Acceptable or even GOOD pubs in London city centre?

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.

pre-corsica drinks - just wondering if there's an alternative to the usual trek from borough to e&c

albert arms seems like the best shout. england flags are a dealbreaker, yes

Yeah that'll be fine for your purposes, a mix of South Bank students and locals probably.

The Albert was OK the one time I went in there years ago. I've a feeling that there might be a decent pub or two just on the other side of the Imperial War Museum, but I've never really hung around there. There are a couple of OK places on Blackfriars Road (The Ring opposite Southwark tube is alright but not as good as it once was, ah dear dead days etc etc).

the presence of England flags has always put me off a bit.

ngl, speechlessly angry at this lack of respect

Yeah, Albert Arms is/was fine (not great) - never really had a night there but I'd stop in if I was breaking a journey at Elephant.

The Ring is pretty overcrowded and grim on a Friday night although it probably thins out later on.

Oh yeah I net it is. Wasn't like that in the good old days! Explains why it changed, I suppose. :(

The Roebuck maybe? One of the closest of the polished Borough/Bermondsey pubs if you've got the right route.

OTM On The Ring. I used to like a drink there, now it feels a bit grim/toss, I don't want a fancy hot dog I want a drink.