UP THE JUNCTION. PRIDE DRINKING WELL IN THE FALCON

February 2024. Battersea.

Mrs RM had booked two nights at bargain rates (well, heaper than 5 pints of murk in Bermondsey) during the Travelodge New Year Sale, the only downside being an insalubrious looking location behind the grimier exit of Clapham Junction Station.

But that’s OK, we’re used to insalubrious, and Clapham Junction is only a Circle line and short hop from Victoria away from Liverpool Street. My 20 second sprint to Victoria’s Platform 15 past the back of the Spoons and leap of faith onto the Reigate departure will be a 2024 highlight.

I’m always delighted to find the busiest underground stations with snack kiosks; just a shame J & R had none of the fresh samosas I was really craving now.

Ooh look, there’s Battersea Power Station,

which at that precise moment Mrs RM was touring for the first time.

Despite setting off 3 hours before me from Tonbridge Mrs RM was to arrive 2 hours after me in Clapham Junction, meaning I had to find a pub since I’d promised I’d save my ticking till the evening.

Actually, slim GBG pickings round in Battersea these days, and the Eagle Ale Hous didn’t open till 3 (what is it with London’s disdain for lunchtime drinkers ?), so let’s give you a return to one of the Victorian classics;

No, it really is. Running pubs like the Falcon is what Nicholson’s do best,

and although it looks a bit touristy the trade is a heady mix of the bewildered, the infirm, the child or dog minder and the work-shy (me, apparently). Half-full at 2pm, at a guess.

Despite, or perhaps because, it’s lost that coveted Beer Guide place I loved it.

I always think London pubs are horribly defaced by the tatty flags during the rugby tournaments, almost as badly as at Halloween.

That famous island bar counter is so big I didn’t actually see the Brew York (now almost as ubiquitous as Fullers) until too late.

What Pub says “Reopened on 14th May 2014 with 18 handpumps for cask ale in the main bar and a further 4 to the side. Since then, the real ale choice has diminished but up to six will usually be available” and I’ve noted how some tighter beer ranges in London post-Covid have seemed to push quality up a bit.

Here’s more evidence.

A cool, chewy Pride, performing that rare trick for Fullers flagship of actually improving from a 3 to a 3.5, and NOT ending up tasting like cold tea.

And, while this will seem heresy to those of you in Sheffield or Stoke or Stranraer, £6 a pint in SW11 is almost at the lower end of price expectations.

But I wasn’t paying £16.50 for one of their famous pies. Oh no.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

18 thoughts on “UP THE JUNCTION. PRIDE DRINKING WELL IN THE FALCON”

  1. Is the Bermondsey beer mile worth the trip from Stockton? The weekends I looked at, as a 9-5er, saw rooms £200 which is no problem but could be better spent…

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  2. Never mind “the busiest underground stations with snack kiosks” I much preferred them with ticket kiosks.
    The Falcon is one of my favourite pubs in London.
    Never mind “paying £16.50 for one of their famous pies” a £1.50 pastie was eating well yesterday lunchtime in Stafford’s Kings Arms. And a Castle Rock “tap takeover” meant a Mild, Black Gold which I previously had in Digbeth’s Woodman.

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      3. Etu,
        It was Richard English of Partridge Green that taught us all about ergative verbs, that it wasn’t a proper verb unless it was an ergative verb if I remember correctly.

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      4. Well, I love it that verbs can have moods, Paul.

        “I really would like to come out tonight, but I’m feeling a bit subjunctive”, said the verb To Socialise.

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  3. I paid £15 for an.excellent, home made, chicken, ham and leek pie at the Dovecote, Capel, last Friday. It was a full meal as it came with mash, veg and gravy.
    That’s about the going rate, in these parts. 🥮

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      1. Well there’s probably no limit as to how much can be paid for a pie.
        In Leicestershire fifteen days ago an old school friend suggested a more upmarket pub than I had in mind. My duck and apricot pie, triple cooked chips and vegetables was £20. He insisted on paying for it and my Pedigrees which had been drinking as well as Pride ever does. .

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  4. I spent over three hours in the Bear, Paddington, on Saturday, nursing three lower alcohol beers all of which were rather nice (keg).

    Tomorrow AF, Wiper &True, 0.5%

    Table Beer, Kernel, 2.9%

    Petite Saison, Burning Sky, 3.5%

    Lovely pub, I thought.

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