The Lord Clyde, Borough, SE1

This pub dates from at least the early 19th century, possibly as the then Duke of Kent and was rebuilt in 1913. It’s grade II-listed and is cited on CAMRA’s list of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Regional Importance. The name of E. J. Bayling can be seen over the door, publican here from around 1910 until the early ‘20s. The place had been run by the same family for 60 years, but relinquished ownership in early 2020 to City Taverns (Best City Pubs). I had saved this place for last on my five-pub SE1 crawl and was expecting fine things, given the heritage citation and reviews below. Turfing up mid evening, I could hear very loud music emanating from somewhere ahead of me. On arriving, I found to my horror that it was karaoke night, the place absolutely packed out with old-school locals, many who seemed really quite drunk, one witless fool arsing about to such an extent that he actually knocked a glass off the pot shelf. The noise was really too much, with loud pop songs and accompanying videos being played between participants; this was far from being a restful experience. There were four ales, up to a point: Doom (coming soon), Landlord (coming soon), Pride (coming soon) then Wandle at £2.60 a half and in really rather poor condition, me barely finishing it. For all the heritage, I’ve been here and seen it, but I’m highly unlikely to come here again.

Official site of The Lord Clyde - www.bestcitypubs.co.uk

Official site of The Lord Clyde - www.bestcitypubs.co.uk

a proper pub that seemed very unspoiled to me. It certainly warmed and cheered me up after seeing my old favourite Rose & Crown up the road closed and in the process of refurbishment/ probable ruination. A lovely two roomed corner community pub with five ales on. Much needed in a trendy gentrified area.

The fine pub exterior and opulent saloon bar of the Lord Clyde has been well documented by previous reviewers and it was good to find it being well utilised by a cross section of London society last week. Being a fine evening there was as many out as in and the exterior benches were being mainly utilised by the city’s professional millennials whilst the old ale drinking gits, including us, were propping up the bar and then two darts teams were going at it in an official match in the back room. For our visit the 5 handpumps were also Doom Bar, Adnams Southwold Bitter, Youngs Bitter and the Hogs Back TEA and then the fifth had Butcombe El Toro, their brew for the world cup. We ducked this one as Butcombe had inexplicitly decided to use the Argentinian no10 shirt for the pump clip (probably by some young marketing exec type who wasn’t around for the 1986 quarter final) , and went for the TEA which was OK , but not brilliant. I agree with others that the beer falls short of doing this pub justice, bust still remains a must visit when in the area for the décor alone.

Long overdue revisit and thankfully almost no change from my review of almost 10 years ago. Very busy, with a mix of locals and in-the-know office workers and tourists. Five ales on; Sharps Doom Bar, Youngs Bitter, Hogs Back TEA, Robinsons Overhang and Adnams Bitter. The quality of the two I had were fairly good, if not quite top-notch. But make no mistake, this is a must-visit pub for those who appreciate the traditional – it’s been in the same family for over 50 years, which helps explain things. 8.5 June 2008 A beautiful old back street local (CAMRA National Inventory listed), with a preserved green tiled Trumans exterior and a friendly and convivial welcome within. Four mainstream handpulls on the go - Youngs Ordinary, Sheps Spitfire, Fullers London Priide, Greene King IPA and Adnams which are usually pretty good. A shame there isn't a slightly more eclectic selection, this is the right kind of area (and pub) in which to shift it. It’s tastefully kitted out inside - dark wood panelling, brass fittings, heavy red door curtains (invaluable in the winter – why don’t more pubs have these?), open fire, heavy carpet, leather banquettes with old photographs of the pub and neighbourhood on the walls. It has also got some interesting heritage factors (glass work on the doors, Truman tiling, hatch through to the bar in the back room). I get the impression that this used to be a multi-room pub that has been opened out a little, what with the ‘lounge’ and ‘public’ etched glasswork. Incongruously there are also 80’s retro toilets – can we list them too? Misses out by the lack of originality on the beer front, but otherwise fabulous and unmissable in the winter, especially. Rated 8.5

One of the best Truman pub exterior anywhere and rightly listed by CAMRA,this is a fine street corner boozer in an ever gentrifying area.The doors to Saloon and Public Bar these days open to a single room,but following the line in the ceiling you can see how the two room layout would have been.However there is still a back room to the right with a dartsboard case ,lots of wood panelling and bar access via an open hatch.The main saloon has fitted benches with red leather trim,and still feels very authentic,although the muzak was a shade too loud and booring. The 5 handpumps were drawing Doom Bar,Adnams Southwold Bitter,George Gales Beachcomber (I assume a Fullers brew),CW Youngs Bitter and Hogs Back TEA (fair but I've has better) .Food seemed pubgrub , chips with everything. These days that a pedestrian ale line up ,but if in the area pop in for a quick one as it's a a good example of it's kind.

Proper old school boozer inside and out. U shaped bar serves the public bar with a hatch for the back room. 5 real ales served. Well worth seeking out.