Great to see the first memory you share is of The Hare, a completely unpretentious proper boozer that doesn't need to be ostentatiously sniffy about things like music and sport in an attempt to broadcast 'authenticity'. I have a memory of a Friday night where the pub is full of punters on their feet dancing to Believe by Cher (inspired jukebox pick by someone) whilst a dog (the pub's dog?) happily goes from table to table to join in. Two of my best mates have a framed picture of The Hare in their hallway, it was the pub they had as their local when they first started dating.
A sad London pub conclusion is that some of the nice looking historical pubs bought by Sam's Smiths in recent years that often make it onto London pub favourites lists (Princess Louise, Cittie of Yorke, Fitzroy Tavern, Swiss Cottage, The Champion etc etc) actually deserve a miss these days because of the vingery beer and odd rules.
The main problem with Sam Smith’s pubs for me is that they aren’t cheap anymore. I could put up with the weird beer when it was 2/3 of the price of anywhere else.
I used to live bang opposite the Marquis of Cornwalis, above a nail salon, 2007. Safe to say I never went in any pubs on BG road. The Carpenters, though, was actually better than it looked - they had a jazz there around 2009/2010 and it became sort-of-ironic cool for a while (at a time when irony hadn't made it past Shoreditch high st). Imagine the Palm Tree must feature...
Pretty sure the Palm Tree is in there. Cornwallis was actually ok. Not exactly welcoming but not unwelcoming either. We must have crossed over at some point somewhere.
London’s pubs are a source of joy. I used to live upstairs from the Old Cheshire Cheese, law school was close to the Cittie of York, and with my then fianceé and now wife we spent many happy Sundays in the Bunch of Grapes and Captain Kidd in Wapping
In the late 90s, early noughts I had a real regular watering hole. When I came in, I was greeted by the others at the bar, and I got my beer after just giving a nod to the bar man or woman. Nice and interesting crowd there, but in the end I spent much more time there than was healthy. When I got together with my now wife, we soon moved out of the area, which was definitely good for me.
At the new place I found a slightly weird pub run by a New Zealander, with lots of expats from the UK, Ireland, US, mainly, and of course the locals. Super interesting and nice crowd, switching from English to German and back all the time. Several musicians, teachers, at least three published authors. I spent a lot of time there, too, but no longer living alone, not quite as much, fortunately. Closed when the owner retired and didn't find a successor, sadly.
Great to see the first memory you share is of The Hare, a completely unpretentious proper boozer that doesn't need to be ostentatiously sniffy about things like music and sport in an attempt to broadcast 'authenticity'. I have a memory of a Friday night where the pub is full of punters on their feet dancing to Believe by Cher (inspired jukebox pick by someone) whilst a dog (the pub's dog?) happily goes from table to table to join in. Two of my best mates have a framed picture of The Hare in their hallway, it was the pub they had as their local when they first started dating.
A sad London pub conclusion is that some of the nice looking historical pubs bought by Sam's Smiths in recent years that often make it onto London pub favourites lists (Princess Louise, Cittie of Yorke, Fitzroy Tavern, Swiss Cottage, The Champion etc etc) actually deserve a miss these days because of the vingery beer and odd rules.
The main problem with Sam Smith’s pubs for me is that they aren’t cheap anymore. I could put up with the weird beer when it was 2/3 of the price of anywhere else.
I used to live bang opposite the Marquis of Cornwalis, above a nail salon, 2007. Safe to say I never went in any pubs on BG road. The Carpenters, though, was actually better than it looked - they had a jazz there around 2009/2010 and it became sort-of-ironic cool for a while (at a time when irony hadn't made it past Shoreditch high st). Imagine the Palm Tree must feature...
Pretty sure the Palm Tree is in there. Cornwallis was actually ok. Not exactly welcoming but not unwelcoming either. We must have crossed over at some point somewhere.
London’s pubs are a source of joy. I used to live upstairs from the Old Cheshire Cheese, law school was close to the Cittie of York, and with my then fianceé and now wife we spent many happy Sundays in the Bunch of Grapes and Captain Kidd in Wapping
That’s quite an address. Above the Olde Chesshire Cheese.
Mary Queen of Scots House. No connection except one owner in 19th C was a very patriotic Scot.
For my money The Chesham Arms is the loveliest pub in East London.
I spent a lot of time in Hackney pubs too (book is almost 100% Tower Hamlets) but never the Chesham Arms.
In the late 90s, early noughts I had a real regular watering hole. When I came in, I was greeted by the others at the bar, and I got my beer after just giving a nod to the bar man or woman. Nice and interesting crowd there, but in the end I spent much more time there than was healthy. When I got together with my now wife, we soon moved out of the area, which was definitely good for me.
At the new place I found a slightly weird pub run by a New Zealander, with lots of expats from the UK, Ireland, US, mainly, and of course the locals. Super interesting and nice crowd, switching from English to German and back all the time. Several musicians, teachers, at least three published authors. I spent a lot of time there, too, but no longer living alone, not quite as much, fortunately. Closed when the owner retired and didn't find a successor, sadly.
I certainly spent less time in the pub after I got married too.