please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
What an excellent pub! After watching the Lord Mayor's Parade we walked up to look for the Cartoonist Pub. The doors were locked and people inside gestured that they were going to remain that way. Another ten minutes walk and we came across the Old Red Cow. It was very quiet when we arrived but slowly began to (noisily) fill up. Four real ales - Dark Star Meltdown, Saison, Sandrocks Junction and Hewitts Gorilla. Excellent chicken sandwich and chips. Friendly staff and very good beer. Unfortunately shreaking women (OK they were talking at the top of their voices) caused us to move downstairs so we could hear ourselves talk. Mt favourite London pub.
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Very good choice of beers from around the world and a few good real ales. Service was excellent. Only downside was price but i guess they are imported draft beers.
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Went there onSaturday after Crown in C/well but a bit busy so went back Sunday ,had an interesting Sunday Lunch, starter Harviestoun's Bitter and Twisted ,maincourse was Camden Pale Ale and to Finish was Sierra Nevada Torpedo...not W/spoons prices but not that expensive was steady and upstairs was booked out so didn't see what it was like,much better than old version and guy behind the bar knew his stuff.......visit at a quiet time
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Was drawn in to this 'done up' gastro bar by the three unusual ales on the bar. However, my anticipation was short lived as after a 5 minute wait and then a scout aorund to find someone to serve me I gave up and went elsewhere. Can't comment on the quality of the ales but CAN mark it on quality of service (non-existent service = nil points)
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This is sort-of an 'update'; the recent shut-out on Saturday was a one-off; a prior booking from before the refurb. The pub has settled down now, the furniture has been moved around to make room for the customers (a nice touch !!) and the kitchen is in full working order. I've never eaten here, but what I have seen come down looks good and plentiful. Four handpumps - my last visit had Sambrooks, Hophead, Redemption Hopspur (sic) and a very dark 'porter-ish' BrewDog beer from Fraserburgh. The beer-engine is working well, I usually have the Bitter & Twisted, which is a mix of lager and bitter from Harviestouns. The staff will always offer a taster, which is nice. Yes, you *can* pay £15 for a bottle of beer, if that's your thing, but there's something for everybody.
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Went over on Saturday evening - another shut-out for a private party. I know they have to make a living, but I think I'll give this one a miss from now on at weekends.
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Just called in on a Saturday evening, and although the decor is basic, it had a good range of uncommon beers on the bar: Redemption Hotspur; Darkstar Hophead; Sambrook Wandle; and Bristol No. 7. Definitely worth a visit.
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Just re-opened on 6th April. I went in to have a 'nosey' on the way to somewhere else and was rather impressed ! The refurb is, in a word, drastic! However, despite my earlier fears it is still a real ale pub. The bar has been rebuilt and extended and now has five hand-pumps. (Hophead, Tribute, Sambrooks Wandle + 2)
The usual T-bar for Lagers etc has been replaced by a strange 'beer-engine' contraption on the back bar with a series of numbered taps and a blackboard with the various beers and lagers chalked up against the numbers.
The entire bar has been completely made-over, with new, clean floorboards, comfortable stools and little LED lights on the stairs. The 'Snogging Corner' with the settee under the up-stairs has gone, and the only niggle I have is the bloody great 6-seater table in the middle of the room which has to be squeezed round to get to & from the facilities. The bogs have all been renewed with new ware and even the hand-dryer works (after 2 years !) I shall probably go again on a Saturday to check my first impressions on what was a bit of a flyer, despite the long review above, as I only had two pints !
Also, I don't think the kitchen is working yet.
more anon.
TLB
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Sign on the windows say it re-opens on 1st April. I hope that isn't a bad omen ;-) There is a new bar and back-bar, and the rickety stairs have been 'sorted' (I got a look inside as the fitters had the doors open. ) Will check it out after opening-day.
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Closed for some kind of refurbishment at the moment.
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The big advantage this has over the Hand and Shears is that it is open on a Saturday. It makes a handy stop if you're visiting the Museum of London on a weekend.
Very friendly bar staff, and a moderately well kept pint of Wandle, but the pub could do with a run over with a hoover. I didn't eat but the food I saw looked fine. I'd go back, but probably not if the H&S was open.
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Bizarre little place on two levels near Smithfield market. The downstairs bar is very small - certainly a lot smaller than the frontage on the photo suggests. There is a very tiny bar on the right hand wall - so small that the espresso machine sits on a shelf to the right hand side. The limited bar space also seems to restrict the drinks offered on pump/tap.
There are two pumps without clips and it was only when I got right up to the bar I could see that the beers were chalked on a board in flat in front of them. In fact it was both the Sambrook's beers - Wandle and Junction. Only three lagers plus Bulmers and none of the better premium lagers. All in all this sort of limitation puts me off places.
The seating (at least downstairs) was limited to 5 or 6 tables of varying kinds. Although I didn't go upstairs I have to assume it was somewhat larger as it extends over the alleyway on the left of the photo.
In the end this is not a particularly appealing pub and the fact that the Hand and Shears is about 10 yards away through the alley to the left means that it is very unlikely I'll bother returning here.
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Nice chilled out place to have a drink and some half-decent food at lunchtime or after work. Free jukebox, friendly staff, and the generally welcoming vibe are the main plus points. Stairs down to the toilets are a bit 'rustic' and the ladies are very dark, but overall you can do worse in the Barbican area.
anonymous - 1 Apr 2009 16:48 |
Good clean and tidy pub. Two ales , T/taylors l/lord, and deuchars. Worth
a visit.
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had a looovely duck pie here for lunch the other day, inside is nice too - loving the golden ceiling!! not bad on price either...I shall return!!!
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This pub opened this week and I went down there last night. It's been completely refurbed and is really lovely inside!
Larger and ale were both great (my friends and I tried it all out) and the new landlord and landlady are really friendly and have even installed a FREE jukebox with great music - what more do you want!
Food looks good as well, xmas much for under £30 which is a miracle in this area.
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I have just seen that this pub is reopening! It looks amazing! Can't wait to check it out! :)
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Seems to be just about open as The Long Lane. The place looks similar to before - though the signage out front looks a little cheap. Inside the bar has a depressingly dull range of beers on - standard keg lagers, Guinness, cider plus Pedigree and Courage real ales. Blackboards inside advertise thai food.
Sorry, but this looks like a total waste of space. Smithfield Market now only has two truly decent pubs in the vicinity - the Sutton Arms and the Bishop's Finger.
STONCH'S BEER BLOG - stonch.blogspot.com
anonymous - 11 Jan 2007 11:26 |
Still closed. What a shame! Obviously people prefer to ply their uneducated palates with awful lager at places like Fluid and the Charterhouse.
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Just noticed it was closed this morning when passing - a shame as its the only pub in the area I had never been in for some reason.
The sign outside says the freeholder is selling up this "public house, wine bar or restaurant". Lets hope its the former and not either of the latter if and when it re-opens.
anonymous - 23 Mar 2006 10:48 |
Sadly now closed.
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Uncomfortable surrounding...eek!
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Good little place but decor is a bit too cafe like to feel to comfortable. Loved the 'finger' !!!
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Good food, friendly service and well kept Shepherd Neame make this a good option for a lunchtime.
anonymous - 4 Feb 2005 15:53 |
Quite good, Master Brew was pleasant. They could do with a few more tables downstair. Went in with a couple of olds who couldn't manage the stairs.
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Good pub. Good beer. Top atmosphere and lovely and quiet sssshhhhhhhhhh
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True story. Went to the toilets downstairs, coming back up to the bar I held the door open for the person following me, trouble is, there was no one there. Then saw the sign about the ghost.
Mark the S - 25 Jul 2003 12:56 |
Excellent Shepherd Neame pub tucked away near Smithfields market & Barts. Bar staff very good. Usually quieter in the evening so no long queue for the next pint of liquid Kent gold. 8/10.
Darren in the City - 16 Jul 2003 09:46 |
A proper Pub Really well kept (Sheppard & Neame)Bitters. The food is excellent and great value. A good mix of traditional fayre
with friendly attentive service. The only drawback it is very popular so be early or you may face a slight delay at lunchtime.
Phil - 30 May 2002 15:23 |
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