Smuggled away

Pub 236. The Smuggler's Tavern. 10th October 2013.

Not so much a smuggler's ketch but more like the Marie Celeste today. Nothing suggested the business had closed and it's not like pubs round here to shut during the day.

But why the Smuggler's?? Not much contraband would have been landed here back in the days of the Jamaica Inn. But until the 60s it seems to have been called the Marquis / Lord Cornwallis - much similar to this place on the other side of Bloomsbury. And interestingly the bare-chested chap in the red trousers seems to have a brother, here at another nautical sounding battle cruiser.

 Maybe we'll catch it open one day, but the internets says it wasn't all that great anyways.

***5th June 2014***

I happened to be strolling by today and was pleased to notice that we have a pub that's reopened in the borough!

So it would've been very rude not to pop in to sample their wares. From the outside not much as changed but on the inside it's all very pale blue. Very sea-sidey... you can almost hear the seagulls and smell the landing of today's catch. Or perhaps that was just the "Bap & Pickle Pop Up Restaurant" that seems to be very permanently painted on walls & windows here & there.

Doom Bar and Adman's Explorer on offer, the latter going for £2.10 a half. No wonder people are turning to smuggling!

Anyways, it all seems very nice and calm and quiet on a weekday lunchtime. But any publican that manages to resist the call of redevelopment and reopen his boozer, well... I like the cut of his jib! Best splice the main-brace, the sun's over the yard-arm, ahhhh jim-lad, many tots of grog to all jolly jactars. Etc.

Good Charlotte

Pub 235, The Draft House. 10th October 2013.

I wasn't even sure what this place called at first. I thought it might have been "The Charlotte" or the "Draft House" perhaps? They should have just left it as the Northumberland Arms, given that from the number of cool old photos inside they seem to want to portray a sense of history. But no, it's apparently the "Draft House Charlotte", I think. Catchy uh? Part of chain apparently.

Anyways, it's very stripped back. And pretty hip. The kind of place that thinks it's in New York. Why can't seating be cushioned?!

But the barman was very nice, and the big windows looking out onto a very busy junction make it great for people-gawping.

But the best thing is the beer - they apparently always have one cask ale on £2.75. This week it was the Prima Donna from South London somewhere, and it was very nice. I reckon this makes it the cheapest boozer on the manor. In all of central London... all of London perhaps!? (Not counting special offers, like at the Earl of Camden). Unless you know different...

Marlborough Man

Pub 234. The Marlborough Arms, 10th October 2013.

Tarted up Victorian splendour. Standard pub grub made sound to posh, but I'm sure it's very tasty. And it's one of those places where you can't order food if you haven't got a table number. Computer says no! The Five Points Pale didn't leave me much change out of £4, and was drinkable but not overly lip-smacking. But first pint of the day and I've never had before and over-hopped beers are all the rage these days, so who am I to comment??

I don't really see the need for so many high-tables. And where I was sat, by the window, the effect of the canopy outside flapping in the wind made it seem as if I was sitting under a strobe light.

Nice if unremarkable, but at least the music was quiet. And I learned that Winston Churchill was one of descended from THE Marlboroughs. I wonder if he ever came here? They should have his "I have taken more out of alcohol..." quote up somewhere.