TFL Pub Crawl

Fucks sake cards on the table. I had a half in the Tavern, then realised the Fox was closest. I was going to ignore it but it is closer so I ran in for a half. On the tube to the next station i realised I hadn’t taken a photo so nicked one from Google. I’ll go back and get one. I’ve let you all down

Yeah bit early innit

Haha

That’s why I’m posting it here. Mate of mine suggested a book but it would have been fucking tedious!!!

My rules are pretty flexible but I just followed the closest that Google maps suggested!!

235/422 Leyton Midland Road: Suffragette Line I’m posting pics of the roundels but I still have the platform pics just in case anyone accuses me of not actually using the tube. Although who in the right mind would pretend to do this shit. Lion & Key Hotel is pretty basic. Half cider £2.25 Rating 2/5

234/422 Leytonstone High Road: Suffragette Line. The roundel outside the station is a fancy mosaic and is really cool. It’s the work of artist Maud Milton and there’s a few round here. Well done, it’s nice when people make an effort. The Bell makes less of an effort. Half cider = £1.55 Rating 2/5

233/422 Wanstead Park: Suffragette Line. Wanstead Park is close to Forest Gate so I presume I’m revisiting The Forest Tavern but The Fox & Hounds is next door and a fraction closer so I get to go in there instead. Best of the day but that’s not hard. Half cider = £2.35 Rating 3/5

232/422 Woodgrange Park: Suffragette Line. This stretch of the Suffragette follows the Elizabeth Line so it’s no surprise that I’m revisiting some places. The midpoint between Woodgrange Park and Manor House is The Blakesley Arms so I’m back in there for a quick one. Half cider = £2.85 Rating 2/5

After a mile or so, it all looks familiar. And then it appears. The fucking Thatched House pub from 110 Upney. The awful African pub with the Perspex over the bar to protect the staff. I get a bottle of Becks and watch God TV for a bit and then get the fuck out. Bottle of lager: £5.00 Rating 0/5

231/422 Barking Riverside: Suffragette Line. Oh fuckity fuck fuck. Right, for starters the train gets into Barking Riverside and the entire area is like a wasteland. Like I imagine post war London would be. There’s nothing here. It’s desolate. I walk a mile and half to some sort of civilisation…1/2

anyway this is gonna be a big day because, feet willing, i am going to finally finish my big round London walk.

Colindale to Walthamstow. 13 miles. we'll see

Oh yeah, I’d be petrified walking around Kew!!

230/422 London Bridge: Jubilee/Northern Line. My exit leads me to The Barrowboy & Banker. There’s two floors. I head upstairs and settle into an armchair but am quickly moved on by the bouncer as Sally has reserved it and she’s watching on looking cross. Sorry Sally. Half cider ‎ = £3.25 Rating 3/5

229/422 Gunnersbury: District/Mildmay Line. Gunnersbury’s named after King Canute’s niece Gunylda so there you go. The Who once played at The Gunnersbury. It’s now home to 4 office workers seeing how many pints of Guinness they can sink before trudging back to work. Half cider £2.90 Rating 2/5

228/422 Kew Gardens: District/Mildmay Line. This is more like it, no spending ages looking for a pub. The Tap On The Line is part of the station, right on the platform. A quirky little boozer with a nice courtyard overlooking the entrance with train memorabilia. Nice. Half cider = £3.25 Rating 4/5

227/422 Richmond: District/Mildmay Line. I know it’s really boorjoysey (©️ Rik Mayall) but I do like Richmond, and until The Railway Tavern opens, I stroll around visiting Ted Lasso locations. The pub has a weird, fun layout with loads of nooks and crannies to hide in. Half cider = £3.25 Rating 3/5

226/422 West Silvertown: DLR. The nearest pub is apparently The Oiler Bar, half a mile away. Oh wonderful, it’s a former Navy refuelling barge converted into a bar with beer garden where you can watch the world go by. Great stuff. I grab a drink and enjoy the sights. Half a lager = £3.25 Rating 3/5

225/422 Pontoon Dock: DLR. I haven’t heard of half of these stations. The Windjammer is a decent Fullers pub that calls itself industrial chic, which I take to mean is a former factory they’ve just stuck some sofas in. Barman mishears and I get an expensive pint. Pint of lager = £7.76 Rating 3/5

224/422 London City Airport: DLR. The trouble with the DLR is that a lot of the stations are quite close together so could be a few pub repeats here. The Fox Connaught doubles as a hotel which probably explains why it’s so busy. It’s not great but the nachos are good! Half cider = £3.00 Rating 2/5

223/422 King George V: DLR I was looking forward to seeing the new fancy DLR trains but annoyingly I only see the shit tatty ones. Talking of shit and tatty The Henley Arms is exactly that but the few locals in there are enjoying themselves and it’s actually quite fun. Half cider £2.40 Rating 1/5

222/422 Woolwich Arsenal: DLR. The Elephant & Castle is classified as a market traders pub so it opens at 8am every day! Christ. I wouldn’t go in at any time cos it’s fucking horrible. And the toilets aren’t working so I go to the library which is nicer and much busier, half cider £2.00 Rating 0/5

221/422 Woolwich: Elizabeth Line. The Guard House caters for everyone: families, retirees, people using it as an office and loners like me! It’s massive with loads of dining rooms and bar areas. Doesn’t seem to be a sign anywhere though, so I subtly add one to the photo. Half cider £3.35 Rating 4/5

220/422 Abbey Wood: Elizabeth Line. The first thing you notice about the station is that the architecture is amazing. It’s in the shape of a Manta Ray with wings coming down to make canopies over the staircase and a huge timber roof. The Abbey Arms is alright as well. Half cider = £2.80 Rating 3/5

219/422 Caledonian Road: Piccadilly Line. These Piccadilly stations with their red tile exteriors all look beautiful, so glad they haven’t been lost. Doyle’s Tavern has a large horseshoe shaped bar as its main attraction. Oh and Pentonville Pris is round the corner. Half cider £2.30 rating 2/5

Ahh haven’t been there yet. They’re very nice!!

218/422 Holloway Road: Piccadilly Line. Turn left out the station and you walk past the house where Joe Meeks the music producer killed himself and his landlady. I have to turn right for the Victoria Tavern which advertises great craft beers. Shame I’m on the ciders. Half cider £2.90 Rating 3/5

217/422 Arsenal: Piccadilly Line Wait until kick off before heading into Brook Gate. Apart from one couple it’s unsurprisingly completely empty and an absolute state. It’s proper weird walking down the road when all the fans are at the ground as well. Like 28 Days Later. Half cider £2.40 Rating 2/5

216/422 Finsbury Park: Piccadilly/Victoria Line. Completely forgot Arsenal were playing until the doorman at The Twelve Pins wanted to check what shirt I’m wearing. Not surprisingly it’s busy. Have a half in a plastic glass, shout Saka is shit and then fuck off sharpish. Half cider £3.50 Rating 2/5

Typical Spoons!!