please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub was a new one for me. It's a small corner pub in Borough Market, that gets busy quickly. Had quite a few drunks on my Saturday night visit, including myself. Spitfire & Swift were the two real ales. Average.
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Famous for Bridget Jones for those interested. The pub itself lacks space and would not bother when its busy. Also a pricey pub. Reasonable ale choice.
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The Globe has had a makeover! I recall the pub when it was shabby and Borough Market sold wholesale fruit & veg - now the market is artisan produce and the interior designers have done the Globe in theme with virtually black wood, ornamental bottle displays and even a chandelier. The layout is pretty much unchanged and apparently food is available upstairs. Still a decent place to drink and now offering craft beer from Sambrooks; Junction bitter is very good. And the best bit: the gents toilet is no longer the most revolting bog in town.
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A very strange pub, not sure whether it was being refurbished or if shambolic was its permanent state. A sort of grot chic: exposed bricks & wires, mismatched & rickety furniture, hammering noises off. I've seen plenty of bars that do the faux industrial look & this one is a gold medallist if that's its intention. My pint of Pride (3.50) was good, service was OK, but the overall impression was not positive.
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The Globe, On the good side its located within the famous & historical Borough Market SE1. Close to London Bridge, Southark Cathedral, HMS Belfast, the Olde Clink Prison, a near size replica of The Golden Hinde in dock, not to mention that is close to some other very nice pubs so a crawl along the river Thames taking in the Millennium Bridge and The Tate Modern, which the view is great from, is a must. The whole of this area is rapidly becoming gentrified as a result many pubs are becoming increasingly generic. Fortunately The Globe has be saved from this for now at least.
The pub its self is covered partially by a viaduct running in to London Bridge Station, this provides rain cover for those who wish to smoke outside but can be a bit of a shame when its sunny. Inside is very nice as it’s rarely had a redec since the day it opened, the mats and seats are very well worn and the dart board has seen better days. Nice and cosy inside if you can find a place to sit. Its reasonably priced for the area and mid week they have a DJ playing Old Skool Northern Soul on original 7” vinyl. A standard selection of drinks, I haven’t tried the bitters or ales but I've heard no complaints. Bar service does tend to be a bit haphazard depending on who serves you but over all, its OK. Here comes my major Rant. The Gent’s toilets are a bloody disgrace. The door frame on the cubicle is a falling apart as every lock has been busted off and every time you flush - the floor floods…really. Nice pub, just don’t go to the loo.
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Smell of stale beer, nitro kegs and lager/ciders only. Some very dubious clientele, one of whom stole my mobile phone after engaging me and my friend in conversation. Staff were not interested and would no let me use pub phone to report to police or mobile phone company (police-free call, phone co-national rate!). Will never use again!
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This place smells.
Last time I was in they had some crap DJ on playing some jazz/soul fusion shit. God knows who it was supposed to appeal to - although there were plenty of wankers in. All blokes. Sad looking nerdy types.
Much much better pubs in the area, only a short walk away.
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Unpretentious boozer squashed between railway lines which I have visited on and off for 30 years - the "Victorian" interior is relatively new! Sometimes the beer is good and other times it isn't. It seems to have escaped the gentrification affecting the rest of the Borough Market area, which in some ways is a good thing - until you see the toilets
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Virtually inside Borough Market, this is a very disappointing place. Very poor ale, disinterested staff, looks dirty and run down. Went there on a Monday afternon, and based on that visit I am surprised it survives in an area with plenty of quality pubs. Avoid.
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Hmmm. A place resting on its laurels as being a decent pub in an area of poncy places. I don't buy it. Popped in today, good decor - old tiles and a nice pub. Miserable staff and very poor ale. Got to sort that out - there is a lot of good quality beer round and about and delivered with a smile. May well be good when the dj is there but was not good in his absence.4/10
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went here the week before last to have a pre-dinner beer with some mates. Ordered a pint of Doom Bar, which was totally rancid. I returned it to the barmaid who smelt it and said, and I quote, 'I don't know, they all taste like s**t to me''. Hardly the best advert for your pub is it, but the younger barman changed it right away for a more than decent pint of Bombardier I think. Being from north of the river, all pubs down that way seem a bit odd to me...but I guess it was OK. For a beer after work it's fine.
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I haven't used this site for over a year, but I went to The Globe last night and loved it so much I felt the need to get back on and review it.
The Globe's always been a great pub in terms of decor, but sometime recently it's had a makeover, and all for the better. Still the same look and feel, but cleaner and roomier thanks to some furniture removal. They had three ales (Deuchers, Adnam's, and Bombadier), which while they'll never set the weirdy beardies' hearts racing, will certainly do enough to tide them over for a bit. The highlight of the evening was definitely the DJ though. You don't expect to find a DJ in a pub this small, and certainly not on a Wednesday night, but this guy was playing the best set list I've heard in a long, long time. Nothing but soul, funk, motown, and rare grooves. I ended up staying far too long for a work night, simply because of the music and atmosphere of the place. Judging by the boards around the pub they're trying to make this a music-lovers pub with different themes for different nights, but I think I'll be heading back regularly on Wednesdays.
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Used to be a regular between 2006 and 2008. Popped back for the first time recently and it has undergone something of a downsize.
Lots of the furniture taken out (including the lovely old red sofa!), juke box gone and also it seemed darker.
Though many would find this a bad thing I actually thought it has improved. The old landlady has gone (thank goodness) and the new staff are making a real go of it with some live music nights.
Worth a visit.
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Ok, it's not the most brightly decorted pub. Ok, it's in the middle of a building site at the moment. Ok, it doesn't have many real ales. However, it's still a decent little pub, and should not be ignored if you are in the area. The guys that run the pub nowdays make a real effort and although it can get really busy in the evening, there are normally enough staff around to get served relatively quickly. Music is on a couple of nights a week, and there can be a real buzz about the place.
Certainly beats some of the posher wine bars and touristy pubs in the area (in my opinion anyway).
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The infamous landlady referred to in a couple of posts has now been sacked. Apart from that though, not much has changed - mediocre ale, sticky carpet, quite dingy.
And it's not going to get any better in the forseeable future - they're currently extended the tracks into London Bridge, and the new viaduct goes within 6 feet of the pub. It's incredible that they've managed to keep it open while the work goes on really. Anyway, I doubt that it'll have a re-vamp or any money spent on it until the railway work is completed.
Shame - as someone else noted, it's an old boozer with a lot of potential. But it does retain some charm, despite all of that.
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Popped in here when looking for the Market Tavern one Wednesday night. Very basic pub, looks untouched for a few years but the spit and sawdust suits the place. Saw that all 3 beers were off and would normally of turned around and headed for the door except for the music being played and the atmosphere because of it. A DJ going under the name of Burnt Toast was playing Northern Soul, vintage RnB, Blues and Soul-Jazz, sat with a pint of Guiness for over an hour loving every track. Plays there first Friday every month 7pm-11pm and if I lived in London I would be there every time. The few drinkers in there, probably about 15, were dancing around and generally having a really good time, found it very infectious, not something I've come across in a pub in a very long time.
Disappointing that no beer available but the music more than made up for it.
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The potential for this place is enormous. The building dates from 1872 and has a wonderfully basic and dingy interior of the kind that would actually be enhanced by clouds of cigarette smoke. There are several nice touches worth noting; the ornate trimmings of the bar, patterned windows, even the narrow doorway that is always a squeeze to get through. The walls contain many nostalgic adverts and the beams and high shelves are loaded with artifacts and antiques. There are just a few tables with most of the drinking here of a vertical nature at various ledges around the pub. There is a dart board at one end and a series of screened off areas down one side but again just stools at a ledge. The music can be very loud and was probably a constant annoyance for Bridget Jones whose flat was situated above the pub in the movies.
The Globe�s big problem is that it appears to make no effort to compete with its neigbours although, to be fair, it is up against some very strong competition. Selling 3 standard ales (Adnams, Bombardier and Youngs) isn�t going to make me pop in before a session at the Market Porter or the Wheatsheaf. The beer quality is, at best drinkable but generally very poor. Prices are OK, Bombardier was �3 on my visit this week which is less than a lot of pubs around here but with poor quality and choice, is it really good value? I have tried hard to like this place but unless it makes more of an effort it is hard to find a reason to return.
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I like this pub and feel like im really in london when i drink around here of course will be back and reccomend a visit to anyone who's in the area
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Strange place that could make so much more of itself if the intention was there. Slap bang in the middle of the market. Has a quaint interior that comes across as a bit dingy but if you take the time to glance up, there's quite a few decent features, but you can easily miss them in the gloom.
The landlady can probably be described as a 'rough diamond'. PLeasant to regular faces, rude as you like to people that piss her off, but the staff are loyal to her, which looks like it works both ways, but you do get the impression sometimes that customers are to be tolerated rather than welcomed in, although the bar staff are friendly enough.
Recent attempts to increase trade by opening past 4pm on a Saturday, and opening at all on a Sunday don't appear to have worked, but then if you're not providing a reason to go there, other than the fact it is open, why should anyone bother. Given that the market is one of the best food markets in the country, there is little or no effort here to provide anything that might tempt people in. No food is served at all on a saturday, whereas the rest of the pubs in the area are bending over to provide some decent food and pull the punters in.
Worth a pint to have a look about, then move on.
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Possibly the most horrible experience I've had in a London pub.
A very aggressive woman, who I assume was the owner, had a long racist tirade at my foreign friends for moving a chair (!). Apparently, we're not to move a chair because we're not in our living room, and also where do bloody foreigners think they are, "I'm a Londoner and I know what I like and it's not bloody foreigners" (sic).
Never felt so ashamed, still sends chills down my spine.
Also expensive, filthy, and had a fly in my drink, but after the tirade these were mere details.
Avoid avoid avoid.
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I found the staff to be friendly, but my pint of Bombardier tasted of vinegar and was undrinkable. Youngs Ordinary and Adnams were also available along with standard lagers, but rather than ask for a replacement I drank a quarter of my pint and then made a hasty retreat as I found the pub to be rather depressing.
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If ever there was a pub you wanted to kick the owners out of a run yourself it's this one.
Terrible beer, staff, state of repair and utterly filthy
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At least you can get a seat!
We were there last night, and I popped in a coupel of weeks back as well. I honestly think it was fine. The beer was OK if not exactly exotic (Youngs, Adnams, Bombardier), the natives seemed friendly. It isn't wall-to-wall suits apart for an hour or two in the early evening (which is an improvement on half the pubs in the area), and you could both get served and walk from one side of the bar to the other. Nice building as well.
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Poor beer (warm and on the turn) and no real reason to stay either - 'old fashioned boozer' is a term that can be applied to 50% of London's hundreds of pubs.
If you like a good pint, avoid this place - look at the 'nearby pubs' link and see what else is on offer.
This is weak.
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Busy, loud and certainly nothing special, but I'm not sure it's quite so bad as some of the reviews suggest. My pint of Bombardier was OK too (if served verging on a short measure).
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i worked here about 7 years ago and was good if any problem i would rectify it as soon as possible nd ake sure the customers new i was dealing with the problem unfortuntaly i left and it just went downhill i wished i owned it as possible goldmine and great customers just in desperate need of descent staff
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Yep, have to concur with recent comments. I've given this pub plenty of chances over the years but it wastes all its attributes of great location and attractive appearance inside & out, by serving a consistently limited range of poorly conditioned beer and displaying questionable customer service for reasons highlighted by thecellarman. Used to like to approach down the york-stoned(?)ginnel opp London Bridge Street, but unless they start serving interesting well-kept beer it won't be delaying my arrival at the Market Porter again.
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Crossed the market from the busy Market Porter pub. Wondered why it was empty..........this is because it's rubbish. Was going to order a pint of bitter than thought better as a customer was compalining about his pint of Bombardier. No effort was made by the bar staff to rectify the problem. After drinking up I returned to the much better Market Porter.
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Worked here for a short while a couple of years ago, and from what I understand not a lot has changed. The place is rude, loud, expensive and if you order the ales (DON'T by the way) which you will probably feel like sending back, most of the staff (students from guy's hospital mainly) would like to change it for you, but the wrath of the landlady just isn't worth it. I once saw her have a stand-up row with a customer because he wanted his money back for a pint that was clearly off (vinegar). Barely an evening goes by without "smells alright to me", "no-one else has complained" or occasionally "that's what it's supposed to taste like". Several people go in excited about the Bridget Jones link (her flat was upstairs in the films) but come out severely disappointed, by all means browse the market, look at the outside of the place then cross Borough high street to go to a proper pub like the George.
I honestly can only give it one out of ten, and that's for the bar staff (the students) who are nice personable types when the landlady isn't yelling at them from a stool at the end of the bar, they don't know a lot about serving beer but then it's the landlady's fault for never setting a good example.
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Has been better, I remeber not to long ago being able to get a reasonable pint of Adnams. Went in the other night for a change, beer was rubbish and the whole place smelt of the rather nasty loos.
Go to the Wheatsheaf instead.
mrse1 - 12 Dec 2007 14:33 |
Visited this place last friday, beer not the best by any means.
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Used to go a lot to this pub as I work nearby. No longer. I don't think they keep the beer in good condition and the staff are rude and aggressive. A colleague got a pint that was off, and they told him they were too busy to do anything about it, and if he didn't like it he could go elsewhere. Problem is that as it is in the middle of Borough Market it will always be full, and they don't need to try. So they don't.
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Very enjoyable place, yep it only does Adnams,so what I'm a an Adnams enthusiast.
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If this is a good range of ales then well.............. The pub is ok, and little more than that, what it does have going for it is that it is an old fashioned boozer as opposed to anything else.
The ale range is nothing copared to the other pubs in the vicinity (unless of course you only drink Adnams!)
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One of the best pubs in London. Can get a bit busy during the summer but the pub serves a good range of ales, usual lagers, good range of wines too. Does not do food.
What makes this bar great is the mixture of regulars and strangers! It's a great pub and of course any pub that plays Chaka Demus and Pliers has to be given a thumbs up!
It's pubs like these that make me miss London.
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Popped in on Friday for a pint. Pub was very busy. Not a bad range of beers/ales but not the best I have seen.
Staff seemed rude and it took a long time to get served. Also no food makes this a poor pub for such a nice area. I think it will be more beneficial when the smoking ban takes place as I left stinking of cigarettes and cigars.
anonymous - 4 Dec 2006 11:29 |
Pub is fairly small but the excellent bar staff make up for this!
Good range of beers, ales and ciders and great atmosphere. The only thing that stops this pub from getting a 10 rating is the lack of food.
anonymous - 1 Dec 2006 00:48 |
I just like the place for it's architecture.
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Poor service last night.
Went in for a couple as Southeastern Railways seemed unable to run trains.
Had no cash so got some out on the way. Ordered a pint and proffered a �20 note. Was asked if I had anything smaller (fair enough,) when I said no, the pint was whipped away placed underthe bar and Iwas informed I couldn't have it as they didn't want to use up all of there change if I was only buying a pint!
Not best pleased I went to the Wheatsheaf!
Could do better.
anonymous - 22 Nov 2006 12:38 |
Popped in for the first time last night after a couple in the Market Porter and thought it was ok. No problems with beer or staff. Perhaps this is a case of an area that is known for good boozers dragging up the quality of all those around. (Something we should not be moaning about!)
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There are worse places to retire for a pint; the two old broads behind the bar are good value. Ignore the young American women that monopolise scarce tables, use the facilities and rest up from sight seeing, yet order only tap water - for which they don�t pay.
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With so many good, wholesome pubs in the area, this place suffers even though if taken alone it's actually a very pleasant boozer.
If you're really lucky the landlady will touch your derriere....
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Disappointing last visit. Served an awful pint - OK it happens but.... Got the "smells alright to me; nobody else has complained" treatment from a bod obviously more used to VB & Carlton. Why was this ill-equipped youth left in charge of such a (previously) fine pub?
Quick retreat across the road to the Wheatsheaf (8/10) to wash away the taste of vinegar.
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One of my faves, been using this place for well over 10 years. Proper London boozer, unpretentious, good fun and friendly. The building itself is well worth a visit. A tubular pub! You can walk round in circles trying to get to the bogs. (After 10 years, I should know where they are now).
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Having just seen the Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason movie am very tempted to check this pub out
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Oh Paul dawlin.... love to have you in on a Friday! The regulars are a right eclectic bunch - they love the animated sevice they receive and special occassions are that bit more special when spent at the Globe..... it's a real regulars hot spot!! Oh and have you tried the cheese and ham toasties!!
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Ahhhhh The Globe, a fantastic little pub. Mary behind the bar pulling your pint with a knowing nod of your favourite tipple. Taking it outside to supp in the hot summer sun watching the world go by at the Borough Market. Ahhh just writing this makes me want to logoff and nip down there for a cheeky one.
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lurvely barmaids - that includes you Pat.
will it ever be the same now Dave's moved out.
anonymous - 18 Jan 2005 12:40 |
After having tried the very full and fairly anonymous Southwark Tavern nearby we happened upon this place. Well worth it - great traditional old fashioned boozer. Very cosy and highly efficient bar staff - it's quite small but they had foor people serving - excellent.
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Canadian Lost in London, found this place and all was well! (my 1st English pub!)
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When is this place open?..On my last 2 visits to London its been closed.On a Friday and a Sunday!
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great little boozer.
afraid they might have thought you under-aged at 9ins Neil.
9 inch neil - 25 Mar 2004 15:19 |
Proper London boozer, right next to the market, quality.
anonymous - 28 Feb 2004 13:23 |
I like this place. Decent beer and nice bar staff. Can get a bit packed after work sometimes but generally OK later in the night. Better than a lot of pubs in the area.
Steptoe - 14 Jan 2004 16:51 |
+ it's the pub where Bridget Jones lives above! Excellent.
JP - 13 Nov 2003 15:32 |
Quality Pub (real pub) wooden floors, friendly bar staff and music, right in the middle of borough market, loads of atmosphere especialy on a hot market day, well worth a visit, the locals make you feel welcome
Shall - 8 Aug 2003 15:41 |
�2.50 a pint of Stella. Good enough reason. Everywhere else around is more expensive. The George is �2.90 a pint. You do the maths.
Trist�n - 21 Jul 2003 11:07 |
