Covent Garden Pubs 2

Further to my recent Covent Garden blog, really a wee pub crawl from Charing Cross to Tottenham Court Road/Oxford Street, where we obviously missed quite a few pubs, we decided to go to some of those pubs missed. But we did start again at The Harp, 47 Chandos Place WC2N 4HS (website) as, quite frankly, it is an excellent pub, can't be missed if in the area, although it does get very busy at times,  but we were there early, so no problem! 

As ever at The Harp, an excellent range of ales to chose from including, from Huddersfield brewery Mallinsons (website), Belma, a 4.0% single hopped ale, yes you've guessed it right, brewed with Belma hops (hopslist). 😉 Anyway, this was excellent, pale golden colour and, they say "blonde with notes of citrus, pineapple and strawberry" - whilst I say, yes, quite fruity, but very subtle, I got grapefruit, maybe tangerine too, but again, very subtle, with a lovely dry bitter finish. I already knew this would be my favourite ale of this trip, but then, Mallinsons consistently brew excellent pale ales, and I wasn't disappointed, great stuff, cheers! 😁

Once again, we turned left out of The Harp, then left again up Bedfordbury, walked to the end and turned right, this time missing The White Swan, instead virtually opposite that pub is The Round House, 1 Garrick Street WC2E 9BF (website). The Round House was built in the 1860s, catering for theatre goers and market traders, and originally traded as Petters Hotel until the name was changed to The Round House in 1943.

Here, we drank Fuller's Grand Slam, a 3.4% pale golden seasonal ale, celebrating the Rugby Union Six Nations Tournament, Fuller's (now Asahi) Griffin brewery (website) not being a million miles away from Twickenham Stadium, the home of England Rugby Union (website). Anyway, they say "citrus and pine" flavour, but I cannot find which hopes are used, although Amarillo, Cascade and Citra are among the likely choices. Whatever, this is a fruity, crisp, dry, and easy drinking pale ale with a gentle bitterness at the finish. 👍

We could see our next pub from the window of The Round House, a pub I've not been to for years! Anyway, we exited the Roundhouse, left onto Garrick Street and turned immediately first right, and straight in front of us, the Lamb & Flag, 33 Rose Street WC2E 9EB (website). A pub is first recorded here in 1772, with the 18th century building constructed on the same site of a house known to have been built by 1638, perhaps 10 years or so earlier when the street itself was built. This timber-framed, and Grade II Listed pub, was originally called the Cooper's Arms until the name was changed to the Lamb & Flag in 1833.

Here we drank an ale from Devon based Salcombe Brewery (website), their 4.2% Shingle Bay, a golden ale that I believe is brewed with New Zealand Pacific Gem hops (hopslist). They say "fruity aroma of blackberry and spiced fruit" which is again, very subtle, but suggested by the hops used. I found it to have a gentle citrus aroma and flavour, with a peppery dry bitter finish, and another easy drinking ale to quaff. 🍺

From the Lamb & Flag, we turned back on ourselves and right onto Garrick Street, shortly along to a 6 road junction, taking the third left/opposite Great Newport Street to Charing Cross Road and we turned right onto the main road. We carried along roughly northwards to Shaftesbury Avenue, where we turned left, and then first right onto Greek Street where we reached The Coach & Horses, 29 Greek Street, W1D 5DH (website). This Grade II Listed building dates back to 1840, and is claimed to be "Soho's Most Famous Pub" and historically a drinking establishment for writers, artists and poets; indeed, a friend reminded me soon after I posted this photograph on social media, that it was where folk from the satirical magazine Private Eye had their famous fortnightly lunches, cheers Stephen! 🍷🍸🍻

Here we drank, from Bermondsey in South East London, The Kernel Brewery (website) and their 4.0% Small Pale Ale, this one brewed with Columbus hops (hopslist); apparently they brew a variety of changing 'session' Small Pale Ales with different hops used, and different strengths. Anyway, the Columbus hop helps produce big citrus flavoured brews, and despite this being a bit trendy hazy, the hops did their job to ensure it was a pleasant ale indeed. 👌

I didn't realise it in the planning, but these 4 pubs all had something in common, in that they are all Fuller's pubs, indeed, I hadn't realised before how much Fuller's has encroached into the centre of London from their origins in West London. Also, rather surprisingly, I discovered that there was a 10% discount for CAMRA members at all 4 pubs, nice one, cheers folks! 😄

London - Victoria - Pimlico.

I could have entitled this blog just Pimlico, or Vauxhall Bridge Road, which I may have done if we had included a fourth pub on the day (the Jugged Hare), but for some reason I forget we didn't go there; another time! Anyhow, first up and very close to Victoria Station, was the Victoria Taps, 27 Gillingham Street SW1V 1HP (website), a Stonegate pub that's open from 10.00 every day of the week (although due to the terms of its licence you can't buy alcohol before 12.00 on Sundays), anyhow our first stop as we were there before 11.00 on Saturdays; we've been back.😉

Each time we've gone for the Fuller's London Pride (4.1%) to drink, which I've mentioned many times in blogs, but never really reviewed, I just know that when it's in form it's pretty good, but it does need to be sold quickly as it doesn't last too long in opened casks (cellar experience there folks). Brewed with English hops Target (hopslist), Northdown (hopslist), Challenger (hopslist) and East Kent Golding (hopslist), and I'd describe it as a slightly malty and bitter traditional session bitter. CAMRA (website) describe it thus: "Aromas of malt and citrus. The malty sweetness is balanced by spicy bitter hops with orange, apricot, sultanas and toffee." Oh yes, and basic bacon sandwiches are available at just £4 each before noon!

We then walked towards Vauxhall Bridge and close to it, we stopped at a McMullen's pub (never visited or drank their ales before! McMullen's website) the White Swan, 14 Vauxhall Bridge Road SW1V 2SA (website), indeed, before my first visit to the Taps I'd never visited either of these first 2 pubs before, and I used to work very close by in my yoof! The White Swan has been trading as a pub since 1759, more recently Macs took it over from Punch Taverns in 2012, and it had previously been a Watney's pub since the 1970s, and then a Scottish & Newcastle pub.

Here, and please take note that I'd never even heard of this brewery from Hertford before, despite them being 200 years old, 😕 I drank their Mac's IPA, a 4.8% East India Pale Ale. The IPA has its origins back in 1840 and is now brewed with Progress (hopslist) and Brambling/Bramling Cross (hopslist) again, both English hops, meaning it is a more traditional English style IPA rather than an APA. Consequently, it's a darker amber/mahogany colour with a slightly sweet malty flavour and with a hint of citrus only, and was not bad at all, more please! 😁

Nearer to Pimlico tube station is the Cask Pub & Kitchen, 6 Charlwood Street SW1V 2EE, a pub I have visited and written about before on my old Beermeister blog, and which has been trading in a modern building since 2009, being "London's first craft beer focussed pub" (website). The building is Grade II Listed, I kid you not, and well, have a read of London Drinker for more!

A BIG choice from 12 handpumps, and the bar staff were very knowledgeable and friendly indeed, and we went for the Dorking Brewery (website) Siris Citrus Pale (4.2%), brewed to celebrate International Women's Day 2025. It is named after the Mesopotanium Goddess of beer Siris, the suggested sister of Ninkasi, the Sumerian Goddess of Beer, and who I have written about before (blog). The difference between Sumeria and Mesopotania is described in this YouTube Video, Sumerians were Mesopotaniums, and they were situated in what is now Iraq, these were old civilizations indeed, invented the wheel amongst many other things!

Back to the ale! Siris Citrus Pale is a pale golden bitter, apparently with added grapefruit and lime zest, consequently it is packed with citrus flavours. I'd love to say Citra hops were used, but I can't find details of the hops used anywhere, although the brewery does use a wide range of hops from the USA including Citra and Chinook. Whatever, this was a delightful refreshing ale!

I will visit the Jugged Hare sometime (website), maybe next season, cheers!🍻

5 Pubs Visited in London, 1 New to Me!

You'll realise by the gradually darkening photographs this visit was late afternoon/early evening, except for the last pub. First stop, The Albert, 52 Victoria Street SW1H 0NP (website), once a Taylor-Walker house, now Greene King. The pub is a Grade II listed building, built 1845-52, just over the other side of Victoria Street from the notorious Devil's Acre (Londonist), and originally called 'The Blue Coat Boy' until Artillery Brewery took it over, rebuilt it and named it The Albert in 1867 in honour of Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, following his death in 1861. Now I have to own up to not taking note of the beers we drank, obviously not great or I'd have taken notes, but I hadn't been in the pub for years, probably not this millennium, and it's a lovely old building that avoided bomb destruction luckily during World War 2!👌

These first 3 pubs are all close to St James's Park tube station, near where I worked many years ago, near the old Westminster Hospital, on the edge of the Devil's Acre! I only learnt about the Devil's Acre many years later when referenced in a novel, but I have investigated since. Next was a Nicholson's pub The Feathers, 18-20 Broadway SW1H 0BH (website), the pub being in existence since at least 1745, and rebuilt in 'the Flemish style' towards the end of the 19th century. This was the pub that I had never visited before, so new to me, and a it is a very fine building, both the exterior and interior, so I wasn't disappointed, nor by the ale...

I did drink an ale I haven't had for a while now, from Midlands brewery Purity Brewing Co (website), and their 4.2% Mad Goose Pale Ale, brewed with Pilgrim, Centennial, Chinook and Cascade hops, quintessential hops for an APA style beer! As you would expect, it's pale golden in colour, and look at those hops (!), it has a hint of citrus in the aroma, but much more citrus to the taste, with a nice clean, dry bitter finish, nice one! 👍

Then, literally around the corner and along a bit, another pub I haven't visited for years, still a Young's house, the Buckingham Arms, 62 Petty France SW1H 9EU (website). Originally licenced as the Black Horse in the 18th century, and also rebuilt towards the end of the 19th century and re-named the Buckingham in honour of the Duke of Buckingham in 1901. The pub used to have a second entrance which meant you could walk through the pub from end to end (confirmed by bar steward, so not a false memory), with a narrow bar to your side; the second entrance/exit was removed, presumably along with the interior refurbishment in 2009.

The usual 2 Young's ales were available, the Special and Ordinary, plus 4 guest ales, including 2 from Twickenham Brewery (website) including their very often sold in Young's houses, the 4.4% Naked Ladies, named after statues in York House Gardens in Twickenham. So I drank a pint of this hoppy, pale golden bitter, brewed with Herkules, Celeia and Chinook hops, it has a subtle citrus aroma, a slightly malty taste at the start, and with some citrus flavours coming through as the ale goes down, and a lovely refreshing dry bitter finish, another nice one! 👍

Then we jumped on a District Line train from St James's Park to Hammersmith and visited another Nicholson's pub, The Swan, 46 Hammersmith Broadway W6 0DZ (website). The Swan was re-built by the architect Frederick MIller in 'the Free Jacobean' style as a hotel in 1901 on the site of an old coaching inn, the 'Old Swan', the first and last stop to the west of London. It has an imposing exterior and breath taking interior, and is a Grade II listed building.

As usual for a Nicholson's pub there are half a dozen or so ales on offer, and we went for one from the East Anglian brewery Adnams (website), that was their Ghost Ship (4.5%). This is a pale sharp refreshing ale, brewed with Citra hops, consequently, as you would expect, it has a subtle citrus flavour and a nice refreshing dry bitter finish, and in my opinion Adnams best ale. 👍

I more recently visited (Saturday) The Victoria, 10a Strathearn Place, W2 2NH (website). This is a fine Grade II listed Fuller's pub (Fuller's website) built in the 1830s, named after Queen Victoria as it was opened on the same day as her accession to the throne, and she visited the pub after the opening of the rebuilt nearby Paddington Railway Station in 1854. Slight damage during World War 2, it has a grand exterior and wonderful interior, well worth visiting if nearby.

I didn't take a photograph, so this image is from Fuller's own website, but I did drink, and a few pints of only this, believe it or not, their 3.8% Oliver's Island. Brewed with Goldings, Hallertau Tradition, and Liberty hops, this is a pale golden session bitter, with gentle grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours, and a refreshing dry bitter finish, not bad Fuller's!

And we had something to eat here, sharing their "Hummus & spiced lamb to share with pine nuts, corianders & pomegranate, served with grilled flatbread" and it was pretty tasty, if the 'hummus' a wee bit thin, and they could have provided a few more flatbread pieces. 😉

Cheers folks! 👍

Cask Ale Week 19-29 September 2024

How I missed he beginning of this 'festival' I do not know, but know I do now 😉 Cask Ale Week 2024 has begun, and runs for another week until next Sunday the 29th of September (website). This is a week organised to celebrate cask ale, so is essentially British, cask ale being lauded as "Britain's national drink." Although I only found out yesterday, I did partake in a few pints...

We started off at The Crown & Sceptre, 57 Melina Road, London W12 9HY (website), where an ale from the Welsh brewery Tiny Rebel (website) was imbibed by us both, but only by me continuously, it being a Fullers pub... 😏 Anyway, Tiny Rebel Park Life is a crystal clear 4.2% pale golden session bitter, brewed with Cascade (hopslist), Citra (hopslist) and Ekuanot (Yakima Valley Hops) hops, regular readers will appreciate these hops aroused my interest! My notes say 'very easy to drink' which it was, the subtle citrus and pine proved they hadn't gone over the top with the hops, and with a gentle bitter finish, I could have drunk this all day! 👍

On our way back to the South Coast we had a brief period in-between trains at Clapham Junction, so took the break to drop into The Falcon, a Nicholson's pub (website) at 2 St John's Hill, London SW11 1RU. The Falcon is on the corner at Clapham Junction of Falcon Road and, at the bottom of St John's Hill, with Lavender Hill going up the other way, pretty much a landmark. The building is Grade II listed, and was built in 1887, although a pub had been on the site for at least another 150 years. It used to have the longest continuous bar in the country, a claim supported by the Guinness Book of Records previously. But they've done some weird thing around the back where customers can stand behind what was the bar?!? For the sake of a few more standing customers I don't see the point! Now they can no longer make the claim. 😕

Nicholson's get ales brewed for them, and this one was brewed by the 'organic' Stroud Brewery in Gloucestershire (website) in celebration of Organic September (Soil Association). Gaia is named after the Greek Goddess of the Earth, Gaia/Gaea (Britannica), and is a 4.2% 'organic pale ale' that we chose from the 5 ales on offer (they used to have 10 available from handpumps not so long ago). Apologies, but I cannot discover which specific hops were used, but I did find out that Gaia is brewed with 'old and new world hops.' A bit darker and with more body than the Park Life, slightly spicy with citrus and tropical flavours and aroma, with a dry bitter finish, not bad at all, cheers! 🍻

For further information about this collaboration I suggest a good read at the Stroud Times.

Dark Star Brewing (& Meantime) Moving Again!

Hmmm... Yes, the brewing of the Dark Star range of ales is moving yet again! It began when Asahi bought up Fuller's (blog), which had previously taken over Dark Star, and then started brewing Dark Star Hophead at the Griffin Brewery at Chiswick to 'maximise' production. On realising that Hophead just wasn't up to scratch whilst brewed in West London, brewing Hophead was returned to the Dark Star brewery at Partridge Green. Then! Asahi decided to close down the Dark Star Brewery at Partridge Green and move brewing of Dark Star ales to the Meantime Brewery in South East London (blog).

Meantime had trouble getting the formula right and Hophead again began tasting nothing like Hophead, but recently it seemed like they'd sorted it out and the quality of Hophead improved again, thankfully. But now Asahi have decided to 'maximise' again, indeed, have decided to close down the Meantime Brewery in South East London (The Drinks Business) and move all brewing to the old (Fuller's) Griffin Brewery in West London... 😣 It doesn't bode well for the future of the quality of ales with Asahi I'm afraid, although, apparently, there's some sort of plan to have a smaller brewery and brewing experience in Greenwich (The Drinks Business). 

We'll wait and see what happens, it's all we can do...

London: More Serious than just a Pub Crawl, honest!

I travelled to Charing Cross Station on Saturday because of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although I didn't join in with any other commemorations or demonstrations (Independent) as I had my own objective. I did enjoy my walk from the Station, when soon after leaving Charing Cross you reach Trafalgar Square, and can cross to The Mall, which is closed to traffic at the moment, so meaning a peaceful walk along The Mall to Buckingham Palace (above).

Buckingham Palace was originally called Buckingham House when John Sheffield, then the Duke of Buckingham acquired the property and had an older house demolished and the site then rebuilt on at the end of the 17th century. George III acquired Buckingham House in 1762 as a residence for his wife, Queen Charlotte, and when his son (George IV) acceded to the throne in 1820 he decided to turn the building into a palace. Over the years since, and under many monarchs, the building has been altered and added to. For a detailed history of Buckingham Palace go to the Royal Collection Trust website.

If you pass to the right of Buckingham Palace and walk up Constitution Hill you reach the Wellington Arch (above), situated on the Hyde Park Corner roundabout. The arch was originally built as an entrance gate for Buckingham Palace, later becoming a 'victory arch' following Wellington's defeat of Napoleon. Above it was added the largest bronze statue in Europe depicting "the Angel of Peace descending on the 'Quadriga' - or four-horsed chariot - of War." (English Heritage)

From Hyde Park Corner I crossed through Hyde Park, walked north-westerly to Victoria Gate on the Bayswater Road, where I crossed the road to Brook Street. Then walked along a short distance, ignored Hyde Park Gardens, and turned right onto Stanhope Terrace and along to a small roundabout. Here sits The Victoria (above), on the corner at 10a Strathearn Place, W2 2NH (website), a mid-19th century Grade II listed building with an original 1864 built counter and a wonderful interior indeed. Legend has it that Queen Victoria stopped here once on her way to nearby Paddington Station, oh yes, and I drank a couple of pints here too. 😉

Friendly welcome from the staff on entering the pub just after opening at 11.00. I drank Fuller's Grand Slam Spring Ale (3.4%), which the brewery says very little about on its website, so nothing to link. However, I did note at the time that it does what it says on the label, "refreshing, light gold and a subtle fruitiness, nice one" - it must have been, as I did drink 2 pints. 😉

When I left The Victoria I walked straight down Stanhope Terrace to Lancaster Gate and turned right (westwards) onto the Bayswater Road. In just a short distance I reached Leinster Terrace and turned right where, on the right, I reached The Leinster Arms at number 17, W2 3EU (facebook). The Leinster Arms is another Grade II listed mid-19th century pub, and  yes, I had another wee pint. 👍

Again I went for their House Ale called Lennie (4.3%), brewed by nearby West London brewer Portobello (website). Hasn't changed, still a decent enough pale amber bitter, a wee bit sweet to taste at first, and I have no reason to believe that it's not Portobello's 4.3% Star British Bitter, but probably a variation on the theme with English hops used. But I'm only guessing still, however I'm always ready to try something different, and the only alternative was Doom Bar...

On leaving, I headed back to the Bayswater Road, turned right westwards yet again, and continued on to Notting Hill Gate, where the road then becomes Holland Park Avenue. Just before reaching Holland Park tube station, on the corner with Holland Park, on the left (south side of the road), I reached my link to the Ukrainian anniversary day:

The statue of St Volodymyr (above) on the corner of Holland Park Avenue and Holland Park. Volodymyr was from Kyiv, and a major actor in bringing the Russian peoples together in the 10th and 11th centuries. He had been a 'pagan' and converted to Christianity for 2 reasons. He believed having a single deity as in Christian Byzantium (Constantinople), rather than having many pagan deities, would help the unification of the Rus' tribes, and he could only marry the sister of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II if he converted to Christianity (Encyclopedia of Ukraine). 

Volodymyr successfully ensured the unification of the Rus' people, and their conversion to Christianity, and was canonized in the 13th century. However, this statue remains a symbol of Ukrainian defiance of the Russian imperialist assault on Ukraine as you can see from the photograph above, taken yesterday. Incidentally, St Volodymyr is not only the patron saint of Ukraine, but a patron saint of Russia too...

Whilst in the area, I also visited The Castle, 100 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA (website), which was originally built in 1827. and the frontage added in 1857. I hadn't been here for about 15 years, and it was strange to discover it is not a listed building when I searched the Historic England website, because it's really a lovely building. 

I drank the Suffolk brewer Adnams (website) Ghost Ship (4.5%), a pale sharp refreshing ale, with a slight citrus flavour from the Citra hops used (and other unspecified hops from the USA) and a dry bitter finish, their best ale, I believe, and enjoyable too.

Oh yes, and I did come for football too.😉

And I was lucky with the weather, that's all for now folks, cheers!🍻

A Few Pubs Between Marble Arch & Shepherds Bush...

This was a recent mini 'pub crawl' as there are quite a few pubs along the way, but these are my 3 favourite pubs in West London along the Bayswater Road/Holland Park Avenue (actually all just off this old pre-Roman Road, which was upgraded by the Romans Ladbroke Association).

First, around the corner from Lancaster Gate Tube Station, north of the main road and not too far west of Marble Arch, is The Victoria, 10a Strathearn Place, W2 2NH (website). This is a fine old Grade II listed Fuller's pub (Fuller's website) built in the 1830s, and named after Queen Victoria as, apparently, it was opened on the same day as her accession to the throne, and, she visited the pub after the opening of the rebuilt nearby Paddington Railway Station in 1854.

Anyway, a fine early Victorian public house, and I do like Fuller's ales, but I chose a guest ale from one of my historically favourite breweries, in Newport, Wales, Tiny Rebel (website). Sadly, a wee bit disappointed with their Under the Sun as this is a 'vegan' friendly beer, consequently cloudy for the brewers who can't be arsed to provide a clear ale, although trendy Yuccies seem to go for them, but not what I was expecting from a 4.3% 'pale ale' brewed with Cascade and Citra hops... Plenty of flavour, which you expect with those hops, but, well, regular readers will be aware I'm not overly impressed with beers that are like thick fruity drinks in my mouth, I much prefer subtlety of taste from these hops in a clear refreshing pale dry bitter...

I cannot fault the service at The Victoria though, notably the friendly young Bulgarian who served me, also friendly other staff, and the manager/landlord seemed a decent chap too, though I've never met him before, but he rushed off to a football match before I could engage him in much discussion. I'll be drinking a Fuller's ale next time I visit, as I usually do here. 😉

And not too far away, again north of the main road, and a wee bit further west, I visited The Leinster Arms, 17 Leinster Terrace, W2 3EU (pubanddining). Another Grade II listed Victorian pub that was originally established as The Scotch Stores in1856, changing its name to The Leinster Arms in 1881. Up to 5 cask ales available, but for my last visit I went for the...

Yes, I went for their House Ale called Lennie (4.3%), brewed by nearby West London brewer Portobello (website). A decent enough pale amber bitter, a wee bit sweet to taste at first, for me anyway, and I'm guessing that if it's not Portobello's 4.3% Star British Bitter, then it's a variation on the theme with English hops used. But I'm only guessing, however I'm always ready to try something different... Then further westwards and on to another Fuller's pub...

The Churchill Arms, 119 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LN (website), this time a wee bit south of the main road from Notting Hill Gate. Built in 1750, and previously known as the Bedford Arms or the Church-on-the Hill depending on your source, maybe both (?), this great flower bedecked pub became named The Churchill Arms after WW2, it would seem for obvious reasons, and it certainly is very Winnie themed! However, it was not him, but his grandparents, John and Frances Anne Spencer-Churchill, who frequented this pub in the 19th century, indeed, there is no evidence that Winnie ever visited, contrary to rumours! 

There are over 100 flower pots, 48 window boxes, and 42 hanging baskets outside The Churchill Arms! And for Christmas every year there are many many lit Christmas Trees adorning the pub. It has a great interior, and claims to have the first ever Thai restaurant installed in a London pub, and I've eaten there before, and the food is exceptional.

Despite being a Fuller's house, I didn't drink Fuller's ale here either, but, from Cornish brewer Verdant (website), their 3.8% Penpol. I believe this is brewed using Citra hops, and the flavour supported this, very pale and light, refreshing, with that grapefruit/citrus taste and aroma, very easy to drink, and I liked it a lot, indeed, my favourite ale of the day. 👍

On my way home, I caught the train from Shepherds Bush to Clapham Junction, where I had 40 minutes to spare before catching my final train home, so I decided to go into the Nicholson's (website) pub, The Falcon, 2 St John's Hill, SW11 1RU (website). The Falcon is actually on the corner at Clapham Junction with Falcon Road and, at the bottom of St John's Hill, with Lavender Hill going up the other way, pretty much a landmark. The building is Grade II listed, and was built in 1887, although a pub had been on the site for a further 150 years, maybe longer. It has the longest continuous bar in the country, a claim supported by the Guinness Book of Records, and looks good still, following its refurbishment (blog).

So, before my final train journey home I drank a pint of Blonde Brummie, a 4.4% ale brewed by Birmingham Brewing Company (website). As you would guess from the name and strength a session pale ale, quite light and refreshing, not the best ale I've ever drunk, but nowhere near the worst. 😉 A vegan friendly and gluten free beer, and nice and clear, as we all know that vegan friendly beers can be presented. British hops used, but I couldn't discover which, though I wouldn't be surprised to see that Goldings was one. I'd be very happy to drink this in any pub that looks after their ales, like here, and it was a nice start to the journey, cheers! 👌

Griffin IPA, a Proper English IPA!

Brewed in Chiswick, West London, by Fuller's (website), and I shan't waffle about ownership (blog), but I recently drank their very English-style India Pale Ale, Griffin IPA (4.9%). Presumably named after the name of the brewery building, the Griffin Brewery, and brewed with British malt and hops, specifically Goldings and Fuggles hops, indeed, this is not an APA! A deep golden/amber colour, with a hint of orange in the aroma, slightly fruity and spicy, with a nice dry bitter finish, it's pretty darn good, and does what it says on the label, cheers!

Walking by the River Thames, and a Few Pubs!

The first pub we entered, on my recent visit to London, was The Dove, 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith W6 9TA (website), a Fuller's house (website), although Fuller's is now effectively a pubco as the Japanese brewing giant Asahi now own the close by in Chiswick Griffin Brewery (website). This is a place I have frequented over many years now, as have, and had, many famous people, notably, it is believed, Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwyn before it became a pub, the poet James Thompson who reportedly wrote the words for Rule Britannia here, Ernest Hemingway, Graham Greene, and a hero of mine, William Morris, who lived a few doors along to the west at number 26 Upper Mall, in Kelmscott House, where The William Morris Society is now situated (website), which is well worth a visit when they are open, which, before the pandemic, was 12-5pm Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, but it may be worth telephoning beforehand to check at 020 8741 3735. The building became a Coffee Shop in the early 18th century and a pub by the 1790s, it was originally called The Doves.

Anyway, to current times, and our visit, a Fuller's house as I said above, and a pub where you will always get a good pint of London Pride, and we weren't let down this time either. We stayed for a couple of pints and, coincidentally, a friend of mine who lives in Sheffield, Will, turned up about 5 minutes after us, so we had a good chat with him for a while too (he was in London for a few days on a 'pub crawl' he had set up for himself), it's a small world! Anyway, if you don't know the pub, it has a great atmosphere, food with a good reputation further back, a great balcony overlooking the River Thames for warmer days/evenings, and the smallest bar in the world (Guinness Book of Records) in the wee snug to the right of the door as you first enter the pub.

Teddington Lock

The next day we caught a bus to Kingston to walk back along the Thames Path to Putney, and on our way back we passed Teddington Lock where, just by that smaller hut in the mid distance (we couldn't get over to it, although I have in days past!), was the famous Fish Slapping Dance, courtesy of Monty Python (YouTube), we didn't partake, obviously, as closed off...

We stopped off in Richmond for lunch at The White Cross, Riverside House, Water Lane TW9 1TH (website), a 19th century Young's house, and another pubco, sadly, that used to brew their own beer (in Wandsworth), but now brewed in Bedford by Charles Wells (website). We did a bit of meal sharing, with an extra portion of chips, and Dan drank the traditional Young's Special, but they also had a guest ale from Twickenham Brewery (website), their 4.4% Naked Ladies, which is named after statues in York House Gardens in Twickenham. So I drank a pint of this, a hoppy, pale golden bitter, brewed with Herkules, Celeia and wonderful Chinook hops, big flavour and lovely dry bitter finish, cheers! 

We stayed on the South Bank (or Surrey side, as often mentioned on Boat Race Day, as the river bends significantly, indeed, at The White Cross, you are on the Surrey side but look southwards across the river!) all the way now... 

The photograph above is looking over to Isleworth, with the church on the right and the 18th century London Apprentice pub in Isleworth (website) on the left of the image, well, we didn't swim over for a drink, but worth noting here. There had been a pub on the site since Tudor times, at least, and had visits from Henry VIII and Charles I when they were at nearby Syon House (website). The pub is named after the great petitioners of the early 17th century, the London Apprentices, who, following the defeat of Parliamentary forces, the capture of Syon House, and the ransacking of Brentford by Royalist forces under the leadership of Prince Rupert on the 12th of November 1642, joined with other London traders and workers, and Parliamentary troops, to hold off the Royalist force at the Battle of Turnham Green on the next day. This was effectively a stalemate, but the Royalist force withdrew and never entered London, which may have seen the Civil War have a very different outcome. Another historical fact is that from the Isleworth Stairs below the pub, Lady Jane Grey boarded the Royal Barge in 1553 to accept the English Throne, only to be imprisoned in the Tower of London after just 9 days, hence the Nine Days Queen.

Anyway, a bit further eastwards and we reached Mortlake, the destination of the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race, although there isn't much room in this pub on that day! The Ship, 10 Thames Bank SW14 7QR (website) is a late 18th century pub, now owned by Greene King (website), and situated next to the now defunct Mortlake Brewery. It has a few great things about it outside of Race Day, great views east and west, decent food, sells interesting guest ales, and CAMRA members get 10% off the price of ale! And the rather pleasant ale we drank was another from Twickenham Brewery (website), their 3.9% Summer Down Under, brewed with Australian and New Zealand hops, Galaxy and Pacific Jade. A very pale, very dry and bitter ale, with big grapefruit citrus aroma and taste, gorgeous!

I'm rather pleased with how this photograph of Hammersmith Bridge turned out with the lighting, the sun reflecting on the buildings opposite nearly made it impossible, except for from where I eventually took it. Built nearly 200 years ago, it is one of my favourite bridges over the River Thames, and has survived an Irish Republican attempt to blow it up in 1939, and 2 more attempts since! After the third bombing in 2000, restoration was carried out, but structural problems saw its closure to traffic in 2019, and now you can walk or cycle over it only, but a nice way to cross the Thames indeed, as we had done on the previous evening to reach The Dove.

Cheers!