Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 5 and Version 4 of Southampton Arms, NW5 1LE

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Accessibility: A step up to get in. At least one extra step to the gents', which are technically outside. There is not much room to manoeuvre inside.
Accessibility Info: At least one step to the gents', which are technically outside. There was possibly a step up at the entrance as well. There is not much room to manoeuvre inside.
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Very good real ale and real cider pub in Gospel Oak.

They serve an interesting range of real ales and ciders, as well as two Meantime brewery lagers (Helles £3.20/pint and Kolner £3.40, as of July 2010). Drinks are served in dimpled handled jugs (except the lagers). As of July 2010, all ciders and perries are £3.20 (a four-pint jug is £12.20) and real ales are £2.90 (with a four-pint jug £11.20). They will do four-pint takeaways, charging you a £2 deposit for the container.

On bob's July 2010 visit all 12 hand pumps photo had something on, and there were three extra poly-pins of cider on behind the bar, for a total of 7 ales, 7 ciders and 1 perry — examples included Ottley No. 1, Maypole Mild, Chocwork Orange, and Dark Star Extra Stout (the latter of these being the only ale coming from a brewery you regularly see elsewhere). Two of the ales were finished during our visit and replaced with something different. All of the ales were very good, as were the ciders and the perry. On Ewan's visit a couple of days later, there were 7 ales and 4 ciders (including ales by Dark Star, Red Squirrel, Art Brew and others, with ciders by Millwhites, Burrow Hill). We also noticed that they had a suggestion form for beer or ciders you would like them to get.

Food was pretty basic, consisting of pork pies (£3 for half a large one) photo, sausage rolls, scotch eggs (although on bob's visit they only had vegetarian ones), a cheese selection, salami, and roast pork baps. The pork pie was very tasty and had the right amount of jelly, i.e. not noticeably any.

On a Thursday night it was busy inside and out with a crowd of friendly people. The bar staff were pleasant and seemed to be actually enjoying themselves.

They accept cash only. There's a quiz night on Mondays, and live music on Wednesdays.

bob's verdict: As a real ale drinker, I'd say this pub has joined the ten or so pubs in London which are really worth going to. If you drink real cider you should stop what you're doing and go right now.

Accessibility Info: At least one step to the gents', which are technically outside. There was possibly a step up at the entrance as well. There is not much room to manoeuvre inside.

See also:

Last visited by Ewan, 3 July 2010. Opening hours taken from the Southampton Arms website, August 2010.

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