The layout is more like pub rooms than a pub, but I love the idea of queuing 2x2 at the bar, as they can only serve two at a time. So civilised. Mr Humdrum chose a chocolate porter, but I tried a few gins. First Bathtub, then Mermaid, followed by Gin Lane. All served with appropriate flora and fauna. (And in a decent glass - in London over Easter weekend, everywhere served G&T in a horrid almost pint glass. Grrr.) We decided to sample their street food - burgers seem quite popular these days don't they?! Mr Humdrum didn't know how they cooked their burgers so well that hardly any fat came out, though it was not dry at all. The chef did explain it (cloches etc) but Mr Humdrum still doesn't know how. Very nice rosemary fries (one portion serves two) to accompany the Merchant burger, though one patty would have sufficed instead of two. The caramelised onions actually tasted of onion and the maple bacon was - well, mapley! Delicious.
Basics - toilets clean, glasses clean, food great, service very good. Loved the decor.
All in all, a very good evening out. Amazing how full it was for a Tuesday evening; lots of groups of people, some evening dog walkers, friends and couples like us. I do wish they'd been open when we used to regularly go out.
We will definitely be returning.