Randomness Guide to London Menu

Pub in Brentwood, in the Good Beer Guide.

The decor is traditional — patterned carpet, upholstered banquettes, and matching dark-varnished wooden tables and chairs. Black-painted bits of wood are nailed to the ceiling and walls to simulate beams and timbering.

There are two distinct areas, perhaps reflecting a previous division into public and saloon bars. The side facing the main road is almost bare of furniture, with a dartboard at one end. Around the corner of the bar from here is the larger "saloon" side, with old photos and maps on the walls, and a flatscreen mounted above a tiled fireplace. Small porcelain vases on the tables hold fabric flowers.

Kake visited on a Friday afternoon in September 2015. There were four other customers in when I arrived a little after their opening time of 3pm, making rather subdued conversation at the bar, though things livened up quite a lot as time went on and more people arrived. Everyone except me seemed to know each other. No music was playing when I came in, but after serving me the bartender put some on — a firmly 80s-focused mix including Salt N Pepa, Robert Palmer, A-ha, Tears For Fears, and Michael Jackson. This was turned right down once conversation picked up, to the point of being barely audible.

Four of the five handpumps were on, clipped for Otter (3.60/pint), Sharp's Cornish Coaster (1.70/half), London Pride, and Timothy Taylor Landlord.

According to their website as of August 2015, they "are child-friendly", "well-behaved dogs are very welcome", and "a bowl of water and dog treats are always available". No food seems to be served other than "bar nibbles, including pickled eggs", and roast potatoes and bread pudding on Sundays. (There was indeed a jar of pickled eggs behind the bar on our visit). Also according to their website, quiz night is every Monday except bank holidays, from 9pm, and they have a function room for hire.

Accessibility: Two steps and then another step to get in. No steps to the toilets once you're in. Step-free from outside to a small part of the beer garden, but one step to the rest.

See also:

• Pubs Galore comments
• Beer In The Evening comments
• WhatPub entry