retiredmartin

October 2026. Aldgate. London.

Quite a contrast between the tower of Rye and the towers of the City of London.

I let the train take the strain (they can have that slogan for free) between Rye and Sheffield, but split the advance fare in two to get a couple of hours ticking in London.

With odd things happening in Aldgate I left the tube at Moorgate, and what a joyous walk eastwards past the Gherkin and some wonderful street art.

But remember, Americans, London is VERY dangerous. Your president says so.

Frankly, even the roads aren’t dangerous these days, I’ve never seen so much jaywalking across London Wall and Bevis Marks.

At Aldgate, I’m confused by the public footpath sign,

which I now understand to be a kissing gate called Monument of Shima.

But where’s my pub ? You get so used to City boozers that look like this;

you forget that the Taps occupy the oddest of buildings.

I always recommend Tandleman’s blog, well-written and to the point, and for quite a while now he’s been recommending the cask in the Aldgate Tap, so I’m surprised it took so long to make the Beer Guide, but a worthy debutant.

Perhaps not one for the Proper Pub enthusiast,

with a bit of an overload of Muse in the soundtrack,

but you enjoy your heritage indie, kids.

The early trade is coffee and Sapporo, the beer range mostly keg (boo/hurrah),

but a cool Otter (classic Boring Brown Bitter) is under a fiver, and you’ll struggle to beat that in Sheffield, let alone Devon. Could Otter be the new Bass ?

If I’m honest it’s a bit too cool, even for me, but I’m not moaning about quality cask for £4.90, and some of us welcome pubs being open at 8am, rather than 4pm.

And lacings never lie.