Lord Aberconway, Liverpool Street, EC2

A stone's throw away from Liverpool Street Station and Bishopsgate, is The Lord Aberconway, a Nicholson's pub that forms part of their "Classic Pubs" chain. Those who are familiar with the Nicholson's brand will know what to expect here - a largely reconstructed traditional pub interior featuring bare boards, much wood panelling, a high ceiling and some ornate woodwork. Of particular note in The Lord Aberconway is a pleasant, more comfortable upstairs mezzanine bar and, on the ground floor, some railway carriage style drinking booths that afford a degree of privacy so often overlooked by big pub chains nowadays. Seating is the usual mixture of stools and more comfortable leather banquettes. The normal Nicholson's framed information panel tells us that the pub was rebuilt in the 19th Century and was named after the last chairman of the old Metropolitan Railway. Memorabilia - framed posters, pictures etc - inside the pub is disappointingly limited. The monument to the Great Fire of London is close by and it is alleged that the pub is haunted by spirits of victims of the fire. It's not a particularly large pub, but the crush can be partly avoided by drinking on the narrow pavement outside, although given its narrowness and the volume of people passing by, I'm surprised that this is allowed. I would imagine that the pub can be uncomfortably busy towards the latter part of the week. Beers on were TT Landlord, Fullers London Pride and Summer Ale, Sharps Doom Bar and Black Sheep's Golden Sheep. Guest beer of the week was Leeds Brewery's Midnight Bell, a strongish tasty dark mild which tasted very moreish - £ 2.95p. Somewhat surprisingly, hardly anyone else seemed to be drinking it on my recent early evening visit. This isn't a must visit pub by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd be more than happy to drop in again when next in the area.

Official pages of The Lord Aberconway, containing menu and real ale list - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Official pages of The Lord Aberconway, containing menu and real ale list - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

This is a dark pub with some nice booths and a balcony area overlooking the bar. There is a leather bound plasma screen up on the wall, but I wouldn't have thought that this place has Sky Sports. Pride, Seafarers, Landlord and Brewhog's The Physics were available during my visit alongside Staropramen and Amstel, but I opted for the Guinness from the standard draught selection which was well served. This is an OK for a pint or two