The Roebuck, Borough, SE1

There’s some good visible Truman’s references here, inside and out to a pub which dates from 1746, but clearly rebuilt, probably in the late 19th century. On approach, I had thought that this was going be some trendy gastropub, but I was wrong. Trendy yes, with quite low lighting from white globe lanterns, pale floor, island bar with pot plants, scrubbed furniture and lots of grey paint above wainscotting. There are some banquettes and settles to the periphery and a carpeted snug of sorts to the rear, where there are good lavs, with black and white prints of Doris Day and Oliver Reed denoting gender. The bar has four commanding Corinthian-capitalled columns rising from it and framed prints graced the walls. There’s certainly food here, but there’s a greater emphasis on real ale than probably any pub in the immediate vicinity. Not huge, but one pump dispensed Seacider, then Five Points XPA, Portobello Star and Southwark’s Pale Ale at a very reasonable £2.30 a half and lovely, served by a friendly barmaid. The pumps were getting a great deal of use, as much from women as men and a glance around at drinkers seemed to indicate that many were here for ale, not lager. This is a good solid pub, one of the best in SE1; chuck in Simon the Tanner, the Libertine and the Gladstone for good measure.

Imposing wedge-shaped pub with interesting features on each façade (although the dark green paintwork perhaps doesn't quite do them justice. The interior benefits from the large window area, with an uncrammed arrangement of furniture around the bar and in the back room, but on a hot day the wooden benches outside were the place to be. Four handpumps on the counter, dispensing Truman's Swift, Purity Pure UBU, Southwark Full Sail (£3.90) and Seacider cider.

Wedge-shaped corner pub housed in a lovely, ornate Victorian edifice. Internally, it’s a stripped-down V-shaped layout decorated in various murky shades of green. Some of the walls are unfinished – whether this is ongoing renovation or some trendy design statement I couldn’t fathom. Attractive large windows all round the perimeter so quite a nice light interior. Varnished boards and chunky wood furniture. At the end of the right spur is a large Bambi-esque roebuck print. No upper bar fittings. Some outside pavement seating available. Food is expensive, a scotch egg and chips sets you back northward of eight quid though the quality of my companion’s order was good, however she did grumble about the staff. Three ales, Purity UBU (good), Sambrook Wandle and Truman's Swift (excellent – so good I had two). Not cheap mind, just under four quid for a half and a small diet coke. As to be expected in London these days, there’s a good selection of upper-end keg. Not necessarily one I’d make a mad dash back to but the quality of the ale on Saturday (especially so compared to a number of other supposedly high-brow beer outlets visited later that day) demands a revisit on its own.

Big and busy on the night I visited but more eating than drinking.3 beers on handpump inc Trumans and Sunny Republic.Bit too far from the main Borough pubs but worth the occasional visit.