Mc & Sons, Southwark, SE1

Tris C left this review about Mc & Sons

This started life in 1818 as the Red Lion, but must have been rebuilt later in the 19th century, for Truman Hanbury & Buxton and renamed the Charles Dickens I know not when, the current name turning up in 2017, Irish themed as a homage to ‘…the memories and lives of the Mc Elhinney’s with their heritage adorning the walls with pictures of the family through the generations’, founders of Windmill Taverns, of which this is a branch.
Modern boarded, the pub does seem to have been opened out, as the left wall is clad with wood panelling and etched glass, rather than mirrors, indicating that these may have been divisions, retained as décor. There’s a comfy little snug to the left, with quite long bar beyond, with a room of sorts to the rear, where live Irish music was playing. Further décor comes in the form of a vast number of framed black and white prints, with knickknacks galore; you can tell this is an Irish pub, as there are prints to the wall of Pope John Paul, the Virgin Mary and Jesus. The ceiling is modern, so as to accommodate the flush aircon unit. Furniture is traditional, with customers from across the spectrum. There’s food, but being an Irish pub, obviously it’s Thai. Lighting here is very gloomy indeed, vision is genuinely impaired by it, making navigation difficult, me almost treading on an all but invisible dog.
Although there were four pumps, just one was in operation, dispensing Bath Gem at a very reasonable £2.45 a half and good, served by a very friendly barmaid, doing an admirable job given the queue at the bar and demand for the Black Stuff.
I quite liked this place, but would only really visit at quieter times, but the ale choice and range would need to be upped, as would the score.

On 28^th November 2021 - rating: 6
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