The Britannia, SE1

Tris C left this review about The Britannia

This is a mid-19th century pub nestled amidst local authority housing along the exceedingly dinky Kipling Street, still featuring a Taylor Walker sign frame, devoid of its gun carriage motif.
The interior is quite deliberately basic, with boarded floor and a bar back of some vintage; of note is the brass water tap on the bar top, so much more attractive than some Kilner jar full of water with ‘orrible green shavings floating in it. The overall aesthetic is one of a dive bar with low lighting, mixed furniture, some industrial and at least one table with legs fashioned from a couple of black painted kegs. The ceiling is white t ‘n’ g, with décor featuring a couple of fine brewers’ mirrors – one Bass – two maquettes of Ziggy Stardust and John Lennon in his ‘Imagine’ suit, then eclectic prints; two functional incense burners rested on the bar top and loud Techno music played. Customers were either some very earthy older locals, then Australians (?) and probably some students, one – outside obviously – smoking a large cigar, purchased from the pub’s cigar menu which features whisky pairings, whisky being a major selling point here.
Unfortunately, the ale front was barely worth mentioning, with just one unclipped pump, then another clipped for Pride, me going for a bland Orbit Nico at a very reasonable £3.10 a half, served by a friendly barmaid.
The Britannia offers something different, especially when coupled with the Miller and Simon the Tanner but would get a higher mark if it catered for the discerning cask drinker rather than assuming that Pride is the go-to choice for cask drinkers which it isn’t, but it’s worth smoking out.

On 10^th June 2023 - rating: 6
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