Good pub for a book group

So here's the problem. I'm in a book group which has been running for a number of years. Of late we've taken to meeting in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the South Bank, as it meets the two vital requirements of serving beer, but not being too noisy. However, it fails to meet the additional requirements of serving good beer, and being rather cosier.

So... I don't suppose anyone can recommend a good pub which is sufficiently quiet (on a Thursday evening) in central London that it's conducive to learned discussion? Or suggest some sort of other alternative venue? Vaguely London Bridge-ish ideally, but beggars can't be choosers!

It's optimistic I know, but if you don't ask...

Sam Smiths pubs have a good reputation for being quiet and good quality (I've only been to a few but it seems to be true so far). There is a map of them here: http://www.jamesgretton.co.uk/samuelsmiths/
Might require a bit of experimentation to find one that suits your group but I'm sure that would be no great hardship...

Good tip, ta! The Anchor Tap in Bermondsey looks possible. As you suggest, some arduous research may be needed.

You could try 'The George' on Borough High St, 5 mins from London Bridge. It's not super-huge inside but there's tons of room in the courtyard when the weather warms up a bit. It's one of the capital's most historic boozers, does real ale, AND is mentioned in Little Dorrit. If that doesn't qualify it for a visit by a book group, I dunno what does.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_George_Inn,_Southwark

Do let us know what other gems your research turns up, my bookgroup also struggles with suitable venues, particularly as the name of the pub we choose is supposed to relate to the book we're reading!

>3 mart1n:
I know that one; I suspect it would tend to be rather noisy though.

Part of the problem is the trend in recent years for big open rooms and stripped pine, as if they're aiming for maximising ambient noise.

Re appropriateness, if anyone has a suggestion suitable for a book on Quantum Electrodynamics, that would be good too :-)

The George would add ambience to book related discussions. Haven't visited that pub for a few years now.

I know the West End might not seem like a good area for such a thing, but the upstairs room at the Porcupine on Charing Cross Road, just north of Leicester Square, is usually a nice quiet refuge from all the hustle and bustle. You enter it from a separate entrance on Great Newport Street, and they serve a variety of beers and food from the pub downstairs.