July 11, 2010 [ Updated January 20, 2012 ]
EDIT - JUNE 2011: on a recent visit with mrmanning, they had Triple Karmeliet and Lindemans Cassis in bottles and Delirium Tremens and Pilsner Urquell on tap. I’m glad that they’re keeping things going despite lacking knowledgeable management and staff. My full review can be read here: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14022/?view=beerfly&ba=cratez

March 10, 2010
This place has had it, but the early reviews inflated its rating. Years ago, Milos (now General manager of Chauncey Smith down the road)established a mostly very good (for Ontario)bottle selection. Some of the bottles remain, but it is a shadow of its former self as time passes and noone is at the helm in the beer department. Decent size, though not huge. Bar is tiny. Only the one Mill Street Tankhouse tap, though a couple of imports including fullers made this a little oasis. Walk over to Chauncey Smith.

November 26, 2009
Best place in London, can’t wait to go home and have a pint there again. First and last place I go everytime!

August 1, 2009
I really like this place, great location, geat patio. Good beer selection. A good pub feel on the inside. Good menu, great food. Rouladen? yes sir.

July 9, 2009
Feels like an English Pub for sure. Good selection of bottled beer, especially imports. I was served by a lovely young lady, and we had a good conversation. Slightly pricey. Didn’t get a chance to sample the food.

April 7, 2009
Can’t say much about the tap line up, as I never make it far off the bottle menu! A lot of really great, classic Belgian ales available and a few other hidden treasures. Slightly upscale ambiance, with a dark English-style dining room feel to both the restaurant and bar. Not only my favorite place to grab a bottle in London, but thankfully my favorite place to eat as well. Excellent German/Eastern European cuisine that affords truely great beer pairings.

March 19, 2009
The emphasis here is bottled Belgians, but there are bottles from all over the world. There is always a box of something european, that’s not available at the LCBO. Various taps of Canadian micros and some bland imports.

June 20, 2007
Downtown London hardly seemed the most inviting of cities, what with all the homeless and destitute milling around and the large number of sex-oriented establishments -- hey, this seems like America! -- but this pub is a nice oasis. Large and bright English-y ambiance with lots of beer signs, light wood, and a very comfortable bar. My bartenders alternated between a slightly older Dutch guy and a very young woman who seemed Phillipine; this combined with a German-oriented menu and Belgian-oriented bottle list, and a trio of old duffers at the end of the bar from Australia, Ireland, and NZ, contributed strongly to the odd international flavor of the place. I stuck to Canadian beers and alas was disappointed, though I don’t think that was the bar’s fault; food was decent although the dumplings served with my pork roast were very odd and reminiscent of soggy baked white bread. All in all, worth a stop for a comfy place to drink, though you shouldn’t expect anything really special out of the selection unless Orval is unusual for you.

June 15, 2007
I have to say that this was my favorite stopping point on our two-week driving tour through Canada and the Northeast states. Smoke if you wish on the wrought iron guarded patio, then enter a beautiful pub with an Olde English feel. Ancient carpeting, burlwood bar, stained and beveled glass, antique clocks, stone fireplace, cozy tables. Gorgeous. Glassware is meticulously shelved and labeled behind the bar, and your beer is oftentimes served with a branded doily as well (sometimes even on the appropriately branded beer mat!). Of our two bartenders, one was simply terrifiic while the other started out bit snooty, yet warmed up over time. Patrons all seemed like regulars and added to the English pub feeling of family. Beer menu was fantastic. Food was delicious and excellently prepared (an inch-thick cut of Prime Rib was cooked to my exact request all the way through). I can’t say enough about Chaucer’s. If you can only visit one beer venue in London, ON, this is the place.

April 15, 2007 [ Updated April 17, 2007 ]
I love this bar. Hands down my favorite in London. Great ambiance, reminds me of the stereotypical bar to go to on the terribly cold day. Lots of selection, knowledgeable staff, proper glasswear and an overall great place. Only gripe is that it is kind of small, and there was standing room only last time I went. I plan on coming here many more times, I’ve already been twice in the last week!