The Black Dog, SE11

Black (lacquered?) floor; hard wooden chairs; solid robust tables; fish & chips at £9 a throw; kitchen visible behind the bar – bistro cum gastropub? They had Flowers IPA and Bombardier on handpump. I had the Bombardier; which was actually pretty good – but not cheap at £3.20 a pint. But why would I expect the beer not to be expensive in a place that charges £9 for fish and chips? This sort of price is fast becoming the norm for London. They were doing a brisk trade at 4.30 on a Thursday afternoon, so they must be doing something right. As is usual with this sort of place, the lack of carpets and soft furnishings makes the conversation louder and raises the noise levels, which in a somewhat perverse way makes the place seem more exciting and vibrant. But it's not the sort of place I would rush back to.