The Monopoly Pub Crawl or
Take another Chance and Go to Jail (and do not collect £200)
Advanced Drinking Section
It's been a while since we last spent the whole day drinking, and even
longer since we first attempted to visit a drinking establishment on every street
(plus stations) of the Monopoly(tm) board
Here we go again
Naturally, as on our first foray, there has been some compromise. For
example, not all the streets actually contain pubs (e.g. Pall Mall, Piccadilly, Regent
Street, Bond Street). Also we may be stymied by some of the pubs being closed, but
I'm sure the pioneering spirit will be able to overcome that one. We've tried to
actually go to more PUBS this time which has entailed even more flexibility
than before. Finally, although there is a pub on Oxford Street, I just couldn't
in all honesty force the army of pub crawlers to go into it (Oh, yes, it didn't fit
very nicely into a route either).
You'll see more or less the same format here as in previous pub crawls,
with a couple of important differences:
This crawl also has some necessary items of equipment over and above
that normally required:
I expect that there will be those who can't face getting up at the
crack of dawn on a Saturday to get down to Old Kent Road before eleven o'clock. To
accommodate those folks, and to leave some time for eating, there are a couple of
extended stays along the route. They are:
The route has been put together to make a reasonably interesting day's
excursion in London, but most importantly to enable the complete list of places to
be taken in during the time available. Not all the streets on the Monopoly board
have pubs on them so wherever possible the pub we visit is at least close
to the street concerned. The star ratings are exceedingly approximate, and we
will not be able to spend a lot of time in most of the pubs. So, no relaxing,
at least during the early stages. It'll be very difficult to catch up time later
when we're brainless.
This pub is not very near any tube stations, but the Old Kent Road
is served by quite a number of buses. We'll probably take the 53 from Elephant &
Castle tube station, but the 42 (from Aldgate via Tower Hill) and the 21 (from Borough
I think) go here as well. If you need to ask for directions, you need the stop AFTER
the Bricklayers Arms.
We expect to be at the cafe mentioned below by about 10.30.
| The George/Starburger | **1/2(pub) * (cafe) |
| Tower Bridge Road, near Old Kent Road Time - up to 11:10 | Courage Best |
| During the dry run we decided to forego the pleasure
of drinking from cans at the bus stop while hoping that The World Turned Upside
Down would open before the bus arrives. We discovered that just around the corner
from the big junction of the Old Kent Road and the New Kent Road was a quite acceptable
pub, which actually opened at 11:00 on a Saturday. Opposite is a branch of the Starburger
chain which does an acceptable breakfast for those in need of advance fortification.
For a really good breakfast, track back to the 192 Cafe, at 192 Old Kent Road.... | |
Cross the road from the pub and take the number 42 bus (same side of
the road as the cafe). This bus will be showing Aldgate or Liverpool Street as the
destination. It leaves at 11:12 and 11.27 - we'll try to catch the 11:12 to keep
up with time. The bus heads north across Tower Bridge, and we alight on the stop
just after, at Tower Gateway DLR station. For those joining us at this point, Tower
Hill LUL station is just nearby.
Carry on walking up Minories, turn left into Crosswall. Going on down
you carry on straight under the railway bridge (Crutched Friars now), past the Cheshire
Cheese. Just as Crutched Friars turns into Hart Street, take the cut through to the
right, into the square where the station is. Enter Fenchurch Street Station,
go up the stairs to the platforms, and over behind you to the right is:
| The Raven Bar | ** |
| Fenchurch Street Station Free House Time - up to 11:40 | John Smiths |
| There seems to have been some improvement in
the bars that inhabit BR stations these days. This small little one will be quiet
when we are there, but the windows have an interesting view of some of the modern
architecture of the City of London. We'll pass over the beer, but then your tastebuds
may not be working yet... Hopefully Fenchurch street station will be open this time,
unlike before. | |
Leave the station, staying on the Right-hand side of the square. Turn
right into Fenchurch Street and walk straight until it turns into Aldgate High Street.
Cross the road in front of St. Botolph's church, carry on past Aldgate tube station.
On the corner of Middlesex Street take the subway (Exit 13), and proceed to Exit
15. You're now on Whitechapel High Street, carry on past Aldgate East tube station,
the Seven Stars (shut), the site of Bloom's famous Kosher restaurant (shut - now
Burger King). At this point the road changes into Whitechapel Road, and if
Clutterbuck's Ale House is open, we'll go in there.
The odds are it won't be, however, so a little more walking is called
for. Walk past the second Aldgate East tube entrance, then take the left up Osborn
Street. Carry on up, as this turns into Brick Lane. Go past the Archery Tavern which
is being renovated, and after a couple more streets, take the right into Heneage
street, where you'll see:
| The Pride of Spitalfields | **** |
| Heneage Street, near Whitechapel Road Free House Time - to 12:00 | Fuller's London Pride, ESB Crouch Vale IPA Ohanlon's Spring Gold |
| Well, on the dry run Clutterbuck's was closed
at 12:00, and showed no sign of opening. However, every cloud has a silver lining,
and in this case, that means we get to go to the delightful Pride, a small backstreets
pub not unknown to members of the recce team. You probably won't have time to take
it in properly, and the Spring Gold was a bit suspect on the dry run. In case you were wondering about The Nag's Head, which we visited on
the first running of this event, well it's turned into an all-day strip joint... | |
If we're in Clutterbucks, it's back to Aldgate East and take the tube
to Liverpool Street. If we're in The Pride, it'll be a walk:
Out of the pub back onto Brick Lane, cross over then head up to Fournier
Street. Walk in a straight line, across Commercial Street into Brushfield Street,
and thence to Bishopsgate. Liverpool Street is right in front of you, go down it
(left) a little way and cross at the lights. The Hamilton Hall is on your left just
before you enter the station:
| The Hamilton Hall | ***½ |
| Liverpool Street Station J.D.Wetherspoon's Time - to 12.45 | Theakston Best Courage Directors William Youngers Scotch Ale Ringwood Old Thumper, Fullers London Pride |
| The ex-ballroom at the Great Eastern hotel has
been turned into a vast beer hall by the Wetherspoons organisation. We'll be staying
here a little longer than most of the pubs to enable those who didn't get breakfast
to order some food (always available here). Also it'll be a good rendezvous point
for the folks who didn't make it out of bed on time! The rest of us will read the
books scattered around on the shelves.... | |
Out of bar by the entrance at the back near the loos. Left along the
gallery of the station past McDonald's (eat here if you must). Go to the bus
station, stop C, were we get the number 214 bus (a single decker yellow thing). It
leaves at 12:48, so we'll be making sure you leave in time This leaves the station,
goes up through Finsbury Circus and along City Road (look out for The Eagle - as
in "Pop Goes the Weasel"), until it reaches The Angel, Islington.
Alight just before the main road junction (by the green clock in the road). Walk
about 50 yards up the road towards the junction, and take the little passage on the
left (Lion passage) into:
| The Old Red Lion | **½ |
| Angel, Islington Charrington Time - to 13:15 | Bass Fuller's London Pride |
| A nice old traditional pub complete with theatre
upstairs. You may begin to feel the pace by now, but this is only the beginning.
Enjoy a moment of repose with the quiet Saturday clientele. | |
Out of the pub (front door), Right, up to junction, turn left along
Pentonville Road. Just 100 yards along, over on the other side of the road
is:
| The Pint Pot | **½ |
| Pentonville Road Free House Time - to 13:35 | Greene King IPA Greene King Abbot Riding Bitter Marston's Bitter |
| Very unprepossessing outside but cosy inside.
You can get a toasty here if you're getting hungry, but we probably won't spend long
here. A surprisingly high ceiling adds some space, and there is a genuine Irish feel
to the place, unlike so many of the recent "Oirish" theme pubs. They may
have Bass and London Pride, but they were off when we recce'd (again!). | |
Leave pub, cross Pentonville road and go to the next bus stop. Any
bus leaving from here will take us to King's Cross Station (numbers 30/70/214).
Alight from the bus outside and go into the station. Right alongside platform 8 is:
| Coopers | *½ |
| Kings Cross Station Free House Time - to 13:55 | Worthington Best Bass Courage Directors Theakstons Best |
| Newly refurbished and looking suspiciously like
the "Coopers" on Waterloo station. It'll probably be quite busy due to
it's proximity to the platform, but we won't be staying long! Out of the railway
stops this one feels most like a train-spotters refuge. Watch the InterCity trains
leaving for the North East of England and that foreign land North of the Border. | |
Leave the station by the side entrance, cross the road towards St.
Pancras station, and walk about 150 yards along Euston Road. You'll reach:
| The Friar & Firkin | *** |
| Euston Road Allied Time - to 14:30 | Confessional,Friar Bitter,Dogbolter Full Mash Mild Westons Old Rosie Scrumpy |
| Another chance to catch your breath, and those
who did make breakfast may feel like eating here. This pub has not improved despite,
or maybe because of, doubling in size. The Allied breweries ownership of the Firkin
brand has not done much for it, other than multiply the numbers of pubs carrying
it. Still, it's not too bad and every now and the beer can be good. Probably best
to avoid the Dogbolter, though. | |
The next link is (still) a bit tricky. We didn't bother trying the
buses on the dry run this time, none of them seem to run all the way along the Euston
Road Westwards. So, we'll try the tube: Cross Euston Road (GREAT CARE), and walk
further along it to Euston Square tube station. Take the Circle or Hammersmith &
City or Metropolitan to Baker Street. Emerge from the station, turn right, cross
Baker Street and carry on along Marylebone Road for 150-200 yards. Turn right into
Central Street (just before the hotel and you'll come to Marylebone Station.
Into the station, and on the far left end of the concourse:
| The Victoria & Albert | ** |
| Marylebone Station Free House Time - to 15:00 | Worthington Best Theakstons XB Bass Fuller's London Pride |
| Large but with a cosy feel. You may prefer to
get a coffee from the many catering outlets at the station by this time. Since the
next pub is some distance, we'll try to be as quick as possible here. | |
This is probably going to be the longest link between pubs, unless
we get really lucky with the buses. Leave the station, head back to Marylebone Road.
In front of the hotel catch a bus. Number 2 would be great, it goes all the way to
our next pub, but any going as far as Baker Street will do. If we don't get a no.2,
change at the Baker Street stop for a 2/74/82 going towards Hyde Park Corner (we'll
probably have to cross Marylebone Road to join the southern section of Baker Street.
Whatever bus we get, alight right outside of The London Hilton hotel,
on Park Lane. Walk past the hotel and take the left hand of the two roads
that lead south, Old Park Lane. Near the bottom, opposite the memorabilia shop of
the Hard Rock Cafe is:
| The Rose & Crown | ** |
| Old Park Lane Scottish Courage Time - to 15:30 | Theakston Best |
| Near to some very nice parts of town, this is
a comfortable and welcoming pub. "Nice" was one of the words used by a
member of the recce team, and maybe I shouldn't add any more. A couple of beers were
off and we were astonished by the most unusual prophylactics - kangaroo flavour.
The mind boggles. | |
Back up Old Park Lane, turn right into Hertford Street. Continue down
to the end, turn the corner, the Shepherd Tavern will be in front of you. Turn and
walk along Shepherd Street, you'll see the King's Arms at the end. Just left from
here in the little market square of Shepherd Market, Mayfair, you'll see:
| The Grapes | **** |
| Shepherd's Market, Mayfair Free House Time - to 15:50 | Fuller's London Pride,Boddingtons Greene King IPA, Wadworth's 6X Martsons Pedigree, Flowers Original |
| A lovely little pub in the heart of Shepherd
Market. If it's a nice day we'll be able to sit outside and watch the world passing
by in this traditionally slightly down at heel place that has become a little oasis.
If you're inside you can see the hunting trophies, deer heads, grouse, fish, plus
guns etc. Chances are you won't have time. | |
Leave the Grapes, walking down White Horse Street. When you get to
Piccadilly, turn left (if you don't get sidetracked by the paintings on the
railings of Green Park opposite). Carry on along Piccadilly for about 200 yards,
past Green Park station. Once you've walked almost past The Ritz (opposite), cross
Piccadilly at the junction, and head down Arlington Street. On the corner of this
and Bennet street is:
| The Blue Posts | ** |
| Bennet Street, Piccadilly Scottish Courage Time - to 16:10 | Bateman's Valiant Courage Best, Directors Theakstons Best |
| No pubs are actually on Piccadilly, so this will
have to do. The pub we visited last time (The Clarence in Dover Street) was shut
during the the dry run, but luckily this one was open. There's an open main bar with
some benches and seats outside so that we can sun ourselves while we grab a quick
drink.... | |
Carry on down Bennet Street and cross St. James Street at the crossing.
Walk down St. James Street until you reach King Street, on the left.
Now we have an agonising decision. There are actually no pubs on Pall
Mall, but there are two pubs here which are very close. They are quite similar
in size, so we'll probably make the final decision on the day! Here's the review
of The Golden Lion, which is on King Street itself:
| The Golden Lion (The Red Lion) | *** |
| King Street, Pall Mall Nicholson's Time - 16:30 | Marston's Pedigree Adnams Southwold Ale Tetley (Red Lion - Pride, Bass) |
| A small pub but the only one with Adnam's during
the day (well, on the dry run anyway). Probably pretty quiet until we get there. In case we get to the Old Red Lion, this is what we wrote last time: A very small cosy pub, where some members of the recce team are known
to retreat when in the West End. Calls itself "The last village pub in Central
London", and who am I to argue. Perhaps half of you will see this pub and the
other half The Golden Lion which is on King Street itself.... | |
Down Crown Passage (or Angel Court if we end up in the Golden Lion)
to Pall Mall. Now we stroll along the length of Pall Mall past the "gentlemens"
clubs, The RAC, The Oxford & Cambridge etc. Cross the road just before the Institute
of Directors, at Waterloo Place, but continue on Pall Mall.
We reach Cockspur Street and Trafalgar Square (pub for this later),
and continue on the right hand side of the road until we reach Whitehall.
Carry on around the corner, past the Whitehall Theatre until you reach:
| The Lord Moon of the Mall | ***½ |
| Whitehall J.D.Wetherspoons Time - to 16:50 | Everards Tiger Ringwood Old Thumper Courage Best, Directors Younger's Scotch, Ushers Founder, Pride |
| A recent Wetherspoons conversion of a magnificent
high-ceilinged building. A shame we won't have time to linger, but maybe you can
just fall on the floor and look up, as this is HALF-WAY! Even during the recce we
couldn't decide exactly what beers where here, but enjoy them nonetheless. Take care going to the toilet in this place, it's downstairs and along
a maze of twisty passages, all alike. | |
Out of the pub and cross the road - VERY GREAT CARE - MAY BE BEST TO
GO BACK TO THE LIGHTS. Walk down Whitehall, past The Clarence then round the
corner to the left, down Great Scotland Yard until you reach Northumberland Avenue
(for the observant we've just done three streets in the correct order of the Monopoly
board). Cross the Avenue, and you'll see just at the bottom of Northumberland Street:
| The Sherlock Holmes | *** |
| Northumberland Street Whitbread Time - to 17:10 | Boddingtons, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Sherlock Holmes Ale (really), Flowers Original |
| Yes, it is corny, but this is still a worthwhile
pub. If you can ignore the stuffed bloodhound and all the oodles of Holmesian stuff
on the walls (and Mrs. Hudson's Pantry) you'll find this a congenial place to quaff
a pint or two (but maybe not today!). | |
Nip down Craven Passage, keep going under the tunnel (The Arches of
Flanagan & Allen fame), until you reach Villiers Street. The hungry ones amongst
us might want to grab some food on the hoof as we pass the fast-food places turning
right down towards Embankment tube station.
Into the tube station, take the Circle/District line going EAST. Go
two stops to Blackfriars. Take Exit 8 from the station, walking up to Ludgate Circus,
and take a left into Fleet Street. No longer the centre of the press, but
many old buildings remain to remind you. Walk about 100 yards up the road, and on
the right-hand side, up a little passage is:
| Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese | ***½ |
| Fleet Street Sam Smiths Time - to 17:45 | Old Brewery Bitter |
| A very famous old pub, "rebuilt in 1667",
with a maze of little bars and small snugs. They probably won't all be open when
we visit but the "front" bar, which you enter from the passage, will be
quiet and welcoming. Some of us swear by Museum Ale, but Sams have stopped sending
it down to their pubs in the South. Shame. | |
Back out on to Fleet Street, and continue walking. We may get lucky
and hop on a bus, but it's an interesting walk, past the Royal Courts of Justice,
Bush House home of the BBC World Service, and the church on an island in the middle
of the road. Just past Waterloo Bridge we enter The Strand and just on the
left is the next pub.
| The Wellington | *½ |
| Strand Charrington Time - to 18:15 | Bass Fuller's London Pride |
| We'd much rather be going into The Lyceum
which is more or less next door, but it's shut for refurbishment (why did it need
refurbishing?). Still we'll not be long here. | |
Out of the pub, turn up Wellington Road, towards Covent Garden. Keep
going until you reach the point where it turns into Bow Street. Just on the
corner is:
| The Marquess of Anglesey | ***½ |
| Bow Street Youngs Time - to 18:35 | Youngs Bitter Youngs Special Youngs Oregon Amber |
| This place has changed out of all recognition
since the last time we ran this event, and is now Young's flagship pub in London
(you can see it on all their poster ads). It's typical of the modern, slightly more
continental Youngs pub, and actually it's a big improvement over it's last incarnation.
They seem to have hired friendlier bar staff too... | |
Follow the sounds of the buskers and street entertainers to Covent
Garden market square, meander through to Henrietta Street (SW corner). Walk past
Porter's, then straight across Bedford Street into the alley that is Bedford Court.
Carry on more or less straight until you reach St. Martin's Lane (by Brief Encounter).
Turn left, walk past The Coliseum, and just before you get to Trafalgar Square
(I know it's a cheat), you'll stumble on:
| The Chandos | ***½ |
| St.Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square Sam Smiths Time - to 19:00 | Old Brewery Bitter |
| It can sometimes be a bit too busy this place,
but it's still a pub we return to again and again. A wood panelled area downstairs
with cosy booths that are always full, and a lounge upstairs with comfy leather chairs
make this a great place to stop. Savour your last glass of OBB and contemplate dinner. | |
Up Charing Cross Road away from the Square, cross the road just past
the National Portrait Gallery (there's a handy zebra crossing). Carry on up, and
take the left on the pedestrianised road called Irving Street, leading to Leicester
Square. Just round the corner on the right, next to the Capital Radio Cafe is:
| The Moon Under Water | ** |
| Leicester Square J.D.Wetherspoon's Time - to 19:45 | Theakstons XB,Theakstons Best, Courage Directors,Youngers Scotch London Pride, Spinnaker Buzz |
| A large, BUSY, pub on Leicester Square in the
Wetherspoons chain with one of the original names. You can get food here, but you
might prefer to sample to delights of one of the many emporia near by. The next pub
is but a stagger away, and we won't be leaving it until around 20:15, so there should
be time (always assuming you're in a fit state to remember how to say "Big Mac
& fries"). | |
OK, pressing on, take the diagonal path right across the middle of
Leicester Square (just for the hell of it!). Pass the Swiss Centre on your right.
Cross Whitcomb Street (CARE the cars come from unexpected directions), and then you're
in Coventry Street. Take an immediate left down Oxenden Street, and there
is:
| The Comedy | *** |
| Oxenden Street, Coventry Street Free House Time - to 20:15 | Greenalls Bitter, Original Tetley, Worthington Best Bitter |
| A large dark pub with walls covered in show-biz
memorabilia. You may fall asleep in here unless their music night is running (in
the downstairs bar). Likely to be fairly busy. The alternative, the Tom Cribb, had
"COUPLES ONLY" on the door, so we thought better of it. | |
Approaching the final stretch, just five more to go. Turn right out
of the pub, then right again down Panton Street. Cross The Haymarket and go straight
down Norris Street. We are near to Regent Street now, so it must be time for
another pub:
| The Captain's Cabin | * |
| Norris Street, nr Regent Street Scottish Courage Time - to 20:35 | Courage Best Courage Directors Theakstons Best |
| We may want to move on soon from this place,
it's certainly not one of the favourites of the recce team. There are some attempts
at "theming" the place with large ropes, pictures of ships and portholes
but this can't disguise an unwelcoming pub which survives on passing rather than
regular trade. Ownership by Scottish Courage hasn't helped. Enough said. | |
Take left/right dog-leg out of the pub, down Carlton Street onto Lower
Regent Street (yes we actually do walk in it). Head up to Piccadilly Circus,
then left down Piccadilly. Cross at the second set of pedestrian lights, in front
of St. James' church. Head up Swallow street, and you'll see Vine Street to
your right. There is only a police station there, so don't go shouting out at them.
For refreshment you can either whip out one of your emergency cans, stand in front
of the police station and sup it greedily (dangerous) or you can go a little up Swallow
Street to the next resting place:
| Bentley's Cabin (DOWNSTAIRS) | ** |
| Swallow Street, Vine Street Wine Bar Time - to 21:10 | Boddingtons Gold |
| Well, this is the joker in the pack. First of
all, DONT TRY TO GO INTO BENTLEY'S WINE BAR UPSTAIRS, you'll not be welcome! Second
of all Boddington's Gold is not better than Boddingtons. It's nitrokegged out of
existence and frozen to death. Probably best to have the Guinness.... | |
Now we have a bit of a walk, so prepare yourselves. Emerge from Swallow
Street onto Regent Street (again). Turn left and start walking. Go only as far as
Beak Street on the Right, and cross the road to go down it (New Burlington Mews is
opposite). Carry on down Beak Street until you reach Carnaby Street. Stroll up here
trying to remember what the sixties were like, and at the very top is Great Marlborough
Street, and our next pub:
| The Fanfare & Ferkin | *** |
| Gt.Marlborough Street Allied Time - to 21:40 | Fanfare, Hornblower, Wind Ale, Dog Bolter, Full Mash Mild, Best Mild Weston's Old Rosie Scrumpy |
| Another Ferkin, with the usual ale suspects with
clever, clever, names. Still it saves us a longer walk, and it's not too bad. The
bar staff are so friendly they said goodbye to us on the dry run even though we didn't
buy a drink! | |
Out of the pub and left along Great Marlborough Street, you'll see
the Magistrates Court in front of you (and if you didn't realise by now, it is the
law that connects Bow Street, Vine Street and Marlborough Street together on the
orange section). Cross Regent Street at the end and go down Hanover Street to Hanover
Square. Go round the square to the opposite (NW) corner, and then proceed down Tenterden
Street, past the Chicago Pizza Pie Factory and Caspers. At the corner of Dering Street,
in sight of New Bond Street is the penultimate:
| The Duke of York | **½ |
| Dering Street, New Bond Street Scottish Courage Time - to 22:15 | Theakstons Best, XB Courage Director's |
|
A great shame that the Hogshead pub opposite was closed, and we have
to make do with the Duke of York. I think the recce team ran out of other things
to say at this point on the dry run. | |
Out onto New Bond Street, turn right, going up to Oxford Street.
Turn left and about 30 yards further on, just down left hand turn Woodstock street
is the LAST pub (on the right).
| The Woodstock | **** |
| Woodstock Street, Oxford Street Free House? Time - til the death | Theakstons Best, XB, Old Peculier, Batemans Valiant, Theakstons Hogshead Marstons Pedigree, Greene King Abbott |
|
Probably not a free house, more than a passing allegiance to Theakstons
(a.k.a. Scottish Courage). Nonetheless, a fine range of beers guaranteed to finish
you off if you are not finished off already. The beer is many and varied, they will
be different to those noted above, with a changing selection of draughts and a wide
variety of bottled, mostly Belgian beers. If you haven't drunk anything so far try
the Leffe on draught, a wonderfully smooth (and strong) beer. | |
We've ended up close to both Bond Street (Central & Jubilee lines)
and Oxford Street (Victoria, Central and Bakerloo lines) stations, so transport shouldn't
be a problem. A lot of buses going in many directions head along Oxford Street and
these may take you to somewhere more convenient for you to finish your journey.
Good Luck.
Actually, all the streets and stations. We'll miss out the Water Works, Electricity company, Jail and Free Parking...