01/12/25 - Temple Pub Crawl

Four Pubs - 90 Seconds Apart

YouTube is really rather excellent these days. I read an article on the weekend by someone who had cancelled all other streaming services for a single YouTube subscription.

I haven't quite gone that far - happy to use the adverts to take notes. This pub crawl coming courtesy of the ever entertaining Tweedy - who manages to use a stop watch to take 90 seconds to walk between four pubs, two of which are in the Good Beer Guide.

And some people don't like London.

Armed with things to look out for, I recreate his steps.

The Devereux

The Deveraux

Tweedy has done my research for me - a former coffee house known as the Grecian - and a regular was my name-sake, and some would say look-alike - Sally Mapp. 

Sally Mapp, famously nicknamed “Crazy Sally,” was an 18th‑century bonesetter who became a minor celebrity in London for her fearless and unconventional treatments of dislocations and fractures. Operating out of the Grecian Coffee House in Devereux Court, she treated everyone from ordinary Londoners to upper‑class clients, often performing manipulations in public spaces. She was as flamboyant as she was skilled: she reportedly drove herself around town in a chariot, turning heads wherever she went.

There's a definite resemblance

The pub is nicely comfortable, with a vague Irish theme - presented in the crisps, a nice little partitioned booths for added privacy and stopping pub bloggers from getting material.

Half a London Pride and Taytos

The George

Moments away - with a rear entrance that saves you braving the chaos of Fleet Street - is the George, dating from 1723. I would have missed the fine external carvings if it hadn't have been for Tweedy. I didn't miss the Cask Marque certificate, which needed staff intervention to scan as it was located bar-side.

Carvings in Gold Leaf

I also didn't miss an extensive line up of cask. You've got to laugh at Londoners naming a beer "Headless Cavalier". I'm going to start an export firm dealing in sparklers. That'll fix it.

Goodnight Pete - from Park Brewery - selected

The Cheshire Cheese

No, not that one. One tucked away in Little Essex Street.

1928 - Not ancient

The History

Tweedy Points out the lead glass and Saloon labelling

I am the only punter - and as it's a Shepherd's Neame House - hardly helping to keep the lights on. Shuddering at the thought of early days of the Saxon Shore Way, when I converted to cider, it's a half of Guinness for me.

At least the uncomfortable silence is soon broken by four American tourists bursting through the side door. Taking loads of photos and asking questions about the age of the building, the barman at least has the grace to let them know they need the other Cheshire Cheese.

Maybe this is how they make their money? Picking up the scraps of the unprepared pub tourist.

The Edgar Wallace

At last, I am through the door of this weekday-opening-only Good Beer Guide regular.

Last attempt, a Saturday

So much history

A pub to feel instantly at home in but will leave you with a desire to take up smoking. I'be seen pub paraphernalia before. Usually drinks related but sometimes tobacco. Here, they have even nailed cigarette packets to the walls.

Wall, and ceiling, real estate in short supply

Easily pub of the day - not least, as it has Harvey's Sussex Best on.

01/12/25 - London's Inns of Court

The City within a City Oasis

My walk takes me to all four of London's Inns of Court - Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Middle Temple and Inner Temple. History at every turn - with Ian Nairn saving his praise for the hidden city within the City;

"This oasis, which most cities would give its eyes for..... as memorable as anything in Oxford or Cambridge"

Royal Courts of Justice, as we leave the sanctuary of Temple

Obligatory Dickens reference 

Temple calmness

Temple Church - London's Notre Dame - is the obvious architectural highlight. I was told to visit during last week's Worcester Cathedral visit, where my guide told me the only other effigy with an unsheathed sword was interred here. She may have got that wrong.... all swords appear to be sheathed. Regardless - an unexpected £5 entrance fee - but what does that buy you in the Smoke? Just over a half of beer, as I determine on the pub crawl later.

Temple Church, founded by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, is a rare medieval survivor hidden within London’s legal quarter. Its round nave echoes the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and the church has long served as the ceremonial heart of the Inner and Middle Temple. Inside, carved knightly effigies and remarkable acoustics give the place a serene, time-slipped atmosphere.

 As Nairn points out - along with the rest of Temple, it's incredible how much of this (and surrounding buildings) were meticulously rebuilt from photograph images after the WWII.  "The best new townscape in London is neo-Georgian".

Temple Church

The Views you get for £5

Sword Sheathed

Onto the Pubs - for the shortest Pub Crawl in London.

Walk Details

Distance - 2 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Andrew Duncan's Favourite London Walks

Geocaches - 13 

01/12/25 - Brentford

Waterways at the County Town of Middlesex

Ian Nairn describes Brentford as "A tragic, traffic-laden" place and moves rather quickly on to describe the merits of the Beehive Pub, the home of the Bees.

This is a morning walk - so no pubs involved, but I do find the pretty parts (the Butts), a pub laden high streets and plenty of water.

The Brent - running for 17 miles from Harrow Weald, to where it meets the Thames here. The Grand Union Canal offering the possibility to take me 137 miles home to Birmingham. A busy, pub-laden high street.

It's here I find the Brentford monument, informing the rambler about the extensive history.  A lot happened here;

The Brentford Monument marks four key moments from the town’s long, strategic history: Julius Caesar’s reported Thames crossing in 54 BC, King Offa’s church council of AD 781, Edmund Ironside’s clash with Cnut’s forces in 1016, and the 1642 Civil War battle fought in its streets.

A story told in photos;

Starting at Boston Manor Tube, made sense to visit the house and extensive grounds

Life under the M4

Been reading about Edward Hopper this month - now I recognise his work in the street

London's largest boat works

The Grand Union Canal and the bridge that takes into Boston Manor Park

Walk Details

Distance - 4.5 Miles

Geocaches - 12

Walk Inspiration - Walking Village London, Walk 1