The Gallery, Pimlico, SW1

A very comfortable pub opposite Pimlico tube station, with a fair amount of soft furnishings in an otherwise traditional local. Once having subsided into the capacious sofa, it was quite a struggle to leave! Ales on were London Pride and TT Landlord, in very good nick.

Of interest here, is that the Perseverance (as it was originally) was built in 1841 by Thomas Cubitt, who built much of London, including Pimlico and Osbourne House. The current name dates from 1992 and is very much something of a more down to earth locals’ pub. It’s part carpeted inside, with some raised areas. Illumination comes from Victorian-style sconce lights with overly bright filament bulbs, which showed off the paintwork, the colour of avocado flesh, to great extent, likewise the white ceiling; there was though a rather peculiar disinfectant smell; the ugly games machine was hardly a bonus. Furniture is very mixed, giving the impression it was sourced at different times, from different places. Customers included the odd lost tourist, but mainly older, more local customers, one having a tedious phone call on speakerphone, his partner listening to noisy YouTube videos, both occasionally being joined by one of the young barmaids, who would have done this pub a great favour if they’d politely asked them to desist; where’s Humphrey when you need him? Nice old-school staff were hemmed in by three unused pumps and one for Pride, the only hope here of real ale worth drinking was Landlord, but the clip was reversed, me seeking some solace with a half of Kronenbourg, at a very steep £2.75. This is perhaps a bit too bright and a bit too local for me, though more restrained than the area’s typical pubs, with their noisy crowds. The lack of real ale and equally, noisy screen addicted customers, ensure that I won’t be back.

Official site of The Gallery - www.thegallerypimlico.co.uk

Official site of The Gallery - www.thegallerypimlico.co.uk

Traditional sort of boozer but a bit old fashioned with curtains on the windows and tatty ornaments strewn on ledges.Younger crowd rather than locals.Dull beers featured.No craft and only Pedigree and Eagle bitter on cask.Outside seating to front.

Situated on a corner plot as most Victorian pubs were, there is nowadays a single carpeted room downstairs with a slightly raised area opposite the bar. A slighly recessed area to the rear offers more intimate seating and there is more upstairs but this was roped off on Saturday afternoon. The entrance lobby has some decent leaded stained glass and a shelf containing empty Champagne Magnum bottles above, decor includes an interesting history of the layout of the Pimlico area. The TV had the rugby on with volume. A decent enough beer range, Landlord, GK London Glory, Jenning's Cumberland Ale(£4.45) Cottage Iron Duke and C. Wells Poppy. Food includes breakfast options from 10.30 including a champagne version for £14.50. Not a bad spot overall but I did not appreciate being blasted with hot air from the beam mounted fan convector heater directly over the service area. What numpty decided to locate it there is a question to ponder.