PubsandBeer
The Lyric (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Gunboat Smith |  | 1 |
| Wylam - Single Hop Series: 011 Loral | | 1 |
| Vibrant Forest - Cydonia | | 1 |
| 360° - Pacific Pale #49 | | 1 |
| Harbour - Light Ale | | 1 |
| Blue Monkey - Marmoset | | 1 |
| Hopcraft (experimental side of Pixie Spring) - We Come in Peace | | 1 |
| Offbeat - Wacky Winter Warmer | | 1 |
| Liverpool Organic - Empire Ale |  | 1 |
| Anarchy - Shattered Illusions | | 1 |
| Buntingford - Triskel | | 1 |
| Haresfoot - Sundial Golden Ale | | 1 |
| Reunion - Frost Fair | | 1 |
| Piddle (Dorset Piddle) - Piddle Premium Ale | | 1 |
| Portobello - APA |  | 1 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English Ale | | 1 |
| Big Smoke - Bonfire | | 1 |
| Piddle (Dorset Piddle) - Jimmy Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Box Steam - Tunnel Vision | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Brew No. 2 Rye Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Moondance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Otter - Winter Warmer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Cascade Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Frome (formerly Milk Street) - Folklore | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Otter - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bespoke - Money For Old Rope | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goffs - Black Knight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Wild Mule | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brass Castle - Tail Gunner | Not Tried | 0 |
| Five Points - Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| RedWillow - Directionless | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stewart - Cascade | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harbour - Amber Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buntingford - Winkle Picker | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mallinsons - Amarillo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Smoke - Electric Eye | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - Oyster Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Iris - Bleeding Heart | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ilkley - Fireside Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Blackjack - Amarillo IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Golden Engish Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mauldons - Black Adder | Not Tried | 0 |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Dark-Age | Not Tried | 0 |
| Salisbury - Wynter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Smoke - Underworld Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
28 Feb 2023 (Jack William)
Late afternoon after a short visit to the spectacular National Gallery. Good Beer Guide main entry (the pub, not the gallery) and fully deserved. A real buzz to the place and an eclectic mix of clientele. Big choice of ales with some good advice from the barman. Only £5.10 a pint. Best pub of my day.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anarchy - Shattered Illusions | 4.00 | | Warned that this was unfiltered. I’m starting to get used to beers I can’t see through if the flavour and condition is right - this was. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Butcombe - Gold | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Goffs - Black Knight | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried |
31 Dec 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon and populated mostly by shoppers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wylam - Single Hop Series: 011 Loral | 4.30 | | A hazy pale gold. Distinctive hops. |
| Box Steam - Tunnel Vision | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Otter - Winter Warmer | 4.00 | Not Tried |
04 Apr 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Relatively uncrowded, this being a Monday evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portobello - APA | 5.00 | | I found this a bit disappointing. Darker and less hoppy than I was expecting for the style. I see I have described it as ‘pale gold’ and as ‘amber’ in colour on these pages before – this pint was approaching copper-coloured. But flavours were dulled by a thick, creamy head and an above optimum temperature. |
| Celt Experience (now brands are owned by Evans Evans) - Dark-Age | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harbour - Amber Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Underworld Milk Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Bonfire | 4.50 | Not Tried |
22 Jan 2016 (Stephen Harris)
Jam-packed in here at 8pm on a Friday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopcraft (experimental side of Pixie Spring) - We Come in Peace | 4.60 | | A US Amber-style beer that is full of fruity hop tastes. |
| Reunion - Frost Fair | 4.50 | | A very good, dark, rich, traditional Bitter. |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English Ale | 4.00 | | Amber in colour. An ordinary sort of Bitter. |
| 3 Brewers of St. Albans - Golden Engish Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Big Smoke - Bonfire | 4.50 | Not Tried |
17 Nov 2015 (Stephen Harris)
The area to the side of this pub has been redeveloped since my last visit and it has new restaurant neighbours and a fancy-pants hotel. Busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Gunboat Smith | 5.20 | | Smooth, balanced and full-bodied Black IPA. |
| Vibrant Forest - Cydonia | 5.00 | | Described as a ‘Red Pale’. Nice indeed. Sweet red malt and superior hops. |
| Big Smoke - Bonfire | 4.50 | | A malty brown beer. I had hoped for smoked malt, but ‘Bonfire’ here means toffee and caramel flavours. |
| Big Smoke - Electric Eye | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Black Iris - Bleeding Heart | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Downlands (formerly South Downs) - Best | 4.10 | Not Tried |
03 Jun 2014 (Stephen Harris)
All six cask beers were unfamiliar to me and I made a fairly random choice of two.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buntingford - Triskel | 4.00 | | A light-bodied, golden beer, brewed using a new-ish French hop. Nice citrus tastes, but overall a little sweeter than I like. |
| Haresfoot - Sundial Golden Ale | 3.80 | | A good session bitter. |
| Bespoke - Money For Old Rope | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brass Castle - Tail Gunner | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Stewart - Cascade | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Buntingford - Winkle Picker | 4.50 | Not Tried |
26 Mar 2014 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening visit after checking out a hotel nearby which my brother and his family are using when they come over from Australia next month. The pub is very busy – packed in fact.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 360° - Pacific Pale #49 | 4.90 | | Lip-smacking, citrusy, US-style pale ale with some bitterness. |
| Liverpool Organic - Empire Ale | 5.20 | | Fruity, reddish-brown pint. |
| Triple fff - Moondance | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Cascade Pale Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Best | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Frome (formerly Milk Street) - Folklore | 3.90 | Not Tried |
13 Feb 2014 (HSB)
17:00 Another Heritage potential visit. Not too busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piddle (Dorset Piddle) - Piddle Premium Ale | 4.10 | | |
| Mauldons - Black Adder | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Salisbury - Wynter | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Piddle (Dorset Piddle) - Jimmy Best Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Brew No. 2 Rye Beer | 3.60 | Not Tried |
05 Dec 2013 (HSB)
Walking by on my way to the French House and this place caught my eye. Never been in before. Great choice of beer and an interesting interior. I thought £3.50 a pint wasn't bad for this part of London.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Monkey - Marmoset | 3.60 | | Typical Blue Monkey beer lots of flavour |
| Offbeat - Wacky Winter Warmer | 4.50 | | |
| Arbor Ales - Oyster Stout | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Ilkley - Fireside Porter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Blackjack - Amarillo IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried |
01 Nov 2013 (Judy G Garland)
Afternoon Session,
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbour - Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Otter - Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Wild Mule | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| RedWillow - Directionless | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Harbour - Amber Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mallinsons - Amarillo | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About The Lyric
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 13 |
| 7 |
| 3 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Soho, Central London, W1V 7PA.
Originally there were two pubs on this site, named the Ham and the Windmill. These merged at some point, becoming the Ham & Windmill and the name was changed to the Lyric Tavern in 1890. It is a small pub, just off of Piccadilly Circus, in the heart of the bustling West End. There is a single ground floor bar, wood-panelled at the rear, an upstairs room and an opportunity for open-air drinking to the side. The pub closed in 2007 and was boarded-up for a period, but re-opened in the last week of April 2013 as a sister pub to the North Pole in Hoxton. The emphasis is now very firmly on micro-brewed beer, with no national brands on cask or keg.
We have visited this pub 13 times, seen 67 different beers and tried 23 of them.
Postcode: W1V 7PA