Before entering the Rat and Parrot, we are thoroughly frisked by a friendly doorman. As expected on a Saturday night, the pub is pretty packed, and we are unable to find seating for two people.

We approach the large bar, and after what seemed like several minutes, get served a Strongbow cider and a Smirnoff Ice for £5.70.

The patrons seem to be in their mid twenties and thirties, and there are many with tattoos and piercings.

The decor is a bit dilapidated, but nothing prepared us for a visit to the toilets. They were filthy.

Tiles were broken, there there is no toilet paper and large, deep puddles cover the floor. A lonely air freshener mounted on the wall sends out a distress signal, alternately flashing for new batteries and a refill.

The negative impression the bathrooms created is slightly improved by the helpfulness of one of the bouncers. After enduring several questions about the pub that must have seemed pointless to him, we ask him whether we could still have something to eat. No, the kitchen has already closed. But then, just to make sure, he works through the mass of people at the bar only to find us again slightly later to tell us he just wanted to make sure he had been right.

With the right crowd, you can probably have a good party in the Rat and Parrot, and judging by the amount of bouncers, things must probably get rough there sometimes. Maybe we just hit the bar at a wrong time, but there is no excuse for the state the toilets were in.

PdB

July 3, 2002 15:30