The Queens Arms, South Kensington, SW7

This pub still has on a really good ale selection. They had on Red Squirrell London Black IPA, Doom Bar, London Pride, Summer Lightning, Butcombe Great Grey Owl APA, Bath Summer Gold, Lancaster Brewery Lemon Grass, and Stonehenge Eye Opener. Just a small niggle - not knowing Eye Opener I asked the barman if it was a brown bitter style and he said they were all bitters. In those circumstances a pub with such a commitment to real ale might have offered a taster. But that's just nit picking; the Eye Opener turned out to be just what I wanted, a brown bitter in excellent condition. The pub is still as described previously, with the fixed price menu still available. I even recognised some of the dishes on offer, such as old spot sausages & mash, and gammon steak. This pub is tucked away down a mews, as are just about all the decent pubs in this general area, originally to keep them away from the sensitive eyes of the occupants of the grand houses lining the major thoroughfares. How times have changed. Of course you are not going to find an unspoilt backstreet boozer anywhere near here, and this one has certainly had the upmarket treatment. But it has perhaps surprisingly retained one or two of its original features, such as the bar counter and half height wood panelling on the walls. There are no pool tables, dartboards or fruit machines, although there is a smallish TV on one of the walls. Free wi-fi is advertised. When I visited there were masses of flowers outside, adding to its attraction. All things considered this is still just enough of a pub to make it an attractive destination for me. And eight ales, with only two of the usual suspects on parade, is a definite plus. I would be happy to visit again.

This pub is tucked away on a corner in a surprisingly large grid of mews buildings just along from the Royal Albert Hall and Imperial College. It is an L-shaped smallish single room, bare boarded, half panelled light coloured walls and not much in the way of decor apart from a number of pot plants. My afternoon visit found a rather laid back, long lunch feel to it with barely audible music playing and couples and a larger group mostly dining. The place gives the impression of being rather foody and the main menu looked pretty good and interesting with main courses mostly £9.50-£12 with steak at the usual high premium. There is also a more simple fixed price menu at £7/10/13 depending on how many courses you choose. Sandwiches and snacks available too. Menus are listed on a number of chalkboards as well as on clipboards at the tables. Seating is generally standard but there is one high table and a drinking shelf along one side. No outdoor seating but a railed off designated area is provided for our nicotine hungry friends with a sign advising no drinks outside of this spot. On to the main matter, the beer. Eight handpumps, seven were in use; Pride, Doom Bar, Purity Pure Gold, Adnam's Ghost Ship, Sambrooks Junction, Butcombe Rare Breed (£3.80) and unusually I thought Nicholson's Pale Ale from St Austell as this is certainly not a Nicholson's establishment. Proper ciders from Weston's plus an unusual selection on some of the fonts including Sierra Nevada PA, London Meantime PA, Kozel and Leffe. I liked it here, it was quiet, chilled and unhurried despite having a few in, reading other reviews perhaps it hots up a little in the evenings.

In the unlikely event that this reviewer finds himself living in a multi-million pound mews house in West London, The Queens Arms could well be his local and he'd be content with that. While it's clearly aiming itself at the well-to-do folk of the locality, there's much to enjoy for those of us of more limited means. Plenty of seating at tables and stools, plus room outside, you should find somewhere to sit without too much trouble. And then you can check out the beery delights at the bar. While the pub's website (currently, and for some time) states that they've been mostly enjoying London Pride and Doom Bar, there are six more available from quality micros such as Ilkley and Hopdaemon. Summer Lightning was making an appearance on my visit and very fine it was too. Not only that, but the taps also offer up an interesting selection, certainly more than the average pub: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale just had to be tried. I can't help thinking that they could do more online to push this aspect of their offer. Food seemed very reasonably priced considering the location and the bar staff are certainly enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the various beers that are available. All in all, definitely worth investigating if you're in the museums area of South Kensington (but make sure you have the Pubs Galore map, as you could struggle to find the place otherwise).