The Jackalope, W1

A small and cosy pub tucked away down a quiet side street. It took me a little while to find as I hadn’t realised that Weymouth Mews is effectively an “H” shape and I was initially in the wrong half, but it was worth persevering. The main bar area runs along the front of the pub with the curved and wood panelled bar counter on the left. To the left of this is a glass display case built in to the wall containing various items of silverware. The floor is carpeted and there are tied back curtains at the windows which create a cosy and relaxed ambience. There was a small fireplace at one end and a few pictures dotted around the wood panelled walls. The seating is mostly green leather button backed benches around the perimeter, and a few leather topped bar stools. There is a small courtyard area at the back and also a small wood panelled snug. There was no sign of any food being offered, although the brewery’s own Chilli Nuts were pretty good. Unfortunately being a Samuel Smith’s pub, the beer choice was very limited with just their own Old Brewery Bitter, and the solitary cider was again their own Reserve Cider. A board listed a few more beers that were available by the bottle however.

Randomness Guide to London - Dover Castle entry

Randomness Guide to London - Dover Castle entry

A splendid old mews pub. The pub has an attractive exterior, with hanging baskets, lanterns and etched obscure windows. The entrance door is marked "Retail Entrance" whereas a now unused door to the left of this has "Bottle Entrance", so clearly the main door was to the bar and the other to the off sales area, usually Jug and Bottle. The door opens into a T shaped area, the bar being on the left. A carpeted area, green leather benches and stools at traditional tables, lots of dark wood panelling, a sort of mustard/yellow patterned ceiling (it doesn't seem to be nicotine brown), a glass case contains a set of scales and some brass cannons. To the right is another panelled area with a fireplace and a few old prints of various sportsmen, book ended by what look to be some sort of characters from the legal profession. To the rear is a seperate room, with unusually a sliding door. An old (empty) birdcage is above the entrance. Another feature was the lighting in the central area, which flickered. I'm sure the idea is to present the illusion of gas lighting but on closer inspection this was achieved using candle bulbs with a spiral rotating element, I've never seen those before. The stairs to the toilets have old advertisements in frames along the wall, and there is a single seat and small table at the top of the stairs. The pub was surprisingly busy on Saturday afternoon having regard to its location, and that there is no TV for football. A proportion of the clientele seemed to be students (I must say its the first time I've seen someone eat an orange in a pub). The barman/landlord was friendly, Sam Smith's OBB on handpump at a pocket friendly £1.94. I actually stayed for two as the heavens opened as I went to leave after my first. An excellent pub, ok the beer isn't exciting, but it was convivial and the interior is worth a visit alone.

Tucked away down Weymouth Mews, you are unlikely to stumble on this pub unless you are very lucky. A Sam Smith's pub, so it has been looked after pretty well, and contains lots of original dark wood. Undoubtedly originally a servants' pub serving the many large houses in the area. It has not been “gastrocised” so still has the feel of a real pub. They have not installed seating on high stools, or massive sofas, so seating is for normal people. Only Sam Smith's beers of course, but they do have the handpump version of OBB - and at Sam Smith's excellent prices of course. This is a very comfortable and welcoming pub that is highly recommended.

The Dover Castle is an excellent period pub hidden away in a cobbled mews between Oxford Circus and Regents Park. A welcoming traditional pub frontage from the outside and original wood pannelling, victorian light fittings and etched windows inside that gets it into the CAMRA London inventory of pub interiors. Full range of SS bottle beers, lagers and ciders available and OBB on handpump. The OBB was excellent in both quality and price. Overall experience was very good beer, very good service and therefore overall very good pub.

This place is certainly up there with the best Sam Smiths pubs and there was a good atmosphere on my recent visit, which cannot be said of a lot of their establishments. OBB is on hand pump and I thought that it was well served by a very friendly and polite barman. This place is on a quiet mews so it isn’t that easy to just stumble across, but it is easy to stumble out of as I could have happily stayed for a few more beers.