
Only 5 weeks, folks, and you’ll be able to at least peer into pubs while being escorted to your sodden seat in a wine garden. DO NOT attempt to take pictures on the way to the inside loo or you’ll be prosecuted.
A rather picturesque mystery pub from England’s second city today, and a chance to play you one of the many classic observational tracks on my LP of 2018.
London, as you may know, is a small but improving city 200 miles from The North.

I think I’ll give a prize to anyone who knows what “Little Sea” is.
London is a big place; I believe they have TWO football teams. So here’s some clues to our very typical Victorian boozer with Salvation Army connections (I speak from personal experience).


I nearly went in this pub for a £2 pint of Abbot, no doubt a favoured London bolthole of Stafford Paul, on the day before the pubs closed, but succumbed to the ESB.

Actually, looks like it was IPA or nowt, which is a fine choice for a GBG regular. Where London leads the rest of us follow.
Anyway, I reckon you’ll know this one; Will Larter gave it 6 (SIX) on Pubs Galore, which narrows it down to 3,276.

This is exactly the sort of pub I’m missing right now. Entrance in the corner, a choice of seating to hide or chat or to the Old Boy about the news, burger and chips for £8.50, no difficult beer choices. Wonderful.

Incidentally, I have NO idea about the Camel. Say, isn’t that in Bethnal Green ?

Something to do with Rizla?
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No, the clue was where he said it would be, and I used it to find the pub very quickly.
I had no memory of going to this pub, but on reading my review I see I was there at a busy early evening period nearly four years ago, so the features in the photos were mostly obscured by people. I enjoyed my beer, which was not brewed at Bury St Edmonds but in Feltham. I might have given it a higher mark than 6 (SIX) in my review if it hadn’t been for the smell of food.
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Not sure how a pub survives in London without food, unless it’s a specialist beer pub like the Harp or the Taps, but I agree on the smells.
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We’re discussing the same pub, Will. The smell of chips, salt and vinegar to be specific, wasn’t it?
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Indeed. I was going to quote my review here, but I realised that Google then takes you straight back to the pub!
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… I realised after posting earlier that your reference to Rizlas was indeed derived from this pub’s name.
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Whitby ?
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I had to do this the plodder’s way
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Easy! Mind you, I used to work near there. Not sure I understand all the clues though.
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Ah, Ledley Judd!
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Some Googling took me down the wrong path to a First World War memorial, but I got there in the end.
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Ooh. Which WWI memorial, Bill?
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Imperial Camel Corps memorial, Victoria Embankment Gardens. No, I didn’t know about it either.
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“DO NOT attempt to take pictures on the way to the inside loo or you’ll be prosecuted.”
Couldn’t you tell them you have a weak bladder and this way you’ll how to find it quickly when you need to use it again? 😉
“London, as you may know, is a small but improving city 200 miles from The North.”
(slow golf clap)
“I think I’ll give a prize to anyone who knows what “Little Sea” is.”‘
The part of the English Channel that got cut off when the glaciers retreated from Studland?
(I used Google Maps) 😉
“London is a big place; I believe they have TWO football teams. ”
Mrs RM can use this as a reason why she takes the vaccine next week in your place. Definitely not in his right mind! 🙂
“I nearly went in this pub for a £2 pint of Abbot, no doubt a favoured London bolthole of Stafford Paul,”
Two quid in London? You’re having us on.
“This is exactly the sort of pub I’m missing right now. ”
I’d say ANY pub is one you’re missing right now.
“Incidentally, I have NO idea about the Camel. Say, isn’t that in Bethnal Green ?”
Sigh. I checked Google Maps for the distance between Bethnal Green and the Parcel Yard. And all I got was depressed at everything that’s bloody closed!
(British Museum, Tower of London, Madame Tussauds etc.) 😦
Cheers
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For John;
It’s the Skinners Arms near Euston/Kings Cross. In (Lesley) Judd Street, on the B(error)504, across the road from where Salvationist Publish & Supplies was for a century or more.
I’ve no idea about the camel !
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“no doubt a favoured London bolthole of Stafford Paul” – No, although I’ve very often been nearby, usually getting in the Euston Flyer or Mabel’s Tavern.
It doesn’t look as good as the Skinners Arms we know and love in Machynlleth.
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The one you persuaded me to go in though it “only” had Marston beers but then got in the Beer Guide the next month !
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– so you’ve not had to return ?
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I found this amongst the scores of pictures of London camel statues.
I’d have been stumped otherwise
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Worked in London a lot over the years and have definitely been in this one. Before my Pubs Galore (or BITE for that matter) reviewing days, so no review from me. Looks like a decent 7, but the beer selection in the photo looks like a 1.
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I think that pic must have been taken (and not that long ago) when they were cleaning lines or something, as all the reviews refer to exotic guest beers. It was pretty much IPA and Abbot 20 years ago !
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You’ve now convinced me that you’ve got a Blue Peter badge, was it for an exciting studio presentation on accountancy?
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Ugh, never watched that soppy rubbish, it was Captain Pugwash for me.
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I was definitely more Magpie. I had you down as a slightly domesticated Captain Caveman.
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Martin,
Yes, quite good, and contrary to popular belief the series did NOT feature Master Bates, Seaman Staines or Roger the Cabin Boy.
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I was in there last year and I left unimpressed, but I guess I will have to go back. I prefer the down to earth McGlynn’s down the road in that area.
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It’s no classic, but it’s continued presence in the Beer Guide suggests consistency !
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