The Peasant, EC1

Quirky interior with original tiled pictures juxtaposed with album posters. 4 real ales and food served.

This pub doesn't seem to have changed much since previous reviewers' visits. Originally the George & Dragon, much of the trademark classic Victorian decor still exists, including a mosaic floor with a centrepiece depicting Saint George slaying the hapless dragon, plus a lovely tiled mural also depicting the eponymous Saint skewering his adversary. With all the George & Dragon stuff around, it's a bit of a shame that it hasn't retained its original name. The design of the mosaic floor also allows us to determine the original multi-room layout of the place. It's furnished with what looks like re-cycled dining room furniture, which goes quite nicely in here it has to be said. Other than the magnificent mural there's not much in the way of wall decor, although there is a rather nice large wood-framed mirror on the back wall. Some music was being played (Bob Dylan among others) at background volume level. It is a bit cavernous, as others have commented, but the Victorians liked to have their corner-site "gin palaces" that way. On the ale front they had on Bombardier, Crouch Vale Brewer's Gold (their regular ale), and Hackney Brewery New Zealand Pale Ale. I had a half of the latter (£1.95), which was rather a nice ale, and not quite so hoppy as I had expected. I'm sure they must do food, but I didn't see a menu when I was on Wednesday afternoon. I reckon that this pub's worth a visit. The barman was friendly as well as being knowledgable regarding the victorian features, as well as bit of history regarding the pub's name. The surviving Victorian decor's definitely worth a butcher's, and the ale's pretty good as well.

Rather nice pub.good selection of beers from Hackney,crouchvale and Wells.Busy for a mid week but not cheap for the beer.will return.

Quite a few original features have survived in this Victorian street corner pub,and I agree that the large picture windows and high ceilings do create a cavernous feel to the open plan interior.However the mosaic floor is very fine,the glazed tiling depicting The George and Dragon is attractive,the wooden bar is authentic and there is a vast mirror hanging on one wall.The music posters and the sound system,played at an acceptable volume,give the pub a contemporary feel and the place is popular with the creative types who work in Clerkenwell,so it was lively on my friday evening trip. To the right of the corner entrance were a few tables set for dining ,the bar is L shaped but you need to walk around to the left to find the four handpumps.Square wooden 4 person tables are placed around the walls but this is a sub optimal seating arrangement,so vertical drinking may have to be endured.Beware that some tables may have reserved signs for people booked to dine in the bar area. There is an unused corridor beyond the stairs to the restaurant where you could seek refuge. The pub features in the 2012 GBG and on my trip there was Crouch Vale Essex Boys (£3.60 pricey for a 3.8%),Truman Runner no8(brewed by Everards),Cotleigh Buzzard and Wickwar Rite Flanker.When the Buzzard ran out on came Crouch Vale Brewers Gold and we tried all these ales and found them in good nick.You get real ale served in dimple mugs unless you are quick to demand a straight.There are several craft kegged beers such as Meantime London Pale Ale,Camden Wheat Beer,Cristal and Leffe lager along with the usual keg offerings and there is a chalkboard advertising a good selection of bottled beers from around the world.Clearly some effort is being made to have a range of interesting beers,and despite the restaurant upstairs ,this is not a food led gastro pub. A bit of a shame that with a lot of original George and Dragon insignia around the interior, the pub is now call The Peasant and notices on the wall refer to customers as peasants in a post ironic sort of way.Its really quite trendy,a little pricey but a pub that I would expect to return to in future.