The Crutched Friar, Fenchurch Street, EC3

This place seems to date from only 2002, but its name is taken from a posse of monks who settled here in 1249. A sprawling place, it’s a bit like drinking in a large vaulted cellar, with multiple areas and a low ceiling, the right-hand room seemingly geared towards dining. Then it’s mainly a grey colour scheme, with a part tile, part boarded floor with much tall furniture. There were multiple TVs broadcasting nothing in particular, with the predictive text on, whilst bland Europop played over the hi-fi. Décor seemed to amount to little more than framed black and white prints of the area and unusually for the City, there’s a decent sized patio to the rear. Customers were overwhelmingly loud Rolex-wearing City types. Ale here was a sort of mashup between Sharps, Young’s, Fullers and Shepherd Neame: Seafarers, Pride, Proper Job, Atlantic, Doom, Purity, Whitstable Bay and Ghost Ship (£2.60 a half and good); there were also two large steel brew tanks to the rear, with a Meantime logo on them. This place is ok for a beer and there’s a choice of ales, of sorts, but the Ship across the road is far better, the Cheshire Cheese worse.

As described by others, below, this former Nicholson’s has gone downhill a bit in recent years, Covid notwithstanding. On the plus side it’s open until midnight, although some of the young staff can’t tell the time and start getting pushy much earlier than that – serve you a drink at twenty to, then a minute later start hassling you do drink up. Ales on were Ghost Ship, Mad Goose, Tribute, Otter ale and Doombar, all in reasonable condition. It’s OK if you don’t mind the hassle and the noise.

Official site of The Crutched Friar - www.thecrutchedfriarfenchurchstreet.co.uk

Formerly a Nicholson's house, now owned by Stonegate. It is formed from the ground floors of two adjoining buildings, so the main rooms either side of the wide cent corridor leading to the bar across the end are on slightly different levels. Extra seating area in the far corner, with a compact patio beer garden beyond. Generally well lit, with semi-modern furniture and decor. Eight handpumps, offering Pride, Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Black Sheep, Pedigree New World, Boon Doggle, Tribute and Oxfordshire Triple 'B' (£4.15) on my recent visit.

Official site of The Crutched Friar - www.thecrutchedfriarfenchurchstreet.co.uk