Acceptable or even GOOD pubs in London city centre?

Rocket fuel (xp)

the hottest barmaid/waitress in london works at Medcalf formerly at comptoir Gascon.

I like the non-Sam Smiths Blue Post(s?) on Berwick Street. And newish to me is the Green Man in 'noho', if only for the huge cider selection.

you deserve a smack upside the head for calling it noho

It's noho square!

Cunty tho, aye.

Also, the King Charles IV by King's Cross. Small place with a decent Jukebox, good beer, bar billiards, and you can have take-away delivered there.

I've really got into the Carpenter's Arms on Whitfield Street recently, it's far too rammed on thursday or friday nights, but earlier in the week it's a great little pub.

The Carp would be great were it not for the fact that it is ALWAYS rammed with tosspots from the advertising agency across the road. You also have to go up two flights of stairs to take a wee.

Bricklayers thirded.

I want to do a pub crawl around that backstreet bit between St Paul's and Farringdon Road, taking in the Jerusalem Tavern and a few others. There seem to be loads of good boozers there that I have never set foot in. This can't be allowed to continue.

This thread is knowledge.

I went to this weird bar in Fitzrovia that's done out like a 40s living room, Bourne & Hollingsworth. It was alright. Mostly cocktails not beer, though, but not snooty. Young people.

I like Two Floors on Kingly Street as well.

You also have to go up two flights of stairs to take a wee.

Not if you start on the roof terrace!

Oh, I've been to gigs at B&H. It's a nice place, I dig the artfully distressed decor but gets way too crowded too quick when they have bands on.

You know, it's a good thing I don't go to pubs or bars based on the cuteness of the barstaff or else I'd have to end up drinking somewhere awful like The Legion!

I want to do a pub crawl around that backstreet bit between St Paul's and Farringdon Road, taking in the Jerusalem Tavern and a few others. There seem to be loads of good boozers there that I have never set foot in. This can't be allowed to continue.

This sounds like a great idea to me.

The Wheatsheaf is my favourite of the boozers round that Charlotte Street ad-agencyland bit. Country pub feel in the middle of London.

Now I am lost on a raging sea of confusion!

thirded

xpost

Rising Sun by Smithfields is a good Sam Smiths pub round the Farringdon area.

Oooh this looks like a good one.

The Gate is a horrible pub.

sam smiths pubs = good
sam smiths beer = piss and vinegar

can't believe we have gone over 100 posts without me mentioning this very important fact.

The Intrepid Fox was WAY better when it used to be a grotty but very friendly lesbian bar.

Your discerning metallers go to Crobar these days. We almost got The Lex in there once, happy times.

Argh, is the Crobar that awful place off Charing Cross Road where all the Terrorizer staff drink? Lex is totally right not to go in there!

This thread is knowledge.

WORD

Oddly i was just about to revive a pub thread to find a boozer near the Shaftesbury Theatre (Hairspray's on) that serves food and is up-from-Surrey parent-friendly.

But on this showing, I think The Cross Keys might just fit the bill! Any more ideas?

sam smiths pubs = good
sam smiths beer = piss and vinegar

Agree re. bitter, but the lager and wheatbeer are both very good. Haven't tried the stout.

Cider not great. But beggars can't be etc.

Their stout is not as good as Guinness but compares favourably to Caffrey's and Beamish.

I think you get more than you pay for. Which is pished for less than a tenner.

^ word

You don't get a fat jolly German man in a box any more so the shark has been jumped as far as I'm concerned.

I'm sure the Fitzroy still has a fat jolly German man in a box

the lord hood in soho is best. just down the street from phonica. it's a sammy smiths pub, so drinks are cheap

He's getting increasingly less jolly the longer they keep him there, though.

xpost

what is the smallest pub (NOT bar) in zone 1?

I'd like to say the mitre but I'm not sure how far it goes.

My vote would be for the Jerusalem, as mentioned upthread. The Mitre has a fairly extensive upstairs area IIRC.

The Seven Stars is pretty tiny. The Nag's Head is miniscule as well.

I have been to too many pubs.

Coach & Horses in Mayfair looks fiendishly titchy: http://www.fancyapint.com/pubs/pub401.html

I have been to too many pubs.

Not humanly possible.

the lord hood is only coming up as a pub in greenwich, is it definitely called that? that'd suit as I know my friend knows where Phonica is!

the answer may well be somewhere in the bad lands west of regent's street, lots of one room pubs over there.

I'm going to the Shakespeare in Stoke Newington this evening :-) my favourite pub in everyone's favourite wanky middle class Hackney enclave!

Fucking expensive these days

Borne and Hollingsworth is pretty darn small.

Lots of those "small pubs" (e.g. the Mitre) have upstairs areas which are bigger.

The Mayfair Coach & Horses isn't actually that small when you get in there.

I have been to the Lord Hood in Greenwich. It's like Phoenix Nights. They have a middle-aged peroxide female DJ called Barbara, and above the decks the word 'Barbara' scrolls across in red lighting with hearts on either side.

the one up the road from phonica would be the star and garter or the john snow?

I think Rio means the John Snow, not the Lord Hood. It's as good a place to meet as any. Lots of room, food, cheap beer. No music though.

They have a middle-aged peroxide female DJ called Barbara, and above the decks the word 'Barbara' scrolls across in red lighting with hearts on either side.

shit...do you know if she's single?

I can't think of one smaller than the King Charles IV.

i guess the C&H looks smaller from the outside because it's quite detached and distinct

otoh The Ship in Fitzrovia (if it's the one i'm thinking of) seems smaller inside than out. did like that one the one time i went there tho.

i like the lord john russell, in russell square