The Hope

Well, this was an odd one that’s for sure. We stumbled in here after having a meal across the road and just wanted to grab a night cap before we headed home.
We walked in and headed over to the bar. The décor is very old — it looks like it hadn’t been touched for 50 years but that was part of its charm. High ceilings, dark wood and a fire place — you can imagine it being one of the best pubs around in its day but sadly this seems to be no longer.
We ordered a G&T and a vodka black current and asked for them to be on tall glasses. They were both definitely served in tall glasses but pint glasses meaning the drink only filled half the glass — very odd and again fitting with its old era image.
One thing we noticed was that they do hand cut fresh sandwiches which are a recommendation of Jamie Olive so I reckon they might just be worth giving a go.
We enjoyed our drinks and headed off. I’m not sure if we’d visit again but it gave us a few laughs and we had our night cap so there you go.

It opens at 6am.
The bar-​staff are alright.
The breakfast is huge.
You can meet some colourful characters.
Did I mention it opens at 6am?

We went here for a company breakfast so my experience is a little different from a usual pub visit — but breakfast is one of its specialties, being opposite Smithfield. So I feel duty bound to tell you not to go here, I’m afraid.
Those of us who had eggs benedict agreed it was particularly vile. The hollandaise was made with a lot of vinegar. Possibly, it was just vinegar. The boys all seemed happy with their big plates of breakfast, but it was nothing special, and expensive for that.
But the main reason not to go here is that the Fox & Anchor, 3 minutes down the road, is streets ahead. It’s still an old school pub, but the breakfast is better and the décor is more ‘traditional’ than just ‘tired’.

This used to be the place to get a fabulous Meat breakfast avec Guiness sitting, as it does, directly opposite Smithfield Market. Now, I am afraid to say, it is a sad shadow of its former self. It still does a decent mixed grill but somehow its not as good as it used to be. Pity really.

Such an oldschool pub. There is uncouthness and an intimidating air at all times in this place, even when none of the groups of business men standing at the bar are roaring with laughter at an unfortunate target of their teasing. The pub is broken into two floors — a restaurant serving food upstairs and quite a small bar area on the ground floor.
As soon as I walked in, I picked up on the use of first names between the barmaids and the punters and I was forcibly reminded of ‘The Queen Vic’ from Eastenders… and lets be honest we’re not that far away from there are we? The drinkers were a little bit more established then those from the nations favourite soap though, all in suits taking in a post work or mid work pint. Their isn’t a large amount of seating and most people stand up against the bar talking. Having to squeeze between groups of people and furniture to walk about is awkward but at the same time it gives me the feeling that this is a proper drinking den. You knock into someone, well you either have a laugh and let it go or you get knocked back twice as hard…