October 2024. Borough. London.
Mum is in Addenbrookes for the week for tests, and Mrs RM and I are going mad staying in my parents house in a way only the eternally restless will understand.
Knowing we need to grab respite when we can, we jumped on the first train south on Wednesday and ended up at Kings Cross, Mrs RM heading off to tick museums while I ticked new London pubs.
It would have helped if I’d popped back to the house to fetch my GBG, as I suddenly realised I had no idea what was new and exciting in the capital, bar a vague memory of stuff in SE1.
Borough looked resplendent in its autumn sweater.
And luckily, the estimable Jim of Saddleworth fame, the official GBG historian, had a spreadsheet,
and I reckoned the Roebuck was a definite newbie for me.
The big problem for the Roebuck is that it’s a minute further on from the Royal Oak, and if you get distracted by Harvey’s Old there then all is lost.
Stay at the Oak and you’ll miss a gem of a corner pub,
reminiscent of that Poets place in Hove.
An airy pub with an attractive lunch menu,
comfortable seating and a sensible cask range including a local Southwark Pale, a fruity 3.5.
Looks can be deceiving, I reckon. Great head on the beer.
The cheery, chatty, young barman waved the contactless reader at me without mentioning a price, so I was a bit surprised to see a mere £5.10 pop up. I’ve paid more in Sheffield for a similar pint.
Five lone blokes take up position round the walls, the barman greets the Old Boys like his parents.
“And remember, I love ya“.
Perhaps it was his dad.
A modern gem,
but could I resist the lure of the Royal Oak on the return to the tube ?
retiredmartin 
I hope not.
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I did.
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Went in there when my lad was a cool hipster living nearby.He’s now back in Maidstone,almost nextdoor to the First & Last .It;s not cool& not in the beer guide (I don;t think ) & I also reckon a pint of Landlord will be north of £5 .Also no view of the Shard from his back door.I’m glad he’s back “home ” though
Pauline
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“Home” but not home !
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indeed -he bounced back here once when he left London ,for a few months only.He lost weight because we fed him properly.He’s unlikley to return as he is a Dad now ! (Still eating too many takeaways though )
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You’re right, Pauline, the First & Last probably not a beer guide pub but looks cosy enough ! Simon and I liked the Walnut Tree down the road
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I remember the First and Last from the time I lived in Maidstone. A proper locals pub, but none the worse for that.
Glad to hear it is still trading.
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Yes it seems to be doing ok -the new landlady is a young girl. We are not too local (Allington) so we don’t go in ,in case we accidentally sit in someones seat !
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