Pubs which try to please everybody can sometimes be found lacking, but credit to the Vauxhall Griffin - they pull it off pretty successfully.

Tucked off a side street a few minutes walk from the unpleasantness of Vauxhall station and once an underwhelming pub called 'Wyvil's', the new owners seem to know what they're doing.

Nicely decorated in a slightly shabby bohemian style, a central bar separates the comfortable main bar from the back area where you can find board games-a-plenty, a pool table and a (rather too large) Tekken 5 arcade game. The latter space is also impressively filled with music related articles pasted over the walls, which also gives you a clue that the jukebox is above average (we'll assume E17's 'Greatest Hits' are ironic).

Ale fans have to make do with bottles from the fridge and a simple pub grub menu is offered at lunchtime, along with Tuesday nights (which compliments the lively pub quiz). As a bonus, weekends usually offer a late licence with DJ's playing alternative tunes. Vauxhall has plenty of pubs - some good, others less so - but the Griffin is arguably the best of the lot.

FOOD REVIEW: Burger and Chips was a very reasonable £4.95. It's more filling than it initially looks and is also hand-made. Sunday Roast £8.50 and well made, but let down by impossibly chewy beef.

FOOD RATING: 2 FOOD VALUE: 2

CLIENTELE: after work people, young flatsharing locals
NEAREST STATION: Vauxhall station
PHONE NUMBER: 020 7622 0222
FEATURES: traditional pub games, DJ, open after 11:00pm, outdoor seating, pool table, quiz night Tuesday