The Mudlark, SE1

a fairly dull Nicholsons pub restaurant that was unsurprisingly busy early evening with the after work brigade. however there were quite a few foreign tourists in eating as well. The beer choice was okay but nothing exciting from what I remember, I was pretty worse for wear at this point though.

I didn't dwell here too long and found it quite uninspiring on a dreary day weather wise, the small slightly dingy downstairs bar did nothing to brighten the day,nor did the beer range,the highlight being St Austell Tribute,which as normal is a decent beer but nothing exciting nowadays. wont rush back.

This is a Nicholson's pub so you would expect the ale selection to be reasonable, and so it was here with Black Sheep Bitter, Truman's Runner, London Pride, Doom Bar, St Austell Tribute, and some 3% Harviestoun offering called Afterglow all on. When I arrived two young Australian girls at the bar were undecided about what they wanted to drink, and told the foreign barman that they wanted to try an English beer. When he poured a taster of Carling for them I could see it all going horribly wrong and felt obliged to intervene, and explained the various beer styles of the English beers (I didn't bother with the Harviestoun) to the ladies, and suggested that the barman draw a taster of the Pride for them. Obviously realising its superiority to the Carling, they did the decent thing and ordered a couple of pints. But the barman was a decent cove, and gave me a pint for the price of a half in recognition of my assistance in providing customer service. Nice one. Being a Nicholson's pub the standard pub grub menu was available. Inside it's a bit contrived with massive false beams and posts all over the place, as well as some exposed brickwork. There are a couple of tall tables/tall stools in the middle of the room, but otherwise it's furnished with normal tbles and chairs. There's the odd print here and there on the walls, plus faux chalkboards of course. So far it's typical Nicholson's. But for me the best thing about this pub is the sizeable outside seating area, with the tower of Soutwark Cathedral looming above it. As pub backdrops go, it's pretty majestic. It was fairly quite during Wednesday afternoon as it's somewhat off the beaten track. Nicholson's pubs are usually quite reasonable places, and this one's par for the course.

This pub has a fairly small downstairs bar with an upstairs larger bar/dining area. The usual Nicholson's beers on tap. Nothing to get excited about.