London pub crawl 2012

Here's the summary of a great day out and about in London on Saturday with brother Andrew, nephew Steven and son John.

First, the route map. We skipped pub 3, the Kings Arms. Didn't make it to pub 11 the Ship & Shovell, shown as 1, nor pub 12 the first Red Lion, shown as 2. Oh, and pub 6 Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, one of my favourites, was shut. On the bright side, we did shove in an additional pub, The Ship Tavern.

Like an excited bunch of kids, here's the three of us on the way to the train station by bus.

Not a good sign. Me trying for a kip on the train... I'd been awake since 04:30.

Pub 1, The George Inn. Steven not yet caught up with us, stuck on the tube.

Pub 2, The Market Porter. Steven caught up with us now. The pub had loads of people standing outside and sitting on the pavements taking in the huge hustle and bustle from Borough Market. We took in the atmosphere whilst discussing the merits of...

... The Shard, Europe's tallest building.

The view as we crossed Southwark Bridge.

It's not pretty, but a quick nip into an O'Neills pub without consuming any alcohol was a great relief. From this point onwards urinals played an increasingly important part in the proceedings.

Bit more sightseeing, this time the magnificent St Paul's Cathedral.

Pub 3, The Blackfriar. Took a bit of finding, positoned as it was right on a corner facing Blackfriars Bridge. The Art Nouveau decor was amazing.

Pub 4, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, and a rather noisy cellar. All on shorts at this stage.

Unfortunately Ye Olde Mitre Tavern is shut at weekends, but we took a snap anyway. John just checking his flies.

Pub 5 Cittie of Yorke, probably my favourite with its cosy cubicles and huge wine barrels above the bar.

And it was in one of the cubicles the latest McKinnie Cup Arm Wrestling competition took place. John beat Steven in the final after me and Andrew had limp wristed it.

Pub 6 The Seven Stars, homely and hugely interesting, one of the few pubs to survive the 1666 Great Fire of London. This snap captures proprietor Roxy Beaujolais in the background, chef, cook book author and once celebrity chef on a BBC food programme.

Another feature of The Seven Stars is the amazingly steep and narrow stairs to the toilets, at the top of which it's left to the kitchens, right to the little study with paperwork and exotic music spilling forth, straight one for relief...

... and yes, I admit only a few yards around the corner and more relief was required. Rather liked this loo at Lincoln's Inn Fields though... unusually free for a London public toilet, and the toilet pan was called Norm.

Three icons of manhood and a rather puzzling piece of art.

Steven: 'Honest, it was already bent!"

Pub 7 The Ship Tavern", an extra to the itinerary. Shared a meat platter here, half of which was big disgusting lumps of pork scratching.

Pub 8 The Princess Louise, full of ornate mirrors and tiny sections to drink all around the central bar...

... here's some of the interior, unfortunately partly blocked by passing boozers.

After being entertained by a street performer in Covent Garden, pub 9 the Lamb & Flag.

John wondering whose gaff that is.

The last pub, number 10, The Red Lion, warm and cosy. Then off to Green Park tube station and a quick dash for the train home, leaving Steven at Kings Cross.