The Kings Arms, Waterloo

Great old-school boozer. Lovely location on a picture postcard street near Waterloo. Good choice of ale and largers, pleasantly tatty. Nice Thai food and English bar snacks.

13 Jul 2006 16:38

The Royal Albert, South Lambeth

Oh dear... What has happened. This is a classic case of putting profits above a good pub (when was it ever different you might ask?).

The revamp has stripped the pub of all the memorable features. The great upstairs games room with two pool tables has gone; the darts board has gone; the character of the pub area has gone - replaced by bland wall colour and spartan pictures; the food menu has pretty much gone; the fruit machines have gone; the nicely mixed clientele has gone; and most of all the jewel in the crown, a wonderful beer garden enclosed by high hedges has gone.

Why even bother keeping the pub downstairs?? Why not just convert the whole pub into flats. I understand that the landlord wanted to close the whole place, but I suspect planning permission wouldn't have been granted for a change of use due to the character of the pub.

The staff are still cheery and do a good job, but in the space of a year the pub has gone from being great to less than average.

Boo hoo. There are no other good pubs in the immediate area. The Fentiman is overpriced and full of sloanes; the Canton is dirty and serves terrible food. I think the Hanover is the only decent pub left; but certainly has its limitations.

16 Feb 2006 12:44

The Old Bull & Bush, Shepherds Bush

Nice big screen for watching football on, but bog standard chain pub apart from that. Not helped much by the local 'boys' who like to hang out in the dark back room and abuse anyone daring to venture in. If you're not wearing a 'Nickelson' or 'Hackett' polo shirt and reebok classics, don't even think about going out back!

9 Oct 2005 11:37