All guns blazing

Pros: A Young's pub right on City Road at the North-West corner of Finsbury Square, the Master Gunner is our work local. That's not to say it's the closest pub to our office, but the closest one we want to drink in. We must be here two or three times a week.

The beer selection is pretty good: Young's ordinary, Young's Special and Bombardier are the regulars, along with a selection of expensive European lagers, Guiness and Strongbow. Wine isn't stupidly expensive and drinking a bottle between a group is a cost-effective option. A bowl of chilli nuts sometimes comes in handy.

The food is perhaps a little expensive, eight to ten pounds for a main course but the burgers are large and sharing options are available. The sausage platter is a personal favourite.

Downstairs has recently become a 'fish dining room', which I have not yet tried.There are a few high tables out the front on the pavement for
the smokers or for watching the traffic when it's warm. If you want daylight inside, stay at the front or head right up the back. It does get
busy around the narrow bar area but there'll be room if you move past it.

The staff are friendly, good at managing demand and remember who needs to be served next.

Cons: As noted above, I come here a lot. I would say that in less than ten percent of visits there is any soap in the gents toilet. Despite the dispenser on the wall, I saw a freestanding bottle once. I wonder if that was provided by the management or by a customer who took direct action. I may consider doing the same.

Weekday local

Pros: Just up the street from my office, and certainly a better bet than the morbid All Bar One adjacent from the office. Attracts a lot of City workers, but there is enough staff that queuing for drinks isn't too onerous. House wine is on par with better pubs. Good amount of seating considering the location, though is good to get there before the rush as it will fill up quickly. Have had some very enjoyable evenings here.

Cons: Is a good option for after work drinks, but this like damnation with faint praise considering the local competition. Is definitely my preferred option, but it isn't anywhere too special.

Pack 'em in

Pros: This is a nice bar to go to after work, it's the local ain't it?
The Guinness in here is pretty decent so that keeps me happy.
There's a good atmosphere in here generally, the place seems lively. The size of the place is its blessing and its curse though.

Cons: When this place gets packed... yeouch....

It's really not fun just trying to make your way to the toilet in the place when it's full.

Trying to get back from the bar with a couple of pints in your hands is even worse.
Maybe I have a bias against city workers when they're in bars after work, but some people when wearing suits just won't get out of the way except with pure force.

A strange mix of spit/saw dust/wine bar ) that just about works

Pros: There's some split personality @ The Gunner (and I'm happy to see someone has added it to the site because I like it) that is a bit weird at first.

It has all the initial hallmarks of a spit & saw dust but then you get olive nibbles and a fish restaurant down stairs. Usually I like my pubs to have a distinct character (pint of Rat Bolter VS. imported Czech pils) but whatever The Gunner is I quite like it.

I have never seen a military types in here though.

Cons: Damn it's busy on a Friday evening until about 7pm when everyone wanders off somewhere else. It's a kind of a first pint place if you know what I mean.

Bowing down to a master

Pros: Because it's just around the corner from the office, it ends up being the better option over allbar one... and it always ends up being a great night there. The atmosphere is cozy, and the drinks are fairly reasonable. They have lots of tables, a nice upper area, and the staff (especially Kasha aka Kate) are very sweet and always smiling (at least at me!)

Cons: The food's not that great, and a little expensive, so it's not a good option for having some dinner with your drinks

Tags local pub,  white wine,  friendly staff,