2-3 New Bridge Street,
Blackfriars,
London,
EC4V 6AA
(020) 7583 0227
The ViewLondon Review
Close to Fleet Street and St Paul’s Cathedral, The Albion is a Young’s pub serving upmarket pub grub and real ales to a mainly professional clientele from nearby offices.
The Venue
Its low roof suggests it’s an old building, but the décor should be familiar to anyone who’s been in a Young’s pub before, with an emphasis on traditional but relatively modern wooden fittings and furnishings, from the bar to the high tables. There’s an upstairs room which can cater for around 60 people.
The Atmosphere
Depends on when you attend – pop in for lunch and you’ll be joining bosses sneaking away with their secretaries and groups of posh-shirted execs getting competitive over their sales figures. In the evening, especially on a Friday and Saturday night or when certain sporting events are being televised, there’s a more varied crowd that also includes a younger and rowdier element.
The Food
Traditional but upmarket pub grub, with popular choices like fish and chips (£9.35), which comes in a huge portion but lacks the accompanying mountain of chips, sausage and mash (£8.30) and 8oz Somerset burgers with red onion relish and chips (£8.30). That said, the menu has its more adventurous parts, with lesser spotted dishes such as sweet potato curry (£9.65) and venison and red wine casserole (£10.20). The platters are also popular – a selection of miniature Young’s pies with chutney and chips (£11.50), perhaps, or a vegetarian platter with everything from fried halloumi cheese to samosas and falafel and hummus (£11.45).
The Drink
A reasonable if not hugely extensive range of beers on tap, including the ever reliable Young’s Special or Young’s Bitter (both £3.50 a pint), Grolsch (£3.95), Guinness (£4.05) and Fosters (£3.75). There’s a bit more for wine lovers, though, with a list ranging from Le Sanglier Grenache Blanc Old Vines from the Tuchan region of France (£14.50 per bottle) up to the still reasonably priced Chateau de Chatelard Fleurie Beaujolais (£22.50).
The Last Word
It’s not the most atmospheric haunt in the world, but certainly respectable enough to pop in for a bite to eat if you’re in the area.
The Albion has been reviewed by 7 users