The Hop Pole, Wandsworth

I'm not a great fan of the pub itself - it's noisy, has too much sport on TV and it generally attracts a bit of a rabble - but the Masterbrew is excellent, and that's the main reason I go there.

19 Oct 2009 12:07

The Cat's Back, Wandsworth

I'm a regular visitor but my experiences of this pub are mixed.

It's almost charming and it definitely has an atmosphere in the evenings, but it's so bloody dark in there! That's not a huge problem though because at least it prevents other customers seeing the Coors Light logo on my pint glass (I'm getting quite tired at having my ale served in a Coors Light pint glass - why on Earth do they insist on doing this??? It just makes me want to avoid this place).

It was full of morons when I popped in on Friday night, but apart from the occasional prune, the Coors Light pint glasses and the over-the-top darkness, it's a decent place for a pint.

19 Oct 2009 12:03

The Red Lion, Shoreditch

No real ale, just a small selection of mediocre keg beers such as John Smith Extra Smooth, Guinness and Kronenbourg. The bar counter is tiny and on a Friday night it is four or five deep at times. Getting served is therefore not a pleasant experience. And it's plastic glasses all round!!

The crowd is typical of Shoreditch, trendy and pretentious, but the rooftop terrace is nice enough despite being packed out up there on a warm Friday evening in summer.

This place would be ok if you're single and want to mingle, or if you don't care what you throw down your neck, but if you're looking for a place for a proper drink, with proper beer and a proper pub feel, you should avoid this place.

13 Aug 2009 10:45