Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 15 and Version 14 of Rake, SE1 9AG

A tiny pub around the back of Borough Market, with a great range of continental and American beers and a few on draught.

Although there's space for a few tables inside, the majority of seating is in the beer garden alongside one of the traders' car parks at Borough Market. Most of the garden is covered, and there are heat lamps for the cold weather, but do note that it closes earlier than the pub — it's worth asking the staff what time they plan to close it, so you can beat the rush inside. If drinking outside, the bar staff will request that you use a plastic glass, though these are sufficiently sturdy that they look to be glass initially.

There are a couple of handpumps with a rotating selection, and in August 2008 these were Dark Star Hophead (Dark Star Stout was on in August 2009 - they obviously like Dark Star!) and Thomas Hardy Ale (11.7%, £4.50/half). They also had Chimay 8% (£3.60/half), Applebocq and Sierra Nevada on draught, as well as a large double chilled cabinet behind the bar filled with various bottled beers.

Service is friendly, though the bar area is particularly small, so only a couple of people can fit there at any time. Toilets are fairly large, though the ladies was not open on our visit.

The Time Out review makes mention of food, but there was no sign of this on our visit.

See also:

• Beer In The Evening comments
• Fancyapint review
• Time Out review
• Boak and Bailey review
• Stonch's review
• Qype comments
• Tandleman's review
• Impy Malting review
• Another Impy Malting review

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