please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Unique old pub and the only time I have had draft, rather than bottled, St Peters. Great place and a shame that like so many other pubs in the area that it does not open at weekends. I wish a load of the better London pubs all agreed to open say the first Saturday of every month so you could do a decent weekend crawl.
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Rickety tables fixed, glasses clean, St Peters ale back up to top form and still a great selection - not many places have a mild and a porter on at the same time!
An excellent choice.
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Back again on St Patrick's Day for an early evening drink. Just to let readers know that the pub is actually quite empty around 1745-1830, early in the week, so that's another good time to get a seat. Beer still on top form.
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Visited last night with a friend for the first time in 18 months. The beer seems to have improved, even upon the high standards I experienced last time. Mild was exquisite, very dry yet malty, whilst Organic Best Bitter was superb.
Weekdays after 9 are good - we found a seat after 5 mins or so.
This remains a very good pub to include on any Clerkenwell crawl, but not as the final one, due to a strict, hurried closing routine which includes opening the main door fully which allowed the chill of an early March evening into what had been quite a warm pub.
Do visit, beerwise this establisment is fully deserving of its GBG status, and the prices - £2.60-2.80 are now in the "very reasonable" bracket for this part of London.
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Fantastic old pub with brilliant beer and friendly, attentive staff.
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cramped, creaky and no atmosphere - totally overrated.
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If you can get here outside the busy periods, you will find one of the great hidden gems of London. Full of character, with a number of cosy wooden alcoves, and a tiny raised area with three seats that resembles a pulpit. First class St Peters ales on draught. Absolutely top of the range.
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Best thing about this place is the beer, which is obviously rather important. The trouble is finding a seat. Turn up before the City boys pile in at 6pm and you should be ok though.
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I have to agree, one of the best in the smoke. I used it from time to time when I lived in South West London - maybe Ill be back one day, but this place was atmospheric, had good beer and was very lively. Rightly called a gem.
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One of the best pubs in London. Well worth seeking out. Excellent St Peter's beers. As others have said, often very crowded - much better now there's no smoking though, even when busy. Get there before the post work rush & enjoy a quiet pint, then stay with the after work crowd for another two or three.
SA162 - 14 Dec 2007 20:11 |
Great pub with lovely beers. Gets crowded, understandably.
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A little difficult to find but well worth the effort. Definitely a pub for standing outside, mainly because there is only really enough room inside for those waiting at the bar. Wonderful old building, a bit like walking into someone’s front parlour. Friendly service and of course they serve the full range of St Peters beers both bottled and on draught.
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Best time to enjoy this special pub is late lunchtime and early afternoon, when it's not so rammed with drinkers enjoying the very special beers from the St Peter's Brewery.
That said, it's also enjoyable when thoroughly crowded...
A gem.
Cheers,
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Best time to enjoy this special pub is late lunchtime and early afternoon, when it's not so rammed with drinkers enjoying the very special beers from the St Peter's Brewery.
That said, it's also enjoyable when thoroughly crowded...
A gem.
Cheers,
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Really good. A lovely setting in and out. Excellent range and quality of beers. Stood outside between the buildings and had a super time.
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My first visit to this fabled pub and was not disappointed. Tonsillitis meant that I was not really in a hugely beer drinking mood so limited to one pint of Porter but a pub dripping in character that I will definitely return to, even if no weekend opening means this may be restricted to my holiday times (school teacher!). I can see how it would have been pretty ripe pre-smoking ban!
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A must if you are in the area, a small range of St Peters beers are sold on tap, with the bottled beers also weel to the fore in this somewhat cramped Pub.
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A rare opportunity to enjoy St Peter's beer. Space is a bit tight and no weekend opening. Otherwise, a real gem.
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This is a lovely, quaint pub, with a great range of ales. A bit of a trek for me, but worth it.
anonymous - 12 Sep 2007 22:43 |
The only downside to this pub is that it is closed at weekends. When I first visited a few years ago I wondered where the handpulls were, then noticed the cask ales are set into the wall behind the bar! It does get very busy, so a trip from the bar usually involves spilling some of your pint as elbows jab into you. About a two minute walk from Farringdon station.
Slake - 11 Sep 2007 18:26 |
Excellent beers in a friendly, cosy pub. The food is good too.
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Spent a really lovely evening at this quaint pub. Staff were really helpful and explained about the (unusual)beers which were unfamiliar to me. The more I tried the more I liked them. St Peters is now on my favourites list. Cant wait to go there again.
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A good pub and the only one that St Peters still owns, hence the near full range of their own beers in bottles (save for the seasonal ranges). The only down side is that whatever they have on cask can be a bit hit and miss at times and it is usually packed solid so it's best to get there in the afternoon or late evening! If you like St. Peters beers then you'll love this place, if not you won't, simple as that. Definitely worthy of repeated visits though.
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This is a must visit pub, never disappointed.
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Have visited twice in two weeks. Really enjoyed the varied selection of beers on here. Friendly and welcoming bar staff and crowd. The place has great character.
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It's a unique pub: fine beers from St Peter's brewery, simple worn wood-panelled interior, handsome late Georgian shopfront, and tile representations of the seasons. Visit mid-afternoon if you can and then you'll probably get a table.
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lovely quiet oasis - not quite sure what the dispense method actually is - obviously not gravity but beers pretty good
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to the last person to leave a comment -
the beer is not served straight from barrels, the barrel ends are fake, the beer is pumped up from the cellar
the lady of a certain age isn't of a certain, she's early 30s, you cheeky bugger
anonymous - 8 May 2007 14:44 |
Wow went there for the first time on Wednesday and really enjoyed it. This pub sells the St. Peter brewery beers and having tried four of them in a crate of beer from Majestic Wine it was then great to try it for 'real' by draft! Small pub with really friendly staff (especially the lady of a certain age!) and the beer was fresh and served straight from the barrels behind the bar. If you get the chance you have to pay this bar a visit!
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This pub would stand a fighting chance of being nominated in any "Best Pub in Britain" award. It's not as old as it looks, but never fails to impress with its range of tasty beers (including an ale without hops that is supposed to be an approximation of the tipple drunk in the Middle Ages) and some excellent fruit varieties - elderflower, anyone? Being as big as a shoebox is the pub's only drawback - the elevated snug which overlooks the compact bar is the best seat in the house.
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Great range of beers all tasting perfect, worth s visit just to admire the superb interior. Can't wait to visit again.
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Best bitter superb, lemon & ginger a bit hazy, but tasted good. can see it spilling well into the street when the smoking ban comes. Staff helpful. Will be back for a second visit!
kchef - 22 Apr 2007 20:08 |
This place is it. Character, character and more character. The only thing it has too much of is cigarette smoke which means street drinking, and this is quite OK too in this area. I will return
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WAHEY!!! still the bis....Management change-but at least they've got some room temp stuff...EX-CELL-ENT!!
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We had a good couple of pints of St Peters bitter but were not that inpressed with the green wood panelling interior. It was also incredibly smoky.
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I enjoyed the Organic Ale, but didn't stay for more than one for two reasons. First, about three of the stillaged ales had only that morning been put in place, and so were not ready (not easy to justify when the pub owns the brewery, or vice versa). Second, the price of the food struck me as extortionate. £9.50 for shepherd's pie and green beans is bad enough, but £4.50 for lentil soup is the sort of stuff that gives showbusiness a bad name! I would have liked to try the pulpit mentioned by Mr Matt, but no luck. Still well worth a visit.
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A fantastic range (both bottled and stillaged) of the St Peters ales that it's difficult to know where to start (or end). Darks, Milds, Bitters, Fruit...it's all here.
Very appreciative of the fact that bottles can be purchased chilled or at room temperature. Real fire was on the go when I visited on Friday, and the service was friendly and efficient.
Two minor quibbles - the dishwasher isn't doing a great job on the glasses (to the obvious embarassment of the barmaid) and our tabletop was loose and very precarious...'olde worlde' does not preclude basic maintainance!
Otherwise, a great place for beer and definately worth a good couple of hours on a weekday afternoon.
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Pub was great with heaps of character and a good range of beers. Plenty of punters in good form. There was one strange chap wearing a wee vest however, who took up an entire table and sat on an OJ for an hour! They seem to pride themselves on their sausages and whilst I didn’t get to sample any I know Bradshaw would be well impressed!
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Please bear in mind this pub is CLOSED AT WEEKENDS i do wish it was made clear on this site as it's more than a pain doing a crawl & turning up at a closed pub, That apart when it is open it has almost the full range of St.Peters beers which are interesting to say the least
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Managed to get the little 2-seater upstairs (and fitted 3 of us around it) and greatly enjoyed watching the crowd below. Liked the beer range very much and the service was top-notch. Addthe proximity to the Smithfields restaurants and we found a great place to start the evening.
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All the beers I've had in here have been excellent, especially the "old-style Porter" and the Organic ales.
Really like the wooden benches. One day I intend to get to the little 2-seater table on the tiny upstairs bit but It's never been free when I've been in there yet.
A little gem of a pub.
Seems to be closed on the weekend though???
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Easy to miss at night, with the dark wooden door and lack or music playing. Instead a 'proper' old style traditional pub. Simple in concept, but warm in presense.
As other say, purely a St Peter's ale house (and a couple of lagers for thos not sure). Seems to vary with which of the St Peter's ales are on draught, but most of the range available in bottle. You even get a choice of chilled (from fridge) or room tempreture!
Just need to get their early to grab a seat, as the whole place is not that large. The best and creamy stout were in fine form. Just required a slightly slower start this morning...
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Top quality pub with nice atmosphere and high quality ales. A relaxing place to spend a couple of hours - the intimacy of this place encourages good conversation, well worth checking out!
ssrai - 23 Jan 2007 09:10 |
Sadly Mr Toes, Dan is now gone. New management.
anonymous - 12 Jan 2007 00:17 |
Paid my first visit of the year this week, the mild was superb, Dan was his usual happy self and the clientele were as intelligent and sociable as always.Sadly the chef was ill so there was no great nosh available but who cares .
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The St Peter's Bitter in here is, in my opinion, one of the best beers I know. The Gold is richer, sweeter, fuller-bodied but I prefer the earthier taste of the Bitter - that's just my opinion, but they are both most certainly worth the effort of visiting the Jerusalem.
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Yes, bottles of lager are expensive because its a pub which is all about ale - St Peter's Ale. The ale is about the cheapest in the area (apart from dives like Wetherspoons etc).
anonymous - 26 Dec 2006 15:26 |
Was in this Pub last week. Very atmospheric and off the beaten track. Bought two bottle's of lager for £7.00, so not exactly cheap. Still, a hidden gem and definitely recommended.
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Four draught ales available on Friday (08/12/06). Tried the Mild which was very good and the Suffolk Gold which lacked condition. Good selection of St Peters bottled beers available so we tried the Winter Ale (6.5% - £2.90) which was OK.
It looks like they have a real fire but it wasn't lit - which is a pity - as the pub had a cold feel to it, despite the fact it was packed.
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Fantastic atmosphere and awesome beer.
You can buy some of the St Peter's range in a few off-licenses, but it doesn't taste as good as when served in the Jerusalem.
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Woody, auldy worldy interior, tiny bar. St Peter's brewery beers. Nice. Went at 2pm yesterday and took a few minutes to be served, heard a couple of groups asking when their food would appear, but friendly enough and well worth a visit although I would avoid peak times as it must surely be uncomfortable when busy. Briefly featured in the beer episode of 'How London was built'.
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Tried 3 bottled beers last night - Ruby Red, Lemon & Ginger, then Grapefruit to finish, as only cider remained on tap. All a good sup. Does get packed early on, but wait until post-work crush and you'll be rewarded (although the choice of beer diminishes). Good place to spend an evening, whatever you choose to get down your neck.
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Fine beer, nice orginal unspoilt interior with no music or other distractions from enjoying a good pint and a chat. Best spot is right at the bar to ensure the next pint is never more than arms reach away.
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I have been intending to go to this pub for about eighteen months, and it was well worth the wait. Don't know if I would class it as THE best pub in London, but it is certainly on the shortlist!
Exceptional range of beers both on draught and in bottles - I tried the Mild (on draught) and the bottled Old Porter. Both delicious. I will definitely be making further trips to this pub to sample the rest of the beers they have available. Atmosphere was also very pleasant - if you arrive shortly after the offices are emptying the pub will be packed (you would have to arrive very early to get a seat), but gradually quietens down as the evening wears on.
Unfortunately it is closed at weekends.
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What a pub! Try and leave work early to get a seat ( on furniture that looks like it was carved by a previous landlord from any old wood he could get his hands on) as it fills up pretty quick. People stand out front in the summer months. Stupendous range of ales, both bottled and on tap, although some of the fruity numbers are just a little too weird for me.
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at the right time, wonderful.
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I regard the JT as a London classic, that despite having been operated for many years by a suffolk brewer (mercifully, not THAT Suffolk brewer!) still retains a genuine sub-East-End feel. It is tricky if you want to sit, but those of us happy (and able after too many St Peters ales) to remain perpendicular will have much to enjoy if a good boozer with character is what you're after. I hope to get back there soon.
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Paid a repeat visit on 20th Sept. Pub fuller being a Wednesday evening - needed to wait approximately 10 minutes for an available seat. Arrived too late to try out any food but it all looked good on people's plates.
The mild was consistently flavoursome with that of my visit the previous week, and I also tried the Organic Ale. A very bitter beer @ 4.5%, russet-amber in colour; quite lemony and citric in-mouth, but bitterness prevails to a dry, satisfyingly bitter finish - Excellent.
The quality of the beer is so good that even staff (Danny?) drink here on days off!
It is tempting to try all the beers one evening, and the atmosphere is so pleasant here it is difficult to leave.
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Of course I meant twenty past eight until eleven twenty in the evening! Also, one single line of advice to anyone taking home the bottled bitter (Original Best). The flavour is highly temperature-sensitive, best serve it at real ale temperature of about 12-13 degrees C. Don't over-chill it in the fridge as I made the mistake of doing. Was still good chilled over Sunday lunch but excellent a bit warmer.
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Ladnewton - When you said you were here from 2020 until 2320 were you talking in terms of years? That's a long session!...good taste in pubs AND a time machine, a perfect combination!
Great beers, great pub.
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Visited with a friend on Monday 11/09/06. The mild was absolutely packed with flavour and on great form. The bottled original Best Bitter, 3.7% had slightly more flavour than the organic Best Bitter on draught. In pub from 2020 until 2320; staff were friendly, well-informed and helpful. No food available on Monday but I intend to try the menu out on another day. That bottled beer was so good I took one home with me!
If you make an evening visit, go early in the week as I did and you will find it a lot less crowded than some of the previous commentators have experienced. A very pleasant time was had and I will return with a greater frequency than in the past!
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Great place as only place I know that serves St Peter's on tap. Real pity it is closed on the weekend as I don't live in London so can't often visit.
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Food is served between 5pm and 10pm too... Same great chef, but differeent food to lunchtime. I had the burger.... AWESOME!
anonymous - 2 Sep 2006 13:45 |
interior only 10 years old
anonymous - 31 Aug 2006 17:29 |
Ancient interior and always smokey/busy.
Very interesting fruit beers from St Peters Brewery.
Enjoyed the grapefruit.
nebel - 31 Aug 2006 17:14 |
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE BRUCE THE SOUTH AFRICAN GUY WHO WAS THE GUVNOR ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO WENT ?
HE WAS A GOOD MATE OF MINE,I RAN A PUB ON OLD STREET THEN I MOVED TO IRELAND.OH YEAH, GREAT PUB.
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Superb pub - good atmosphere & friendly staff - remarkably good home-made fresh food (obviously a good chef on the premises) at reasonable prices - but sadly food only served until 3pm and pub closed at weekends. St Peters' beers well kept and served but session bitter at 3.7% was not available during my visit - stronger organic bitter at 4.0% good though if a little too stong for my consumption! I will definitely return.
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Lovely pub, let down by badly kept beer in my experience
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Was certainly full of suits on my lunchtime visit but that reflects an area honey-combed with lawyers. Both the Organic and the Golden Ale on draught were superb.
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A good pub, different , good service, stPeters beers and when i was last there (a Thurs pm) a grown up crowd of beer drinkers. Never seen it "full of suits" - more likely to meet beards on bikes in my experience.
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The pub is named after the nearby Priory of St John Jerusalem founded in 1140. A gatehouse is the only significant part of the priory still visible. Do visit the pub though, it is a cracker!
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I've not been to this pub, but am wondering why it is so called. I mean - the lovely city of Jerusalem is not renowned for its pubs.
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About to lose its guv'nor
anonymous - 27 Jul 2006 13:23 |
Decent enough pub, slightly out of the ordinary, but they struggle to keep the beer cool during the summer.
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Dreadful place.
Converted in to a pub about 10 years ago by someone with the historical instinct of a whelk.
The St Peter's beers are ok when on form but otherwise go to a proper old pub like the Mitre in Ely Place.
Full of suits which should say it all.
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My first visit to this pub was very enjoyable. Went at about 3.00pm in the afternoon and was served a very nice pint of St Peter's Golden Ale. This pub has a lot of character, it is however a city pub so on afternoons expect suits galore
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Wow!
What a place. I'd long wanted to visit what I'd heard was a tiny but amazing pub and was duly introduced a while back on a crawl. They don't get much smaller than this and you'll be hard-pressed to get within sight of the bar when it's busy but it's well worth seeking out. The St. Peter's ales - particularly its unusual bottled range - are all here and damned good they are too.
Get in early and chain yourself to the bar!
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I Stand corrected!
Thanks to Gueuzefan for putting me right here! When I were at the JT last time it was a mate buyin the round in last thing on an 8-pinter Clerkenwell crawl. Still gets 6/10 as the beers are good most of the time. Problm with [this] site is that you can't go back and edit mistakes in your own comment boxes - that would be nice.
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Everyone was outside when I went here. So plenty of space inside. Great couple of pints at the usual high standard that I expect from this pub. If you like your ale you must go here.
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Good...but not that good. A diverese selection of ales is hampered by having no space to drink in, and it also gets somewhat lost in its hollow "isn't this historic?" image.
Still, if you are there when the beer is on and it is not standing room only, this pub is worth a visit.
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I don't think Tim Taylors would add anything. I like the concept of the tied house. Tied houses ENCOURAGE diversity in the market. If this sounds counterintuitive, think about it for a moment and you will see I am right.
anonymous - 5 Jun 2006 18:03 |
Might be a bit dear but worth it for all the St Peter's brews - including a wheat beer on a recent visit. Pity you hardly see any of their beers elswhere in London's freehouses.
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Beer does vary a bit. It *IS* real ale - dispensed thru hand pumps etc, but sometimes comes up a bit flat. On a good day & there are many of these its well worth goin in for one or 2 of them but this place just gets too crowded for its own good. Be nice if there was a guest beer like timmy taylors in here. All behind the bar friendly when I were last there but I could not say the pub's cheap.
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One of the best pubs in London if not the world, quality beer.
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The quality of the ale is questionnable at times, you're never quite sure if the pint will be spot on or past its sell-by date. Shame because I really like the place.
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You are talking nonsense. I was in the Jerusalem the last two nights having a great time, and happened last night to ask Dan the barman (he's the little fella) how the beer reaches the tap from the cellar. Of course the beers sit in their sediment - they are served from casks. Do you think if they weren't St Peter's would have got away with it all these years?
I can't be bothered to explain how the pump mechanism works but suffice to say this pub serves real ale and if you don't believe me ask next time you are in and you will receive a full explanation of the slightly unusual, but by no means unique, dispensing system here.
anonymous - 20 May 2006 13:29 |
A bit tight at times but an interesting pub. There is some debate if the beers are really cask (as in, sitting on their sediment), because they are served from tanks via air pressure, they may well be using bright beer for this purpose. St Peters, are actually a very average brewery, several of their beers are terrible and the rest are mediocre, but they are all here for you to try. Not the best pub in London or the second best in the country by any means. Market Porter, Royal Oak and Beer Circus are all better for a start.
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Ah, that's a shame.
Even less excuse for keeping the beers so poorly then.
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The other two pubs have shut. The Jerusalem is the only one left.
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No, they have two other pubs (neither in London).
I went again recently with a friend and the beer was really not very well kept at all - my organic bitter was almost undrinkable. It is just never reliable in quality alas. Shame, as I like the place and the beer range.
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this is a superb pub with a cracking beer menu from st peter`s brewery their only pub(what a shame)pub well run with excellent barman/manager food looked good to
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ABO-SOL-UTE-ELY THE BEES KNEES!!....Great pub!...Had the draught Old Porter & Cream Stout-also had the Aspulls cider and (my personal favourite)the Honey Porter from the bottle.......Everyone of them was totally top notch....The only slight gripe I had was that the Honey Porter was too cold to really get the flavour as its served from the fridge...The same thing happens with Taddy Porter in Sam Smiths houses.
Mentioned this to the barman-who admitted it was a problem with space-but said to speak to him next time I'm in and he'll get a few room temp ones from the cellar-CLASS BLOKE!
Sat down by the table up the steps in the middle of the pub-I think this is the place from where you can see Jerusalem!....
Stonkingly good Pub -pity you can only give a maximum score of 10 on this site!
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One point I would like to make about this pub - there is no weak lager option, only a quality german lager on tap. So Fosters drinkers will hate it (we all know who I am referring to).
anonymous - 31 Mar 2006 12:32 |
I'm a fat lass and I was fine in this pub :)
It was a nice little boozer - my husbands an ale drinker so loved it - I had some lovely cider there and found that although it was quite a basic looking pub it didn't lack atmosphere in any way. I did think that it got far too busy far too quickly though and a lot of braying into mobiles occured! My only disappointment was the opening of the back door to let out the cigarette smoke - sorry but it was about zero degrees outside!!!
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this one is exymondo but not a place for fat people. Although I have no problem with fat people and they are welcome there as far as I'm concerned!
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The only reason I can see why someone wouldn't like this is if they have absolutely NO interest in good beer and if they came when it was too crowded.
anonymous - 9 Mar 2006 11:46 |
Well that was informative... what didn't you like?
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Extremely disappointing pub. After a 1/2 hour trip and being promised the Earth, I couldn't wait to leave!
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Best pub in London? Its in the running, certainly. Amazing cask ales (pot luck what they have on - which adds to the fun) with all the old favourites and the odds and sods from the St Peter's range. Decent food too. Great staff. Great fun.
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On an uncrowded night, this is as close to heaven as you'll get in Farringdon.
Nice pub, good service, and St Peter's ales. All of them top-drawer stuff.
Just down the road is a very good Tandoori restaurant. Another reason to visit the area!
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if you want pine and ikea dont go if you like beer and boozers that have a pulse this is a start
anonymous - 2 Mar 2006 19:47 |
Thanks Stonch. Was obviously given wrong info.
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Delirium - it wasn't closed on Monday night (two days ago) when we had dinner and a few pints in there so no fear about closure.
anonymous - 15 Feb 2006 10:30 |
Certain friends say the JT is 'tatty'. Well it's not exactly pristine but has a tremendous natural atmosphere. The place seems to breed contentment and laughter. Excellent barstaff, St Peter's beeers always on form. I have heard that the pub is currently closed. Can anybody advise?
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The staff are probably the most friendly, efficient, and helpful in all of London. I met up with some friends one night and although the place was rammed, the staff were great hosts and really took the time to deliver quality service. Great experience. Incredible beer, particularly the Porter. Finally, I've eaten there twice and both times have found the food to be delicious and at a fair price.
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Has started doing decent food in the evening. Extremely limited menu but its all good stuff and great value. Had a lovely time in here last night. They seem to have started getting in a variety of casks again which is good - for a month or so it was the same stuff night after night.
anonymous - 14 Feb 2006 13:47 |
A great pub. Good atmosphere with excellent choice of St Peters Ales. Helpful staff. When it goes no smoking it will be as near to paradise as you get!
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If you're a bearded, big-bellied Camra member, it's like you've died and gone to pub heaven. And if you're quite normal it's a fun place to drink on a quiet afternoon. As so many people have noted, evenings are a no-go.
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This place is getting so packed these days I am tempted to give it a 0/10 just to steer people away!
Everytime I go these days they only ever seem to have a Best, Golden and a Fruit beer on draught - no Mild, no Cream Stout, no Honey Porter (this time last year they always had at least two of those on).
Slightly annoying when you can't get in the door because groups of office workers exclusively drinking lager are in attendance...
anonymous - 1 Feb 2006 12:17 |
Excellent range of quality beers - definitely a 9 or 10 out of 10!
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This is my favorite pub in all London. I'm afraid to recommend it to too many people, because it already gets too crowded when the five-o-clockers show up. Go in the early afternoon, especially early in the week, and try their fantastic sandwiches. The staff is friendly and know their beer (and the St. Peter's line is just excellent). There's no annoying TV, the pub is small without feeling cramped (except for the later afternoon) and while I'd like it even better if smokers were confined to the outdoor seating, I've not yet found a better place to really sit and enjoy a good beer in relaxing surroundings.
Just do me a favor and don't tell anyone about it, okay?
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a cool place. very good beer and friendly wait/barstaff. the one table loft up the stairs and across from the bar is probably one of the coolest interior pub spots in all of London (a primitive book-end to the Blackfriar's marble/alibaster room). wonderful selection of St. Peters brews...also for sale in bottle at the bar for take home.
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I've always gone for the beer and have finally tried the food. Great. Wonderful pub, good food, great staff. One of my favorites, but yes, smoke filled. 9/10.
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Wonderful.
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Fabulous beer and really friendly. Revoltingly smokey though as there is no ventilation and it is a small place. Deffo worth a visit tho'.
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This pub is the damn good in London,damn services, the condition is damn good,and the beer is f***ing awesome!
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I haven't managed to visit for a couple of years now, but the comments below suggest it's as good as ever, if not better. I used to like whiling away a couple of hours here in the afternoon, when it was reasonably quiet. A shame for me personally that it shuts at weekends, like many City pubs. The St.Peter's Cream Stout (6.5% ABV) is fantastic - probably one of my favourite half dozen cask beers ever.
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This cracking little pub is rapidly becoming a victim of its own popularity, bursting at the seams nightly (and at lunchtime) as the word spreads. Nonetheless, if you can make it in early and grab a table it's still a fabulous local.
The atmosphere is friendly and sociable (expect to share your table and possibly actually talk to the strangers at the other end) and the beer is divine. Food is lunchtime only, but excellent - I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes, even over the super-busy Christmas period.
Also serves the delicious Fentiman's bottled soft drinks as an alternative to the usual fizz.
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Nice place, friendly guy at the bar who was suspiciously well-informed about the Singing Thai Elvis restaurant. Smell of cooking food when we stumbled in was distinctly pleasing.
Not sure there's any room for more staff.
Great place for a random pre lunch random lager thing. Otherwise a bit tiny in the evening.
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Wonderful, wonderful beers, licensee Steve and his team and great, wonderfully quirky place in a brilliant area for a pub crawl - a beer lover's paradise. My favourites are the Cream Stout and the Honey Porter, though the Mild is nice if you want to take it easy.
The pub is a victim of its own success to some extent - it does get annoying having to fight through a crowd of people drinking the one lager on offer (Bitburger) to get a look in on the real ales. Recently this has got worse because the brewery (St Peters in Suffolk) that owns the pub has been doing a lot of self-promotion.
anonymous - 15 Dec 2005 10:24 |
This is one of the greatest pubs in London. Well worth seeking out.
Food service isn't as quick as some would like, but then if you want quick (and fairly naff), you eat in Wetherspoons or McDonalds. It's worth waiting for and the aroma of cooking permeates the whole pub.
Beer is outstanding even ignoring the fact that St Peters beers are very rare as guests anywhere else.
Best appreciated outside the dreaded early evening period when the inhabitants of nearby offices fill it up.
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Superb little pub. Little is the word. Can get crowded most nights with Friday being the worst.
It's gotta be said. If you want a random after work bar in which to drink random after work lagers. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! Leave this for people who'll actually appreciate the fine St Peters ales on offer.
And the pork scratchings aint bad either.
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Serves well kept St Peter's Beers, not often found and a welcome change from Fullers etc in an historic building with lots of little rooms rather than one big bar.
It wasn't too busy the evening we visited but I guess it can get packed with 'City' types, so pick your time wisely but do try it!
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To wait 40 minutes for a steak sandwich and a sausage and mash is inexcusable on any day and certainly mid-week. If the bar is that busy - get MORE staff! Eventually left after asking for a refund.
anonymous - 28 Oct 2005 14:01 |
Gets so full on a Friday night you can't sit down. Last time I were there I had to stand at the bar with less than a metre square standing space. So a popular pub. Beer not bad tho, a bit dear maybe, all St Peters beers. Needs a building twice the size to make drinking more comfortable inside.
Worth going in when "crawling" Faringdon which, I am finding out, is full of good pubs like this.
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I love this pub. A real ale drinkers palace. Serves St Peters beer and must be one of the only places that does. Well worth a walk from Farringdon Station. Been there a number of times and the atmosphere is always welcoming.
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Superb beer and a nice atmosphere well worth a visit.
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load of pretentious b*lllocks
anonymous - 12 May 2005 23:32 |
This pub is a bit too small especially in the evenings when it can get very busy. The St Peter's beer range is excellent and the draught ales are served under air pressure from taps on fake cask ends. There was one lager when I was there last (I think it was Bitburger) and the St Peter's ales not available on draught can be had in their unique bottles. I have been disappointed that they have had their organic best bitter on draught rather than the ordinary one (I prefer English hops to the Hallertau used in the organic) but the beers are excellent and well kept. The floor is wonky but the tables are wonky too so it is possible to get them to sit flat without rocking if you line the table legs up properly. Definitely a pub with character and atmosphere.
anonymous - 10 May 2005 22:40 |
Enjoyed the St. Peter's range, there is real strength in depth here, particularly the honey porter and cream stout. Not the most spacious establishment but the quality of the beer and the friendly landlord more than makes up for this. Small but yet perfectly formed, there are few better pubs in the area.
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I visited midday then the place was virtually empty. Not sure it would be as enjoyable when its packed to the gills. The St. Peter's was very well kept and a nice break from the Fuller's/Young's domination of London.
anonymous - 27 Mar 2005 03:27 |
Honey Porter......paradise in a pint glass!!..The other beers aren`t bad either!..Excellent if you can find a table....bit of a bind standing outside...but the beers are terrific & if you get there during working hours its not too crowded...One of my favourite watering holes.
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If you want real ale in a pub that is "back to basics" but nice and cosy, this is the place. No Fosters, Stella Artois, John Smiths etc. served here.
Well worth seeking out. The only pub I know of where people are standing on the pavement outside drinking in February. Can get smokie if busy.
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This pub is great - a little too small for comfort at times, but great. Unfortunately as it is quite busy they do tend to run out of some of their (excellent) St Peter's beers. Only open on weekdays which is fine by me. Usually at least one St Peter's beer on keg too, which is nice. Definitely worth visiting - check out the cream stout and the strong ale. Lovely.
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Old converted clockmakers shop serving St Peters Ale including an Organic Ale. Tiny Bar but well worth a visit
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Great beer from Peter's brewery, had the bitter, the ale and a great pint of Lemon and Ginger Ale. My mate went for the 'spiced apple' which was a bit of a mistake, it was dark as ditchwater and a bit caustic.
Other than that, the interior is a fine wood and tile affair that doesn't look like it has been changed for years. This place really has a feel of old London about it. (Despite the barstaff being two hard-core Russian New Romantic girls).
The crowd inside are usually good, honest beer drinking folk but you do get the odd well-feb alpha-male talking loudly about his boat. The pub is good enough to risk encountering them, though.
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Happened across by pure accident as they had their A board on Clerkenwell road. Great little spot though it did smell a bit weird :)
Jack Knight - 24 Aug 2004 12:17 |
The ambience is good, the beer sare excellent but sadly variable in quality as I don't think they are kept as well as they could be. On one visit in every four I have been served with cloudy or off beer (explanations have ranged from "it's hot today" to "it's a new barrel" - both of which are just not good enough).
When it *is* godo however, it's very good indeed.
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I visited this pub on a saturday night and the music was quite funky. Was really nice to find a place selling alcohol at reasonable prices, and the food was good too.
Would recommend it to anyone!
gemma Wynn - 3 Jun 2004 11:30 |
Fab pub! Fab food/drink and fab staff!
What more can you want.
rio - 24 May 2004 14:47 |
Could this be the Best Pub in London?... It's a little Bobby Dazzler!!
D. Dickinson - 24 Mar 2004 11:16 |
the City of London has lots of great pubs scattered around, but this is probably still one of the best. not much room, but a good atmosphere and a fine mix of people as well.
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Good beer
Good food
Nuff said
Grynster - 5 Mar 2004 17:28 |
A small and very traditional pub surprisingly hidden away near the City. For the area and quality I didn't think the beer was expensive, merely reasonable.
There is no musack and this is a place where you go to talk and socialise - a wonderful find.
PS Would thoroughly recommend "the Cheese Platter".
Stephen - 7 Jan 2004 09:26 |
A wide range of interesting and tasty beers, and the traditional style seems quite authentic. Pleasant atmosphere but most nights you need to arrive early to get a seat.
Tim - 2 Jan 2004 16:04 |
Who cares about the size of the pub when the beer's this good?
I'd rather spend one expensive night in here then two cheap ones in any other pub.
bigboaby - 18 Dec 2003 09:38 |
Superb beers, old-world charm, one of the most distinctive pubs in London. Loved it.
Jonny Jones - 21 Nov 2003 16:44 |
The pub is a bit on the small side but otherwise it is a great place. A huge range of St Peters' beers - there are very few pubs in London that still serve mild. No fancy decor, overly loud music or silly stuff inside, you go there for the beer, and while it is expensive, you get what you pay for. If you want an underfilled pint of cheap lager go to O'Neill's or Yates. The staff here are friendly and know their beer.
Adam - 12 Nov 2003 14:12 |
Really fabulous sandwiches.
Miranda - 2 Oct 2003 08:38 |
Everythin's good about this pub apart from the price of the beers. The beer is good, but just a little overpriced. However its ok if you are doin a crawl round the area where you'll find the Sekforde Arms and O'Hanlon's nearby which are good, but easier on your wallet.
anonymous - 18 Sep 2003 19:42 |
Fantastic beer, worth standing for.
Anthony Walker - 10 Sep 2003 15:12 |
Great beer but too small. Worth it just for the beers though.
Meister - 4 Aug 2003 16:23 |
Superb beer. Pub is on the small side though; so best go on a sunny day (like today!) and sup on the pavement. 9/10.
Darren in the City - 11 Jul 2003 08:34 |
It has a funny musty smell, like stale cheese. Non existant managment.
Brian - 11 Jul 2003 01:23 |
spartan repro of yesteryear alehouse with scrubwood tables and great beer!
jackmac - 22 Jan 2003 18:15 |
Small pub of the St Peter's brewery. Excellent range of ales and good hot and cold lunches. Small seating area inside but punters usually spill out into the street on warm days.
Steve - 4 Jul 2002 11:56 |
