The Sanctuary House Hotel, SW1

A decorative, light, and slightly more unusual Fullers house in that respect. Very pleasant and comfortable. However its very, very expensive - perhaps too close to the tourist market around Westminster. £3.60 a pint and 10 quid for fish and chips. The beer is good though.

Real ales on were Young’s Bitter and Bombardier. I had the Young’s Bitter (£3.10 a pint), which was not good, but I suspect that I may have had the first one of the day. Tucked away as it is down Ashmole St, I doubt that it gets much, if any, passing trade, but it probably gets busy on Oval match days. All the tables had cutlery on them in little tin buckets. So, presumably food must be important to them, but I didn’t see any menus. It’s a fairly big one-room pub, but expanded with a conservatory at the back, plus a covered outside area for smokers. As usual there are TVs on the walls, but not on when I was in during lunchtime, and some pop music being played – including Petula Clark of all people. Furnishings comprised normal tables and chairs, plus a couple of sofas in one of the front window bays, and the décor was unremarkable (I can’t remember what it looked like, so there can’t have been anything special about it). All in all an unremarkable pub. I won’t hold one dodgy pint against a pub – I could have been just unlucky. Not really worth the effort of seeking out for the pub itself, but no doubt OK for a pint or two after the cricket.

The Sanctuary is one of Fullers half a dozen or so Hotel / Pubs in Central London although the pub element is far more noticeable, the hotel entrance being little more than a doorway off to one side. This was apparently an MI5 building until being converted to its current purpose. The pub interior consists of one large room, expanded by knocking out a few walls. Despite the high ceiling and open, spacious expanses, it does not feel cavernous and the decorative mirrored pillars, oak paneling, brass lighting and large windows (with the now commonplace etched Fullers Ale & Pie logo) give the place quite an elegant feel. The wooden bar has a dark polished marble top and traditional wooden back bar. The floor tiling around the bar soon gives way to a polished bare wooden floor with a decent amount of seating although it does tend to get quite busy. To the rear is a raised carpeted area to one side with a monastic mural and tucked away in the corner a further carpeted area with pictures of London and in particular, Westminster. I have never seen the single TV switched on and they don’t advertise any sporting events so I remain unsure of its purpose. Naturally the beers are all from the Fullers range with 6 Ales (Pride, Chiswick, ESB, HSB, Bengal Lancer and Discovery) available across the 8 pumps. Prices are pretty heft ranging from £3.05 for Chiswick to £3.55 for the Bengal LOAncer). They are Cask Marque accredited and the quality and measures are generally pretty good. The food is also fairly pricey with most main dishes around £10. Service has always been prompt although a smile and a welcome wouldn't sometimes go amiss. Customer base is generally office workers, tourists and government types, being close to the Houses of Parliament but there is generally quite a civilized and bubbly atmosphere. The place is perfectly accommodating without being particularly extraordinary but the prices tend to make me use it less than I would like.

I've found that you can't really go wrong in selecting a Fullers pub for few beers and this place doesn't disappoint. They have eight hand pumps, but only four ales (Chiswick, Pride ESB and Discovery) alongside some standard lagers. The pub is bigger than most in the area and there is a large TV up on the wall, not that I saw any sport advertised. I had to wait to be served as there was only one barman, but he was polite and quick when he finally got to me. I would return here again if passing.