17th October 2007
Lovely olde worlde pubbe in the cittie of Londonee
Sorry, got a bit carried away there! This is a gem of pub on a little cobbled alleyway, the sort which would make you feel like you lived in Dickensian times if it wasn't for all the typical high street food and clothes stores which line this street.
So amongst all these its a nice surprise to find this quaint old pub, with lots of original features including exposed beams which date back to the 17th century (I think, if not they are nonetheless very old indeed). The floors are wonky and the staircases steep and scary. Exactly the sort of character that a building this old should deliver.*
The bar is ideal for people-watching and is usually quite busy. Men who like to drink pints whilst standing up favour this part of the pub. I like the back room, which has mixed level (and mixed comfort) seating, and is much cosier with its soft lighting and candles.
On my first visit was I surprised to notice that this was actually a chain pub - a Nicholson's - as it retains so much charm! The hallmarks of its ownership are only evident really in its uniformed staff, the food menus and those chalk boards with food and drink specials.
This has been my favourite pub for post-work drinks for a good while now but as we've just recently booked this venue for our work christmas party we thought we'd drop by for lunch today to 'officially' check out the food. Work refused to pick up the tab, sadly. The upstairs dining area (also the function room) was open so we ate up there. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient, if perhaps a little too efficient - asking me whether I was ready to order my food and I'd not even had chance to look at a menu! Sausages are meant to be the speciality at this place, so it would've been rude not to order the toad in the hole. It didn't disappoint - an enormous crispy yorkshire pudding was filled to the brim with steaming hot buttery mash, two great big fat meaty sausages, perfectly cooked veggies - all smothered in gravy. Oooh, I could eat it all over again!
I did my usual trick of ignoring my dining companions for a while to nose around at other people's food and everything looked well tasty. All portions were massive, all prices were reasonable, all people looked very happy! Especially that couple sat at the next table who shared a huge slab of gooey looking chocolate cake served with a big dollop of ice-cream. Mmmm.
To sum up the food - its very good value, very tasty, and upstairs at Ye Olde Watling it is served with the efficiency and care you'd get at a restaurant but at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure the service downstairs is pretty decent though.
The pub itself is consistently good, no complaints from me.
* Just had a thought - it does have a disabled toilet and wide doorways so whilst it is quirky and wobbly and olde worlde, it is accessible to all.
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