please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
New Managers in here. Lovely warm welcome from the guys working the bar. Just London Pride and Honey Dew on tap, but both really well kept.
Well worth a visit!
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The old landlord has left and after a brief time being shut the pub has now reopened, as has the restaurant, beer and food as great as ever. New people running the pub now, the future is looking good for this pub.
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will you people get over this critisism of the landlord, the most constructive comment is made by a chap you says that you cannot tell if this guy is drunk or sober, it just his character, at the end of the end day he keeps a bloody good pub, good beer , and excellent food, what more do want, and I for one would prefer to see a landlord with a pint in his hand rather than a bloody j20
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Called in while staying at the Hilton. Licensee was welcoming and friendly without being effusive. Only cask ale was London Pride, but it was good. Offered a refill as soon as I finished the first, decided to eat so a tab was set up. Thai food was excellent. Much preferable to keg beer and corporate food at the Hilton. Highly recommended.
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Pride at �3.90 a pint no way
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Nice pub. He only had London Pride, but it was good. He didn't seem to be drunk, and was extremely polite and friendly. I would certainly recommend a visit if you are in the area.
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I go in here regularly - both for a pint (well kept London Pride) and for a bite of Thai food with mates or the ball'n'chain (hope I'm annonymous on here to get away with that one...). It's usually around �8-9 for the food, which basically puts it into the take-away bracket so thumbs-up to them on that. Often has sports on a big screen, but this is in no way a "sports bar" and I would bet any unruly behaviour would get short-shrift. Doesn't have Sky Sports, but does get a feed from some other Euro sports channel that includes some Sky games.
Not sure about these references to the 'drunk' landlord! He's always seemed sober enough to me, and very polite with it. Other than him, the team behind the bar are basically the same lasses who act as the 'restaurant' waitresses. My only complaint is that, although efficient, they could be a tad friendlier. It really wouldn't hurt to crack the odd smile or to exchange pleasantries with the customer. Perhaps I'm being overly critical - or maybe I should be thankful for swift and accurate service and value this over friendliness but haphazard approach. Call me picky but can I have both?!
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I live nearby too and the landlord sounds drunk even if he is stone cold sober!!He's a good landlord keeps a very nice pint and the Thai food is great and well priced.
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I live in the area and it's a nice little pub, however, the owner (who is an Irish chap) is an utter tool and regularly gets drunk at the bar.
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We visited here a few weeks ago on a weekend lunchtime. The interior is quite welcoming with a large central bar. Only 2 real ales were available - London Pride & HSB. Aspall's cider is available on draught and Thai food is also served. The atmosphere is pleasant. But unless you live in the area, it can be a bit of a trek to get to and does not warrant a regular visit.
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A few years ago this was a decent local boozer with regulars and a real atmosphere. On my visit yesterday all this had changed at 1pm we were the only visitors, the atmosphere had gone, altho' the beer (London Pride) was OK. We didn't try the Thai food. I'm afraid that this another miscalculation by Fullers.
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A few years back this used to be a nice boozer on the right side of lively. However each time we visit the Blacksmiths the atmosphere here is so lacklustre and it is further compounded by their need to play irish folk music or radiohead on a loop. They seem to have veered from catering for the local residents of Rotherhithe to marketing to attract the guests of the hotel next door. The prices for a pint have risen to �4 (although the thai food is still reasonable)
I have tried to give this pub the benefit of the doubt on so many occasions..I want to like it I really do but on most days the atmosphere is so deathly we leave after only one drink. Shame as this could be a fantastic pub!
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I agree with the previous posting about lack of atmosphere - coincidentally, I was in the pub on that very afternoon before the rugby started.
The place seems to be a Thai Restaurant in a pub ( as opposed to a pub with a Thai Food restaurant attached if you see what I mean ). On the early Saturday afternoon that I was there, food was dominating and I seemed to be the only pub type customer there.
It's a very attractive building - both externally and internally - but in its current incarnation I won't be rushing back
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its been a while since id been here, and after checking out the reviews on this site before i went i was slightly disappointed to read that the irish landlord had gone. after id checked into the hotel, i walked along to the blacksmiths and checked it out for myself.
i was in there saturday afternoon, the scotland v england rugby match was on and there was 5 people in the bar. the barmaid was friendly enough and the pint of london pride was ok and myself and my husband ordered some sandwiches which were very nice. however the bar just had no atmosphere - the previous times id been there it had been bouncing and id had a fabulous time, but this time it felt like i was sitting in a distant aunts lounge with no-one saying anything!
id recommend the food here, but if you like a pub with atmosphere id recommend you visit the clipper inn 50 yards along the road instead.
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I like this place - I'm a regular at the Hilton next door for many years and this pub is my London-local. I've seen it progress well during the past few years from its old management to the current management.
The service by-and-large is premium to anything else in the area, with excellent food and a fine pint of
Pride. The Irish landlord has proven to be most flexable when our team at work wanted a special arrangement
for the Rugby a few months ago (there were about ten of us, short notice but he managed to sort us our own
TV (honest!) in a private area at the back, with a heater and enough comfort for a good feed of food, wine
and beer).
Things have changed slightly for the worst and I'm hoping its a temporary thing as I noticed the Irish
landlord hasn't been about (holidays maybe?).
A charming girl who introduced herself as "Twa" took my order and brought me the pint of Pride I'd spent half the day traveling and thinking about.
A different girl served me my food - I was hungry and the food a little on the warmish side - I commented on this and had expected an offer to reheat but was instead served a cooler response of "sorry, we're busy!".
I've probably got a tad too comfortable in this place because the service is typically premium hence my surprise to get a cold shoulder over something so simple. I was tired, hungry and thirsty and had not expected this. It took the shine from my pint.
"Twa" gets full marks however for noticing my disappointment - Like the previous Thai girls of months ago ("Tulip" and "On" come to mind), she smiled and offered to get my food re-heated and offered an apology.
Again - this is a fine place, like a wine, its maturing beautifully but on that evening I was left feeling a
bit sour. I'd consider a takeaway if it were not that I'd miss out on a beautiful pint of Pride!
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Great pub - though can get very noisy on Friday nights. I do not smoke but the smoking solution here is laughable with people huddled under leaky beer umbrella!!!
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Excellent Thai food, well kept Pride, friendly staff. Highly recommended.
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This is a first class pub. The building is authentic 1930s and has been well preserved. The (Thai) bar staff are excellent, the beer well kept and presented, and the Thai food at the back is fantastic.
Good mix of local residents and tourists from the Hilton next door. 9/10.
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Was staying at the Hilton Hotel next door for my wedding, the Best Man, Ushers and I went in here the evening before and enjoyed several quiet pints. Nice relaxed atmosphere and polite staff.
Went back from noon - 8pm the day after the wedding - Best Man, Usher, a few friends, the Bride and I and enjoyed another good evening this time topped off with the Thai food served in the back room. Price of the food was reasonable and the food itself was great.
The place has a good atmosphere and we spent the majority of the day outside on three of the four tables they have at the front. They have a beer garden at the back, but its walled in and absolutely tiny.
The main bar area has tables with leather upholstered seats for 3 - 4 people. Seats were very comfortable if a little snug.
I give the thai bar staff 5-5 for politeness and service. The only downer being the apparant local that turned and sat behind us outside and decided to try to start an argument by calling my mate a Wan&@#r for driving a restored 1970 classic Mercedes SLK.
We just let him be and continued a very enjoyable evening inside the pub. I would definately come him again, only gets an 8/10 from me as no river views and needs better outside seating.
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best pint of pride in the area
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Awesome Thai food at good prices. We have been a few times now just for the food, end up staying all night :-)
Friendly staff makes for nice atmosphere.
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The previous management of this pub served meals only in the evening, so I thought I woud write to say that lunch is now available. The food is good, and the pub is comfortable will well upholstered banquette-type seating, and there are two tables on the pavement in Rotherhithe St. A very friendly welcome and a good atmosphere.
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Seemed very quiet when I popped in several Saturdays ago, but its still a welcoming and traditional pub, albeit a bit of a walk from The Mayflower. Note that the pool table in the back room has gone - this is now part of the Thai Food Restaurant which is now in residence here. Still a proper pub for a drink though, even if you're not eating
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A truly respectable historic very welcoming pub.
A nice atmosphere with a pool room fit to hold a pool world championship.
Great service always with a smile.
Comfy seats which you could quite easily fall asleep in whilst sipping your best bitter.
Worth popping in for a couple.
William - 21 May 2004 12:16 |
