The City Tavern is a three-floored Victorian pub located just off Cheapside, offering one of the best outdoor drinking spots in The City.

The Venue
Cheapside was once described by Dickens as ‘the busiest thoroughfare in the world’ and today it is going through a regeneration programme to bring it into the 21st century. Tucked away behind offices just off Cheapside, close to the grandeur of the City of London Guildhall, is the City Tavern, a traditional-looking Greene King pub adorned with colourful hanging flowers all around the outside.

This deceptively large three-floored venue has a local pub feel, largely due to it being slightly off the beaten track. Entering through either of the two main entrances, you’ll find an L-shaped bar and a nicely polished wooden floor with several high stools and tables. There is a raised area with some more comfortable seating where you may sit and watch the comings and goings in the pub. On the first floor is another bar and a restaurant area with lots more tables and a surprising conservatory and roof terrace, ideal for those summer afternoons in an area devoid of outside seating. There is a third bar in the basement games room that houses pool tables and a dartboard.

The Atmosphere
The clientele is made up mainly of City workers from the local banks and offices that surround the pub on all sides, along with a mixture of shoppers, regulars and middleaged men looking for a relaxing pint with friends. The service is functional but not overly efficient when it gets busy. As you might expect, the place fills up early evening when people pop in for a drink or two after work. The pub livens up towards the end of the week with occasional quiz nights, karaoke and live bands but is closed for business on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Food
Satisfying pub food is available, perfect for refuelling in the cold winter lunchtimes. All the usual staples are here including sandwiches, jacket potatoes, fish and chips and steaks.

The Drink
There is a fine range of simple but delicious beers and ales available, including (being a Greene King pub) Abbot Ale and the delightfully hoppy and clean-tasting Greene King IPA. The draught selection also includes a fine selection of lagers such as Peroni, Heineken, Stella Artois and Becks. With prices ranging from around £3.20-£4.10 a pint, these provide good value for money in The City. There is also a good selection of wines, which may not be extensive but they are cheap.

The Last Word
A real find in the heart of The City, it’s worth seeking out if you want to shake off the worries of the day.

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