TOUGH day at work, but the sun’s still shining and the evening beckons – where else would you go?

It’s got to be a beer garden and I found myself out back in the jungle/play area at Seven Dials.

Good Companions on Dyke Road is well placed and designed to take a sizeable influx when the mood and the weather combine.

I immediately liked the layout of this wide-open pub and was greeted by a very cheery young man with a broad smile. Then I noticed the lampshades – which were exactly the ones my mum and dad had in their old lounge. But I wasn’t going to be put off by old folk’s furnishings as I was heading outside anyway.

As is my wont, I allowed the barman to select my poison and he chose a pint of Sharp’s Hell Weathers IPA at 5.2 per cent. Perhaps a tad heavy for a summer’s eve it is nevertheless a very pleasant, deep, flavourful golden beer.

I wandered out among the palms in the back garden and selected a booth to await my food.

But the reason I described the garden as a jungle play area is nothing to do with the aforementioned vegetation.

No, it was a jungle due to the animals sat in the next booth and the fact the bench I was sat on connected to theirs – this meant whatever nonsense they were up to I felt like I was on a see-saw.

And, it’s a great shame the sole purpose of some pub gardens, or perhaps in this case a more apt name would be bear garden, is to indulge in the filthy habit of smoking.

The fog continued to envelop me as the food arrived and a Cajun grilled chicken burger was instantly smoked as well. For Cajun it was overly spiced (even though I like it hot) and numbed my taste buds. Like a few things on the menu it was also a little overpriced for what it was.

The waitress was very pleasant in her sporty checked trousers – in fact, looking about, the majority of punters and staff were wearing checked clothing of one sort or another. It was generally a younger clientele and I felt a little sorry for the youngest customer as I don’t believe a baby should be forced to suffer the constant smoke.

Tiring of the noisy yobs lighting their fags on the overhead heater and beginning to feel a little queasy from the constant see-sawing, I ventured back inside and tried a slightly milder IPA, Holler’s Fog Cutter (4.5 per cent) to improve my mood. Now this really is a well-balanced and very “hoppy” pint – all the citrus flavour you’d expect and not too bitter or heavy.

Deprived of an outside spot and with no other tables currently available I spied some stairs and wondered if I’d find a seat upstairs. At the top I was faced with a closed door but could hear plenty of laughter on the other side. Just as my hand was on the knob a blonde lady walked out and asked how I was doing. It was at this point I realised this was a private party and I wasn’t invited. But no, I was mistaken, it was a weekly swing dancing class for beginners and I very much was invited. In fact, the very nice lady wasn’t taking no for an answer and I narrowly escaped with my knees, and dignity, intact.

Unsurprisingly there were World Cup flags around the bar and even beer mats stuck to the walls – I also like the fact there were mats available on the tables, a nice touch. Incidentally I got 18-1 on England for the World Cup before they kicked off, you wouldn’t get those odds now.

By now a picnic table out front was unoccupied, so I took a perch here – again, a pleasant spot and no see-saw yobs. Interestingly from here I spied one of the pub’s neighbours sunbathing naked – sir, whoever you were over the top of Le Gourmet deli on Addison Road I salute your ingenuity in finding this generally not-overlooked spot.

In short, I liked the Good Companions – it’s a big old place but has plenty of character and is generally frequented by younger folk. The locals sit on stools at the bar which is a perennial problem, but the staff were all helpful and friendly when I was in.

I think a little “crowd control” wouldn’t go amiss as there are a few lairy individuals among the clientele, but in fairness that can happen anywhere.

For a big pub the gents is positively minute, but perfectly maintained (much like Kylie in her early days).

And yes, for my growing band of dog-loving fans, they welcome canines – there was a great sausage dog in, but when it went home for tea I also took my leave.

NB. Ed, re my expenses, I didn’t get the £1 card payment refunded when I paid with cash.