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The Black Friar (Nicholson's (Mitchells & Butlers))
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Camerons - 150 Commemorative Brew |  | 1 |
| East London (ELB) - Truman's Runner | | 1 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Portland Porter | | 1 |
| York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost Ale |  | 1 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | | 1 |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Sly Fox | | 1 |
| Andwell - Ding Dong | | 1 |
| Little Critters - Sleepy Badger | | 1 |
| Fuller's / Steel City Collaboration - Steel | | 1 |
| Wadworth - Chilli & Chocolate |  | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | | 1 |
| Marston's - Pedigree New World Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Butcombe - Great Grey Owl | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - The Mad Squirrels Unhinged Beers : Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Downton - Ed's American Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| By The Horns - Old Smoke | Not Tried | 0 |
| Broughton - Dark Dunter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Born in the Borders (formerly Scottish Borders) - Wild Harvest | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Proper Job | Not Tried | 0 |
| Caledonian - Autumn Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Morland Old Golden Hen | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wold Top - Against the Grain | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brains - The Rev James Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| By The Horns - The Saint | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Wainwright | Not Tried | 0 |
| Purity - Pure UBU | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cotleigh - Tawny | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Legally Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - American Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - McEwan's Signature | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - Yorkshire Brunette | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Topaz Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kelburn - Cart Noir | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harviestoun - Broken Dial | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's Seafarers Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Caledonian - Flying Scotsman (superseded by 3.5% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Robinsons - Trooper (superseded by 4.7% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Lancaster - Lemongrass | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
06 Jun 2019 (Stephen Harris)
Frantic atmosphere in the early evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Critters - Sleepy Badger | 4.50 | | A roasty and chocolatey and relatively dry Oatmeal Stout. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cotleigh - Tawny | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Yorkshire Brunette | 3.70 | Not Tried |
30 Jan 2017 (Stephen Harris)
Early evening on a Monday in January but still so crowded that I was elbowed out of my position at the bar and ended up standing outside.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Sly Fox | 4.00 | | A golden beer flavoured with ginger. Seemed a bit weedy at first, but it grew on me as the ginger became more pronounced as the glass went down. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Proper Job | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Morland Old Golden Hen | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - The Rev James Gold | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Wainwright | 4.10 | Not Tried |
13 Jul 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Standing at the bar counter once again marred by a mass of unwashed glasses at the left hand end. Also annoying that the small room with friezes and quotations is now table service restaurant only.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | | But none of the Burton snatch of old |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's Seafarers Ale | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Robinsons - Trooper (superseded by 4.7% version) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Pedigree New World Pale Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - The Mad Squirrels Unhinged Beers : Milk Stout | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| By The Horns - Old Smoke | 5.00 | Not Tried |
16 May 2015 (Wittenden)
Mid morning:a few tourists breakfasting.I was passing enroute for Liverpool Street and looked in for old times sake.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camerons - 150 Commemorative Brew | 5.00 | | Ah, Camerons.Tried this for old times sake. Dark and malty. |
| Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harviestoun - Broken Dial | 4.50 | Not Tried |
31 Mar 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Overcrowded in the immediately after work period. I was only able to see the pump clips on the left side of the bar – not sure what else was on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset Brewing Company - Portland Porter | 4.70 | | Black and smooth and creamy and full of vanilla flavours. Nice. |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner | 4.00 | Not Tried |
11 Feb 2015 (Stephen Harris)
Uncomfortably busy in here after work at around 7:30pm. Luckily it is a bit warmer tonight and many people were able to stand outside. A friend arrived, took one look at the crowds and decided not to attempt to buy a drink. I had heeded Michael Croxford’s recent sage advice, and used my Nicholson’s app to score a 25p reduction in the price of a pint – only the second time I have remembered to do this.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wadworth - Chilli & Chocolate | 5.50 | | Disappointing. Mostly a sweet malt taste (Crystal Malt?). Not a lot of chocolate and the chilli is underplayed too. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Purity - Pure UBU | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Legally Blonde | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Runner | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - McEwan's Signature | 4.80 | Not Tried |
24 Sep 2014 (Magnus Greel)
Very quiet mid afternoon before the office rush
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| East London (ELB) - Truman's Runner | 4.00 | | Malty toffee apple flavour very moreish unlike Truman's of yesteryear. |
| York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost Ale | 5.40 | | Liquorice and burnt coffee not quite to my taste |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | | Bland watery and tasteless |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | What a find, though didn't sample unfortunately |
| Caledonian - Autumn Red | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Wold Top - Against the Grain | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| By The Horns - The Saint | 4.80 | Not Tried |
09 Jan 2014 (Stephen Harris)
Just a quick after-work visit on the way home.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's / Steel City Collaboration - Steel | 3.50 | | Sharp, malty, pale beer. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Broughton - Dark Dunter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Shepherd Neame - The Faversham Steam Brewery - Whitstable Bay Pale Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Born in the Borders (formerly Scottish Borders) - Wild Harvest | 3.80 | Not Tried |
10 Aug 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Potentially superb pub but marred on this visit by a pile of unwashed glasses just sitting at the main bar end.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | | A not quite right tang |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Caledonian - Flying Scotsman (superseded by 3.5% version) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Nicholson's Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Lancaster - Lemongrass | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Butcombe - Great Grey Owl | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Downton - Ed's American Red | 4.80 | Not Tried |
27 Nov 2012 (Stephen Harris)
Crowded at 6:30pm, in the evening rush-hour peak. I would have stayed for a second but the crush was becoming uncomfortable.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andwell - Ding Dong | 4.50 | | Chestnut-coloured, richly malty, slightly spicy hint. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Milestone - American Pale Ale | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Topaz Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kelburn - Cart Noir | 4.80 | Not Tried |
About The Black Friar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 6 |
| 8 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Blackfriars, Central London, EC4V 4EG.
Cheese wedge-shaped pub near Blackfriars Bridge and adjacent to Blackfriars main line and Underground stations too. Very historical interior. 4 + 4 handpumps on the bar counter. Spectacular interior decorations.
We have visited this pub 15 times, seen 65 different beers and tried 19 of them.
Postcode: EC4V 4EG