Pubs around big train stations can sometimes be unpleasant affairs - noisy, overpriced, without much character and sometimes frequented by unsavoury characters.
But take a moment to push out from the immediate vicinity of the station and you can often find an altogether more pleasant drinking establishment, like the Cask & Glass, less than a ten-minute walk from Victoria station.
The
Cask & Glass is on a quiet street just across from Cardinal Place, a shopping and office complex that opened in Victoria about five years ago.
The pub itself is a small, cosy affair. Its clientele is a mix of locals, a few office workers, those having a quick pint or glass of wine before a theatre show, and people searching for an alternative to the aforementioned boozers right outside the station.
Its
website says its one of the smallest pubs in central London, which I can well believe.
It can get busy, especially on Friday evenings, though time it right and you'll have no trouble getting a
seat. There are a few tables right in front of the Cask & Glass too, which can make for a nice outdoor experience, especially as the street the pub sits on is pretty quiet most of the time.
It's open from 11 in the morning till 11 at night Monday to Friday, and from midday till 8pm on Saturdays. A wide range of drinks are offered, and a menu of toasted sandwiches made with locally-sourced ingredients will take care of your stomach.
The Cask & Glass happens to be owned by Britain's oldest brewer,
Shepherd Neame, so you know you're in safe hands when you come to this little drinking den.
This enchanting little pub is definitely worth a look if you ever find yourself in or around Victoria station. Also in the area is
Westminster Cathedral, so if you fancy getting to know this part of town better, you could easily do both places in one trip.
