London pubs

I was once told that the way to choose street food in India was to follow the crowd. If somewhere was busy, it was good. And chances are that also meant fresh, which is probably just as important to a British stomach.

The same could be said of pubs in London.

I recently sought advice and recommendations on must visit pubs. I was told that the Sutton Arms, near the Barbican was a must visit.

I arrived to an attractive enough pub. The beer options were ok, and the pint I had was fine. Too cold, but fine.

The pub itself was empty. I was outnumbered by staff. There was no atmosphere. I was puzzled by the recommendation. Until I discovered another pub with the same name mere yards away.

As I arrived at the correct establishment, I found one of the best signs of a good London pub – people congregating on the two roadsides of the street corner establishment.

I suppose it’s the size, the geography and town planning of the city that make these street corner pubs so common. They’re certainly not as obvious in other UK cities. But they’re one of the things that make a London pub so iconic.

The crowds serve a purpose. They help you choose the place to visit. Sort the wheat from the chaff. 

When there are so many boozers, that let’s face it, look alike, this is important.

I visited London for a wedding a couple of years back. We had time to kill, so found a nice pub. We had a nice pint.

Later that weekend, I visited another pub and found the same identikit set of beer choices – cask or otherwise. They served the same snacks. They looked, they felt the same. The vibe was identical. And I felt cheated.

So now, trying to be discerning, I seek out recommendations. I want to visit the best ale houses.

And now, sat with a pie and a pint at the Sutton Arms – the right Sutton Arms – I know it was the right decision.

The beer choices are broad and varied. The beer of the week, this sunny-mid-unseasonal-spring-heatwave day, is a chocolate stout. There is a sensational selection from Burning Sky. And a hot cupboard filled with award winning pies.

Want more? The crisps are all Tayto (Northern Ireland, obvs), the lager is Budvar and the pavement is full.

The decor is unremarkable. But all the more remarkable for it. There is no oxblood banquette here, nor brass for man and boy. This is a boozer. And a good one at that.

In London, the sign of a good pub really isn’t the decor and it might not even be the range of beer. It’s all about the buzz, the crowds and the sense that you’ve hit the jackpot as you arrive. 

Long live the pub.