The Albion, EC4

A young's pub serving 2 real ales and food.

A Youngs pub, albeit one with very understated branding, comprising a irregularly-shaped single bar of modest size. Refurbished, with modern furniture and decor. During a busy afternoon, the bar was well staffed and people were being served quickly. Four handpumps, offering Bombardier, Ordinary, Special (£3.50, and in fine condition) plus Addlestones cider. Overall, this place gives the impression of being well run and is worth stopping at if passing.

I was surprised that it wasn’t packed in here when I visited two days before Christmas as this pub is on a main road and around the corner from City Thameslink Station. I also think that it is much improved since shaking off the O’Neills chain and all things faux Irish that they come with. Now a Youngs pub it was not surprising to see Special and Ordinary available and the other two hand pumps were drawing Albion (another Youngs brew, maybe rebadged in a marketing ploy?) and Addlestones cider. There is also a standard draught selection and I received a decent Guinness from the very friendly barmaid. I spotted two plasma screens and Sky Sports is shown here, but as there was no sport on during my visit there was some music playing in the background. Food is served and there is a bar and dining room upstairs. This place is better than it used to be, but there are better pubs in the immediate area.

Now a Young’s pub which has reverted to its original name and totally transformed from the ONeills plastic identikit pub interior of the previous incarnation, and as I largely despise the ONeills chain I have to say this is a much better place. Seems to be more focussed on food as its target demographic is the surrounding office workers and, although nowhere near as bad as some, the overuse of clean wood and brown leather seating and quite expensive food menu makes this place border on being a Gastro pub. In saying that there were four hand pumps on the go and these included CW Bombadier, and Youngs Ordinary and Special. My pint of Youngs Special was very good, but if it’s a vertical beer drinking session you are after there are better, more suited pubs in the near vicinity.

Randomness Guide to London - Albion entry

Randomness Guide to London - Albion entry

I had a quick pint of Amstell in here late on Saturday afternoon before heading home. This is probably the smallest O'Neills that I have been to, but it is still unmistakably an O'Neills pub. When I am back in the area I will give this pub a miss, not because there is anything intrinsically wrong with it, just because there are much better pubs on offer.