Lady Abercorn's, EC2

As the George, I’m not sure about the pub’s history, though as a centrepiece to the extraordinarily ornate and baronial interior is a frieze above the bar, depicting a tableau of Bishopsgate, 1620, so perhaps the pub dates from this time, though the current edifice looks to be late 19th century. It’s well described below, with mixed customers, some obviously hotel guests. What wasn’t so welcome was the large, unnecessary and utterly incongruous TV screen showing unwatched heritage cricket – namely an ODI at the Oval from 2007 – in silence, so as not to intrude into the decent ambient soundtrack from Steve Miller’s The Joker, Steve Harley’s Cockney Rebel and Orange Juice’s Rip It Up at the time of my Friday 9.00pm visit. A cask selection amounted to an unused clip, Pride (reversed), Adnams Wonderwall (reversed) then finally Ghost Ship, £3.75 a half and good, served by a friendly barman. TV and poor cask choice aside – especially for a Friday – this isn’t a bad place for a swift one before getting the train; two previous reviewers claim that there are better pubs to be had locally, but where? Rated: 5.5

Facebook page of Lady Abercorn's (Andaz London Liverpool Street) - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Lady Abercorn's (Andaz London Liverpool Street) - www.facebook.com

Although not at all obvious, the former George is now part of the Andaz London Liverpool Street, although it remains very much a pub rather than a hotel bar. Found on a corner beside Liverpool Street station, it comprises a single square room that is almost as high as the plan dimensions. Decorated as a baronial hall, with dark wood-panelling and moulded ceiling tiles, coats of arms as murals and a large painting behind the counter (plus a rather incongruous sports large TV screen). Bombardier (£5.00) and Ghost Ship available from two of the four handpumps.

This bar is part of the Hyatt Andaz Hotel, and was formerly part of the Great Eastern Hotel. This is a mundane bar in most magnificent surroundings. The print (or painting?) of Bishopsgate of 1620 is still behind the servery, but the most striking features are the ornate ceiling; exuberant carved heads and other embellishents between the front windows, and stunning paneling on the walls. But the bar counter painted grey with swirling white lines (probably meant to depict something which passed me by); the large TV screen dominating the back wall; and the crimson painted tall tables/tall stools down the middle of the room all detract enormously from the splendour of this place. There are some normal tables and chairs as well, but it's bare boarded and as the previous reviewer pointd out it gets noisy even when not busy, no doubt mainly because of the high ceiling and lack of carpet. There were three ales on - London Pride, Bombardier, and Lady A Ale. The manageress informed me that Lady A Ale is brewed by Three Sods brewery and a jolly good pint it was as well. My pint and a pot of tea cost £10 - I've no idea what a pot of tea should cost, but it was probably expensive. They do food - there wasn't a menu on my table, but I saw some food being delivered to another table. This is a magnificent room in which to house a pub/bar - shame the modern furnishings and grey painted bar counter fail to do it justice. But my Lady A was in fine shape, and I was given a taster before buying. I normally avoid "house" beers as they are often erzatz Greene King beers, but in here it was definitely the right choice.