The Peasant, EC1

High ceilinged corner pub on a road junction. Yes, it was probably quite grand at one time but it has seen better days with the clock ou the frontage in a por state for example, but praise for keeping features like the mosaic floor and the tiling on the walls although they are a bit 'tired'. Due to the high ceiling the piped indie music sounds like you're in a concert hall, but its at a comfortable level. 4 real ales including Trumans Runner, though it wasn't kept very well.

Randomness Guide to London - Peasant entry

Randomness Guide to London - Peasant entry

The Peasant has plenty of positives that appeal to me but somehow I find it all a bit too open and lacking any intrinsic charm. The interior is spacious but the high dark moulded ceiling and large plain picture windows make it seem a bit cavernous. The real gem of the place is the fantastic mosaic floor, a bit of a rarity these days even if the wording does depict its previous life as the George & Dragon. The music posters give it a bit of an arty edge and there is a decent enough selection of beers (Bombardier, Crouch End Gold and Skinners Betty Stogs). There is an upstairs restaurant which gives the place its gastropub tag although the restauarant and bar are quite separate. All in all, this is a fine place for a couple of beers but I wouldn't specifically choose it for a full session.