Joel Golby's extensive quest for an ideal pub setting
In the heart of London, a group of friends embark on a quest to find the ultimate pub. According to their criteria, the ideal establishment is a place where one can find quiet reflection, yet feel empowered to let loose and bellow at a red card. They appreciate pubs where the energy can shift and rise and fall over the course of a long Saturday.
Yesterday, the group visited one such pub, The Victory in Bethnal Green. This establishment, enjoyably old-school, has an atmosphere that feels as if a Doodlebug might still drop on it. However, the vibe of the pub was instantly changed when a female football team arrived at 10pm.
The group's preferences lean towards pubs with a comfortable temperature for hand washing, a patina on the walls and floors, often pre-dating the iCloud login. They enjoy seeing pubs adorned with football stickers on the toilet cistern and framed photos of the pub from decades ago.
The Kenton in Hackney, a pub founded by Theo Michaels and first opened in 2013, has been a recent favourite. It offers a perfect shambolic weekend bedlam atmosphere, complete with insane interior colours, horse-racing on without sound, and arcane shots listed on a small blackboard. The pub also boasts a quietly brilliant pub garden and a secret karaoke room.
The group had the complete run of The Victory in Bethnal Green, including the pool table, until 10pm. The Kenton in Hackney, on the other hand, provided the perfect venue for a birthday celebration over the weekend.
The group's search for the perfect pub is a Goldilocksian one. Some places have the pool but not the vibe, some places have the vibe but not the pool, and some places are simply too popular. The speaker has go-to pubs in central, north, west, south, and east London, and can find a good spot in most major cities and destination towns.
The speaker appreciates the unpredictability of pubs, enjoying it when the price of a pint varies based on who is serving, and when, at some point and ideally not involving them, there could be a little fight. They also enjoy seeing people rolling cigarettes at their table.
The current search for a new pub is ongoing, but one thing is certain; the group's love for London's diverse and unique pub culture remains undiminished.
