An institution

Pub 233. The IoE Student Bar, 24th September 2013.

An odd one this as it's a students' union bar but as it's open to the public it must be treated as any other bar. I suppose.
Unlike the student bar of my own youth ("The Black Hole", Hudds poly) this one seemed very low on ale. But as it was a very warm day I went for a pint of gassy cooking lager (£2.70), and then spied the bottles of Speckled Hen in the fridge. And the single clipless hand-pump tucked away at the far end of the bar that was serving up Doom Bar. Oh well.
I took my pint outside, and was shortly joined by the group of young students, unsurprisingly. A mix of Americans and Brits. The started discussing the Brits' peculiar taste for warm flat beer, and decided that not even most Brits liked it, as we all prefer lager apparently.

I drank my lager and sloped off.

Slattery will get you anywhere.

Pub no. 232. Slattery's, 19th September 2013.

 The most no-frills pub in Camden possibly? The aroma is one of a warm & welcoming carpet. The big screens have The Chase on. Old man smoking just inside the door - well, it's almost outside and it's raining so that's ok. Friendly landlady - we had a bit of banter over some questions in The Chase.
No ale, so Guinness it is... when in Rome eh??

It could be worse really. And this is the only place I've seen offering Sky 3D, I'm sure they'll be getting rid of such a silly gimmick soon - so catch here while you can!

My friend Stan

Pub 231. The Lord Stanley. 19th September 2013.

 The Lord Stanley is lovely. I used to live just a few doors away, but hardly every came here. Don't know why. I should have - it has one of those things that is sadly so rare in pubs these days... no music!! Although the two women playing each other videos of crying babies kind of shattered the peace a bit. So did Pete Doherty attempts to cure his hiccups. But the Marston's EPA was nice, so it's all ok really. I should come here again I suppose.

Sao Paulo ale house

Pub 230. The Newmarket Ale House, 19th September 2013.

On a rainy day like today anywhere is welcome - even an ale house that doesn't sell ale. A Guinness will do - £4 a pint... ouch. Some obscure tennis on the tinsel festoon telly doesn't attract anyone's attention. The only people here are playing pool in front of a mural of giant bamboo. There are 4 people behind the bar. One of them explains to me the concept of banana pizzas - very popular in Brazil apparently. It's trying to be Brazilian pub you see, sweet pizzas and a pile of Brazilian newspapers and bingo, you're Brazilian.

Crowning glory

Pub 229, The Crown. 13th August 2013.

Good old Sammy Smiths - you know exactly where you are with Samuel. Even when the OBB is electrically dispensed the quiet and calm surroundings of a Smith's pub are always very pleasant.
The only annoying thing was the fellow who decided to wander off from his friends and stand right by me to make his phone call. Why don't you just go outside to the huge drinking area??? 

Half a Crown

Pub 228, The Old Crown. 13th August 2013.

 What an awful place. Tediously over-styled. Surly barman. The McMullen's AK was undrinkable. It was even an effort just to figure out what it was called.

Whippet out

Pub 227, The Holborn Whippet. 13th August 2013.

I'd never even seen this place before... it's one of those trendy new craft ale places. I can't remember what a chose from the blackboard now but it was nice enough. The barmaid was also very nice. Important to note the niceness of the barstaff I think.

I nipped to the loo and asked a chap next to me to watch my beer, and it just happened to be at the same time a WPC came in to chat to said barmaid. I wonder if I looked suspicous like an Arfur Daley type sloping off at the first glimpse of a copper? Probably not.

A Machiavellian treat

Pub 226, Old Nick. 13th August 2013.

A hidden gem if ever there was one! Seemingly only known to the legal eagles of the nearby Inns of Court everyone else is missing out on a right treat.

The Badger beer was lovely - I sampled the Hoppy Hare on the recommendation of the barmaid. And then found myself in such engaging conversation with other barmaid, working only her 2nd shift, that I stayed for another two. Although why the place is named after Niccolò Machiavelli no-one seemed to know. Nor why the alley next door was called Three Cups Yard. So many mysteries!

Load of bull

Pub no. 225, The Bountiful Cow. 13th August 2013.

What an awful place. Anywhere that has to remind you on the outside that it is really a pub doesn't really deserve to be called a pub. The Hophead was past its best, the barmaid's manners were perfunctory and the loud chat of the go-getter businessman to his mate at the bar incredibly annoying. I'm sure their steaks are lovely though.

But what annoyed me most was this sign.

The police do not enforce NO DRINKING OUTSIDE. A controlled drinking zone means that they can ask you not drink if they want and take your booze off you if they want and arrest you if you don't comply if they want. This is not the same as NO DRINKING OUTSIDE. If the proprietors of the Bountiful Cow should read this, they may wish to also read this page which explains it in very simple terms. And perhaps ask themselves why they are telling their punters NO DRINKING OUTSIDE while at the same time providing tables & chairs outside. So the smokers can sit down and enjoy their ciggie - or are they for people consuming lemonade...? Stupid pub.

Square pig

Pub 224, The Square Pig. 13th August 2013.

 The Square Pig or the Square Pig and Pen - I'm not quite sure it is or which they prefer. I thought I wasn't really going to like it, mainly because it looks nothing like a pub. And I didn't really, although just for that reason. The barmaid was charming, and the beer was nice. I can't remember what it was but it wasn't their own brew "Trotter Ale" as they'd not put the ABV on the pump clip so I was registering my annoyance by avoiding it.

A lady came in with a huge bunch of flowers that apparently her son and daughter had just got because they'd just got engaged, and didn't want them. So she gave them to the barmaid. For a giggle I insisted that she hand them over to me so I could give them back with a bashful "For you...!". And oh how we giggled.

A porpoise in life

Pub 223, The Dolphin Tavern. 13th August 2013.

A lovely pub - quite a rarity to find something completely unspoilt in the middle of town like this.
It was nice and quiet, just me and the landlord, when I went in - very relaxing. Until a load of Scottish football fans piled in with their own personal little music player and shattered the peace with Runrig and Big County or Simple Minds or some such "pish" as I believe their vernacular would have it.

The Woodford's Wherry was obviously the first of the day, I don't think it could normally taste like it did.

Pendrell's Oak

Pub no. 222, Pendrell's Oak. 12th August 2013.
 

It's big crowded busy Wetherspoons, so you know exactly what to expect. Named after the oak tree where James I hid, it could well be the only pub so named that isn't called the Royal Oak, certainly round here it is.

It also has the most heavily laden bookshelves of any Camden boozer.