The Apple Tree, WC1

Official site of The Apple Tree - theappletreelondon.com

Official site of The Apple Tree - theappletreelondon.com

Located atop the now culverted River Fleet, I came here once before some years ago and it was a bit of a dowdy affair - not unpleasant but just not really worth the effort. A return visit and it has been enlivened somewhat and is more fashionable with some modern décor, mainly dark wallpaper decorated with gold lizard motifs. Furniture is basic and the floor is bare boarded. There are some crystal chandeliers but the overall lighting is gloomy, even though the sun had yet to set. Music was muted and a TV showed the news with the sound off. Unfortunately there was a games machine, which is both unattractive and oh-so dated. Mr. Rattus will be pleased to learn that GK's usual - and not so usual - suspects have returned: Joule's Slumbering Monk, Westerham's British Bulldog, Greene King's IPA and Purple Reign which was ok and at £2.05 a half, not bad value. I'd return, not least because it's in a very interesting off the beaten track location, but this is not a destination pub. Closed at weekends.

This is a Greene King pub, but with none of the GK usual suspects present. There were three ales on - Mauldon Bronzeadder (a GK collaboration of some kind), Joe Thompson Cornish Coast, and Wolf Brewery Sirius Dogstar (£2.05 a half). A largely pub grub menu is available - a burger with the usual accompaniments is £9.45. Some food/drink deals are available, such as the "sandwich, side and drink" for £7.95. Unfortunately, and as is usual with these type of offers, the drink option doesn't seem to include the best real ales, just GK IPA, with the option to upgrade to Peroni or San Miguel for £1. The pub is fairly traditional, although no original features, other than the cast iron pillars, seem to have survived. The main room on the corner is bare-boarded with what might be the original boards, and is furnished with a mix of sofas, bucket armchairs, banquettes and normal tables and chairs. The smaller side room has a few tall tables tall stools in it. I also saw a bar and functiom room upstairs advertised, but I didn't go exploring up there. It's all been effectively modernised, but it's been quite nicely done, and is definitely a comfortable enough place to stop off for a pint or two.