The Greencoat Boy, SW1

GK pub with no real ale of any strength. This could be a good pub with some decent ale, alas in its current guise I will not be returning.

There were five ales on during my visit – Broadside; Spitfire; GKIPA; Bombardier; and Young’s London Gold (£2.90 a pint). The menu advertises “Great British Pub Food”. I didn’t eat there so can’t say whether it’s great or not, but it certainly qualifies as pub grub, with a typical main meal of steak & ale pie, plus mash and veg, coming in at £7.59. That’s par for the area. According to the menu it’s a Taylor Walker pub, but it looks no different to a Punch pub to me. It’s mainly bare-boarded, with seating mainly tall tables and stools with a few normal tables and chairs. The ceiling is painted a russet red/brown colour, and also has brown painted false beams. Wall decor consists of a few prints of old London scenes – Trafalgar Square, Victoria Station and the like – plus the usual faux chalkboard adverts. There was at least one TV on, but muted, and the inevitable pop music was being played. There is also a downstairs bar, but this was roped off during my midweek lunchtime visit. For me this was a fairly run-of-the-mill pubco pub. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again.

This place is a pretty run of the mill London boozer that was serving up Pride, Bombardier and Ordinary alongside a standard draught selection. There was another ale which was off, but I couldn't see what the clip said. I found the two barmen to be friendly making the atmosphere very relaxed. There is no TV, but the background music was at a good level playing some old 70s songs. There is a basement bar that offers more seating and can be hired out for functions, but this was closed during my visit. I would have no problem in returning here.