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Mc & Sons (formerly The Charles Dickens) (Windmill Taverns Group)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Clarence & Fredericks - Best BitterGood1
Cronx - Fallout PumpkinAcceptable1
Elland - Ice-icaleGood1
Florence - Titfer (branded as A Head In A Hat Brewing)Good2
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Sussex Downs AleAcceptable1
London Fields - Hackney HopsterExcellent1
Marston Moor (brewed at Rudgate) - Mongrel's Wiser KaiserGood1
Mauldons - Christies Golden AleGood1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Dapper DogGood1
North Yorkshire - TemptationGood1
Portobello - Snow FlakeExcellent1
Rudgate - Winter's AlePoor1
Two Cocks - 1643 Leveller BitterAcceptable1
Windsor & Eton - Zinzan's DropGood1
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Adnams - Fat SpratNot Tried0
Adnams - LighthouseNot Tried0
Adnams - Shingle ShellsNot Tried0
Brains - Merlin's OakNot Tried0
Cottage - BoundaryNot Tried0
Cottage - Old HookerNot Tried0
Cumbrian Legendary - Loweswater GoldNot Tried0
Greene King - Hardys & Hansons Rocking RudolphNot Tried0
Hogs Back - Rip SnorterNot Tried0
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Poachers MoonNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - BlackbirdNot Tried0
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde MildNot Tried0
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - IPA – Ian & Paul’s AleNot Tried0
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Priory MildNot Tried0
Portobello - APANot Tried0
Portobello - London PorterNot Tried0
Slater's - Top TottyNot Tried0
Two Cocks - CannonballNot Tried0
Weltons - Horsham PaleNot Tried0
Picture 1. Mc & Sons (formerly The Charles Dickens), Southwark, Central London
Picture 2. Mc & Sons (formerly The Charles Dickens), Southwark, Central London

Visits Details

21 May 2015 (HSB)
12:20 Second stop. Once again a pub I haven't visited since the 90s. I recognised the guy behind the bar as the former cellarman at the Old Fountain, Old Street, and had a catch up chat with him. The pub is due to close for a major renovation in June 2015.
BeerABVScoreNotes
London Fields - Hackney Hopster4.20ExcellentVery tasty
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Portobello - APA5.00Not Tried
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Poachers Moon4.10Not Tried
Mighty Oak - Blackbird4.00Not Tried
Portobello - London Porter4.40Not Tried
17 Feb 2014 (Stephen Harris)
I'm not saying its cheap here, but I received a pint, a bag of peanuts, some change and a smile from the barman here for the same amount that had bought me just a pint earlier at another pub nearby. Gents toilets here could do with a good scrub though.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Windsor & Eton - Zinzan's Drop4.00GoodA dark, fruity bitter, brewed using ingredients from New Zealand.
Adnams - Lighthouse3.40Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - IPA – Ian & Paul’s Ale3.50Not Tried
Weltons - Horsham Pale3.70Not Tried
Cottage - Old Hooker4.30Not Tried
Two Cocks - Cannonball3.80Not Tried
17 Dec 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Christmas drink-up amongst a group of old friends. Luckily some have got here early to bag a table.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Portobello - Snow Flake4.70ExcellentCloudy, pale wheat beer. I like it and stick with it for most of the evening.
Two Cocks - 1643 Leveller Bitter3.60AcceptableA regular bitter. Not in sparkling condition.
Slater's - Top Totty4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph4.20Not Tried
Brains - Merlin's Oak4.30Not Tried
31 Jul 2013 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Clarence & Fredericks - Best Bitter4.10GoodAmber, flavoursome bitter.
King Beer (formerly W.J. King) - Sussex Downs Ale5.10AcceptableAmber in colour and, I thought, a bit odd in taste.
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde Mild3.70Not Tried
Slater's - Top Totty4.00Not Tried
Adnams - Fat Sprat3.80Not Tried
Cottage - Boundary4.00Not Tried
29 Dec 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Quiet on a Saturday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Elland - Ice-icale3.90GoodGolden with a good balance of malt and hop. Fairly fruity hop finish. My score 15/20.
Rudgate - Winter's Ale4.00PoorA rather unpleasant tangy malt bitterness from amber/crystal malt and little hoppiness. Dry, astringent finish, making the beer not one for my taste. My score 9/20.
01 Dec 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Fairly quiet on a Saturday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Marston Moor (brewed at Rudgate) - Mongrel's Wiser Kaiser3.60GoodDark brown bitter with a fairly bitter but malty character. Some hoppiness leading to a dryish finish. My score 15/20.
Mauldons - Christies Golden Ale3.90GoodVery pale bitter with a good citrus hop character and some malt balance. My score 15/20.
24 Nov 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
A few in watching the Rugby om TV.
BeerABVScoreNotes
North Yorkshire - Temptation3.80GoodPale bitter with a good hop flavour balanced by some malt. Fruity hop finish. My score 15/20.
Adnams - Shingle Shells3.90Not TriedNot on despite pumpclip "customer facing".
12 Nov 2012 (Stephen Harris)
A good scattering of customers early evening on a Monday – but not so many that I couldn’t find a seat.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Florence - Titfer (branded as A Head In A Hat Brewing)3.50GoodA highly traditional, chestnut-coloured session beer with a bitter malt taste.
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Dapper Dog4.80GoodA dark red/brown, old-style, fruity, premium bitter with a hint of roast malt.
Hogs Back - Rip Snorter5.00Not Tried
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Priory Mild3.50Not Tried
Adnams - Lighthouse3.40Not Tried
Cumbrian Legendary - Loweswater Gold4.30Not Tried
10 Nov 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Fairly quiet on a Saturday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Florence - Titfer (branded as A Head In A Hat Brewing)3.50AcceptableAmber bitter with a dryish malty character. Some hop towards the finish. My score 14/20.
03 Nov 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
A few diners in on a Saturday afternoon.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cronx - Fallout Pumpkin4.60AcceptableReddish brown beer with a rather tart character with bitterness dominating. Dry finish. My score 13/20.

[More Visits]

About the Mc & Sons (formerly The Charles Dickens)

The pub sign. Mc & Sons (formerly The Charles Dickens), Southwark, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent5
Good14
Acceptable7
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Southwark, Central London, SE1 0LH.

Pleasant pub on Union Street between Waterloo and London Bridge. Closed June 2015 for major refurbishment. Re-opened early October 2017 with new name Mc & Sons with Irish themed bar selling Thai food. Now 4 handpumps.

We have visited this pub 16 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 26 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE1 0LH