Lamb & Flag, Covent Garden, WC2

Randomness Guide to London - Lamb And Flag entry

Randomness Guide to London - Lamb And Flag entry

The Lamb and Flag is a piece of London history and dates back over 350 years. As previous reviewers have mentioned, it used to go by the name of The Coopers Arms, but better known as the Bucket of Blood due to the bare knuckle fights held here. The ground floor rooms have olde-worlde charm with dark wood panelling, bare pine floorboards and low wooden beams. The ground floor area is quite small and struggles to cope with the crowds, especially for the post work session. But also as previously mentioned, this had improved since the smoking ban as a majority of vertical drinkers utilise the outside courtyard, making the inside slightly more bearable. The upstairs room, known as the Dryden Room, after the 17th Century poet John Dryden who was a local here, has more seating and is a more relaxing area for a pint if you can get a seat. Usually five hand pumps on the go, and although they do tend to be the run of the mill ales that can be found in London it does have Harvey’s Best as a regular and this has always been an excellent pint in my experience. A small negative is that the toilets are small, awkward to navigate and much maligned as they do struggle to cope with the volume of usage. But this is largely due to the fact that when the pub was originally built it was built without sanitary facilities (you had the outside pavement for that in those days !), and they had to be shoehorned into the premises at a later date.

I had a pretty decent pint of Young’s Bitter when I was in here at lunchtime the other day but at £2.90 not cheap, although the going rate for the area. A pretty basic toasted ham and cheese sandwich was £4.00, again probably the going rate, but freshly made and toasted behind the bar using an old-fashioned toaster. The main bar area has a couple of tables at the back but the main seating is provided by stools by the window or at ledges around the sides of the pub. It’s a comfortable enough pub if you are on your own or with one or two chums, but not really large enough if you are in a big group. Back in the 17th Century this was a really crime ridden and poverty stricken area, and the pub on this site was the Coopers Arms, although (as mentioned by Matt below) known locally as the Bucket of Blood. No bare knuckle fights to be seen now in this very upmarket area.

A light modern interior with a mix of stools around tables and comfy chairs/sofas. Real Ale available Old Mill Bitter on my visit and two spare handpumps. Usual range of lagers plus Amstel and San Miguel on draft. Food offering plus a pizza take away service. Live music check with pub for details. Large car park at front and a good size garden, childrens play area.

A classic central London pub just hidden away enough from tourist central to avoid the passing trade; even so it does of course get very busy with those who live and work here. If you come here it's to do proper stand up drinking in surroundings unchanged for years, not for a leisurely sit down meal. Service is remarkably cheerful and efficient considering the stress they're under, and as has been said Harvey's Best and the other day Adnam's Oyster in good condition. The best spot this end of Covent Garden.

I've always liked this pub, but hadn't been for quite some time until recently. Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Youngs Special/Ordinary, Courage Best and Harvey's Best were all available along with the usual lagers. I found the staff to be very efficient and although there were hoards of people outside the inside was quite comfortable. There is also plenty of seating in the upstairs bar if the bottom is rammed. The toilet is tiny and you have to watch your step as you exit it as a fall down the stairs and into the cellar is not impossible. Don't be put off by the big crowds outside as this place is worth a visit.