The Cockpit, EC4

This is a Grade II listed ground floor pub in a fine corner building whose current guise dates from around circa 1860. Fairly small inside with an interesting layout from its cockfighting days and it has a pleasurable well-worn feel to it. The bar supports four hand pumps and three were in operation for our visit with TT Landlord and St Austell’s Tribute and Proper Job. Between us we went through all three and they were all in good nick, especially my Proper Job. This was a very pleasant pub for an afternoon pint in the city and worth doing as a double with the nearby Rising Sun.

This superb old corner pub is very easy to imagine hosting the sport from which it takes its name. The bar is up a couple of steps if entering from the corner door, but there is a side door from Ireland Yard which gives level access. There are four hand pumps with St Austell Tribute, Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Adnams Southwold Bitter available. I went for the Tribute, which was ok. As with the other back street pubs hereabouts, there was a good after work crowd in here, but with the pub being quite small, if six or eight of them decided they had trains to catch the place would soon seem quiet. I liked it here but was not terribly impressed with the beer offering, which was unadventurous and samey.

Characterful (bit rough round the edges) back street boozer. Wedge shaped split level interior that still retains some courage branding. 4 real ales.

This is a mid-Victorian traditional boozer, pub well described below. However, I'd call it a bit dowdy and frayed at the edges - charm to some, tatty to others. Ales: St. Austell's Tribute, Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Adnam's Southwold which was fine. Save for the fact that this pub is far less packed (probably due to the reasons above) than other locals and has friendly bar staff, I can't really see myself coming here again. The Rising Sun at the top of the road is a better bet.