please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Forgot to say: the pub has not closed, I was there on 15 June 2014.
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The pie wasn't a pie; it was merely some meat within a small ceramic container, with a ludicrous "pie" hat at the top.
It was worth registering to this site to tell the world how bad this place is.
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Great news if it has closed - tries to be a jumped up tourist trap with the requisite miserable, can't be arsed service and yet, in the evening, is full of chav scum who would cause a tourist to run a mile1
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If the rumours of this place having closed are true, it would be a shame if only because the worst pub in London crown would once again be up for grabs.
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This pub is a pastiche, but fine until I asked for my regular drink, a "black and tan" - told that "we don't serve mixed drinks" - this after the new owners personally invited me to the official opening. Never again will I darken their doors, nor will friends I previously invited to have a drink and a meal there - averaging 3 or 4 drinkers and diners weekly.
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Horrible pub - indifferent service
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Indigo: Perhaps the new name is an attempt at subliminal messaging (piles of salt = very thirsty!).
They can name this place "Super Fantastic Fun Pub" for all I care, it's still terrible.
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This being the very closest pub to me, I come here quite often. It is not a very good pub, but major steps has nonetheless been taken lately to change this pub for the better. Certainly the horrid and rude manager of last year is gone and the current chap is quite nice. Also they have somehow managed to stop the incredible turnover of staff and now have some bar staff that can serve you properly and a bit faster than before. They have also finally decided that it is OK to serve food downstairs in the bar area, where they previously were trying to send everyone upstairs to the completely dead restaurant. Also they have taken steps to get rid of all the riff-raff which previously came here. The bouncers and the manager is doing a good job of keeping out 17 year-old chavs and the like these days.
I would say, not quite there yet, but a vast improvement on last year and the year before. If it continues it may end up being a decent place for a quick pint...
Not sure that changing the name to "Old salt quay" is doing a lot though... Not sure what the motivation behind that is? Maybe they think the chavs are so thick they won't recognise it or find it with a new name...???
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Disappointingly unambitious cavern of a pub. Attracts a distinctly downmarket crowd. Food borders abysmal - microwaved or deep-fried frozen processed products served without love, care or attention. Had no ice the evening I visited - bottles were warm - and staff unapologetic. clearly designed to attract a passing trade - or the spectacularly undemanding guests from the neighbouring YMCA. One to miss, methinks.
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Avoid food here at all costs. BBQ or limited in-house menue. Microwaved, frozen rubbish. Beyond dire.
anonymous - 4 Sep 2007 03:26 |
Definitely heading the right way in recent months. Had a fairly pointless refurb but then more recently has removed all but one of the TV's, improved the calibre (as opposed to numbers) of barstaff meaning less of the endless queueing and have seemingly adopted a low tolerance policy on the armies of chavs that used to descend on the place regularly. Definitely on the up and worth a visit, particularly on a nice day where the you get the sun pretty much all day and a cracking riverside spot.
porks - 15 Aug 2007 16:48 |
Old Salt Quay, sorry
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Didn't go in last night, but this pub seems to now be called 'The Old Spice Quay', which may mean it has changed hands
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We went to this pub at the Easter break, it is local to us and I have not been in for a few years, I must say I was extremely impressed, It is under new management, it had a great atmosphere, good choice of beers and the staff were very polite. This pub has a great location overlooking the Thames, stunning views very clean and tidy.
anonymous - 9 Apr 2007 08:34 |
I kind of avoided this pub for some time but have gone back a few times recently. I would say it has improved , it appears to be "better presented"
The food is more than adequate although the underlying problem with this pub was always the waiting time in the Summer months. I hope that this is something that has been dealt with. The staff when I went there recently were extremely helpful and it seemed to me that they really wanted to turn this pub into something the area could be proud of. Dont relax on this.
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I went here once through desperation (very hot day, and had just walked from Blackheath along the river), and spent the entire time gazing across the river, wishing there was some easy way to get across to The Prospect of Whitby.
If you're unfortunate enough to be stuck in Rotherithe and want a place to drink by the river, wander 5 minutes up the road to The Mayflower. Nicer pub, better selection, better food, and cheaper drinks. The Mayflower would thrive anywhere, whereas with this place, you get the feeling if it wasn't on the river it would close immediately. Sterile atmosophere, populated with (unfortunately) not sterile clientelle.
Next time I wander the Thames Path, I'll stick to the north side, thanks.
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I went to Spice Island to watch one of the England games during the World Cup and was sorely dissappointed. Alarm bells started ringing from the start as they were charging admission on the door (albeit only a pound). Inside, they'd run out of ice at least an hour before the match had started and didn't bother to get anymore for the rest of the day and ran out of most bottled drinks due to the fact that everyone was buying refrigerated drinks to compensate the lack of ice! For service as bad as that I could understand if the prices were low or even average, but it was damn expensive!
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Since my last post, my worst fears have proved well founded. The new chain that had took over showed worrying signs in the first few weeks and things have continued to spiral downhill - a real shame as this is our most local "pub" and, as other posters have pointed out, has such potential with it's location/views etc. The new chain decided to chase the chav-quid when "revamping" the place (there was another option available to them), which was fine, but the way this place is run is awful. The idea that a good pub is run by a good Landlord, rather than a cheap hardworking Manager, is seemingly a million miles from the owner's thoughts. With the possible exception of All Bar One at Tower Hill or the Light Bar, i can promise you'll not wait longer to get served anywhere else in London. The staff are utterley clueless and rarely able to understand English, far too few in number and unbelievable ponderous. I am sure they are cheap though. The one good thing is that regulars are so used to the fiasco there now that some old fashioned bar-etiquette between waiting punters is coming back.
If you order food, you might get it, you might not. The chances of it being what you ordered....again iffy. If you do get served and sit outside to eat you'll at least be able to enjoy the views of people at other tables (always one punter short - he/she'll be at the bar waiting to get served/complain), soul-destroyed regulars who have probably spent too many long hours queuing in recent months, and a sparkling ever-increasing array of tattoos, bellies, large jewellery, grey children, football shirts and so forth.
Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful. Such a shame.
anonymous - 27 Jul 2006 12:12 |
The most awful experience I've ever had in a pub/ restaurant. Have visited this pub several time and always had a feeling that guests very not very happy. This time was my turn. Understaffed...please pay 2 or 3 more guys and guests will leave this place with a smile on their face rather than with a complaint. It is a wonderful venue in a fantastic location. This place could be a real cash cow for the owners but the management is really letting this place down. A real shame. Just some ffedback about my experience
Waited 20 minutes at the till to order food and drinks (the pub was empty inside with approx 60 guests all together outside), waited 1 hour an a half for the food to find out that it was delivered to a wrong table (NB. they ask you for a table number when you make your order). When we asked for our bill to be refunded (they couldn't offer to prepare the food again because kitchen closes at 9pm sharp so no chance for that and had to wait for 3 people complaining in front of us) we were told we could get just the food refunded because we have already drunk our drinks. We would have never entered the place knowing that we couldn't get any food. There was no manager in the venue, just 5 scared guys waiting and serving drink not having a clue about what they were doing. Is there any way this place can be closed until it gets a major management reorganization. I wouldn�t like anybody else to go through the same experience.
anonymous - 18 Jul 2006 13:05 |
Lovely views, but mediocre food.
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I agree having lived down there. If its the view you are after buy a decent bottle if wine and sit down there anyway as the river path is public!
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Well, it's got a great view (across to the back of Wapping High Street and the Prospect of Whitby), and you can watch cormorants fishing on the Thames, plus there is tons of outside seating which makes it a summery sort of place.. Apart from that, this is a soul-less chain pub with a nice side-line in below average staff and nothing interesting beer-wise on draught. As posters below have said, a means to an end pub. Worth popping into on a pub crawl along the Thames perhaps, but not going out of your way for.
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Saturday night, we decided to go to spice island (wow!I hear youm scream). my partner and I have been going here for about 3 years, we know it's not the best pub in the world and is full of chavs, but feel we can handle the situation as I am an ex squadie who served in three wars. Anyway they took me for a toby mug and served me a red steak when i ordered a well done steak, which i asked to be re-cooked and served again. After waiting a further 15 minutes I decided that enouh was enough and the evenig was ruined. After being told that the manager wasn't on the premises she miraculously appeared ten minutes later with an attitude the size of iraq, and proceeded to insult us and point out how we were in the wrong. Anyway we didn't pay for the uncooked steak but had to pay for everything else and was not apologised to at all along the way. Can't say we will be going back there in a hurry if ever and hope the manager/managers in the future get better training. All in all go somewhere else, there are better run pubs along the thames path.
anonymous - 27 May 2006 22:15 |
Always been a means to an end this boozer. Has something for everyone and ends up not being terribly good, but acceptable, to everyone. You can have a drink outside by the river in the summer, there's sports on for that crowd, pub grub (keep your choices unambitious...), a range of lagers (2 ales, kept ok) loads of machines, space, etc etc, but really ends up pleasing no-one. Was always just good enough though for whatever you wanted. However, it is now showing signs of slipping below being anything nearly acceptable to anyone except for the chav crowd who were always well represented there, but in manageable numbers. I think this is probably due to a takeover by a (new?)chain which may have happened. All the signs are there; from disgracefully inept barstaff from all corners of the globe (now fewer in number overall as well), TV screens EVERYWHERE, silly promotions on all the time, and regulations governing everything (down to the number of roast spuds you get). The only meaningful, indeed intelligable, communication from staff i've had in there recently was when asked not to smoke by the bar. A reasonable pub falling fast into the realms of a train-station bar, or, worse, bar in a bowling / bingo leisure complex. The beer's slipping as well.
The new owners are clearly under orders for cost efficiency from above - but it's moving away from anything resembling a boozer seems to be leading to even more "efficient" numbers of punters. Deeply disappointing all round.
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I'm confused we_hate_baconscollege_.....thrown out because of your appearance?
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me and my friend hate this pub. teachers cluster here every weekday from the nearby bacon's college. why do they have to be here? beware of these teachers (especially the male ones!) - they'll try anything! also, the food is appalling. we ordered a side dish of the infamous 'potato wedges' and were provided with only three!!! imagine our faces! eastern europeans are employed here, meaning our request for 'cider and black' resulted in 'soda and black'. we were dissapointed. but our fear provented us from taking the drink back. we were later thrown out due to our appearance. dont go to this pub. especially on a friday nites, cos that's when we go.
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I had lunch at Spice island yesterday, and, as usual, the food was well cooked and plentiful, without aspiring to anything very sophisticated. In view of Spiggy's comments, I timed the arrival of lunch ( Leek and Caerphilly Burger with chips and side salad) - 13 minutes, which I thought very acceptable. The service was very friendly, and the view from the terrace, across to the Prospect of Whitby, is, as always!, wonderful
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Tried new tapas menu. The food took 1 hour 25 minutes to arrive and when it did it was stone cold. The potato wedges were partially cooked and the nacho's came with no cheese or salsa, so were completly dry. I requested some salsa to dip the dry nacho's in from the rather abrupt barstaff, but this never arrived. There were no apologies (or warning) for the extrememly slow service. It is cheap but I would prefer to pay double for something edible. This is an extremely low standard of food which can only be prepared by people who have little clue in food preparation and presentation. The atmosphere is ok (for a chav pub!) and so are the drinks, although quite pricey for the area. I have tried this pub twice in recent years and have been totally disappointed each time. I would not recommend to anyone as it is truly awful. If you want a quality drink and food I would sugges the Mayflower, Ship and Whale or Kings Arms (Tooley Street).
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Spend a fair bit of time there in the summer, quite enjoy it although I'd enjoy it a little more if it wasnt quite so expensive.
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I am a real fan of historic old pubs, as any of my regular drinking conpanions could testify. But this pub, although a child of the 1990s, has been very well done; although I am sure it would be criticised architecturally as being a London warehouse/wild west saloon hybrid pastiche, I think it functions well as a pub.
It just seems to work, and it's a pleasant pub to drink in- there are lots of tables without being cramped, and as has been mentioned before, the pub really comes into its own on nice summer (or spring) days, when the riverside terrace fills up.
Unfortunately the food does let it down; haven't been bowled over having tried it several times, which is a shame, as it lets the pub down.
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Theme bar without a theme. Nice location and fantastic in the summer. However, most of the clientele look as though they would follow you to your house to kill you for your shoes.
Excellent views when you can sit outside. Of nicer pubs on the other side of the river.
Wayne - 2 Nov 2004 17:09 |
The Spice Island is good on a summers day, as it has a large area outside.
This is the only upside, as on the downside the staff are rude, it is badly managed and the food is terrible. Everyone I have ever spoken to about this pub seems to have the same opinion. There are lots of other pubs in the area, that may not be as big or have the outside space, but are a lot more friendly and have better food (not that hard though). If anyone is thinking about going there I would suggest eating at the kebab van across the road first rather that eat there and don't be suprised if you find the service is bad!!!
Seb - 26 Jul 2004 11:42 |
I think Spice Island is the best looking pub I have seen so far. What I like about this pub it is different from all other pubs.
Spice Island is basicly a cow boy rauch filled with people from all nationality's.
This is a summer pub. On a summers day this pub I would estimate is 20 times more busy than that on a winters day.
It serves a wide range of quality food. It offers a huge concrete drinking paradise by the river, some grass would have been nice however.
On first viewing it defiantly has that WOW factor.
Overall a well run establishment!
William - 21 May 2004 11:48 |
this pub is wicked!! especially in da summer coz its got a large outdoor space n seatin!!!
katie - 28 Apr 2004 17:34 |
This is my local and it is a blinding pub. Great views, well priced and lovely barby food and it even opens in the mornings to show England sporting fixtures...
Anthony - 10 Jul 2003 12:43 |
This pub is lovely! The staff are really friendly and attentive. The menu is good and very reasonably priced. It's clean, light and airy with a large patio section right on the Thames. A covered balcony and plenty of outdoor heating, means that even on the cooler days, you can still enjoy the views across the river.
Nicky too - 29 Apr 2003 10:24 |
A lovely place right next to the Thames with a huge beer garden (sort of) which is perfect for a summer afternoon's drinking.
Rich Miles - 3 Jan 2003 16:51 |
