The Cock and Lion, Bond Street

We only came in for a quick lunch but waited a ridiculous 25 mins for 2 burgers and chips. Well, we are not particularly fussy about food, and fully recognise pub grub for what it is - but what we had left us with a foul greasy aftertaste for hours. The chips tasted reconstituted and as though they had been fried with fish. Burgers were burnt. Watery Pepsi although the Kronenbourg was half decent. A shame, because it was nice to be in a friendly, shabby and reasonably priced pub and not some sanitised pretentious gastropub and I'm sure it would be OK for an evening out. But definetly not for food.

15 Oct 2006 00:12

The Masons Arms, Kensal Green

This was my local for three years. Run by the fabulous Doyle family and frequented by a crazy array of people, you were never hustled out the door bang on closing, but were encouraged to drink freely and enjoy some good old-fashioned craic. I went to the opening last night, and while they have done wonders with the pub itself, the sort of prices they are charging will only keep out us locals. Community spirit is precious in a big city like London and the day you have to catch a bus to the nearest affordable pub is the day it all falls apart.

9 Dec 2005 07:46