London pub - urgent (ish)

Mirror Painter

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Need to meet little bro tomorrow for a pint. We both like real ale and lager and spirits. Needs to be close to Westminster Bridge. Sadly we only have an hour or so, (please note that, wives and employers). So where's a good after work pub in that area - ideally not so rammed one cannot get a seat, (I used to work in the city), but with some history or something about it?

Any suggestions? I've heard that Shead bloke spends a lot of time in London pubs so perhaps he can help.
 
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The Ship & Shovell Pub
1-3 Craven Passage
Charing Cross
London
WC2N 5PH

A very friendly pub, beloved by guests the Ship & Shovell is one of the most unusual pubs in London.
But what sets us apart?
Our Heritage. Hall and Woodhouse is one of the few remaining regional family brewers, brewing our award-winning Dorset ales and offering warm hospitality at our pubs for over 230 years.
Our Food. We use regional food partners, typically from family businesses like us, who provide us with quality ingredients that our team of talented chefs (not microwave technicians!) use to create fresh, unpretentious, seasonal dishes.
Our Hospitality. We employ nice people who think like us and enjoy the same things that we do; food & drink, and, perhaps more importantly take real pleasure in looking after people and making them happy.
Our Location. Located a few minutes walk from Charing Cross station and close to the Embankment. One of London's most unusual pubs, The Ship & Shovell is on two sides of the street with the cellar linking the two sides below. On the north side is a large traditional welcoming London Victorian pub whilst across the way the snug bars and alcoves make this the perfect place to drop in for a pint to escape the London fog or the tourist hordes.
 
St Stephen's Tavern Pub
10 Bridge St City of London, City of Westminster, SW1A 2JR


The Feathers
18-20 Broadway London, Greater London SW1H 0BH
offers a superb range of cask ales, quality pub food, a first-class service in a warm and vibrant atmosphere, set in a beautiful, characterful building.
 
The Ship & Shovell Pub
1-3 Craven Passage
Charing Cross
London
WC2N 5PH

A very friendly pub, beloved by guests the Ship & Shovell is one of the most unusual pubs in London.
But what sets us apart?
Our Heritage. Hall and Woodhouse is one of the few remaining regional family brewers, brewing our award-winning Dorset ales and offering warm hospitality at our pubs for over 230 years.

I would avoid this place like the plague, Hall & Woodhouse (ie Badger Beer) is the foulest bitter I have ever tasted, and unfortunately for me 80% of the pubs around where I live are owned by that brewery. The only ale of theirs worth drinking is Tanglefoot, but at 5% I can't drink much of it.
 
I do indeed however not today as I am in Nice ...

Central London boozers are hit and miss. Just grab the nearest and enjoy what they have. You will never find a truly nice boozer in town in my opinion.
 
Just got back to Moxon Towers in Northern Wiltshire.

Had a couple of pints in the St Stephen's. It was fine. Note fine, not great. Scowley (sp?) man on door with walkie talkie. Other wise o.k.

Thanks all for the opinions and ides which will be tested in subsequent visits.

By the way, the London Duck Tours seemed to be working today.
 
what is the plod shop with armed officers out side just around the corner


Dunno, sorry, didn't see that.

However my contribution to the pub list is:

The Royal Exchange at 26 Sale Place, just off Praed Street, (near Paddington). It's a proper pub and has been inspected by me on a number of occasions and is always more than satisfactory :-)
 
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