Hoop & Grapes, EC4

A Shepherd Neame pub with a couple of guest ales which is unusual, five handpumps, their own Spitfire and Bishop's Finger, Cameron Strongarm and Kite Brewery Bluestone Bitter (£4). One was unclipped. The main area is boarded with the bar to one side, the counter seemed higher than usual. Red walls, white painted boarded ceiling, the place narrows towards the rear where there are a few booth type areas separated by wood and leaded glass screens, beyond is a patio garden. Another upstairs room remains unvisited. Décor has local scenes, a wall of pump clips, a sign urges patrons to play darts at The Hoop and Grapes but even if I were to be inclined I saw no signs of a dartboard, maybe it is upstairs. Food is served and looked good value for the fringes of The City, home made Chilli, rice and tortilla chips £8.95, baguettes £6.50. The pub was very busy early on Saturday afternoon, mainly with an enthusiastic crowd watching the rugby on a number of screens. I retired to the quieter booth area to enjoy my pint. Not a bad pub I thought if nothing special, I would pop by again.

I am not a fan of Sheps beer but this was as bad a beer as I have had for a long time.The unfortunately named Muddy Waters was an apt description.What was the pub like.No idea. Two swigs of the beer and I left.Not really a pub review. Sorry.

I paid £3.70 for a good pint of Hyde's original here, in preference to Bishop's Finger or Spitfire, and noted the landlord's FBII credentials. I didn't eat here, though the menu looked quite reasonable for the area, with traditional pub grab mains between £6.50 and £8.50. On entering, you see seating to the left and a bar to the right, the bar being a tad too high up to feel quite comfortable with as a customer. You can go through the back to a beer patio, or up the stairs to the 'upstairs bar and patio', which appears to consist of a more relaxed room above the main bar, and another flight of stairs to another patio to the rear and a third storey room to the front. I liked several things about this pub, but couldn't quite make my mind up about it. I would drink here again, not least in order to do so.

Randomness Guide to London - Hoop And Grapes entry

Randomness Guide to London - Hoop And Grapes entry