Sun, Covent Gardenback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
And the final pub of my disappointing mini-crawl of Covent Garden and its environs brought me to this traditional-looking street corner pub that I'm sure could tell a tale or two but probably won't be able to tell many more.
Those horrible school desk-type high benches that invariably signify food takes priority over beer and the reserved sign at the one proper table (ignored - the advantages of old age) were a warning, the choice of Flowers and Greed King IPA confirmed it. Have a pint here if you must but go somewhere better at the first opportunity.
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Whoa! A pub in Covent Garden, at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night, that's practically empty -- that should have been a warning sign. But I was looking for a quieter pub where I could read a book, so I decided to give it a try. This dialogue ensued:
Me: A pint of Leffe, please.
Barmaid: Do you want the full pint? [Pause.] It's quite strong.
Me: [Pause.] I'm okay with that.
Me if I had said what I was thinking: If I order a pint of Leffe, give me a pint of Leffe. Don't insult me as a lightweight. Leffe Blond is what, 6.6% alcohol? Yeah, I think I can handle that. Or are you not in the business of selling beer?
The Leffe was okay. I didn't stick around to have another. I passed on the food (mostly pizza). But it was easy to get a seat, and I was able to read my book
P.S. Don't confuse this place with the Sun Tavern, which is just a few blocks away, around the corner on Long Acre.
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The previous review pretty much sums this pub up. Flowers Original & Greene King IPA are the only 2 ales. It's a nice enough, if not small corner pub in Covent Garden. The interior is pleasant. But there are far better choices available in the area.
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The Sun appears in the 2014 GBG but I must say I was slightly disappointed.
It's a nice friendly pub but more on that later...onto the beers first.
Only 2 ales available, GK IPA on hand pull and Flowers on gravity...I opted for the Flowers and it was decent and worth the £3.65 I was charged....I expected more ales, there didn't appear to be any in the fridge either.
Back to the pub, it's a small and cosy one bar establishment, lovely wooden interior and a bare brick exposed wall. Apparently it's a converted 19th Century market porters public house.
On my afternoon visit it was fairly empty but the music was at a nice level and there was football being replayed on television which was muted.
Nice pub, good feel to it but I expected more beers....that's just my opinion.
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Had a half of Flowers Original as the only alternative was Greene King IPA. The Flowers wasn't as good as I remember 15 years ago when I had it for the first time. Nice bartender.
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Has the feel of a real 'local' pub. Small and unremarkable interior but the staff were friendly and efficient. Enjoyed the beer on the three occasions we called in whilst on a short break in London.
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Stopped for a pre theatre drink before going to the National. The Greene King IPA would have been more at home in a fish and chip shop condiment tray. It tasted like vinegar. It wasn't the last pint out of the keg because I saw the barman sell several more. Completely undrinkable. Left it & ordered half of guinness. Got massively short measured. They obviously don't give toss here so avoid it like the plague. As a licensee of forty years standing I think I'm qualified to to determine a decent pint and a proper measure.
THE PINKCAT
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Small street corner pub on Dury Lane near to the New London Theatre. Neat and tidy, on Saturday evening it played host to a strange mix of young, studenty, "boho" types and more earthy Londoners watching the Chelsea v WBA game on the tv.
Ales were just keg GK IPA *shudders* and an ok pint of Flowers Original. The young barman was really struggling with a very gassy keg of Amstel.
Not a great deal to make you search this pub out except the Sky/ESPN football coverage.
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visited here yesterday, nice staff nice pint of Carling, shame the tv only shows sky sports news as there is a William Hills accross the road... I'm sure the place would be packed if they got At the Races on. worth a visit though, I'll be back.
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To a greater or lesser extent, most of the recent contributors on this site have been correct about this pub, judging by what I witnessed when I made my first visit, quite by chance last weekend following an event on nearby Betterton Street. The Sun is the kind of place that is to be found universally in London and beyond, in that it is housed in a pleasant Victorian building on a street corner, has a similarly traditional though mostly inauthentic decor that is arguably mass-appeal, and provides an entirely average selection of food and drink at the typical Capital prices.
Beers, ciders, wines, spirits and other beverages are available, but nothing especially stood out, at least to my taste. An uninspiring slew of branded mass-produced, over-priced and over-subscribed lagers were on offer, which pleases the palate that has yet to value diversity of flavour and value for money, but seems endlessly pleased with undemanding ersatz fizz which the predominantly younger clientele appear to have accepted as definitive.
I can't comment on anything other than the cask ale offerings. Alas, only Greene King IPA and Flowers Original were offered. Quite by dint of staying in there longer than planned to discuss a somewhat delicate issue with a friend of mine, I ended up imbibing 2 pints and so sampled both variants. Whilst they will never be the most tastebud-tingling beers by any measure, both were found in acceptable nick and were genuine representations of each brand.
Service was attentive, and most unusually delivered with a smile from the barmaid, and as the place was busy but not heaving it, I felt it would always have been possible to avail myself of another drink without too much of a wait at the bar. The clientele was a steady bunch of seemingly well-heeled Londonites, who presumably are prepared to be pub-whores of a weekend, as whatever elementary charms the Sun has I can't imagine people making any special journey to visit it from any further afield than the immediate streets. I suspect this, like many boozers in the area, benefits from its proximity to Theatreland and all the passing trade that saunters by prior to or following a Drury Lane show.
Ultimately, the Sun will never set your world alight, as it is the archetypally average pub whose character and wares are entirely interchangeable, and can appeal to a casual passing trade without ever detaining their attention longer-term; after all it probably doesn't need to. It is the kind of place that can be readily located in any district of the city, albeit that the pubs of all shapes and sizes are steadily falling in favour of endless conversions and demolition for housing and other uses. If you're in the vicinity and just need a quick refreshment, then do come here as you'll be welcome enough and should get what you require. Anything more indulgent or specific than that, and you may leave feeling somewhat disappointed.
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This is a cracking pub.Has a real old style feel about it.The staff are friendly and the atomosphere is great.Will definatley return
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despite the garish exterior, seems to serve its purpose. Unremarkable, standard beers, Sky Sports News on 2 TVs when we were there....not sure it deserves such a high rating....
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Cannot agree with previous comment on this pub. Was in there last night (lovely atmosphere and welcoming staff by the way) and spent whole night on Flowers which many others were drinking and was superb. Missus loved the friendliness of the pub and the toilets!!! So all in all, a good night and a lovely pub.
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it has charm and elegance but the beer is not kept well. a real pity for what could be a great boozer.
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Cosy pub with a regulars attitude
Jokebox works a treat, and certainly has the patrons queueing (does also help if you like Now combilations as well)
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Nice to find a pub serving Flowers. That's a good place to start.
If your missus is saying to you "you never buy me flowers" take her here.
Small but charming hostelry with friendly enough service and a jukebox which is always a winner.
Nice to find a such a down-to-earth pub on Drury Lane.
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Went in for a quick pint while waiting for my missus to get out of work. Seem like a decent little boozer. Shall come back for the football and check it out some more.
mrse1 - 31 Aug 2007 14:46 |
Not to be confused with the Sun Tavern, 300 yards away on Long Acre, this Sun is a far more simplistic establishment with very few thrills or spills. Rather tucked away, far from the crowds, this pub is not very well known (I can find very few mentions of it on any web sites and it appears to have escaped BITE until now). A single room pub with wooden floor, traditional bar frame, basic furnishings, window ledge seating and plain picture windows, it is perhaps the simplicity of the pub that makes it fairly appealing. There are a few interesting old photographs of the Covent Garden market and some of its workers on the walls. It is hard to imagine that you are on the edge of one of London�s premier tourist spots but the Sun acts as an oasis of peace and tranquility when all the other pubs are laden with luvvies and babbling with foreign accents. 3 Real Ales (Flowers, Pride and Deuchers when I was last there). A basic TV (generally showing sport), fruit / quiz machines and unobtrusive but decent piped music. Nothing fancy but it worth a visit just to get away from the crowds.
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