The Tankard, Walworth, SE17

This pub actually looks quite inviting from a distance but the closer you get the more you actually wonder if you should step through the door. The Tankard, or HE TANK RD as the current signing would have it is clearly in need of some TLC, especially as a few of the leaded glass exterior windows are smashed and it’s only the thick mesh on the inside which stops the glass falling into the pub. If the two doors on each side of the pub had not been wide open I would have assumed this one had shut down. A big banner above the door on the Walworth Road side proclaims Sky Sport Racing available and a pavement chalk board advertises Carling and IPA. I chose to venture in and as this is a Greene King owned pub the IPA refers to GK IPA but sadly in keg form only. Even with me in the number of TV screens outnumbered the number of punters inside the pub (there were a few more on the benches outside to be fair) but the TV screens were showing the racing as advertised. I didn’t linger long.

Another standard London pub. One room with the bar in front of you as you enter from the side street. Four TVs showing two different football matches. Keg only.

This old-school Greene King pub has such an attractive (and in the area, unexpected) brewer's Tudor facade that one is compelled to venture within. There you find a simple rectangular bar, but one with very appealing and seemingly hardly touched furniture and decor. Quite quiet inside, but only because it was a hot, sunny day and most customers were sat outside on the pavement benches. Just IPA (£3.20) available from the pair of handpumps, but this was in fine-enough form to remind one not to fall for the lazy nonsense that this is automatically a poor beer. With Tayto crisps and a couple of signs behind the counter, a mild Irish influence is evident. Overall, with a real community spirit, I thought this an excellent example of a sadly diminishing type.

They just had GK IPA (£1.70 a half) as the token real ale on here. There was no sign of any food. This is a single room, carpeted and traditionally furnished pub, with just banquettes and normal tables and chairs in the way of furnishings. The nicest features about this pub are the delightful lozenge leaded windows, and the wood panelling on all the walls. I spotted a dartboard on one of the walls, but as it was above one of the banquettes I wonder if it gets used. There are TVs on all the walls (I counted five of them) showing at least three different channels, all muted in favour of the pop music radio channel that was being played. This pub was doing a very good trade early Wednesday evening, apparently being patronised by local regulars. Most of the customers seemed to know each other, with greetings and banter being shouted across the room, and a regular stream of punters going to and from the side exit, either going to, or returning from, a ciggy break. This is still a traditional pub with no airs or graces. It seems to be mainly a blokes' drinking pub. It was comfortable enough for me - even the GK IPA was good (for GK IPA).

The Tankard is a nice looking mock tudor pub that is situated in Walworths main shopping area. Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room,the bar was on the right side,the room is carpeted and had comfy bench seating down the left side,there was a large TV screen to the rear showing a live football match. The pub is a Greene King tied house,there was one real ale on the which was GK IPA this drink was decent enough and was a vast improvement on the last few drinks of John Smiths smooth crap i had drunk. This is quite a smart pub,it was also very busy on my early Saturday evening visit. If you happen to be in Walworth this is one of the better pubs there. Pub visited 13/9/2014