The Blackfriar's Pub - London

June 2010:

During June of this year, I spent almost three weeks in London participating in an insurance coverage arbitration. We worked out of our firm's London offices, and we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in "The City" section of London. It was a very busy time, and we worked very hard, but we also managed to grab some time occasionally to enjoy the city.

One of the great attractions within the City of London is its many pubs. They are located on just about every street corner, and they are wildly popular. It is hard not to conclude that Londoners dearly love their ale. They seem to drink a great deal! And both the pubs and the City are happy to accommodate -- so much so that drinking in the the city streets is permitted. As a result, it is quite common to see people congregating (often loudly) outside the pubs -- with glasses in hand. In fact, if

you peek into any given pub, you might find that it is exceptionally small. The custom in London is to enter the pub, purchase your drink and exit the pub to stand on the sidewalk outside. The pubs even have open windows (no screens) and ledges extending over the sidewalks so that there are places to lean and rest your glass.

While we were in London, we found ourselves attracted to a pub located directly across from our hotel. It's called the Blackfriar's Pub, and it has stood on this particular corner for several hundred years! There is much neat artwork both inside and outside the pub (statues and murals), but I don't think anyone goes there for the art.

Pubs are not typically known for serving particularly appetizing food, but the Blackfriar's Pub is truly an exception. They have great "bar food," and we had late night meals here on several occasions. I came to be a real fan of their hamburgers -- which are surprisingly huge and excellent. (My mouth is watering a little bit as I write this.)

So when you are next in London (and I hope you have occasion to travel there), I highly recommend the Blackfriar's Pub. It is located on New Bridge Street just off Blackfriar's Bridge (no coincidence) and just outside the Blackfriar's tube stop (also no coincidence!). You can't miss it! And please offer a toast to the Queen on my behalf.