The Vintry, Cannon Street, EC4

I didn’t venture downstairs at the Fullers run Vintry but did have a nose around the long street level bar. Surprisingly it was pretty empty considering the dozens of people enjoying an afterwork mid-week beer out the front. Inside the pub to the left is an open kitchen and the long bar just over to the right faces some raised seating along the front windows. The bar supports a premium keg range and the three available cask ales were Fullers Oliver’s Island and London pride alongside Horn’s Hopadelic.

A Fullers pub in a large irregular basement adjacent to a popular square. Fighting through a very large crowd of al fresco revellers, past the bouncers on the cinema-like doors, you enter an industrial hanger-like semi-circular chamber which would fit better with Brewdog than Fullers, with its honeycomb concrete ceiling and exposed services. The bar occupies the whole of one side, while the floor area is divided by tables, chairs and a central pillar. The noise was excessive, uncomfortably loud, mostly created by screaming, wailing City types, barking barrow boys and their foul mouthed, slag-tagged, belligerent bitches, all trying to outdo each other. Conversely, the staff were pleasant and helpful. There were 3 ales on draft, Pride, Oliver's Island and Seafarer. I had a pint of the latter, which was OK, in reasonable condition but not at all enjoyable due to the ambient noise. WiFi was the Fuller's O2. Devoid of class, charm and humanity, the sole reason to come here is for the beer, but there are nicer places nearby to get that.

Official site of The Vintry - www.vintryec4.co.uk

Official site of The Vintry - www.vintryec4.co.uk