Of course some of you may recognise that these pictures show what became of the Cove Bar – London’s only cornish pub which closed at the beginning of 2011 – see So Farewell to the Cove Bar in Covent Garden for my sparse collection of photos from the Cove. The transformation is significant – gone is the plain wood and the cosy rustic charm. Also gone is the old bar formed from a part of a real fishing boat.

I’d like to thank the staff of La Duree who were happy for me to take these pictures even if they weren’t really sure why. I even tried to describe what the Cove was like since the French staff had never experienced its previous incarnation.

See also my original pub review of the Cove Bar and Cornish Beer in Covent Garden from 2009.

It is the first time that a London pub has won this award, and the Harp has beaten three other excellent pubs which made it to the final shortlist.

Julian Hough of CAMRA gives Bridget the National Pub of the Year Award

Those who are familiar with the Harp will know that the award is well deserved – it’s a fine pub with a welcoming atmosphere and great real ales and ciders. The pub is very welcoming and is loved by regular customers and occasional visitors alike.

The presentation of the award to Bridget Walsh (Binnie to her friends) took place at lunchtime on the 16th and I was lucky enough to be invited along.

The day got off to a good start with a quarter page write up in the printed version of the Guardian Newspaper (online version here). Other papers carried the story too and there was even a sentence in the Sun. Binnie was also interviewed by the breakfast team at BBC Radio London.

Duncan Sambrook helps himself to some Wandle

I got to the Harp early and initially the pub was eerily quiet. Binnie was talking to a journalist from Asylum mag. By 11:15 the pub was its usual busy self, and all the CAMRA people had arrived. Julian Hough kicked off with a speech that culminated in a review of some of the comments that the CAMRA surveyors had made about the Harp. After receiving the award Binnie gave a short acceptance speech thanking the CAMRA members, the various breweries and her staff.

Once the formalities were out the way it was time for a drink. Both Sambrooks and Dark Star breweries had generously donated a cask each for the day – Wandle and Hophead respectively. Mmm, decisions, decisions… Duncan Sambrook (MD of Sambrooks) had no doubts and led the attck on the Wandle. In the end I had some of both – very nice. Some excellent food was provided by a team from the First Step Trust.

The Harp shaped cake

There was also a superb cake made by Siobhan Fitzpatrick – shaped like a Harp (the cake, not Siobhan) to represent the beautiful stained glass windows at the front of the pub. After Binnie had cut the cake we all realised how tasty it was. It was easy to spot who’d eaten some as the green glitter on the icing tended to stick to your face.

After several rounds of the Hophead vs Wandle taste test I plumped for the Wandle but only just.

If you’re ever thirsty in the Covent Garden area I recommend a detour to The Harp – you won’t regret it.

Thanks to the Harp for inviting me and for allowing me to use some of their photos – you can see more on their Facebook album page.

Other Places to Visit

• The Harp website
• The Harp on Twitter
• The Harp on Facebook
• The Harp’s collection of YouTube videos
• My pub review of The Harp

Apparently the lease had run out, and the pasty shop and the Cove above have both closed. I believe this happened right at the start of 2011 and on Friday I could see that all fittings from the pasty shop have gone – it’s just an empty shell.

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – the entrance beside the pasty shop

A Cornish Theme Pub?

A favourite of many people – including myself – the Cove was an amazing place – a Cornish themed bar in the heart of London. On the face of it that doesn’t sound too exciting but it was one of the only pubs in London to sell Skinners beers. The three Skinners beers were usually Ice Blonde, Betty Stoggs and my favourite – Cornish Knocker. The Cove also regularly carried St Austell Tribute and latterly Proper Job. All the beers were well kept.

Given its location the Cove was one of the West End’s best kept secrets. You had to know to find the door beside the West Cornwall Pasty shop in the main Covent Garden market building and have the confidence just to walk in and up the stairs – and there it was, complete with a pretend Cornish fishing boat for a bar. Cove Bar was picked out in letters above the door – but so far above eye line that hardly anyone saw that. There was a small brass plate screwed to the wooden stairs that stated “Real ale served here” or something like that. And that was all the signage there was.

Enough people did know about it though to make it pretty busy at times, but you could usually find some space – even on the balcony which overlooked the entertainment on the Piazza. You were of course very close to the drinkers on the balcony of the dire Punch & Judy opposite but we all knew which pub we preferred.

I first encountered the Cove in the early noughties when I stumbled across it by accident while checking out the pasty shop. It quickly became a regular West End haunt of mine, and everyone I took there really liked it. In the early days it was actually run by Cornish people – including staff from the Old Inn, Mullion.

One off-putting aspect of the Cove was the prices. Even given it’s location it was extremely expensive and I read from the latest reviews that they were charging over £4 per pint.

But despite that it’s shame it’s closed and although I hadn’t visited for a while I’m not sure where my next pint of Cornish Knocker is going to come from.

Photos of the Cove Bar

I never really took many pictures of the inside of the Cove – it was on my list…  But here are some pics – mainly from my dodgy mobile phone.

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – The balcony was usually full

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – a pub sign in a first floor window?

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – The sign over the door

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – The barmaid pulls my pint of Skinners Cornish Knocker

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – Two St Austell beers were regulars alongside the 3 from Skinners

Cove Bar, Covent Garden – The balcony was a great place to watch the street entertainers on the Piazza

Other Pages Featuring the Cove

• Pub review of the Cove.
• Cornish Beer in Covent Garden.

Grand National at the Harp, Covent Garden

2nd Prize – a half bottle of champagne – goes to Dave Budden for his picture entitled “Line of Handpumps”

Line of handpumps at the Harp, Covent Garden

3rd Prize – A round of drinks – goes to Michael Flynn for his picture entitled “Two Pints”

Two Pints at the Harp, Covent Garden

There’s going to be a prize-giving party on Wednesday 14th July from 5:30pm in the Harp, why not come along and help us celebrate.

I was a late convert to the Harp some 2 – 3 years ago but now when in the rea it’s a must visit pub. It used to be one of the smokiest pubs in London, but that’s all changed now and the atmosphere is just people enjoying themselves.

Harp, Covent Garden

The pub is extremely narrow inside and when it’s busy (seemingly all of the time) it can be a struggle to get past the bar to the slightly larger open area at the back. There is a quieter room up the narrow stairs if you need a bit of peace and quiet. Be aware though, the stairs are almost as precarious as those at the Seven Stars in Chancery Lane.

The beer selection will never disappoint as there are 8 different beers on at any one time. The selection varies constantly apart from the two staples and on my last visit the list comprised:

• Harvey’s Sussex Best – a regular here. Almost as good as being in a Harvey’s pub.
• Sambrook’s Wandle – Hoped it might taste like the Wandsworth brewed Young’s ordinary but it’s a different beer completely. Similar colour but much fuller in taste, and maltier. It calmed down to a subtle caramel flavour.
• Dark Star Hophead – As good as you’d expect it to taste but slightly glazed.
• Dark Star Original – Such a deep, dark beer but not as intense as the Espresso.
• Morrisey-Fox Blonde – My first opportunity to try this on draught and much better than the bottles. It’s a strong golden ale – not unlike Summer Lightning but somehow richer.
• Timothy Taylor Landlord – Not tried, but another constant I believe.
• Holden’s Will O Wisp – Not tried
• St Austell Tribute – Not tried

If you’re hungry there are various sausages in a roll to eat assuming there are any left – they’re very popular. These are cooked for you behind the bar.

Update: The Harp now has a website.