Modern 2 Bed Flat - the Black Dog Pub Apt - 6 Mins From Vauxhall Station

The Black Dog Lager was especially good, and the pub itself is cute and fun, with a little courtyard. The fish and chips looked great when it arrived, though there was much more batter than fish. I'd like to see that balance improved. The staff we encountered, including the bartenders and manager, never smiled. A beer for them might help! They’re the people dealing with customers.

My friend wanted to visit because of Taylor Swift’s song about the Black Dog, so we went together. The dog statue wearing a lampshade hat was the only thing that felt distinctive; otherwise I found the pub overrated and have been to better ones. My frozen drink was watery, very bitter, and had fruit flies in it. The food was okay, but the prices felt high, though I understand the Taylor label probably plays a part. It wasn’t for me.

We stopped here on the way to Vauxhall bridge, and Flic got us there for the noon opening. It’s a Cask Marque pub, very much geared toward food, with one good-sized indoor room and a roomy outdoor area. There are three real ales and one real cider. I had half a Mondo brewery Juliet, a 3.8% pale ale, for £4.80, the most I spent across two days and 30 pubs in London. Liza’s ginger ale soft drink was £3. There’s a pull-down projector TV for sport. The toilet was the hottest I’ve ever been in, probably because the heater was turned up too high.

The steak sandwich was cooked just right, and the sticky toffee pudding was delicious too. We also had Black Dog lager, and everything came out promptly. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere felt warm, and the staff were genuinely welcoming and kind. I’d happily return and definitely recommend it.