Pelt Trader, Cannon Street, EC4

A previous reviewer comments “The bar is only open Monday to Friday, which can lead to a restricted ale choice if drinking in here on a Friday evening.” Well let me assure you this place suffers from restrictive ale choice any evening of the week if my recent Wednesday and Thursday evening visits are anything to go by. Four people last night working the square serving area which fronts the back aluminium wall festooned with all the beer taps, but it was all they could do to keep up with serving those waiting and rescuing glasses so that they had something to put beer in. Consequently there was no effort being made to replace the barrels as they run out and by 8.00PM late night there was only ales at 3% or above 6% on unless you wanted craft lagers, forcing a move on earlier than anticipated. Well described by previous reviewers, this is a soul less place with terrible acoustics that hanging a canoe from the ceiling can’t really impart any character into, and frankly wouldn’t get a second look if it wasn’t for the fact that Dowgate Hill outside is largely a pedestrianized thoroughfare allowing a decent alfresco space and the beers are very good and reasonably priced as mentioned below. Included in the real ale offerings last night were Adnams Old Ale and Trinity and Fellowship from the Redemption Brewery and all were well kept. A good use of train archway space and worth popping in to see what is on if passing but not a Craft Ale destination venue like some of the other recent additions to the London drinking scene IMHO.

Bar in a railway arch. Stark white painted cave. Terrible acoustic meant the barman had trouble hearing our order.20 taps with 6 real ales. Same dispense as the Holborn Whippet( presumably) with what looks to me like a urinal trough to catch the drips. Very reasonable prices for the area and the beers I tried were in good condition. Bin Laden would feel at home here but it was opening night so may be they need to add more furnishings to give it a better feel. Will call again.