Old Haunts, Good Times

S had to go to London for a meeting this week and I'd been meaning to go to sell my beloved, but criminally underused, Leica camera so it made sense to make the trip together.

After S had concluded his business, and I'd spent a happy couple of hours at camera shops and bookshops I had a quick look in the Guide to see what pubs there were around to be explored.  Neither of us wanted to stray too far from getting back to Victoria for our train home so I was looking around the Charing Cross area.  To be honest, I was disappointed in what seemed to be available - lots of Nicholson's pubs (which are fine in their way but we wanted somewhere properly nice) and another couple of not-particularly-special places so we went for ol' faithful...or The Harp, as we know it.

I arrived about 10 minutes before S and so I braced myself for the usual crammed, hot, noisy space.  I took a deep breath and pushed inside.  It was different.  It was pleasantly peopled but there were a few seats available.  Ok, it was before 5pm but I was still surprised.

Delighted, I ordered a beer.  Stupidly, I failed to read the pump clip properly and just asked for it by name.  the lady behind the bar said "It's a strawberry saison, it's very fruity, is that what you want?".  She managed to do it without making me feel stupid, either (some skill).
"Errr...no, you're absolutely right...I definitely don't want that".
She offered me a couple of alternatives and I chose sensible beers for both of us and went to get a seat.

If I'm brutally honest, I was a tiny bit disappointed with the range on offer...specifically for us, that is:

London Pride (it's now a Fullers-owned pub)
Harveys Best (probably great if you don't see it often...but...you know...Sussex dweller an' that)
Dark Star Hophead (ditto)
The aforementioned Strawberry Saison (Celt beer)
Oakham Green Devil IPA (too strong for a starting beer)
Kentish Cobnut (I think...so we had one of those)
Brewsters (can't remember what it was but I had one of these)

However, the Brewsters was tip top, and the Green Devil which followed it was superb.  S had the Cobnut which was really good (much better than the description on the pump) and followed with a mouth-puckeringly dry cider which was recommended to him by the bar staff by offering him tasters.  He joined me in the final pint of Green Devil.

By the time we left the place was buzzing and I was really pleased to see quite so many women also drinking beer.

The Harp keeps up its standards despite the change in ownership.  By the time we left we were pleasantly sloshed, ready for food and reveling in our visit.

Happy days