I tried so hard to get a blog title using the Police classic (do Americans rate Zenyatta Mondatta ?). Not sure I succeeded.
“You get so dizzy even walking in a straight line“. Yep, that’s me.
Down to the Thames next, and a walk along the Narrow to the top of Canary Wharf.
It’s a long time since I was here, perhaps twenty years in Beer Guide time, but Pubmeister assures me there used to be basic E14 pubs in the GBG (North Pole ?, George ?, Gun ?). How things change.
Three entries in E14 are a Craft, a Spoons and a Nicholsons. London murk ahoy (joking, EL&C CAMRA).
Still a really great place to wander, though it seems to be the preserve of foreign tourists these days. You’ll know how popular the hotels round here are with Russian visitors.
The wonderful old Grapes used to be a Proper Pub in living memory, you know. One peep inside on a Sunday afternoon (I dare ya) will tell you what it is now. I saw two pashminas !
Into The Wharf, which I’ve always liked on behalf of the “blinking tower” (right). I guess it was built to warn publicans when BRAPA was in town.
BRAPA and Pauline both thought the Ledger Building was OK. And you can trust a Yorkie, eh readers ?
As you can see, the Ryder Cup was generating a white fever of excitement as I entered.
Obviously, you get a different crowd on Sunday to Friday lunchtime, a “cultural melting pot” that Simon and I obviously like. Tourists called Pashmina Pauline, Spanish language students, non-drunken Scots, all present and correct.
Very early 2000s Spoons by the look of it.
I went for a Pride, proud of myself for using the last CAMRA voucher to get the pint below £4. It looked the business.
And for the first half tasted great (NBSS 3.5). But then, for the third time in a month, Fuller’s finest lost its sparkle in the second half (NBSS 3 average).
Nicely buzzy, but a week after Si’s visit a bit dull. But then the taster terror arrived.
“Corbyn hat lady” as Si would no doubt name her won the respect and admiration of the Spoons staff by asking for three samplers, and taking them each back to her mate for a second opinion. And then buying a half of Doom Bar (probably).
Respect due. As no-one says these days.
retiredmartin 
I’ve always found that southern (London and surrounding area) bitter tends to be a bit like that. I think that’s why, when I lived down that way, all the locals used to put a bottle of pale ale into it, just to liven it up a bit. Can’t say I’ve noticed folk doing it recently.
Never forget a mate who came down for a visit holding his pint of LP up to the light, taking a swig and saying, ‘Not much to be proud about is it?’ Having said that, if well kept it can be a decent drink. That pub next to the Fuller’s brewery would be a good start.
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This one…
https://beerleeds.co.uk/2017/08/14/fullers-london-pride-and-the-mawsons-arms-chiswick/
Yes, London Pride is one of those beers I’m never sure about. It ought to be better at the Parcel Yard at Kings Cross, for example. I must have said, the unpasteurised keg version was nectar.
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Yes, that one, it was spot on and the pub always has brewery workers in after they have finished their early shift – says a lot I reckon.
Oh yes, The Parcel Yard where London tries it’s very hardest to squeeze the last few coppers out of your pocket before you return to the Great North! Joining apart, for a station pub it’s not a bad place to wait for your train.
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Yes, and the Parcel Yard opens at a sensible time too.
Soon Fullers will also have their Signal Box pub actually on Euston railway station, not that their Doric Arch is too far away.
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Finest pint of Pride in London is at the Anchor and Hope on the Lea Navigation in Hackney. Far superior to the Mawsons, Star Tavern or Parcel Yard.
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Bound to be back in Hackney soon, give it a go.
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All the locals used to put a bottle of pale ale into it, just to liven it up a bit – it’s either that or an Autovac !
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The Wetherspoons at LHR Terminal 2 always has Pride on in tip-top condition.
I always get there deliberately early for my flight to shift half a gallon of decent ale before heading home to stout.
On its day London Pride is superb.
A bit like the old Youngs BItter before brewing moved out of the capital.
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This North American, tip to Russ, was never a huge Police fan in general. I never really understood why Sting was viewed as so important musically. Miss on my part?
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Intermittently impressive singles, pompous bloke.
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Indeed.
I once travelled to the Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek in the Beqaa Valley to interview Mr Sumner.
Despite the exotic location he was,without doubt,one of the dullest people I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet and I include Arthur Scargill in that too.
Mind you his roadies had sourced some of the finest Lebanese hash available so the trip wasn’t entirely wasted.
Unlike meself for most of it.
Good times.
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You can’t beat good corn beef hash.
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Agreed.
Can be a tad tricky to get inside three Rizlas but worth the effort …
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Always nice to see your uninformed prejudiced opinion confirmed:) Frankly I always disliked the guy but could never really say why. You can’t help but bitterly hum along to Every Breath…though. I would not miss never hearing it again though.
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Bono without the glasses.
The only musicians worth bothering with are those you could imagine having a pint with – and enjoying it.
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I do not own a pashmina & on frequent visits to The Grapes I have not seen much evidence of pashmina wearing (although it is usually Friday lunchtime & packed with escapees from offices of Canary Wharf ,eating the rather delicious burgers they do in there )
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I concur, on occasional visits to The Grapes I have not seen much evidence of pashmina wearing (although it is usually Friday evening, as an escapee from a Canary Wharf office, drinking the rather delicious ales they do in there)
Friday lunchtime is the Ledger Building – always.
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Don’t spoil the whole premise of my blog, CP. And I have a BTEC in pashmina spotting (Grade II).
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Well, I can’t possibly compete with qualifications like that, so I gladly concede the point on Pashminas.
I also agree with your comment on the Addington, the beer quality is generally good – they do have a vast turnover mon-fri. Especially considering the local competition is Slug & Lettuce (£5.00 for a pint of pish) and All Bar One (£5.50 for a pint on pish).
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I think you can strike lucky in a high turnover, marginal cask place like that. Nicholsons pubs are very similar in feel, but I never really see them as specialising in cask.
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Yes. I think M&B’s pubs branded as Nicholsons specialise in food more than anything else, but that must be what’s most profitable.
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Great pics. All 3 you mention have been in the GBG at various times when they listed them under ‘Isle of Dogs’, a name that seems to be slipping gradually into history. Suppose Canary Wharf is the craft equivalent. Re your other post, I also found beer in the Henry Addington to be perfectly fine and quite enjoyed sitting outside in those surroundings.
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That’s right, let’s gang up on Si.
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Doesn’t that count as child abuse?
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You’ve noticed the Benjamin Button effect, too. Not many people know Si was a founding member of CAMRA at the age of 67.
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Police and hard fi inside four posts…you’re on a roll
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