Mc & Sons, Southwark, SE1

Not bad but has a somewhat continental feel to it. Hardly Dickensian.

This is a traditional pub with a stripped out feel to it, located down a back street not unreasonably far from the Thames Path. The bare floorboards and non-descript half panelled walls create a bit of a drab look across both rooms. The front room has a mix of standard seats as well as a number of benches and pews, whilst the rear room seems to be full of basic tables and chairs. Several TV screens were showing muted, live international football with pop music being played over the speakers. There were a number of large framed plates from Charles Dickens’ novels hanging on one wall, plus a number of old photos of the pub, but aside from this, the place seemed to be dominated by blackboards listing ales, special offers, food, and so on. There were six handpulls dispensing a good range of beer, all at £3.20 a pint. My choice was from Sharp’s Atlantic IPA, Hog’s Back Spring Ale, Springhead Drop of the Black Stuff, Nethergate Suffolk County Best Bitter, Adnams Mild and Mighty Oak Maldon Gold. I tried a pint of the Springhead and found it was in very good shape. A number of pump clips dotted around the bar confirm a committed ale policy. Food seemed to be traditional pub grub, with mains around the £7-10 mark. Despite being all but empty on my visit and in spite of the somewhat bland surroundings, I actually really liked this place. I felt very comfortable in here and had I not made other plans, I would have probably stayed for a few more pints.

Down an unremarkable side street, this is a spacious but murky pub saved from obscurity by the six handpulls on offer. Two permanent ales (the Adnams Bitter & Harveys Sussex, though not sure what’s the point of having Harveys on when the Royal Oak is up the road, but still) plus four guests, competitively priced. He interior isn’t up to much – fairly drab with just a few Dickens prints on the wall and a couple of TVs. Friendly staff though, and Daddies sauces with the food which always gets marks in my book. Will return, worth including in an area crawl.

Very good backstreet Pub with a traditional exterior but a more modern mainly timber clad interior. A good range of ales on which included Adnams Spiced Winter and a couple of Nethergate ales, the ones we had were we L kept. Have heard this pub can get very busy but it was very quiet late on a Tuesday evening but the snow may have put people off visiting this place.

This pub was virtually empty when my mates and I arrived on a saturday afternoon. And more's the pity, because we absolutely loved it. Six ale pumps, all on, all serving a variety of beers we'd never come across - Hogs Back Spring Ale, Nethergate Charles Dickens (I assume brewed for the pub), Wentworth Best, Brodie's English Best, Elgood Feelgood Factor and West Berkshire Dr Hexter's Wedding Ale. My pint of Feelgood factor was very nice and the barmaid was very accomodating, letting one of my mates have a taster to help him decide. A strong contender for the title of 'Best pub in SE1'

Randomness Guide to London - Charles Dickens entry

Randomness Guide to London - Charles Dickens entry

I think I like this pub more with each visit, which is a very good sign indeed. I was in there for lunch the other day, washed down with a pint of superb Itchen Valley Winchester Ale. Several other decent real ales on offer as well (as always), but now all at £2.90 a pint. Food was OK for the price. Worth going there for the ales alone.

A great find in the South Bank hinterland not far from the Tate Modern and that pedestrian bridge across the river. Fairly quiet and chilled in the afternoon, timber wainscoted walls, wooden floors and settles. The Charles Dickens theme is maintained by prints of a series of Dickens characters on the walls. L shaped centre bar, with the same shaped room to the front and a rear area with two large rooflights set up seemingly for food with a servery counter. The food smell however from the servery permeates the pub. Two large TVs showing Sky Sports on one and Ch4 racing on the other, both muted. Six good ales available on handpump, all priced at a fair £2-85. Ranging from 3.0 to 4.5 there were Harveys Dark Mild, Slaters Original, Cottage Whippet Gold Cup, Mighty Oak In Seine, and St Patricks Stout, and Highgate Irish Whiskey Ale. Those tasted were in very good condition, the friendly Irish Guv seems to appreciate decent ale. The blackboard over the bar displays well priced honest pub food such as ham egg and chips £5-95, Steak, onions, chips, mushrooms, tomatoes £8-95 and Lasagne with chips for £6-95. A good find and worthy of many a revisit.

I think that I spotted six ale pumps in here, but only two were on during my visit. Amstel, San Miguel, Kronenburg, Grolsch, Aspells, Strongbow and Guinness were also available and the Fosters was off. I found the barmaid to be very dismissive and she certainly didn't make me feel welcome in any way. There are a couple of plasma screens which were showing Sky News, which I have to say was muted although none of us five people in the pub were watching it anyway. I am not sure that I would return here.