Acceptable or even GOOD pubs in London city centre?

love the queen's head

Cocktails - bar at the Hawksmoor Seven Dials. They're amazing. Or the bar at Hix Soho, which is probably better.

both good calls. i'd ruled out hawksmoor as my friend is vegan, but for cocktails it of course makes sense.

the bars underneath Polpo and 32 Great Quees Street

not been to the one beneath polpo but i was at 32gqs bar once, had forgotten. really good spot too.

another query. i was planning to have a party for my... 29th... birthday at the queen's head, but the date i wanted has fallen through.

i know the pubs i like fairly well and i have some ideas, but curious if anyone has any experience of a good place for a party? i want somewhere with good food and probably good beer, sort of considering one of the many islington options but afraid they might be a bit sterile.

that time i saw you in the whippet was a party i'd organized. we didn't have a reservation (they don't do them after 5pm i think) or a table, it was kind of a standing around reunion thing. about 20 of us. was worried about space but it was totally fine after the post-work rush. good beer as you know, but v limited food options and seating.

yeah it feels a bit small to me, i really want somewhere big and welcoming, a sort of 6pm on a saturday sort of pub. it is my 30th actually if my ... didn't make that clear!

i have a good few ideas but the queen's head was perfect, my other ideas are a bit more obvious and easy, not that they'd be a disaster.

yeah it doesn't really fit the bill. i know some great options in munich and sheffield if your plans change.

happy 30! nearly finished!

it's not for another six weeks or so but i'm trying to get it sorted early obviously.

love sheffield, i bet it has tons of good options alright.

East Londoners! And knowers of East London! I have to go from Peckham to Barking on Saturday lunchtime. If you were making that journey and wanted to stop off for an excellent beer or two on the way, where would you stop? (My final destination will be Dagenham, fwiw, but that part of the journey is taken care of).

Like, anything worth stopping off at within easy striking distance of Stepney Green, Mile End, Bow Road, Bromley-by-Bow, West Ham, Plaistow, Upton Park, East Ham? These are mythic lands to me.

palm tree - 10 min walk from mile end station

thats all i know

yeah palm tree is amazing in its preserved in amber way, but you've probably been? also better at night than in the day.

there are a few decent pubs in mile end but none worth stopping for specifically, not ime.

I've never been to the Palm Tree and I've been meaning to for some time, so that probably does the job nicely. The people I'm meeting for the game at Daggers are excellent but I don't think I can face Wetherspoons -> Wetherspoons even for them. So I can go Pam tree and meet them at the Wetherspoons in Barking, see?

Thanks!

Any good pubs around cafe oto at all?

Depending on your tolerance for Antic scruffy borderline tweeness, this place is okay http://www.farrsschoolofdancing.com/ They at least serve good beer

Just looking at that pissed me off but I'll try it tonight.

they actually do good (and not too expensive) beer at Oto IIRC, if beer-drinking's your thing.

prince george to east or duke of wellington to west not bad

Yeah I know but they'll close it for a bit to prepare for a concert I'll probably go to this eve. xp

otm, but istr before gigs they sometimes turf everyone out for half an hour before reopening..? (haha xp)

If you don't mind five minute's walk, the Railway Tavern on the far side of Gillett Square is nice.

Now that the Mason & taylor has gone, what else is there around there?

I know this was sort of answered upthread but this area changes (or maybe I'm overrating that), wondered if people knew.

The pubs at that end of Bethnal Green Road are mostly overpriced hellholes. I still like the Carpenters Arms on Cheshire Street, two rooms, decent beer, food, garden, not usually too heaving, although I've not been there on a Friday or Saturday night.

Haven't been in years but istr the Owl and the Pussycat further along Redchurch St was ok?

I used to like the O&P but I haven't been in since the gastro refit about 3 years ago.

ah! Pretty sure I was last there pre-that, too..

I'll try Carpenters arms later - tx. xp

I'd say best pub round there for a quiet pint while reading a heavy Euro modernist novel would probably be the White Horse.

haha no I am seeing the new Polanski film at Rich mix and then going for a drink with a friend.

Now you said that though I do need more reading pubs so I'll try that - some other time.

STOP! NO! That was a horribly formed "joke" – it's one of the strip pubs.

haha this gives me an idea for the next ILB fap :)

Carpenters arms was great - some of the people were annoying but what can you do.

Which pubs are good for WC games? Any favourites?

Any recommendations for pubs within 5-10 mins walk of Highbury & Islington tube?

The Compton Arms behind the Union Chapel is ok in a trad pub way, if it's quiet.

The Snooty Fox by Canonbury station is decent, has good beer.

cheers

the Alwyne Castle is good too, just down the road, big garden

thanks

Of those I'd go with the Compton.

I quite like the smokehouse as well, a lot of strange and interesting (and expensive) ales.

If you are eating, the Smokehouse is incredible. One of those places where you can order a side order of pulled pork to go with your massive plate of pork. Might be a bit warm this time of year though.

Won't be eating

Might be a bit warm this time of year though.

It has a fairly large garden.

Compton Arms was nice, but small and nearly empty (only about 5 customers). Alwyne Castle was good.

"Small and nearly empty" is probably my ideal pub scenario.

I ended up in the Spurstowe Arms on Saturday night, fucking hate that place, full of the particular joylessness I associate with overcrowded gentrified Hackney hellholes. We'd relocated from the Baring, further up the canal towards Islington, which was so much better on almost every level.

The one good thing about Hackney on a Saturday night is that it acts as such a magnet for people, that it's making pubs in some other parts of Central London more bearable than they used to be at the weekend.

are there ANY good pubs near elephant & castle?

How near to Elephant do you need to be? There are decent pubs towards the bottom of Borough High Street (Royal Oak, Lord Clyde, Kings Arms, the Trinity on a quiet night). On the Lambeth North side the Albert Arms is pretty good. I've heard the Prince of Wales is decent if old-school as well, the presence of England flags has always put me off a bit.