an attractive balustrade. On the left wall - which is a part of the pub that was originally a different building - there's a plethora of paintings in many different styles. The four hand pumps had three Fullers beers plus a guest from Salopian. My half of Red Fox was ok (NBSS 3 or possibly 2.5) and a fairly standard (for the area) £6.50/pint.

A traditional looking and substantial street corner pub located just across the road from Smithfield Market, the signage outside describes it as a Fuller’s Ale & Pie House so presumably there is some emphasis on the food, although on my sunny Tuesday evening visit there were probably more people stood drinking on the pavement outside than there were inside. Internally it’s a good size, and is quite elegant in style, perhaps it could even be described as grand. There was much elaborate cornice work on the ceiling with much of the inset panelling being painted a deep shade of maroon. Elsewhere was a pleasant mid-green paintwork, both on the walls and further parts of the ceiling. The flooring was predominantly wood strip with some chequered black and white tiling around the wood panelled bar counter. A mezzanine floor was off to the right, with wrought iron balustrade overlooking the lower part of the pub. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and there were some large stencilled cartoon style drawings on one wall. Wood partitioning with etched glass inserts broke up the space a little, and in a nod to the pubs name, both a butcher’s hook and a cleaver were displayed in a glass case. Despite being described as a pie house, there was only one pie option on the menu as far as I could see, with other choices including a burger, fish & chips, chicken Kiev, scampi and so on, with most of the main courses being somewhere around £15 - £20. My broccoli, squash and tomato linguine was a decent enough dish, although did seem a little expensive at £14.95 given the portion size and the lack of any meat or fish. Beers on tap were London pride, Seafarer’s Ale, Dark Star Hophead and Coronation King’s Ale. The solitary cider meanwhile was Sanford Orchards. Overall, I thought this was a decent enough pub, and certainly worth checking out if in the area.

A fairly attractive Fullers pub with the expected Fullers beer range. Very busy on a lunchtime so I didn't hang around too long.Not really my kind of place but certainly worth a look,

Fullers Pie and Ale barn of a place. Friday night and overrun by those that hadn't yet gone from from work and those that were making a night of being drunk and lairy. The bar staff couldn't cope - poor service at bar, tables all dirty. Like a Wetherspoons, really.