The Ship & Shovell, WC2

This is a popular pub that most London drinkers know of due to its close proximity to Charing Cross station and the novelty of it being in two halves with the ‘public’ bar being one side of Craven Passage and the main bar the other. Being so popular it is usually very busy with the after work crowd, but there is plenty of room outside to spill out into between the bars and I’ve always found the staff to be pretty quick so there is never much queuing at the bar. The usual Hall and Woodhouse Ales and draught are available and I’ve never had a bad pint of Guinness in here. This place is well worth popping into if in the area.

I suppose to do this place properly you should have a drink in each side, but sadly not the time. The larger side has 4 pumps and a TV, the quieter opposite bar 3 pumps, all serve Hall and Woodhouse beers, not my particular favourite but ok for a bit of variety. Some nice etched glass in the larger bar, wood panelling in the neighbour, a strong naval theme throughout with pictures of ships and Admiral Cloudesley Shovell after whom the pub is named. A smaller bar upstairs is known as The Crows Nest. An ok place but I can't help but feel it is as celebrated for its quirkiness as much as any other feature.

Another good visit to this fine establishment last night. A great pub and worth searching out. Why ?. 1) Pub in two halves as described below, and each with their own character, so its like doing two pubs in one. 2) Its a Hall & Woodhouse, and there is not many of them in The City. 3) The quality of the beers and the service is always top notch in my experience. Very busy on this pre Christmas evening with standing room only. But did not mind that as the well kept Badger beers are worth it and the Tanglefoot was particularly fine.

This is still the best pub in the immediate area. Now in two halves – the part on the left as you come up the steps from Villiers St used to be Garvey's sandwich bar. I remember when the original part on the right used to be a two-room pub. You can still see the original mosaic floor as you enter; turn left to the Public bar and right to the Saloon Bar. The old Public bar area to the left is nothing to write home about, but the Saloon Bar side remains very attractive with its portrait of the ill-fated Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (after whom the pub is named) above the fireplace, and cut glass mirrors all along the back wall. But the Public Bar was one of the few places that you could get a real ale (Bass) back in the mid-70s. OK, back to the present day then. This is a Hall & Woodhouse, with Badger Bitter, Tanglefoot and Lemony Cricket on. I wasn't brave enough to venture into the unknown territory of Lemony Cricket, and went for the tried and tested Badger Bitter. Pretty good it was too, and at £2.80 a pint. This pub is definitely worth finding if you're in the area.