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CAMRA - North Hampshire Branch This Page:           Branch London Crawl - Westminster and Belgravia Tour Published: October 2006   Branch London Crawl The Branch Tour of Westminster and Belgravia Ken Brewster - North Hampshire CAMRA   In September, the Branch went to London for a stroll from Trafalgar Square to Sloane Square through Westminster and Belgravia. There was no time to call in at Number 10 or the Houses of Parliament, and we even had to pass Buckingham Palace by, as we had some important premises to visit. There were quite a few ‘Good Beer Guide’ pubs plus hostelries listed in the ‘CAMRA Inventory of Pubs of Special Historic Interest’ on the chosen route. The tour started at the Wetherspoon’s, Lord Moon of the Mall, in Whitehall near Trafalgar Square, where among the offerings were Beartown Ginger Beer and Jennings Crag Rat. A stroll down Whitehall took us to the Red Lion, 25 Parliament St., a small olde pub, providing standing room only unless you can get to a stool, where the main choice was Deuchars IPA or Pride. Around the corner, towards Westminster Bridge, we called in at a Badger pub, St.Stephens Tavern, Bridge St., where we had a little problem because the Sussex Bitter was off but the pump clip was still showing. There seems to be some problem here between what the area manager says and what the staff understand to be company policy. However it is an attractive pub with interesting décor including an ornate ceiling. At the opposite side of Parliament Square is the Westminster Arms in Storey's Gate. A rather basic pub, but with normally seven beers including TEA, Youngs and Adnams. Round the corner into Tothill St., and near Westminster Abbey, is the Sanctuary, 33 Tothill St. This is not a place for recovery from an excess of beer but a Fullers house in a modern imitation of the ornate London style, serving Chiswick. Continuing along the road we called at the Adam & Eve, 81 Petty France, where the guest was Butcombe Blond. A little further on is a well-known CAMRA haunt, the Buckingham Arms, 62 Petty France, which has a long standing reputation for its Young’s. Of particular interest here is the corridor drinking area near the loos, rare for London. Continuing along the road we entered the Victoria district of SW1 and turned right to the Cask & Glass, 39 Palace Street, a proper pub, small and cosy, for Shepherd Neame beers. Skirting Buckingham Palace Gardens, we headed deep into the Belgrave mews around Belgrave Square. Our first pub was the Horse & Groom, 7 Groom Place, a small black-panelled local providing Shepherd Neame beers. We managed to get to the next pub without a local as a guide, following a few obscure right and lefts to the well hidden Grenadier, 18 Wilton Row. A small bar, with tiny upmarket dining rooms behind it, provided the usual select London pub range of beers from Young, Fuller and Wells. From the back of the pub and through the alley-ways, we made our way toward Knightsbridge. Not to the upmarket shops, but down Wilton Place to the Nags Head, 53 Kinnerton St., an Adnams pub. Old, and on several levels, it suits the hidden mews setting. A short walk away is the Star, 6 Belgrave Mews West, one of the classics, well used by CAMRA since the early days of its formation. A Fullers pub, it has been collecting awards for many years. Heading back towards Sloane Square Underground station, we called at the Antelope, 22 Eaton Terrace, a fairly recent Fullers buy, where the Chiswick was on but not on top form. The central London pub scene is much improved on what it used to be and there is plenty of attractive London architecture to view when visiting them.   If you are interested in future events with North Hampshire CAMRA, subscribe to our mailing list to be kept informed.   << BACK TO ARTICLES ^ BACK TO TOP ^

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