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Detail Pages
Ye Olde Watling, Mansion House, EC4
EC4
EC4M 9BR
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Ye Olde Watling
I’ll not go into the history of this Nicholsons pub as the previous two reviews have comprehensively covered it, but I will again mention that this pub is quite compact as it wasn’t that busy when I visited just before Christmas, but there still wasn’t anywhere to settle and get comfortable. I suppose that the pub gets busy at office chucking out times so the seating in the front bar area is minimal so as to leave more standing room so people can pack in. There is some more seating around to the right rear of the bar, but don’t bother taking one of the newspapers from the bar as it is so dimly lit that no reading can be done. I thought that the service was rather nonchalant and the background music was a little loud for a weekday afternoon. Thankfully the Guinness was very good and there are eight hand pumps that were all in operation during my visit. Pride, Bengal Lancer, Doom Bar and Landlord were the four that I recognised so I imagine the others were all guest beers. There is also a reasonable standard and premium draught range available and traditional pub fayre is served with a leaning towards the Great British Banger.
The toilets are located down some very steep stairs at the rear of the pub and the Wren Bar upstairs opens daily at midday, has table service for diners and is available for private hire.
This place is worth popping into for a quick pint if passing, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again.
On 3rd January 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ye Olde Watling
A fairly compact Nicholsons establishment, rebuilt in 1668 following the Great Fire of London two years earlier. A sign states that the pub was restored in 1901 and 1947, not sure if the latter date has any connection with wartime damage. The timber beamed ceiling in the main bar looks pretty authentic, the timbers certainly look old even if they may have been reclaimed.
On entering it would be easy to think this is a one room pub, but beyond the bar and round to the right is another small room. This area has traditional seating, unlike the bar area which just has high tables and stools, plus stools at a window drinking shelf. There is a TV here, high in one corner, showing rugby on mute this Saturday afternoon, while background music played at low volume.
There are eight handpumps, six were on, Pride, Doom Bar, Tribute, William's Scottish Joker IPA, York Centurion's Ghost Ale and the excellent Salopian Darwin's Origin. One unclipped and one reversed which I believe had been a cider.
Not a bad pub at all and unusually for the City open on a Saturday afternoon.
On 7th November 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Ye Olde Watling
Ye Old Watling was allegedly built by Sir Christopher Wren, to accommodate labourers building nearby St Pauls. It’s a pleasant looking corner pub on a paved street down Bow Lane. It’s a dark wood and dark paintwork interior, with two smallish rooms but the large glass windows to the street mean it is never too gloomy inside. It is currently a Nickolson house, which means the beer choice is usually quite good (TT Landlord, Pride, Black Sheep and Harveys Best have been on during my recent visits), but the beer quality can be a bit hit and miss..
Fortunately its been more hit than miss for me, but if you do get it on an off day, then the superior (IMHO) Williamson tavern is just a short walk around the corner.
Have never eaten here, but have had the range of sausages this place sells recommended to me before.
On 18th December 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]