Last Friday I met four friends for a pub crawl around Trafalgar Square. We picked this area at random from three others using a four sided dice. The idea was to start at a pub close to Charing Cross Station and then pick a pub suggested by each of us by throwing the dice.
We started at The Harp Pub in Chandos Place. This deserves the many CAMRA awards it has achieved and always has a great selection of real ales on offer. For example, Harvey’s Best and Beers from The Dark Star Brewery. It is always packed full of punters and because the pub is quite small it is a bit of a squeeze to fit in. However, There is a room upstairs but it lacks the character of the bar area. Also, with a little patience a seat often becomes available. Despite the popularity, service is always remarkably quick and the staff are always very friendly. A pub I can highly recommend. Website: http://www.harpcoventgarden.com/.
The dice chose the Lamb and Flag pub in Rose Street next. A bit of an out of the frying pan into the fire choice on a Friday evening regarding getting a seat. However on arrival we managed to find four seats around a table next to a lovely warming fire. I chose to drink a pint of Fuller’s Seafarer’s Ale. A really delicious and light beer. The pub has lots of character and we met an American couple who were interesting to talk to. One was a visiting lecturer from a college in Tennessee (a dry state) who specialised in William Blake. Another highly recommended pub. Website: http://lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk/. Apparently Charles Dickens used to drink here.
Another throw of the dice led us to The Chandos pub in St Martin’s Lane. This serves Samuel Smiths Beer. Rather boring beer and pub but not too full. We did not stay long.
The next dice throw led us to The Two Chairman pub in Warwick House Street off Trafalgar Square. Website: http://www.twochairmen.com/ This is one of my favourite pubs because it is often fairly quiet even on a Friday evening. The beers are well kept and always include one of my favourites- Timothy Taylor Landlord. I nearly picked a different interesting looking ale tonight but loyalty to Tim Taylor got the better of me. We met another couple of Americans in this pub. A Mother and Son who had decided to go for a beer whilst the mother’s daughter went to see Phantom of the Opera. After a jolly half hour or so we threw the dice once more and it pointed us to the pub next door.
The next pub was quite a find. The Admiralty Pub in Trafalgar Square is a Fuller’s pub so there is no problem obtaining a good beer here. I had a pint of Seafarer’s Ale again. This pub has lots of character and very friendly bar staff. We met a very charming girl here which led to lots of mirth. It was a fun way to wind down the evening. I will certainly revisit this pub and give it a big thumbs up. Website: http://admiraltytrafalgar.co.uk/
The last pub of the evening chosen by the dice was close to Charing Cross Station. It is the Ship and Shovell in Craven Passage. This serves Badger Beer from Hall and Woodhouse. I had Tanglefoot which was OK but not particularly interesting. We arrived here quite late just before closing and the bar staff were a bit grumpy. However, they cheered up a bit when they knew that we were no trouble and had every intention of leaving when asked. The pub is interesting in that it has two parts either side of an alleyway; so it is really two pubs. Its name derives from Sir Cloudesley Shovell an Admiral who died after his ship struck rocks. There are some interesting legends surrounding the events that led to his demise. The website is: http://shipandshovell.co.uk/
Looking forward to the next time we meet which will be around the Temple area as decided by the dice once more.