The Market Porter is famous for a couple reasons. For one, it's been in a Harry Potter film. Secondly and more importantly it's open at 6am. The reason why it opens so early is because Borough Market is across the street. Borough Market is a fantastical foodie's dream. Gourmet everything. If you want it, and it's not here, it's not in London! Each stall (think Reading Market in Philly) has a specialty, whether that be beer, wine, cheese, meat, etc. This market resembles something you might find in Paris or Antwerp, delicious. This area is also unique in which that you can walk around with an alcoholic beverage without fear of getting into trouble with constables (just stay around the market).
The Market Porter opens very early to cater to the delivery people that come in the wee hours to set up each stall. These guys generally come from the New Covent Garden Veg Market, Billingsgate Fish Market, or Smithfields Meat Market. Each are huge hubs (actually each are owned by the City of London) for suppliers to sell wholesale to market traders and restaurants. These guys are up all night and all they want is a pint! Cue The Market Porter (I felt it was necessary to tell you the history, it's a key fact of why the pub exists).
The Porter has around 30 or so taps and the majority are real ales and aged ciders. I opted for a couple different ciders, one that stood out was the Weston's Scrumpy. The pub is split between two large rooms. The bar can get very crowded at times, usually the worst time is the evening rush (as the Cityboys heading home from the office go to London Bridge to catch their trains into the suburbs). However, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a large area outside and across the street that drinking is tolerated (not in the street itself, that still has a small amount of traffic on it). So find a bench, or nuzzle up to a standing table (wooden barrel) and drink away!
While I have never eaten at the Porter, there is a really nice stall just near it. On the same side of the street, if you come from the Southwark Tavern, you will see a place called "Posh Banger Boys." This is a takeaway establishment (which has limited seating), but you can always send your mate over and hold his/her beer! The prices are spot on, and the quality is very good. You guessed it, the sausages come from the market! That's why they're so good. They also have chicken and serve burgers too. I recommend this place highly.
So, things to do around here? Go to Vinopolis, a museum for wine. They take you through a tour and depending on how much you spend, you get to drink as much accordingly. It tutors you through the art of making wine and tasting wine. Opt for the absinthe and scotch portions of the tour. :)
The London Dungeon, skip it... it's a waste of time and money (go to DisneyWorld if you want that crap).
The Golden Hind, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship is worth a look and a picture from the outside, don't opt to go in.
The Globe Theatre is also close (Shakespeare's Theatre has been recreated with performances in the Summer months.
The best advice I can give in this area is to just walk along the South Bank. You will see so many landmarks that you know, it's priceless (well, free actually!). Make sure not to miss the Tate Modern Art Museum, it rivals any museum, anywhere.
Well, that's it for London, this time. More on the next trip folks! Hope you enjoyed my writing. Lithuania beckons... but I have written enough for today.
Cheers!
-Al
The Market Porter
Posh Banger Boys
The Market Porter opens very early to cater to the delivery people that come in the wee hours to set up each stall. These guys generally come from the New Covent Garden Veg Market, Billingsgate Fish Market, or Smithfields Meat Market. Each are huge hubs (actually each are owned by the City of London) for suppliers to sell wholesale to market traders and restaurants. These guys are up all night and all they want is a pint! Cue The Market Porter (I felt it was necessary to tell you the history, it's a key fact of why the pub exists).
The Porter has around 30 or so taps and the majority are real ales and aged ciders. I opted for a couple different ciders, one that stood out was the Weston's Scrumpy. The pub is split between two large rooms. The bar can get very crowded at times, usually the worst time is the evening rush (as the Cityboys heading home from the office go to London Bridge to catch their trains into the suburbs). However, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a large area outside and across the street that drinking is tolerated (not in the street itself, that still has a small amount of traffic on it). So find a bench, or nuzzle up to a standing table (wooden barrel) and drink away!
While I have never eaten at the Porter, there is a really nice stall just near it. On the same side of the street, if you come from the Southwark Tavern, you will see a place called "Posh Banger Boys." This is a takeaway establishment (which has limited seating), but you can always send your mate over and hold his/her beer! The prices are spot on, and the quality is very good. You guessed it, the sausages come from the market! That's why they're so good. They also have chicken and serve burgers too. I recommend this place highly.
So, things to do around here? Go to Vinopolis, a museum for wine. They take you through a tour and depending on how much you spend, you get to drink as much accordingly. It tutors you through the art of making wine and tasting wine. Opt for the absinthe and scotch portions of the tour. :)
The London Dungeon, skip it... it's a waste of time and money (go to DisneyWorld if you want that crap).
The Golden Hind, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship is worth a look and a picture from the outside, don't opt to go in.
The Globe Theatre is also close (Shakespeare's Theatre has been recreated with performances in the Summer months.
The best advice I can give in this area is to just walk along the South Bank. You will see so many landmarks that you know, it's priceless (well, free actually!). Make sure not to miss the Tate Modern Art Museum, it rivals any museum, anywhere.
Well, that's it for London, this time. More on the next trip folks! Hope you enjoyed my writing. Lithuania beckons... but I have written enough for today.
Cheers!
-Al
The Market Porter
Posh Banger Boys
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