The Tankard, Lambeth, SE11

Facebook page of The Tankard - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Tankard - thetankard.pub

Facebook page of The Tankard - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Tankard - thetankard.pub

This place dates to at least the early 19th century but is now probably a late Victorian structure, a Charrington’s house by 1951. It’s an attractive building with a spacious terrace to the first floor, but little if anything of the original interior remains. Now owned by BrewDog, the place hasn’t been as altered as some of their pubs, with a pale boarded floor, bare brick or muddy brown paintwork, black Anaglypta ceiling, modern bare brick bar with obligatory dark green shiny tiles and slightly industrial lighting, with some distracting red neon stuff. Furniture is largely conventional to the periphery, then tall tubular steel stuff to the centre, all with sauce bottles and menus, with décor in the form of trendy framed black and white prints. Just two normal customers, then an annoying couple swallowing each other’s tongues. Despite the stewardship, there was, aside from two unused pumps, a solitary handle dishing out an Adnams/DEYA double act called Boat Trip, price forgotten but undoubtedly expensive, passable and served by a highly apologetic barman. This place is ok, but I’d take the Dog House, Black Prince or Old Red Lion when in this neck of the woods.