Bag O' Nails, Victoria, SW1

If my memory serves me correctly, in days of yore this used to be a Wm Younger pub, but if so no signage or distinctive glass windows remain. Anyway, this is now a Punch pubco pub, now trading under its Taylor Walker branding, so the menu is the usual pubco pub grub, although I have to say the nosh I saw other punters tucking into looked OK. Being right by the Royal Mews it gets its fair share of tourists, thus prices aren’t going to be cheap, but that’s true of “tourist” bars anywhere in the world. They had on GKIPA, Woodforde Wherry, and a couple of other mainstream offerings that I failed to note. The Wherry was £1.79 for a half, an odd price as most places would round that up to £1.80, and is now pretty much the going, but expensive, rate for Central London. The pub itself looks OK from the outside, with some attractive and traditional lattice windows. Inside the decor and furnishings are typical of the brand – black (lacquered?) flooring, tall tables and stools as well as some normal tables and chairs. There really is nothing that makes this place stand out, but it seems OK for a bite to eat if you’re doing some sightseeing in the area (as long as you’re happy with pubco food) but certainly not worth going out of your way to visit.

The Bag O’Nails is one of Punch Taverns newly resurrected Taylor Walker branded pubs (along with the similar Kings Arms just down the road). The current pub is early 19th Century and stands on a busy corner plot on the site of a previous pub called the Baccanals (dogs). The pub was called the 'Devil and Bacchanals’ until 1905 when the name was corrupted to the current version. Its close proximity to Victoria station and Buckingham Palace (HM’s back garden is behind the wall on the other side of the road) means it gets a fair share of tourists and transient customers. The smallish single room interior is pleasant enough with a bare polished floor, chessboard tiling around the bar, dark paneling and a dim ambience. There is a personalized mirror behind the bar and lanterns above but much of the cluttered shelves that I recall from previous visits seems to have been cleared out. If you can bear the traffic as it thunders around the corner, there are some limited pavement tables. There have been a couple of ales added since my last visit albeit of the 6 hand pumps, only 2 were available (Greene King IPA and Wadworth 6X) although the 4 that were off (Youngs Gold, Youngs Special, Bombardier and Courage Directors) weren’t the most adventurous of choices. The quality of my 6X was very good but that hasn’t always been the case with past visits. Prices were about par for the area. There is also a small selection of cocktails, shots and warmers if that’s your thing. Service is from the typically disinterested imported bar staff pool that probably wouldn't last 2 minutes in a provincial pub. On the food front, main courses start at £7.50 and didn’t strike me as being particularly good value for what is essentially typical pub grub with certain other pubs in the area being able to shave at least a quid off these prices for similar meals. There is a separate dining room on the first floor but I have not been up to take a look. There is a solitary flat screen over the fireplace at the rear of the pub and subdued piped music but it is more of a traditional albeit touristy pub than a mecca for TV Sport or pounding speakers. It isn’t a place I would make a mad dash for by choice esepcially given the ale availability and morose service but apart from that I don’t have any major issues about it and it is a pretty safe choice if in the area.

There were two staff behind the bar when I walked in and being the only person standing there I assumed that I would be served pretty quickly, I was wrong. The barman, who I feel was blinded by the love of himself, disappeared to get some ice and the barmaid was pouring some Fosters for a couple of blokes at a table behind me. I had to wait a couple of minutes for the barman to return before getting served and even then he was laboured. Even including the upstairs dining room which had its own maid this is not a big pub, yet there were dirty glasses and plates on nearly all of the tables. There is a large selection of ale which was Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Bombardier, Youngs Special, 6X and pride, although three of these were off during my visit. The toilet is tiny and was a mess, but at least it was usable unlike many pubs in the area. I'll not be returning here again until a little care is put in as we are paying customers and deserve better.