The Mansion Pub, Kennington, SE11

This pub has been subjected to a ferocious makeover, having clearly been completely gutted with a shiny brand new interior. There were ten Oakham ales on handpump (two banks of five), so this is the place to fill your boots if you're a fan of Oakham ales. They don't do halfs - just thirds, two-thirds, and pints. My two-thirds of Bishops Farewell was £2.75, indicating around £4 for a pint. The main signage is still for the Mansion House, but inside there are references to "Oaka at The Mansion House". So, this pub passes muster on the beer front, but as a pub I didn't care for it much. Half of the main bar as you enter, as well as the room at the back on the left, is furnished with tables all laid for diners. The area to the right of the main bar where drinkers seemingly have to go has (in my opinion) no comfortable furnishings - just small black plastic covered stools and low tables; tall upholstered benches (the ones where you need a bar at the bottom on which to rest your feet) and tall tables, and a few tall stools at a shelf by the window. The interior is generally very modern, with mirrored pillars, stonework walls, and modern replacement boarded floors. It makes Ember Inn pubs look like traditional boozers. But although it's nothing like a traditional pub it scores highly for the extensive range of Oakham ales. I just hope that a "pub" that is evidently targeted at diners, and with a relatively small area available for drinkers, can sustain ten ales. Time will tell. I may return to sample some more Oakham ales - there is nothing else here that would induce me to return.

Smart ,sleek ,modern conversion to this Oakham brewery pub.Seems to focus on food but a long bar with 10 Oakham beers on my visit.Beer sold in 1/3 2/3 and pint measures so you can try lots of this brewers superb beers.Only open 3 days but the pub was busy with diners rather than drinkers.Kennington /Brixton area has some great pubs now.Check it out.

CLOSED & GUTTED (10/04/07)