David J.
Yelp
This is an odd place. It's a very small bar (it claims to be the smallest pub in London), just to the west of Borough Market and within sight of Southwark Cathedral, with an outside seating area larger than the bar area.
The main draw is an extraordinarily impressive selection of bottled beers from around the world - apparently over 120 - with some exotic lagers on tap and a couple of very unusual real ales too (about which more later).
The bar area, painted plain white, is decorated with attractive enamel beer signs of the type common on the Continent, and has a few high tables and stools, but otherwise is standing room only (40 people and it's jam-packed). It gets very busy in the early evenings with an after work crowd, many of whom make a bee-line for the heated outdoor area to smoke.
Now, this place has won all sorts of awards and plaudits and should warrant four or five stars with ease, but for me it doesn't. First off are the prices: most people seem to buy their beer in halves, and at £2.50 a half that's £5 a pint. (You can pay up to £7 a pint). Even if it's not a run of the mill brew, that's still a lot in my view for lager, however unusual. They will also serve thirds of pints on request.
Second gripe was the service: perfectly efficient, but the very opposite of 'service with a smile': the person who served us had the sourest expression I've seen for a long time, and failed to return any pleasantries or smiles. (One of the other staff was more cheery). In between service, the staff tucked themselves away in the corner of the bar to talk to each other, so had to be called over by the customers.
And rather than talk, they should have kept an eye on the toilets: neither the ladies/disabled loo or the gents had any loo paper. And, while the disabled loo, which is off the bar, is OK, the gents' toilet accessed outside is possibly the worst I've seen for twenty years. Filthy dirty, with broken toilet seats, empty toilet roll dispensers (in every one of the three cubicles) and encrusted urinals you get the picture. It was like something from British Rail circa 1973. Not what you expect after paying £5 a pint.
Finally, the exotic ales: one was a smoked ale, with an ABV of around 10%, so strong stuff. But it was the most unpleasant ale I've ever had that wasn't actually off: the nose was distinctly no, overpoweringly antiseptic. The heavily smoked palate was interesting and not entirely objectionable, but I could not get past the flavour of antiseptic (think 'TCP'). Apparently some people like the stuff, and I was told it's an acquired taste. At £5 a pint, though, it's not one I'm looking to acquire.
So, great if you like bottled beer and have a deep wallet, and try a small glass before you opt for a pint of something too exotic.