Pubs Galore - the UK pub guide

Called in early on a Friday evening as I was passing to find the place quite busy. The food looked and smelt good. Very friendly service. They still have the keg Banks's but I had a quick Coors. I'd call in again for a meal but a bit out of my way just for a beer.

Established in 1777 and rebuilt in 1897, probably for Courage judging by the hanging sign bracket. A first in here the other night? - I can't remember, but this was formerly part of the small G. E. Aldwinkle's chain, as evinced by the name applied to the copper flashings beneath the window, which match those of the former White Horse in Hampstead; it's now part of the Golden Brick Pubs chain - no, me neither.
Inside, and there's not a great deal of décor here, save for a large mirror and black and white photo of a duck in a dress! The interior seems to have been messed about a bit and the bar back, which is topped with white tiles, appears to be modern and made from distressed t 'n' g. There's a beige and brown colour scheme with very chipped woodwork; the pub's beginning to look a bit tatty with a rough bare boarded floor. There are a couple of minimal screens either side of the main entrance with etched glass infill, but that's about it; the double side door has been glued shut with mastic which is a bit weird - what's wrong with a lock which can be undone with the turn of a key? The lavatory is really a bit scruffy too with a tiny cubicle. There's food, though all I could see advertised was whitebait. A small TV on high was showing the football with the sound off so as not to compete with the gramophone which was playing a decent soundtrack, though perhaps a tad too loud. Customers seemed to be quite young and were most likely students, given their scruffy appearance and the pub's close proximity to UCL. Seating is pleasantly conventional and there's outside patio seating beneath an awning which makes a good place to admire the passing traffic.
Ales? Pride and Purity's Mad Goose at an extremely steep £5.05 a pint and not in the best of condition, served by a friendly barman.
This pub isn't a disaster but it's not brilliant though is probably your best bet for a pint along Tottenham Court Road. A lick of paint, refurbished lavs and a better choice of ale served well, could turn this otherwise attractive little pub into a worthwhile venue, especially given the seven-day 1.00am licence.

Looks like this one has gone for good , the old favorite , empty pub gutted by unexplained fire .

Self-styled 'micro pub and gin bar', which opened in December 2019. Four cask ales available on hand pull.

This pub doesn't seem to have improved in the six years or so since Tris' visit. They did have a couple of ales on though: London Pride and Twickenham Naked Ladies. Food seems to be a big deal here - sarnies were £8 or so, but I had a burger and chips for £12.50. I didn't think that the quality was particularly good for what I paid.

It's totally modernised, with nothing of heritage value left. There's gastro-grey on the walls; the floor's bare-boarded of course; the modern bar back is painted a dark indigo; furnishings are mainly tall tables/tall stools with some normal(ish) tables with hard and small uncomfortable chairs. There are the usual additions of a coffee machine and water dispenser on the bar counter. It's all very minimalist with little in the way of traditional pub character.

My Naked Ladies was in good shape, although the burger was decidedly average for the price I paid. Although on the plus side, a parent was very considerate to other customers when they promptly took their child outside when it started screaming. But this is not the sort of place to which I would come for a quiet pint in comfortable surroundings.