Cask, Pimlico, SW1

Ten ales on handpump on our visit, we went for Siren Dinner for Six and Salopian Lemon Dream. I ordered a half of Salopian and then decided to upgrade to a pint. In spite of the pub being busy, this wasn't a problem to the patient barman. Beware a lot of tables reserved around the pub for the office crowd at 5pm.

19 July 2009 Hophead, Olde Trip, Morland Original (greedyk now, as is Olde Trip), Tom Wood's Bomber County, Everards Tiger, all £3.20. Under pressure, Peroni (£4.20), Leffe, Budvar, Amstel, Aspall Suffolk Cyder, guinness cold. A board montage of Darkstar clips (x15) to left of bar suggests that fine brewery will be well represented. Décor feels quite spartan on entry, open access to bar which runs the length of far wall, tiles here, otherwise light wood floor throughout. Reasonably spaced seating in the form of 14 dark wood tables (2s,3s,4s) & chairs, and wooden banquette winding around walls & below windows, solid base tho, & scatter cushions may prove more decorative than functional? Central pillar in bar area has drinking shelf & a few barstools &, behind this, two chesterfields face each other across a low table. The wall here has a large plasma but this will be for only occasional use (ie no Sky), along a bit to a wooden sideboard and boxed mirror. A little extra light is provided by the vertical ‘skylight' panelling nr ceiling, easy listening soundtrack was unintrusive. Printed food menu looks good, & good value for the area, eg fish, chips & mushy peas (that's right folks!) £8.75; cottage pie £7.75; Cask steak & cheese burger wi fries £8.50; seabass, spinach, spuds dauphinoise £9.75. A large blackboard at rear carried no info, but one could imagine may advertise daily specials at some point? or maybe a wine list, which I failed to note despite all this talk of food, sorry. Although the friendly guv, Martin, commendably aims to promote real ales (& there may be a ‘fest after a bedding-in period), I do think that the Cask is not very ‘pubby' and, as such, may need the food to be a significant contributor to retain a required customer base. No reason that shouldn't happen; it is served lunch & evening, opening includes weekends, the wet side has a good selection (& belgian styles in fridge), at least 3 good malts, it's clean and could appeal to female customers rather more than some scabby pubs around the station (despite its odd positioning under council flats). I wish them well.

This was my first return visit to this pub since a group of BITE reviewers visited back in the Summer of 2009. The interior has changed a bit. Then it had a few homely touches, with a sideboard or two and some high quality and attractive furnishings. Now it’s far more functional with basic upholstered benches round the sides and normal tables and chairs taking up all available space. It looks as if they’ve crammed in as many tables and chairs as possible (not a bad thing really) and with the light grey painted walls and minimalist black and white photos I found it fairly functional and characterless. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the range and quality of beers. You would be very hard pressed to fail to find something you liked here. My chum and I went for the Ilkley Joshua Jane, and after three pints we became convinced that we did like it. The main food on offer seems to be burgers – at around the £10 mark a pop. This remains a real ale Mecca, and is well worth a visit.

When i visited this pub it was called the Pimlico Tram. The Pimlico Tram was a pretty dire looking pub that is one of two pubs set beneath a long block of flats. Once inside the pub was a bit tatty but still comfortable enough to sit in for a drink,the pub used to be a Greene King tied house and there was one real ale on the bar this was GK IPA which was drinkable but nothing special. There were quite a few other customers in and the pub had a bit of a rough edge to it. This is the sort of pub i really like going in,it is nice to see it is still up and running but i am glad i went in it under its old guise. Pub visited 11/1/2008