The Euston Tap East Lodge, NW1

Official site of The Euston Tap East Lodge - www.eustontap.com

Official site of The Euston Tap East Lodge - www.eustontap.com

No longer a cider house, this is the sister pub/building to the original Euston Tap. Similar to the other one in terms of layout but is a bit lighter and brighter. I liked the bar back, good use of the space with the blue and white glazed tiles. Only the two cask lines in here with only one dispensing on my visit, but it was in close-to-perfect shape. Barely any customers, and a couple that did come in promptly got their drink and shuffled off over the way. Weird – is it really some sort of force of habit that stops people utilising this one and treating it as overspill area? So not as good as its elder sibling right now, but worth having a look-in. Rated 7 January 2014 [as the Cider Lodge] The twin sister to the Euston Tap over the way; this one does apples. The easterly of the two Portland stone gate houses of the scandalously-demolished Victorian station means that it is an immediately quirky little place. Layout is similar to the Euston Tap, a small square ground floor with bar and a wrought-iron spiral staircase leading up to an upstairs room. The upper room here is a lot smaller and less comfortable than the ET meaning that the (mostly uncomfortable) seating is at a premium. Not immediately clear at the bar what was on (chalked up on a blackboard that’s hard to make out due to a combination of poor wiping of previous chalk and the dark gloomy illumination) and there’s also no guide to the styles on offer. So my request for ‘something medium sweet’ got me a Stargazer (at £1.80 half) which was kegged but quite pleasant nonetheless. The interior smelt very strongly of farmyard, which I guess is the smell of cider spilt everywhere and not being cleaned properly. As a venue it’s fair enough though the welcome for the general know-nothing could be better. I get the feeling that there’s a lack of real enthusiasm to inform people about cider which is a shame given the paucity of good apple pubs, the niche this place occupies and the reputation of the operating group. A 7 for the range but a 6 for the venue.