Cheers to St George
St George's Day is as good an excuse as any for finding a great old traditional English pub and enjoying a pint of fine ale. We find the best of the old bars in London for you to sup one, or two.
The George Inn
Coming across the George Inn for the first time is like meeting an old friend. You feel you know it already from Christmas cards, Dickens and old movies. It is the archetypal coaching inn. You should really arrive in a stagecoach, but instead you get there how you can, walk through the wrought-iron gateway on Borough High Street, and there it is - the cobbled yard, the overhanging galleries, all still in daily use. It is a moving sight. It was going strong in 1542, the year Henry VIII executed his fifth wife.
The Bread & Roses
Boasting a fine range of ales including the excellently named Spirit of St George's, The Bread & Roses in Clapham is a welcoming English pub with tables outside at the front and back - and a big fat conservatory too.
The Trafalgar
What better way to toast St George than with a pint of ale overlooking the Thames in Greenwich? With plenty of room to stand outside it will be a fine evening if the weather is warm.
The Britannia
This early Victorian pub joined Young's brewery's excellent portfolio of pubs back in 1924 when the neighbouring Britannia brewery was pulled to make way for Allen Mansions. It has been much altered since - a conservatory at the back is on the site of the former stable block. It is every inch a contemporary interpretation of a traditional pub, serving delightful Young's ales and standard pub fare.
The Grenadier
The Grenadier is haunted by an old officer and serves a menu filled with traditional dishes including soggy beef Wellington in a puddle of gravy. With an extensive wine list to boot this makes a fab place to enjoy a cosy night out.
