Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, St John's Wood  

Externally, at least, this is one of the more eccentric pubs in London. Having taken its name literally, it consequently has the appearance of a Swiss chalet. A Swiss chalet, that is, on the apex of a multilane traffic island, with the back of a cinema looming in the background, like a metaphorical Matterhorn. Inside it's has a few large rooms, all of which are fairly comfortably laid out. The atmosphere is hotel lobbyish, but that maybe an unfortunate side-effect of its size and shape. The food is fine and being a Sam Smiths pub, the beer is reasonably priced. Indeed, it's probably the cheapness of the beer and the absence of a nearby Wetherspoon that probably attracts a fair few local older gentlemen. It's still a lively place and since being taken over at the start of the year has got better. It also has a beer garden, which in most cases would be a bonus, but in this instance is a warning, due to it's position on one of the busiest roads in North London.

reviewed:
12/4/2006

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real ales

beer garden

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