Greatlondonpubs

Perfectly treading the line between old man boozer and cutesy retro watering hole, this Victorian corner pub’s a lovely blend of the scruffy and the pretty. Charming net curtains are strung halfway down the ceiling-high windows, a dozen pieces of vintage china are mounted above the bar, and to move through the pub, you have to step through immaculately maintained dark wooden doors holding pretty etched glass windows. There’s a huge jar of pickled eggs atop the scuffed wooden bar, a Royal British Legion book sale in the lobby and the food menu is marker-penned on to a yellow piece of paper on the wall.

Given a drinks selection largely consisting of ales from Harvey’s brewery in Sussex (which runs the pub), drinkers are largely men in their thirties and older. But the most important thing about this charming, characterful boozer: it’s curiously unbothered by the crowds you’ll find in other Borough pubs. So it’s perfect for a quiet few pints.