The Constitution, Pimlico, SW1

It is difficult to describe this pub, which has just the one medium-sized room despite an impressive frontage. it feels rather as though successive refurbishments over the years have each left a few features, which don't necessarily go together. Not unpleasant but very quiet on a weekday lunchtime, with just a few locals in and none of the more upmarket types who abound in the area. Just IPA and Doom Bar on pump.

An attractive mid-terrace, mid-19th century house, with an interior which CAMRA lists as being of Some Regional Importance, on account of the near full-height dark wood field panelling, which dates from an indeterminate period in the 20th century. The floor is modern boarded and furniture comprises mainly dark green studded peripheral banquettes, with normal chairs and tables. There’s some bullseye glass, a couple of metal columns painted white and a richly detailed ceiling. The bar back looks to be faux ornate and hard to date, with a black and white tiled apron. Lighting comes from metal chandeliers, décor comprising a few framed prints, the odd knickknack, a few mirrors and a modest collection of earthenware bottles; two abnormally small TVs were showing the boxing and moderate music wafted over the room. The customer base is largely local and jolly, though few in number, even mid-Saturday evening. The barman was pleasant enough, presiding over just the one ale: one unused clip, one reversed and Doom. I plumped for a Neck Oil, at a dispiriting £6.40, served in an annoying Beavertown-branded kiddie glass. In an area of gastropubs, this isn’t a bad little place and with a greater selection of quality ales, this could be your best passport to a good time in Pimlico.

Official site of The Constitution - www.constitutionpimlico.co.uk

Official site of The Constitution - www.constitutionpimlico.co.uk

Single roomed traditional pub with lots of dark wood panelling with assorted period pictures, brass plates and mirrors for character. And then a wooden floor with an area of black and white tiling in front of the green wood panelled bar. Also fairly lively for my visit and I quite enjoyed it here. The only let down was that just two of the three ale pumps were operational with a far from inspiring offering of Doombore and Pride,and actually, I spotted a much more interesting bottled craft beer line up in the fridges behind the bar. Thought this was a nice small pub that could benefit from a more adventurous drinks offering.

Weak real ale again although this pub was by far the busiest I'd been in so far. Football results on the TVs may explain this.

Close inspection of this mid-terrace Georgian pub shows that it is built marginally forward of its neighbours, to me, indicating that it is original and deliberately built to stand out. Many years on there is a squarish single room albeit with a slight recess to the front, boarded but with a chequer style tiled splash zone around the side wall bar. Despite a run of high tables in the middle facing the bar, most seating is more traditional thankfully. A rear bay window is leaded...an addition I suspect, ceiling beams have decorative cornices and are supported by circular columns and there is plenty of good quality wood panelling. Decor has copper plates, stone jars etc but I didn't see any of the Constitution vessel apart from on the pub sign and external awnings which is a shame. Busy and lively with a mostly younger crowd on Saturday late afternoon, beers on were Adnam's Broadside, Doom Bar and GK IPA. TVs had live rugby or muted football scores. Ok but nothing more.

A surprisingly good pub hidden away in the back streets of Pimlico, The Constitution holds in own with the better known pubs in the area. It's also surprising, then, that it isn't a GBG pub as it's 4 ales and one cider were very well kept. The locals scrutinised thoroughly but accepted us as normal, and the staff were welcoming. My pint of Sambrooks was particularly good, while my colleague said that the Spitfire was excellent. Highly recommended for inclusion on a crawl and a pub to which I shall undoubtedly return.

Unusually, in this case we have a pub named after a ship from a foreign navy. This one is named after the USS Constitution, which had considerable success against the Royal Navy in the war of 1812 mainly because its hull was constructed from the super dense live oak wood. It’s still the oldest sailing ship afloat and can be found in Boston Harbour. The pub itself is almost as admirable as its namesake. There’s just the one room downstairs, with some superb full length wood panelling on the walls. Just about every inch of the walls is covered with nautical themed paraphernalia, including numerous prints. I didn’t get close enough to the prints to examine them in detail, but it certainly looked as if some represented the exploits of the USS Constitution. Furnishings are traditional and comfortable, and being carpeted it didn’t get as noisy as ar least one other bare-boarded pub that I visited during the evening. There’s another room upstairs that was being used an overflow for the main room downstairs when I was in, but it was also comfortable and was showing football on the large screen. Unfortunately the ale selection wasn’t very inspiring, with just Courage Best and Spitfire on, but two ales are certainly better than none, and the Spitfire was OK. I’ve no idea whether they do food during the evenings, but I didn’t see any sign of food or menus. I reckon that this is one of the better pubs in Pimlico, and I would be delighted to pay another visit.