PUB CRAWLS

January 3, 2016 by: Sunny London

The 5 Worst American Beers

Do you have any idea how many American beers exist now? This question really intrigued my British husband, Mr. Sunny, on our recent trip to Florida. While we were there visiting from London, he was on a mission to try as many American beers as possible.

I’ve never fancied the taste of beer. So, during our ten days visiting my home state, I sat back and watched him sample beer after beer and took notes on all his observations.

Through his devout ‘research’, he discovered several American beers that feels are lovely. Unfortunately in this experiment, he identified a handful that made the drink challenge a bit hard to swallow.

Let’s begin with the positive and then move to the ‘only if it’s the last beer available on Earth’ option…

If you’re an avid Sunny in London blog reader, you’ll know Mr. Sunny regularly orders Stella Artois. We really should get some kind of brand ambassador role for this because it’s mentioned in nearly every food, restaurant and drink review we do.

Next, he’ll select San Miguel, if Stella isn’t on the beer menu.

If I’m not around and he’s at a leaving drink or night out with his mates, he’ll get serious and order a Delirium Tremens. He’s a huge fan of Belgian beers. We wrote about where to drink these beers in Brussels.

When he was twenty, Mr. Sunny spent a year living in Los Angeles. He recalls very few beer options at bars during that time. Now, he is simply amazed at how far American beers have come and always takes pictures of the taps to send his mates in London.

On this trip, he rated Yuengling beer as the best. Following that, honourable mentions go to Rolling Rock and Budweiser.

And these are the ones he will fondly refer to as ‘the Worst American Beers’ on the planet.

Worst American Beers: Up River Lager

Brewed by the Mudshark Brewing Company in Arizona, this lager didn’t impress Mr. Sunny. Specifically, he said it left a more than fishy taste in his mouth. Even though we were on holiday in Florida, this still didn’t sit well with this self-proclaimed professional beer drinker.

Worst American Beers: Lagunitas Beer

This IPA is billed as ‘highly drinkable.’ It has a bit of caramel malt barley that ‘provides the richness that mellows out the twang of the hops.’

Mr. Sunny says, ‘the twang makes your tongue curl.’ No good.

Worst American Beers: Humbolt Brown Hemp Ale

We admit that Mr. Sunny tried this beer just to be a bit cheeky. It’s brewed with toasted hemp seeds that add an herb-accented flavour. Although it’s won numerous awards in California, Mr. Sunny says ‘Just Say No’ to this one. Further, he said it didn’t even give him the munchies. Duuuuuuude.

It’s in the center in the picture above.

Worst American Beers: Floridian Hefeweizen

The tagline ‘Suntan for your Soul‘ definitely caught my husband’s attention. He says the best sunscreen for a British bloke is to be seated at an indoor bar.

However, this beer from the Funky Buddha Brewery didn’t go down like the liquid sunshine we had hoped for.

Worst American Beers: Milwaukee’s Best Light

Finally, Mr. Sunny agrees with the entire US drinking population in saying that ‘The Beast’ is by far the champion of the worst American beers.

So, that’s an Englishman’s view of what’s on tap in America.

We want to give a special shout out to the House of Beer in Port Orange, Florida for letting Mr. Sunny sample so many beers for this story. They have a great Winterfest selection of booze for the holidays, if you’re in the area.

Mr. Sunny would like for everyone to know that this is the blog post he enjoyed the most, and he’s available to conduct this type of research anytime, any place. And, he really loves the personalized beer mug that With Luv Design sent him for Christmas. He says it’s a stocking stuffer he hopes to keep full year round!

Do you agree with Mr. Sunny’s worst American beers? Which ones would you add to the list?

September 28, 2015 by: Sunny London

Kick Arse Irish Pubs in London

Looking for a hard-core beer drinkers’ pub crawl? This little list of Irish pubs in London has big value. Not only are these three pubs within a two-minute walking distance of each other and Piccadilly Circus, but also they’re truly eccentric and coveted by Londoners.

Their exteriors aren’t necessarily good indicators of the secrets they hold inside. In fact, you probably would never guess how insanely HOT they are without a little help from your Sunny guide. 😉

Now that I have your attention, let’s take a look at Mr. Sunny’s latest pub crawl for the Sunny in London blog.

Irish Pubs in London- Waxy’s Little Sister

Mr. Sunny recommends the best place to start this crawl of Irish pubs in London is at the most relaxed of the three pubs, Waxy’s Little Sister.

This cosy pub is located on 20 Wardour Street, London W1D 6QG. It’s only two levels, and it even features a Dumb Waiter so you barely even have to get off the couch to grab your next beer.

While it’s perfect for plopping your relatives down on a 1st floor sofa to overlook the sites of Chinatown, it also is a nice place to ease in to a wild night of drinking, if that kind of thing interests you.

Irish Pubs in London- Waxy O’Connor’s

Finish your first round or two and then move around the corner (or take the Wardour Street entrance if you’re a sneaky local) to Waxy O’Connor’s.

This pub covers six levels and has four unique bars. It’s an official London Irish Rugby Club and is on 14-16 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DD.

And, yes, there is a 250 year old tree inside this Irish pub near Piccadilly Circus.

According to the Waxy’s website:

The tree inside the pub was planted 250 years ago in Midlands Ireland and died naturally in 1994. A local woodworker, who played around the Beech tree as a boy, hewed the pieces that were then shipped to England and ‘planted’ in Waxy O’Connor’s in August 1995.

For avid Sunny readers, you’ll remember 1995 is the year I met Mr. Sunny.

When he and I visited, I held his beer for this picture because, well, that’s what you do in a Irish pub I guess.

Once our quick photo opp ended, I took my camera and got lost in the labyrinth of liquid sunshine stations. Every where I turned there was something beautiful and intricate to see. It’s truly one of the most fascinating pubs I have ever visited.

I regret that Mr. Sunny and I weren’t able to stay there for food the day we visited, because he says it is known for being truly delicious.

Irish Pubs in London- O’Neill’s on Wardour Street

If you’re really looking for a party vibe to end your tour of Irish pubs in London, then O’Neill’s is where close the night.

You can find it on 33-37 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1D 6PU. It has levels and levels of beer and Irish drinks for the serious drinker, a club upstairs and an outdoor smoking lounge. Plus, we hear the food is damn good too. There are places to sit inside and outside to enjoy a meal and drinks.

O’Neill’s is known for a pretty kickin’ nightlife, so we just caution you to pace yourself on this Kick Arse Irish Pubs in London Crawl. With the combination of Guinness, Jameson, and two other Irish pubs in this adventure, we hope you don’t try to swing off any chandeliers for your finale.

For up to date fun, you can follow O’Neills in Soho on Twitter. And, if you’re able to venture out to Muswell Hill once you’ve recovered from your massive Kick Arse Irish Pubs in London hangover, you should absolutely give this O’Neill’s pub in a church a proper go.

What unique Irish pubs in London can you recommend, Sunny friends? Are there any hidden pubs that you like to visit in London? Mr. Sunny relies on his knowledge and experience of being a lifelong Londoner, plus he highly recommends The Good Pub Guide.

June 15, 2015 by: Sunny London

A London Pub Crawl with Hollywood History

Interested in a London Pub Crawl that integrates beer and Hollywood history? We’ve found just the journey for you, Sunny friends! In honour of Mr. Sunny’s birthday week, we’re publishing what we think could be the best Sunny in London pub crawl on the blog.

The irony of this London pub crawl is that it started on April 1st and didn’t end until Monday, June 1st.

Why so much drama?

Contrary to it starting on April Fools’ Day, this beer adventure is no joke. However, it is straight out of Hollywood.

Mr. Sunny has wanted to take me on a City of London pub crawl for a while. We thought it would be fun before we hit the RS Hispaniola’s Spring Menu Launch party on the River Thames. We tried to meet up in the area, but the plan derailed when I was two stops away on the Underground and learned the Holborn station was closed.

Once I arrived above ground, I sent a text to Mr. Sunny advising him to take another route. Minutes later I learned there was a fire in Holborn that was causing the station closure. My imagination ran wild, and I was sure glad I was in open air and no longer below the streets.

He found me, and we hit our first stop on our historic Hollywood London Pub Crawl.

London Pub Crawl: Ye Olde Mitre

I’ve always felt Snatch features Brad Pitt’s best acting. So, I love Mr. Sunny’s imitation of his accent when we’re being silly, ‘dawg’. Ye Olde Mitre is featured in the film. However, if you aren’t looking for this London pub, you would walk right past it. Write down this address: 1 Ely Court, Ely Place, London EC1N 6SJ. This is the only signage I could find…

As we walked down the alley to the pub, Mr. Sunny informed me of more drama. Apparently, police cannot enter this pub without permission because it’s not in the jurisdiction of London Metropolitan Police. When checking the pub’s website, I read this:

Built in 1546 for the servants of the Bishops of Ely, The Ye Olde Mitre is famous for having a cherry tree, (now supporting the front) that Queen Elizabeth once danced around with Sir Christopher Hatton. The pub was actually a part of Cambridge (Ely being in Cambridge) and the licencees used to have to go there for their licence. Set in a part of London steeped in history, it’s near where William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered at Smithfield, along with martyers and traitors who were also killed nearby.

Yikes!

Since the pub is under the Cambridge jurisdiction, this seems true.

I treaded carefully to the front door, curious what I would see…

I don’t have many shots of the interior because it seemed packed with Londoners. As an American expat married to a British man living in London, I’m always keen to blend when I can. Whipping out the blog camera to take pictures of people who were part of this ‘secret society’ of London pub knowledge didn’t seem cool. But, I did stealthily grab two for you.

As the London fire in Holborn continued to burn, we ventured to our next historic location that also has a bit of a secret society feel.

London Pub Crawl: Knights Templar Pub

Well, not really. There’s nothing secret about this pub’s appearance. However, it is named after the Warrior Monks- The Knights Templar. It also had a crowd full of Londoners. Hence, the ceiling shots below.

The Knights Templar Pub website indicates it opened on March 31, 1999 on 95 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1DT. It is named after the Order of Warrior Nights across whose land Chancery Lane was built in the 12th century. The interior is truly stunning and gives you the feel of being on a Hollywood set. No corner is left untouched by the historic theme.

Or should we say Hollywood theme?

Have you seen The Da Vinci Code? The plot moved heavily around the Knights Templar. Apparently, if you look very closely during the scene featuring Middle Temple Church, you might spot the Knights Templar Pub.

This is when our own London Pub Crawl had some drama.

When Mr. Sunny and I left this pub, we tried several others but found nearly everything closed and the streets a bit chaotic. The Holborn fire was taking over this part of town and causing most businesses to lose power and be evacuated, including several pubs we tried to visit.

After feeling like we too needed to vacate, we fled to safety aboard the R.S. Hispaniola and had a fabulous, fire free evening.

But, there was still one place left to see.

London Pub Crawl: The Old Bank of England

On June 1st, I found myself near East London with some extra time. It had to be done, even if Mr. Sunny couldn’t make it. I finished the London Pub Crawl. See if you can find the pub in this picture below.

Not so easy, is it? Let’s cross the street and take a closer look to see if it helps you…

This is The Old Bank of England, situated in the former Law Courts Branch of the Bank of England at 194 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2LT. This pub’s history stretches back to 16th and 17th centuries where two taverns stood on the site of the Old Bank of England. In 1888 they were demolished to create room for construction of the Law Courts’ Branch of the Bank of England.

The website indicates that The Bank of England traded at this site for 87 years until 1975.

It was in 1994 that the London Brewers Fuller’s took over the lease. Aside from this factual information, there’s a creepy past also connected to the pub.

Heard of Sweeney Todd? That’s the fictional character originating in Victorian literature and then hitting stage and Hollywood screen. It’s alleged that The Old Bank of England lies between the barber shop owned by Sweeney Todd and the pie shop owned by his mistress Mrs Lovett.

It’s in the tunnels below The Old Bank of England that Sweeney Todd is said to have butchered his victims before they were cooked and sold in pies to Mrs Lovett’s customers.

Double Yikes!

I’m glad I just sipped on a large glass of red wine (I hope!) and took a few pictures the afternoon I visited. After researching the history of this last stop on the London Pub Crawl when I got home, I will say I am curious about what’s really on tap at The Old Bank of England.

All jokes aside, The Old Bank of England is not only historic and connected to the drama of storytelling and Hollywood but also a gorgeous pub.

London Pub Crawl: Final Thoughts

Mr. Sunny and I hope you have the chance to enjoy this pub crawl that certainly has a ton of English history, Hollywood connections, and let’s not forget… in the words of Mr Sunny…

Damn good beer!

Although Mr Sunny plans our pub crawls based on his life as a Londoner and passionate beer drinker, he and his father recommend The Good Pub Guide for Londoners and visitors. American readers find it here. and be sure to read the resource I have for you: A Guide to London for Americans Visiting the First Time

What fun, historic pubs have you been to in London, Sunny friends?

March 1, 2015 by: Sunny London

An Irish Pub in London (in a Church) with Wings Hotter than Hell

Would you believe there’s an Irish pub in London (in a church) with wings hotter than hell?

Yes, Sunny friends, it’s true. But, before you read further, you need to know this pub review almost put Mr Sunny in the grave. I never thought there would be a day that a plate of chicken wings would cause my husband eternal pain. But, here’s the true story.

I’d like to say it was a typical glorious sunny day in London, but that isn’t the case. It was an overcast Saturday, and Mr. Sunny and I had a problem. We planned to use the City River Cruise tickets his father won to spend a nice day together in Central London. With the not so fabulous weather, I asked Mr. Sunny to come up with something closer to us in North London that was ‘extra blog cool’ and inside.

Now, when you ask a self-proclaimed pub expert to do this, you are guaranteed you’ll end up in a pub in London. I knew this was part of being Mrs. Sunny when I let him put a ring on it. However, neither of us dreamed our day would end in damnation.

If only this Irish pub in London had a warning sign like this outside:

That’s right. Mr. Sunny took me to O’Neill’s in Muswell Hill. O’Neill’s is a chain of Irish pubs in London.

Apparently, this location is very popular with proper Londoners, especially those residing in North London.

When I stepped inside, I had one of those ‘now I’ve seen everything’ moments. It really is an Irish pub in London inside a church!

I became a believer.

The next thought I had was, ‘leave it to the Irish to make drinking beer a truly religious experience.’

As I stood at the top of a staircase to view all the beer disciples, I could see why Mr. Sunny ‘the God of beer’ brought me here.

Since Six Nations Rugby 2015 is happening, this Irish pub in London is decorated accordingly.

I grabbed our drinks at the bar (Stella beer and red wine, of course) and sat down to review the menu with Mr. Sunny.

It’s impressive. The prices are fair, and there’s a variety of pub food available. Catching Mr. Sunny’s attention is the disclaimer under the Naga Ghost Chilli selection.

I didn’t see it.

My wing knowledge is fairly established since I lived in Buffalo, New York for 10 years. Since Mr. Sunny absolutely loves chicken wings, we frequented the Anchor Bar, ‘Home of Original Buffalo Wings’ when he visited. Each time he ordered their hottest wings and wasn’t affected.

Until this visit to O’Neill’s, I had never heard of a ghost chilli. Hot damn!

As we waited for our food, gorgeous platters whizzed by us. I was able to snap a super fast picture of one so you could see the temptations.

Doesn’t that look divine?

And then, Hallelujah, the food we ordered arrived!

We started to dig in. Here’s a heavenly shot of my Cheese and Bacon Burger. Can I get an ‘Amen?’

Mr. Sunny made me take pictures of his ribs super fast because he said he wasn’t ‘eating anything cold from the blog today’. He had no idea how right he was. 😉

Since I’ve never eaten a rib in my life, Mr Sunny didn’t have to worry about giving up one to his Eve. (I’m not a fan of messy food you eat with your hands. No moist towelettes for this girl!)

As I munched away on my beautiful bacon burger, I noticed Mr. Sunny starting to sweat. This Irish pub in London with a Garden of Eden facade quickly became a hellish nightmare. The ghost chilli is no phantom on the plate. Here’s a shot of the damn heathens…

While they may photograph as harmless little buggers, these devils brought my husband to his knees.

As I watched the sweat pouring from Mr. Sunny’s forehead I wished I had brought my grandfather’s treasured rosary. Mr Sunny was in dire need of holy water and a ghost chilli exorcism.

I looked above to the heavens for help while saying a Hail Mary as he struggled to finish. Would this be my husband’s Last Supper? Would he survive the Temple of Doom?

And by the powers vested in me, I now pronouce Mr. Sunny the King of the Ghost Chilli wing. He finished all 20 of them!

Quotes from Mr. Sunny at O’Neill’s Irish Pub in London:

– ‘I think I should take my jacket off.’
– ‘I should have ordered the sauce below.’
– ‘My tongue is throbbing and numb.’
– ‘Do you want that lettuce? I need something to lay on my tongue to cool it.’
– ‘I have no feeling in my head.’
– ‘I will not be defeated.’
– ‘Pain is my friend.’
– ‘I’ve now broken the pain barrier and am comfortably numb.’
– ‘I want a cigarette just to see if I have any taste buds left.’

And finally…

– ‘I’m dreading tomorrow morning.’

Just when I thought Mr. Sunny was losing his food champion status, I had an epiphany later that night…

Miraculously an episode of Man vs. Food that featured ghost chilli aired that evening. The show referenced the Scoville Scale, which is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chilli peppers. Jalapenos register at 8,000 units. The ghost chilli registers at 1 million units.

The host, Adam Richman, failed his first ghost chilli challenge. In the episode which features his second attempt his finishing quotation is, ‘Can I have some more milk? Or a gun with a bullet?’

I’m going to say that this experience was a Man vs. God experience for Mr. Sunny. And, in my opinion, he deserves a damn halo. In fact, the next time we visit O’Neill’s Irish pub in London, I don’t want to hear someone yell ‘Norm!’, I want to hear God yell, ‘Mr. Sunny!!!!’

To take the ghost chill chicken wing challenge, visit O’Neills Muswell Hill Pub. This road to perdition’s address is: 87 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HA.

* Confession: *hand on Bible* I, Sunny in London, do solemnly swear that the story above is true. No details are embellished. The experience was not complimentary. However, should anyone choose to nominate Mr. Sunny for Sainthood, he will gladly accept.

If you’re not ready to go for the holy chicken wing grail at this Irish pub in London, you can see other hot pub crawls and reviews featured on Sunny in London. Mr. Sunny and his father also highly recommend The Good Pub Guide. American readers can find it here. What other pubs in London do you recommend? Have you ever taken a ‘food challenge’ before?

August 29, 2014 by: Sunny London

A Pub Crawl with Sun Themed Pubs in London

I bet you’ve never stopped to think about how many pubs in London are named after the Sun? It makes perfect sense that there’s tons named after royalty in a country with such a regal history. But the sun? Yep. There’s tons! And guess who has designed a pub crawl like none other for you, Sunny friends. Let’s go!

Oddly enough, this latest pub crawl was actually inspired by darkness. No joke. On a beautiful day, Mr. Sunny ventured down to my favourite place, Covent Garden, to embark on another pub crawl for ye ol’ blog.

We’ve walked by The Cross Keys many times. Next to the Churchill Arms in Kensington, it’s one of the most recognisable pubs because of its fun exterior. I took a picture and we walked inside.

Oh noooooo!

I didn’t even bother with anymore photos. While I have nothing negative to say about the pub, the lighting is just so incredibly low, I knew it wouldn’t work. Yikes! I think most establishments go for a low lighting so their customers can focus on the big screen TVs in restaurants or pubs (what’s a pub crawl without watching your favourite footy team?!)

‘I need a pub with good lighting! You know, Suuuuuuuun!’ I exclaimed to Mr. Sunny, the blog’s resident beer expert.

‘Oh, ok, sweetheart,’ he responded. And he guided me a few streets away, to this charming little pub which will kick off our Sunny Pubs in London Pub Crawl…

Sunny Pubs in London- The Sun

Mr. Sunny chose this pub because he feels it’s great for being in Covent Garden and not being surrounded by tourists. It’s located on 21 Drury Lane, WC2.

He says it’s perfect for a pre-theatre pint without the foreign pests. Don’t take offense to that my international friends. Technically, I’m in the category too 😉

I’d say it’s normally fairly quiet, but currently there’s some serious street work being done. So, Mind the Construction. In fact, the road is barricaded in front of it. Hence this sideways shot…

They offer chilled lagers and real ales, plus traditional pub games. Further, they have a lounge bar available for private hire. Christmas do, anyone? The landlord told me that they recently had the pub cleaned by someone like Green Facilities and it was spotless. Sometimes I go into pubs that are really dirty and grotty, but this one was completely different.

Sunny Pubs in London- The Sun Tavern Pub

Next, we ventured to The Sun Tavern Pub on 66 Long Acre, WC2E 9JD.
This Covent Garden pub ‘provides a traditional pub atmosphere with a contemporary, vibrant twist.’ Of course, it fit perfectly in to our sunny pub crawl theme. It’s also the most colourful of the four we visited. You can follow them on Twitter, like I do!

I sipped on a glass of Prosecco, and Mr. Sunny ordered a Kronenbourg.
The staff I spoke to were very excited about the pub being featured in a blog. I really enjoyed the time we spent with them. I look forward to going back.

Sunny Pubs in London- The Rising Sun

After a 10 minute walk, we arrived at our third destination.
Rising Sun is a ‘traditional British pub in Bloomsbury serving great cask ales and freshly cooked traditional pub food.’ It’s on 46 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 2ED.

It was established in 1730 and re-built in 1897. Just a few decades ago it was actually an Elvis Presley themed bar. However, it’s special to Mr. Sunny and I because it’s located just around the corner from where the London NBC News Bureau was originally located in Bedford Square.

This is where he and I met. If you’ve read my ‘About’ page, you know that I interned with NBC while studying at Florida State University. Mr. Sunny and his father were camermen there. This pub was one of the ‘locals’ for journalists and cameramen for the news channel for many, many years.

Therefore, Mr. Sunny has spent quite a bit of time there. He says the food is good, and the menu is quite extensive.

It’s also a Taylor Walker pub. Know them? There’s been several featured on Sunny in London. We visited Punch and Judy in the Covent Garden Pub Crawl and Lamb and Flag in the Mr. Sunny Pub Crawl to Avoid Selfridges. Others that I’ve featured on my Instagram are: Glassblower (Piccadilly), Coach and Horses (Mayfair), Shakespeare’s Head (Carnaby Street, Soho). Some other ones I have visited and you may know are: Museum Tavern (Bloomsbury), Two Brewers (Covent Garden) and Salisbury (Covent Garden).

For our final stop, we took about a seven minute walk to the Carnaby Street area.

Sunny Pubs in London- Sun and 13 Cantons

Located on 21 Great Pulteney, W1F 9EG, this pub not only fits in to the obvious Sunny pub theme, but also is a popular hangout for media peeps.
Sun and 13 Cantons prides itself on ‘an eclectic selection of American micro brewery beers.’ And since it was ‘once owned buy a film company, this Star of a pub was at the heart of Soho film and TV production in the 70’s and 80’s.’
The pub really picks up the pace at night. Their basement bar was used for a private party for the Chemical Brothers. Of course, this London pub is on Twitter too.

So, that’s a round up of a true Sunny in London Pub Crawl. I know there’s a few other pubs in London which feature the Sun in their name. Which ones have you seen or visited, Sunny friends?

And of course, for more great pub suggestions, Mr. Sunny and his father purchase The Good Pub Guide 2016 each year.

April 6, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Mr. Sunny in London Pub Crawl- “Avoiding Selfridges”

It’s no secret that Mr. Sunny designs every London Pub Crawl I write. He takes great pride in the research, and… he does a damn fine job. He just asks to be paid in beer. 😉

Our most recent pub crawl was completely impromptu. We had a dinner reservation in the St. Christopher’s area and were early. We popped in to the Lamb and Flag on James Street for our standard small vino and Stella.

Mr. Sunny grabbed our liquid sunshine from the bar, sat down and declared, “Sweetheart, you have no idea how many hours I’ve spent in here, while you were over there,” and he pointed down the street.

I had no idea what he meant.

He then explained that he knew the pubs surrounding Selfridges all too well.

We struck a deal years ago that he would “shop” with me as long as it included ample pub time for him. (Ok, ladies, I’m sure you appreciate my genius right about now. It’s a win-win for ME!)

Shop. Drink. Shop. Drink.

That’s how we roll.

Anyhow, here’s a quick shot of the Lamb and Flag interior.

We finished our round, and Mr. Sunny decided he’d take me on a quick tour of his other go-to shopping safe zones.

Next is the Henry Holland on 39 Duke Street. It’s literally across from the department store.

Mr. Sunny says this is “The REAL Selfridges Men’s Waiting Room.”

This pub has a great deal of character both inside and out.

Mr. Sunny and I love it, and we feel it’s a bit friendlier than the Lamb and Flag.

Although, while we were there an ambulance drove by with its sirens blaring. Mr. Sunny whispered to me, “I always get worried when that happens because I think some poor bloke around here just got the shopping bill from his Mrs.”

He’s such a comedian.

We had another round of drinks and then headed to Mr. Sunny’s favourite…

The Devonshire Arms is the furthest from Selfridges and is located on 7 Duke Street.

We are officially declaring this pub the WINNER!

So, ladies, if you fancy bringing your man shopping for the day, maybe you can entice him with the Mr Sunny in London Pub Crawl- “Avoiding Selfridges”?

Fellas, keep this list handy in the event your ray of loving sunshine wants to drag you out for a “fun” day of sleeve pulling and shoe gawking. You can thank me later.

As always, if you enjoyed this pub crawl, please share it on a social network. We’d also love any pub suggestions you have for us! Write them below or tweet them to me, Sunny friends! Another suggestion for you, if you’re interested in great pubs, is The Good Pub Guide 2015. Mr. Sunny and his father purchase it each year and highly recommend it.

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March 27, 2014 by: Sunny London

Hampstead Pub Crawl – HOT Beer Gardens!

Sunny friends, you have to join me on this Hampstead Pub Crawl full of the hottest beer gardens now that the sun is out and it’s officially Spring. Grab your sunglasses, a pint, and let’s go!

Hampstead Pub #1:

We’ll start our Hampstead Pub Crawl at the Roebuck on 15 Pond Street, NW3 2PN. You probably wouldn’t guess from the outside…

But this snazzy little gastropub has quite a cosy interior.

I just love the colour that’s everywhere inside the Roebuck. However, when the sun’s really kicking, you need to take your drinks out back and try to absorb all the warmth and colour in this fab beer garden.

The pops of vibrant colours everywhere make it tough not to feel extra cheer on those special Sunny in London days.

I think they put this sign up just for us. What do you think?

Hampstead Pub #2:

Once you are finished basking in the sun at the Roebuck, you can take a short walk to 14 South End Road, NW3 2QET to enjoy some food and adult beverages at the Garden Gate.

And yes, it absolutely lives up to its name.

But what you can’t sense from these pictures is the glorious smell of flowers that floats through the air in this 19th century pub located near Hampstead Heath.

Let’s take our drinks outside to check out the beer garden…

Yep! Another perfect place to have greatly deserved liquid sunshine on a Sunny in London day.

And finally, the mother of all beer gardens…

Hampstead Pub #3:

Literally a few steps from Hampstead Heath is the beautiful gastropub The Freemasons Arms on Downshire Hill NW3 1NT.

I love this pub because of it’s gorgeous interior.

If it looks familiar, that’s because it’s a sister pub to The Arkley and The White Horse.

Mr. Sunny and I decided to stay for a bit and order food. Here’s the starters we devoured.

TOP: Arancini risotto balls BOTTOM: salt and pepper squid

And our main courses included:

Lamb rump, asparagus, chorizo, dauphinoise potato, peas, baby onions & jus

Hampstead Pub Crawl Freemasons Arms Entree (2)

Smoked haddock, spinach & horseradish fishcakes, hollandaise & salad

While the food was very good, we both felt the portion sizes needed to be bigger. But, one thing is for sure, the Freemasons Arms doesn’t hold back on the size of its beer garden. Waaaaa Laaaaa….

I could definitely see myself throwing one ginormous summer party here, and when I do, you’ll be sure to be on the guest list, Sunny friends!

Let me know in the comments below if you agree that these beer gardens are hot places to be when the sun’s in full force in London. And, of course, write other suggestions below so we can all share in the sun and fun. Aside from my husband’s life adventures, he and his father purchase The Good Pub Guide each year for excellent pub recommendations. American readers can find it here.

Hampstead Pub Crawl Twitter Accounts:

Roebuck

Garden Gate

Freemasons Arms

March 2, 2014 by: Sunny London

Highgate Pub Crawl- a Hike, some Hype, and a Hangover?

Fasten your seat belts, Sunny friends, because this Highgate Pub Crawl is steep and plentiful! I know you can handle the truth, but if you can’t handle a big hill and 5 PUBS, you had better just stop reading right now.

Ahhhh, I knew you’d stick around, sunshines. So, let’s go!

After my long day researching chocolate for an upcoming blog story (Yes, you read that right. Stay tuned for that at the end of the week…) I met Mr Sunny at The Woodman Highgate Pub.

414 Archway Road , Highgate , London , N6 5UA

Not to be confused with the The Woodman Pub in Hertfordshire, this pub literally is right outside the Highgate tube station on the Northern Line. When Mr Sunny said, “Go up the escalator, turn right, and you’ll see it” he wasn’t kidding!

And on a Sunny in London day, can’t you just see yourself catching some rays in this stunning beer garden. Nice flat screen, eh?

Once we got seated, I shared my day’s adventure in a chocolatier’s in Carnaby Street with Mr Sunny as we sipped on our standard adult beverages, Stella and red wine.

As we made our way up hill to the next liquid sunshine seller, I was glad I had on my flat boots. The climb up the road is intense, so I definitely recommend you follow this pub crawl in order!

After our little workout, we arrived at a really famous Fuller’s pub, The Flask. It’s popular not only because it’s been Pub of the Year…

77 Highgate West Hill, Camden, London N6 6BU

But also because George Michael, Sting and Kate Moss literally live across the street. So, I’ll give you one guess where they drink.

Aside from getting me all hot and bothered about the possibility of a celebrity siting (just like I did at Primrose Hill) the Flask is fun because it has so many areas to hang. With its numerous nooks, I can see why celebrities choose it for their local.

Although, I could’ve stayed all night ~~stalking~~ waiting for a glimmer of Hollywood possibly to arrive, Mr Sunny had other pubs planned. We walked a bit to the Prince of Wales. This is the back entrance. It’s right in the center of the picture.

53 Highgate High St, London N6 5JX

And this is the front…

It’s fairly tiny. We sipped on our beer and wine and made our way to The Angel Inn.

37 Highgate High St, London N6 5JT

I love The Angel Inn for it’s charm and fun décor.

After our drinks there, we took the bull by the horns for our final stop. I’m not kidding…

13 N Hill, Highgate, London N6 4AB

The Bull Highgate is one exceptional brewpub, and yes they have a MICROBREWERY! It’s huge, and the food is great. In fact, the Buffalo Wings on Wednesday is an extremely popular menu item.

Having eaten an entire plate of dipping chocolate for lunch, I skipped a starter, but Mr Sunny chose one of his favorites… Buffalo Wings!

Next, we enjoyed our entrees…

The Bull bacon and beer cheeseburger, carmelised onion and bacon jam, hand cut chips

Beer street battered haddock and chips, mushy peas, fresh tartare sauce

By this time the sun was starting to set, so we were both ridiculously full (and dizzy from the 5 pub visits), so we headed to the bus stop to make our way back to our flat.

You can follow some of these pubs’ Twitter accounts to stay informed of their news and deals:

The Flask

The Angel Inn

The Bull Highgate

There’s a lot more to the Highgate area than what I’ve highlighted on my Highgate Pub Crawl. It’s a gorgeous neighborhood full of many pubs and shops that will surely impress you. Are there any other ones that you can recommend, Sunny friends?

And, if you’re looking for more fabulous pubs to visit, we highly recommend The Good Pub Guide. American readers can find it here.

February 28, 2014 by: Sunny London

St Albans Market, Sun and Stinking Bishop Cheese

On Wednesday, Mr. Sunny and I ventured to the St Albans Market to enjoy sun and fun in this beautiful Hertfordshire town. To save money and to enjoy the pubs responsibly, we caught the 84 bus outside our flat and rode it to St Albans.

Aside from High Street shops and restaurants, like Sweaty Betty, Reiss and Bill’s, there’s the traditional St Albans Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which is open from early morning until 4:30pm. It’s a great way to spend a sunny day!

With over 160 stalls, you can buy just about anything, including my favorite…. glorious, glorious, CHEESE!

In fact, Mr. Sunny introduced me to a new one that day. Have you ever had this?

I haven’t either. He purchased it, under the condition that he would keep it tightly wrapped on the bus ride home, so as not to bother or embarrass me. I still haven’t tried it. It’s quarantined in my in-laws refrigerator.

You can also purchase fish at the St Albans Market. Just as I snapped the above picture for you, the vendor asked the woman purchasing her fish if she wanted it “with the head on or off”. You would think this Florida girl could handle that. NOPE! I took off running! Luckily there was a luxurious spa just around the corner.

23 Market Pl, St Albans AL3 5DP

Once I had inhaled a proper dose of calming ingredients, I ventured back outside to meet Mr. Sunny. Since it was nearly 1pm, we decided to hit our first pub, The White Swan.

Don’t you just love their philosophy above the door? “Life is too important to be taken seriously.”

1 Upper Dagnall St, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5EA

We ordered our standards, one beer and one red wine and enjoyed this traditional Irish pub.

Next, we ventured up the street and debated between these two pubs.

23 Market Pl, St Albans AL3 5DP

Since Mr Sunny is the beer connoisseur, he chose to strut his stuff in The Cock Inn, much to my chagrin.

I was pretty mortified about this experience, but I managed to cope by having another glass of red wine.

Next we spent a few minutes walking around the St Albans Cathedral, which had its beginnings around 1077. You can enter for free, but a small donation is suggested. They also offer guided tours.

Finally, we feasted at a highly recommended gastropub, the Peahen.

14 London Rd, St Albans, Herts AL1 1NG

We shared 3 starters.

Sticky Sausages (glazed in honey, mustard and rosemary, served with a mustard mayo dip), Homemade Scotch Egg with pork and herb brown sauce, Pate Kilner (chicken liver pate and clarified butter with tomato chutney and toast)

And, we enjoyed these entrees…

Salmon and Smoked Haddock Fishcake with parsley potatoes, wilted spinach and salsa verde

Sirloin Steak, 8oz sirloin steak with a grilled tomato, mushroom and fries

Mr. Sunny’s friend who lives in St. Albans also informed us that the Peahen does a fabulous brunch.

Visiting, the St. Albans Market is an excellent activity for a Sunny in London day. It started back in the 9^th century and according to their website, 60%of the traders have been there for 20 years or more.

Also, in St. Albans, you can visit Butterfly World, the Verulamium Museum, and the Roman Theatre. I’d love to hear about them if you go. And, if you’re a fan of Sinking Bishop cheese, I have some you can pick up… FOR FREE! HA!

If you’re looking for other fun pubs to visit, we highly recommend The Good Pub Guide 2015 , which my husband and his father purchase each year.
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January 30, 2014 by: Sunny London

The Woodman Pub- for those who have GAME

I have quite a treat today for my Sunny friends who are interested in rich English culture. It’s an adventure to the Woodman Pub, and unlike previous posts (the Nicholson’s and Covent Garden Pub Crawls), today we’re taking a rustic, hearty pub journey. So, roll up your sleeves and throw on your Wellington boots, mates!

After travelling down a tiny, windy road in Wild Hill, Hertfordshire you’ll reach the Woodman Freehouse. For my google map obsessed friends, it’s The Woodman Pub, Wild Hill Hatfield Hertfordshire AL9 6EA

This pub, which has been an eight time winner of the South Hertfordshire “Pub of the Year”, is located on one of Henry XIII’s hunting lodges.

Currently, it belongs to Lady Salisbury, who fancies a bitter here on occasion. And if you’d like a glimpse in to the English hunting tradition, this is where you should be!

This round of drinks with my husband, his father and myself included a half dozen free range chicken eggs. The total was barely over £10. (~$15)

Let’s be clear- the eggs aren’t part of a “giveaway” for a round of adult beverages. My father-in-law said it was important to buy them because they were so fresh they had probably been laid that morning. My husband indicated they also had goose and duck eggs for purchase. Sometimes, the pub asks customers to bring the carton back if they find they’re running low in their carton supply, They can leave them in the entrance, and guess who’s on watching…

We ordered our lunches, which consisted of my fish finger sandwich, my husband’s toasted cheese/ ham/onion, and my father-in-law’s bacon roll. The bread was so pillowy fresh it dissolved in my mouth faster than cotton-candy.

Like any English pub, there was a dart board, and of course…. atleast one canine.

I thought my new doggie friend Cato was posing for my camera, but I learned later that he was most likely focused on the sandwich I had in my other hand.

Unlike the atmosphere of Central London, there were also a few equestrians and their horses that pranced past the pub.

The Woodman holds traditional hours, which means it closes at “half two” and reopens at 5:30pm. Let me tell you, at 1:40pm on a Monday afternoon, the place was packed with estate and farm workers, as well as gamekeepers, all fresh from the outdoors.

I hear that most local people venture there mainly for the bitter, but they also specialize in real ale. Usually, there’s 6-7 real ales from micro-breweries on draft, where most pubs feature four. Lagers aren’t very popular. One special on tap this particular day was “Henry Weston, Old Rose cider”, which clocks in at 7.3% alcohol. They change the sign each time they receive a delivery, and while we were there…

So, within minutes…

You guessed it- SIGN CHANGE!

It’s also known for rearing pheasants for pheasant hunts, which also are sold by the pub if they are left over.

If you can only make one trip to the Woodman Pub, perhaps you might want to consider going for one of the two beer festivals they have during summer months. During this time, it’s popular for people to camp in the fields behind the pub so they don’t have to travel in the evening and can return early the next morning.

Sunny friends, if you’re looking for a genuine sport bar with a real macho, outdoors feel, I can’t imagine there’s any place finer than the Woodman Pub.

To find other interesting pubs, my husband and his father highly recommend The Good Pub Guide. American readers can find it here.