Windmill, Stansted Airport

As airport pubs go - you can do a lot worse than visiting the Windmill.
It's not the pub's fault that all airport pubs seem to be overcrowded, a trifle more expensive than they should be (that's because the BAA rips them off...) and not too bothered about the status of their food.

However; it may be your last chance to have a cask ale before venturing abroad, and you should take it.

14 Sep 2009 15:36

The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon

Not the nicest of pubs, certainly not the nicest of the Wetherspoons...
Due to bad acoustics, you can hear everything the city knobs rant and rave about ten tables away, but you have to strain your hearing to listen to what your mate across the table says.
Bar staff could do with some telling-off from management now and then.

14 Sep 2009 14:07

The Lord Nelson, Cheam

Very fast service, a nice chilled lager took the brunt of the July heat when I popped in there earlier this year. A good London Pride followed suit, and that was well kept, so I'm having no problem revisiting.
Food looked okay too, but I'll pass on commenting until I've tried it myself.

14 Sep 2009 13:54

Bedford Tavern, Finsbury Park

I can imagine Grecian's comment here being true, since I stuck my nose in there one July evening this year and retreated hastily. The barman and the five local gents squatting malevolently in a corner looked like they were planning the next great train robbery, and I didn't want to be pressed into driving their getaway motocar...

14 Sep 2009 13:51

The Coronet, Holloway

I'll start off with the minuses first; the gent's loo, some tables are well rickety, not very nice when trying to balance food on them, and they had a serious problem with a leaky roof last time I visited.
Do not visit when there's an Arsenal home game on, unless you are clearly and visibly an Arsenal fan.

That said, this is a gem of a pub. A very, very friendly staff, well-kept real ale, ice cold lager and cider, generous servings of all drinks and food... yes I know it's Wetherspoon, yes I know it's Wetherspoon standard food - but there are some very good people working in the kitchen too.

Imagine a Tuesday steak night, when you have two nice sirloins, a bottle of wine, two scrumptuous desserts - all less for what o n e steak (and a cheap rump at that) will cost you in London W1.

And what's really good - there's always room for you to sit down. Many people is commenting that many of the punters will never see their 70th birthday again... yes, that may be so, but I prefer some jolly old geezers talking about the rationing and how they walloped the krauts, to just-turned 18ns getting pissed on alcopops...

14 Sep 2009 13:48

The Black Bear, Wool

Well-kept ale, nice selection of food, friendly athmosphere, a good place for a nice chat with the friendly locals and staff.
Well worth a lengthy visit or two - sadly we were pressed for time due to a departing train, but next time we'll stay a long, lazy afternoon for cream tea, continuing into the evening and dinner.
Pub's a good ambassador for the village as well - I wouldn't mind staying a week at the B&B just across the street, actually...

14 Sep 2009 13:36