Rising Sun - Farringdon

Well, mainly due to someone's working obligation, we've ventured a little north to Farringdon.
And here we come across the Rising Sun.

Quaint, nicely off the beaten chav line, this is well worth a pop-in.
Stand at the bar and admire St Bartholomews Church outside, or just quaff the ale, this is certainly an improvement on most of the other over-priced bars in the area.

I feel there's a history here - that needs another visit to discover!!

Our rating: 4 pints

The Chandos

Just off Trafalgar Square, the Chandos is another of our origional and still regular SSP's!

Proper hand-pumped beer, loads of space - and it does need it, and no Darkest Peruvian drum playing band in the corner, this is a popular pub and a good one. Upstairs, the 'Opera Room' is more a food and drink bar. Down stairs, little 'snugs' by the window add to the character.

A cautious note about one item on the menu though.

We bought some wedges (after the shock of the White Horse stopping selling them) thinking a bowl would do us both nicely. However, here they're more of a starter than a sharer so don't expect a feast. Actually, the food here is pretty good and served quite quickly.

All in all, we like the Chandos and can often be seen within!!!

Our rating: 4 pints

The White Horse

This is where it all began. We're visiting the pubs in a sort of random order, but on our numerous hikes around the capital, it was the White Horse in Soho that got us hooked.

The cheap beer was complimented by potato wedges, cheese covered!!! A bowl was essential and great, but Matthew (a friend), shock horror, they've stopped doing them. SHOCKING

The location's great but here's a but- the 'Old Brewery' beer is on tap, not hand pumped, so this loses a 'pint' rating.

But overall, a good place to start ..... and if they reinstate the wedges, it'll get 4 pints!

For now '3 pints' rating

(PS - look out for Italians sharing one glass of lager filling the centre of the upstairs bar - and they always ask for Fosters which of course, they dont sell!!)

Darren & Luca's Guide To Samuel Smith Pubs

Samuel Smith pubs are everywhere in London - thats good, cus the beer's cheap!

But there's more to a pub than just beer - so we're off on a tour of all the SSP's in London - having a beer and giving our opinion. Darren (left of pic) and Luca, we'll be marking each pub on our 5 pint rating
5=Great 1=Less Great

And if you see us about town - buy us a pint and we'll bore you with our SSP knowledge

This should be a fun bit of research!!!!

Darren ....... Luca