please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Being a Fullers pub the beer is very good. Interior is typical Fullers. Empty on a saturday afternoon which was a little strange. On the way to the Gents the hotel lobby smells of hand cream. That is merely an aside.
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Good, if unexciting, venue for watching the footy compared to the ever dwindling pubs with Sky on the north side of the river. Was packed for Barca v Chelsea and thus the bar service was very poor but the beer (London Pride) was absolutely excellent. Food we ordered (a couple of platters for 4) were expensive and took a while to arrive as you would expect on a busy night. Sadly, though the food was good, the amount served was more suitable for 4 hamsters than 4 people. Only other downside were two or three morons in the toilet who thought shouting "let's go score some f***** charlie" was big and clever, still this is no reflection on Fullers as such tits can be found elsewhere.
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ESB delivered in the ceremonial glass. Breakfast is good. I didnt have these two items at the same time. I am not a tramp.
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I visited on a weekday evening recently with about fifteen work colleagues. There were a couple of other pubs near to the Mad Hatter which we would have preferred to have gone to (better choice of ales), but they were absolutely packed. For us it was ideal as there were enough seats and it was quite a pleasant environment. The Mad Hatter only appears to serve Fullers beers; the two I had were in good condition.
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It's a lovely looking place, and I like Fullers' pubs, but this one suffers from being a hotel bar, rather than a proper pub. I dropped in yesterday thinking about a few drinks and Sunday lunch and left after a swift pint, as the muzak was so bad and the non-English speaking staff took a good ten minutes to handle the unchallenging order of a pint of Chiswick and a glass of white wine (both staff on the case appeared somewhat offended to be distracted from their conversation and bewildered by the exercise of matching the wine list to the labels on the bottles, finding a clean glass and then measuring out the quantity specified in the wine list). My initial surprise that there were hardly any other customers dissloved as I realised that they had either got fed up waiting and moved on or had simply expired from terminal dehydration.
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Great pub this - if you go early you might even catch a glimpse of Niraj who is boycotting Wetherspoons
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Large Fullers pub serving Pride, ESB, Discovery and Chiswick. The hats have pride of place in the bar area above boothed seating. There are plenty of tables and all are laid out for food. We ordered a couple of meals which were satisfactory but a little pricy. Frosted glass screens lend privacy. Pot plants and draped curtains block out light and give the pub a gloomy feel. The barman seemed to have a slightly warped sense of humour. When I asked if I could order some meals, he replied 'you want to order some milk'. A place I wouldn't make a huge diversion for. But maybe worth a try if passing by.
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I spent a great afternoon in this typical Ale & Pie House. IT's everything a pub should be.
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The Mad Hatter is a Fullers Ale and Pie House / Hotel situated just south of Blackfriars Bridge.
A collection of framed hats reminds us that the building formerly housed a Victorian hat factory. It's now a fairly typical Ale and Pie House mock - Victorian interior, comfortably furnished with much wood and glasswork, but without the stunning interior of the converted banks such as The Counting House or The Old Bank of England.
The pub is popular with workers from mearby offices, but appears to suffer through not having a riverside location.
On my recent visit, the Chiswick - at a rather pricey � 2.95p - was in reasonable form. The pub is listed in the 2010 CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
This is a comfortable and pleasant, if unremarkable, pub in an area with a number of attractive options.
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I found it to be over-priced and dull (the food anyway).
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Typical Fullers this - solid and dependable. Victorian interior (original? One would hope so) is welcoming if a little too dimly lit. The Seafarers and Chiswick were in good condition though expensive at over the �3 mark (though thats standard for the area). Quite popular with workers from the nearby offices and the odd wandering tourist who's trying to find their way to or from the Tate Modern. Worth a try if you find yourself in the area.
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Ended up in here for Sunday lunch during a walk down the South Bank. The bars and restaurants on the river were all packed. This place only a few minutes off the river, was very empty. Great find though. Great food, great beer and very, very good service.
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Typical Ale & Pie House, ESB, Pride, Chiswick and Discovery. Large pub broken up into different areas. Worth a pint if passing.
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Working in London last tuesday I went in with a group of 8 colleagues from various Member States of the EU. Thinking it would take hours I ordered the ham, eggs and chips (�7) whilst others ordered a range of food from the interesting but standard Fullers menu. Amazingly it was all delivered within 15 minutes with apologies to me for the delay as I ordered last. I didn't drink that day, although others did. The pub had the full range of Fullers real ales and I can't wait to go back on a day off and try some of them. Food very acceptable all round and fairly priced, I thought.
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The beers here were in good condition but I guess being in a hotel were expensive even based on London prices. If you are looking for a quick pint then fine but otherwise I would look for a proper real ale pub
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A big, dark-panelled hotel bar with a hint of recently-installed Victoriana and some Alice in Wonderland touches if I recall correctly.
Everything in here is expensive and the staff can be a moody bunch, sadly it's usually the East Europeans living up to their grumpy stereotype...crack a smile love, it won't kill you!!!
Having said that, the beer is usually in good condition and there are a couple of more intimate booths to sit in with friends.
Basically, I'd only recommend a trip here to try out whatever the Fullers seasonal is for a pint before moving on.
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Nice pub... Excellent beer, friendly staff.
Shame the food is so overpriced. The other day I was served a pie that was cold in the middle - but it was changed without fuss for a warmer one (not piping hot though).
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Very good. Service was impeccable on my visit. I could watch Newcastle Coventry in a comfy settee on a big screen telly, not a projector, and with the volume on (cf Prince Albert not far away). And excellent beer too. Food untested but I imagine standard fullers ale and pie stuff. Nearly docked a point for wifi in the bar not being free (and quite expensive) but sure that's company policy and unfair on the staff.
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What a disappointment, this was one of the few pubs to sell draught Scrumpy Jack but now they've stopped it. Still a nice place and the food is good but with no decent cider, and lager at �3.90 a pint (when other pubs in London still sell good lager for �2.50 a pint) it's time to find a new venue. Shame.
JKIRK - 21 Jul 2008 15:17 |
I cannot recommend this place highly enough. The ESB is superb, the menu's varied in quality but the pie's are lovely. It's usually quiet - shame about the footie on the telly, air-conditioned and the staff are so friendly. My favorite pub in the area because the Doggets is so noisy / busy
gazem - 25 Jun 2008 13:32 |
Visited last Saturday afternoon and got one hell of a shock. Two single vodkas, a single gin, two small tonics and half a lager for �14 and some loose change.
Didn't know whether to laugh or cry, which is a pity as the place was decent and the service very quick and polite. Don't think my bank manager would be very happy if we went there again though.
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Have been coming here for a number of years; nice relaxing place and usually fairly quiet if you want to hold a conversation! Food has got even better over the last year. My only negative comment is about the big screen showing football.
JKIRK - 23 Jan 2008 20:06 |
Had 'ale & pie' here the other day - great place. The beer was perfect. Big soft sofa's to relax on, the staff deliver such attentive service you don't want to leave! shame we couldn't have stayed longer! we certainly will next time.
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A good range of Fuller's beers and the London Pride was excellent.
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This is one of the best pubs anywhere. The draught beer is superbly kept - by the far the best beer in SE1 � it's never too busy and there's always a quiet area to sit in. The food is filling and toothsome and the decor - wood panelling, hats, �mural� on the ceiling from Alice in Wonderland � only grows in interest after three pints. It only ever fills up with the crowd, always complaining about their wretched employer, from the nearby Daily Express, which give it a slight Fleet Street feel at times. I preferred the gents before it had been painted white and I hope that this attempt to �move with the times� does not extend to the bar area. Did I mention the beautiful but moody East European women that serve behind the bar?
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I've always had good food and well kept ale here. The service has also been nothing less than excellent. However, it seems to lack something. There is no atmosphere and no 'pubby' feel to it. What should be a flagship pub for Fuller's is more like an airport bar.
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Recently visited with a disabled friend (not in a wheelchair, but can only walk with sticks and can not manage stairs) they commented very favourably on the ramped access from the street, the spacios disabled toilet and the very helpful staff.
For myself, what i look for in a pub is fullers london pride, working air conditioning, and room to sit; which is why i like the mad hatter.
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Dull. With or without Marc (whoever he is).
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The last comment can't be further from the truth. This is a top notch pub with great beers and good affordable food. The staff are always attentive and pleasantly helpful. Also it also helps when one of the managers is so damn hot and sexy (welsh Marc). Definately worth a visit, even if it just to see the beauty that is Marc
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Dull
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Went there with a few friends, my brother, and his 10-yr-old son. Staff were really friendly - we'd bought the little lad a present but realised it needed batteries so said we'd get some on the way home, bloke behind the bar overheard this, asked what type and went to rummage around behind the bar to try to find some. Then gave him a St. Patrick's Day Guiness hat, which made his day. The kind of friendliness I'd expect more from a cosy local than a large chain pub / hotel bar.
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The one and only time I came in here I was given a pint that looked like someone had just washed an especially filthy dog in it. I literally had to *argue* with the (apparently) 14 year old barman into changing it.
"it's meant to look like that"
"no, it's not. It's meant to be clear"
"listen, I'm a trained cellarman. I should know"
"I don't care if you're King Jigme Wangchuck of Bhutan. That's a bad pint."
etc, etc. After enough wrangling to make Bob Crowe constipated, some fat bloke in a suit with a name tag on it appeared, brushed junior aside and changed it my bitter for a Guinness.
I haven't been back.
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Very convenient although can be crowded on a work day lunchtime. Beer id well kept (all Fullers) and food is standard "Ale & Pie" stuff so a bit pricey. Nice for a group drinking session - there a big tables but not for a quiet tete-a-tete.
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Big pub, quiet with no more than 10 varied customers at 2.30 on a very rainy Monday afternoon (August 22nd 2005). Checked out to avid the rain, and because Fullers' Discovery had been recommended. A pleasant, well kept brew, sweet with a hint of bitterness, cool and pleasing, but with little or no lingering taste or finish.
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Fairly good food but thats about all to recommend this place. Gets very busy at lunchtimes with the local office crowd
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Do not be fooled by the very inviting exterior. Unlike some pubs with hotel in the name this literally is a hotel pub and my does it show. My girlfriend even got chatted up by some lonely French businessman who must have been staying upstairs. It is sterile, simple as that really. Not unpleasant but nothing to really recommend it.
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great pub, sunday lunch is good value and rather good. defintly reccomend this to anyone on teh south side of the river looking to get away fomr itall, also i reckon this would be wonderful on a night out.
w - 3 Nov 2004 10:14 |
Not a bad pub at all. Food good (if a little pricey, but we are in London, I suppose). Staff always friendly & fair quality beer.
Gary - 28 Jun 2004 12:47 |
Liked the pub. Used to drink here a few years ago. Pub part of Fuller's 'Ale & Pie' group so food served till 9ish. Also runs as a hotel. Nice range of Fullers' beers well served.
Rodders - 12 Mar 2004 14:33 |
I REALLY LIKE THE STAFF THERE. THEY ARE VERY FRIENDLY
JAZY - 9 Jun 2003 17:37 |
Good Boozer!!Real ales well looked after,nice looking food,some nice crumpet and big screen for football sometimes.
Also with the added bonus of a room for the night if your rat- arsed!!
anonymous - 30 Apr 2003 17:34 |
