Old Red Lion, Kennington, SE11

Randomness Guide to London - Old Red Lion entry

Randomness Guide to London - Old Red Lion entry

Mock Tudor beams inside and outside, looking a little out of place in Kennington. It still has two separate bars, which is probably why it features in CAMRA's inventory of heritage pub interiors. The only real ale on was Bombardier, which actually tasted rather good, and at £2.80 a pint definitely not overpriced. There were a few tables and chairs around the sides, but my overall impression of the bar in which I was in (the Public Bar I suppose) was dinginess and desolation. I didn't venture into the other bar – hopefully it was better, but I doubt whether I shall bother to go in again.

This pub has two separate bars which are joined together with a doorway at each end of the bar which cannot be more than five feet tall. The right hand bar is mostly standing room and has a dartboard and plasma screen at the rear which was showing football on Sky Sports. The left hand bar has more seating and another plasma screen which had all seven other customers standing in front of it whilst watching the dog racing and waving their betting slips in the air. Bombardier and Bass were available from the barmaid who couldn't have looked less pleased to see me if she had spat in my pint. To be fair she did lighten up a bit, but the seeds were already sown for an uncomfortable stay and I was glad that I had only ordered half a Guinness, which wasn't the best. I'll not be returning.