The Tankard, Lambeth, SE11

This place dates to at least the early 19th century but is now probably a late Victorian structure, a Charrington’s house by 1951. It’s an attractive building with a spacious terrace to the first floor, but little if anything of the original interior remains. Now owned by BrewDog, the place hasn’t been as altered as some of their pubs, with a pale boarded floor, bare brick or muddy brown paintwork, black Anaglypta ceiling, modern bare brick bar with obligatory dark green shiny tiles and slightly industrial lighting, with some distracting red neon stuff. Furniture is largely conventional to the periphery, then tall tubular steel stuff to the centre, all with sauce bottles and menus, with décor in the form of trendy framed black and white prints. Just two normal customers, then an annoying couple swallowing each other’s tongues. Despite the stewardship, there was, aside from two unused pumps, a solitary handle dishing out an Adnams/DEYA double act called Boat Trip, price forgotten but undoubtedly expensive, passable and served by a highly apologetic barman. This place is ok, but I’d take the Dog House, Black Prince or Old Red Lion when in this neck of the woods.

Official site of The Tankard - www.brewdog.com

Official site of The Tankard - www.brewdog.com

A single floor-boarded bar with basic wooden furniture, a tiled food counter at one end and a miserable young hag pretending to be a barmaid.  Having said that, a second young barmaid was much more pleasant.  Food was ok, basic bar food but not cheap.  Ales on were Scrumdog Millionaire’s Old Flax Store and London Brewing Company’s Flying the Mags, plus there were a few craft beers which you could buy in thirds on a paddle, and a fruit cider on draft. The beer was in good condition and very cheap for London.   It was quite noisy, the music was much too loud and the seating wasn’t that comfortable.  Probably OK during the day for lunch and a pint or two if visiting The Museum. 

Now part of the Draft House chain.Now painted bright red.Long rectangular bar with a jazzed up interior.Lots of windows so bright interior.Lots to like about this pub.Two cask beers from Sambrookes and Siren( so Rex can come back again).10 kegs including 2 great beers in Wiper and Tue -blossom and Neon Raptor-endangered.Thirds available on keg.

There's no real ale here, nor any bitter of any kind. There are just some standard lagers, the best of which I would assess as the classic Spanish gem "Estrella", or perhaps the Beck's Vier (£2.05 a half). I don't know about food as there were no menus on tables on Wednesday afternoon, although there were "shot" and cocktail lists on them. The furnishings here are fairly elegant, being two or three good quality tall tables/tall stools, a cluster of sofas down one end, and a few normal tables and chairs. The ceiling's painted a muddy brown colour, and most walls are painted khaki with a bit of exposed brickwork. Being nearly Christmas we have here a pink(!) Christmas tree and flashing fairy lights along the bar counter. The tables all have candles on them; there's a display of oriental fans and parasols on one of the pillars; assorted prints and gilt framed mirrors adorn the walls; and the varnished bare-boarded floor has a couple of good quality rugs to break up the space. It's that sort of place – typical of the Grand Union chain. This is more cocktail lounge than pub. But without the pink Christmas tree, flashing fairy lights, and tinsel around the tables, it would be a fairly comfortable room, but in the absence of a decent ale I can't see me coming back.