Mc & Sons, Southwark, SE1

This started life in 1818 as the Red Lion, but must have been rebuilt later in the 19th century, for Truman Hanbury & Buxton and renamed the Charles Dickens I know not when, the current name turning up in 2017, Irish themed as a homage to ‘…the memories and lives of the Mc Elhinney’s with their heritage adorning the walls with pictures of the family through the generations’, founders of Windmill Taverns, of which this is a branch. Modern boarded, the pub does seem to have been opened out, as the left wall is clad with wood panelling and etched glass, rather than mirrors, indicating that these may have been divisions, retained as décor. There’s a comfy little snug to the left, with quite long bar beyond, with a room of sorts to the rear, where live Irish music was playing. Further décor comes in the form of a vast number of framed black and white prints, with knickknacks galore; you can tell this is an Irish pub, as there are prints to the wall of Pope John Paul, the Virgin Mary and Jesus. The ceiling is modern, so as to accommodate the flush aircon unit. Furniture is traditional, with customers from across the spectrum. There’s food, but being an Irish pub, obviously it’s Thai. Lighting here is very gloomy indeed, vision is genuinely impaired by it, making navigation difficult, me almost treading on an all but invisible dog. Although there were four pumps, just one was in operation, dispensing Bath Gem at a very reasonable £2.45 a half and good, served by a very friendly barmaid, doing an admirable job given the queue at the bar and demand for the Black Stuff. I quite liked this place, but would only really visit at quieter times, but the ale choice and range would need to be upped, as would the score.

Official site of Mc & Sons - www.mcandsonslondon.com

Official site of Mc & Sons - www.mcandsonslondon.com

They had four ales on in here - Doom Bar; Truman's Lazarus; a stout from West Berkshire Brewery; and Hamerton No 7 (5.2% and £4.60 a pint). Food is Thai only. You queue at the food counter towards the back and a young lady takes your money as you queue (all meals are £6 - eat in or takeaway) and you choose from the six dishes on display at the food counter. A bit retro - at one time food in almost all pubs was on display. Your selection is then shoveled into a cardboard box irrespective of whether you're eating in or taking it away. Personally, I would prefer the plate option, but I guess youngsters (and the majority of the clientele on the weekday lunchtime I visited were young) like eating out of bento box fast food containers. This was my first visit since its Charles Dickens days, and I think I might prefer it now. The walls are covered with black and white photographs and prints - I recognised some of the subjects, such as the King of Thailand (although he would have subects rather than be a subject), JFK, and General Slim of WWII fame, but loads of others I didn't. I quite like that sort of thing. It's bare-boarded with only normal tables and chairs, and having a 10-seater table in the middle of the room being used as a communal dining table during the lunchtime peak. There's a little snug area on the right by the window at the front, which you can apparently hire for private use. I don't recall it being there when I've visited previously, so I guess it's a recent addition. It was doing a very good trade in food on the Wednesday lunchtime I was in, so obviously they've hit on a winning formula. I paid for and received my pint; and paid for and received my Thai Panang curry in about five minutes, which is a boon if you're pushed for time. I would certainly visit this pub again, and would recommend it to anyone who is not put off by the smell of Thai currys and stir fries.