please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
An interesting 1960's style pub in the shadow of the tower. They had a fantastic selection of ales, all well kept, and some comfortable Chesterfield sofas to lounge on. This pub would be ideal to recuperate after a particularly harrowing opium binge while reading a slim volume of Symbolist poetry.
|
Went in one lunchtime for a pint. Bit unremarkable to be honest and nothing to set it apart from anywhere else in the neighbourhood apart from it having the general sense of a student union bar. That said , no complaints with service or beer quality & would pop in again if nearby.
|
I work very close to this Pub and have been a regular for a couple of years. As others have said its not much to look at, the food looks ok but nothing amazing and I'm not really into Real Ale unless its Fullers :(
However, the staff are this pubs secret weapon, very friendly, and blisteringly efficient. Table service when they are not to busy and the landlord (Phil) runs a very tight ship.
NeverMind must be talking about another Pub or is the landlord or another Pub nearby :o
|
As a regular of the Tower Tavern, I really don't know what NeverMind is on about. I remember the place four years ago. It was run by somebody who hadn't a clue about running a pub and ended up bankrupting himself. The beer was bad, even the Guinness, which he had to change to the chilled version to make it even barely drinkable
The toilets and furniture were in much worse condition four years ago.
The layout hasn't changed apart from the small wall off the raised area, which was taken down a couple of years ago.
It make me wonder if NeverMind is talking about the same pub.
The Tower Tavern is a far better place than it was four years ago. Four real ales, all in good condition and good food.
|
I am not a troll, just someone who is sorry about a nice place going downhill. About 4 years ago it was a cozy place where I could enjoy my drink, now it's a place where I just want to finish my drink as fast as I can and leave.
|
Not sure what Nevermind is on about. Same staff, same landlord, samr toilets and furniture, only difference that I can see is there are now four cask ales rather than three!!
|
That's one more than you figgy.
|
Not really sure what NeverMind is on about. I notice he's only got two reviews so quite possibly a troll. Tower Tavern is still in top form, and the landlord continues to do a great job in keeping up the alea and making the Tower a friendly place to have a pint when in the area. The food is still great, too. Don't miss the wings!
|
Used to be a nice pub. Has really gone downhill very quickly. I don't know whether the new landlord is to blame, or it has the same landlord who suddenly doesn't know how to run a pub. Now the pub is a horrible place with weird design, dirty old furniture, awful toilets, also not sure at all about the staff. Ewwww!:( Such a shame... Staying away from now on, and my advice to everyone is to do the same.
|
Quite unexpected - from the outside it looks a pretty grim place, but inside it's nice and tidy, airy and well-lit. Forget which ale I had but it was nice enough. Friendly (Polish?) barmaid tried to give me too much change, in what I can only assume was a test of an Englishman's honour.
Don't be put off by what it looks like from the outside, is the point.
|
I went along to the Tower Tavern to watch a friend play a gig and was very impressed by the beer selection. It would seem that they have a regular bands night were a selection of musicians play 30 minute sets and then someone else comes on. These are always a bit hit and miss but the talent on show last night were quite good (Fiver on the door to get in mind). The gig was spoilt by the fact that there was an inconvenient pillar in the way of the stage so you would never be able to see all of the band or whoever was playing. The staff were friendly and helpful. All in all, a good time was had by all.
|
I have been a regular in this pub for many years and have seen many changes, not all for the better. However, the current Landlord knows how to run a good pub.
He takes full advantage of Greene King's guest beer policy, so you always have the chance to avoid drinking Greene King. I walked in on Friday night and they had Castle Rock Harvest Pale on as a guest, one of my favourite beers.
If you haven't visited before, or recently, make the effort as you will be pleasantly surprised
ajsqs - 11 Sep 2011 18:24 |
I've worked right next door to this pub for 5 years and had never been in, mainly because it was Greene King. I've now been in twice recently and have been very pleasantly surprised, I was tempted in by the blackboard announcing the guest beers and on my first visit they had Tribute and the Reverend James, both of which were very good. On the second they only had one real guest which was Otter, also pretty good. I tried the GK IPA which was well kept if typically GK bland, but was surprised at how good the St.Edmunds was, when I was a lad this was in a bottle and you mixed it with Abbot ale for a last put you to sleep drink! It's now a refreshing pale coloured ale and went down well after the Otter. Landlord and staff seem pretty good and they do table service. A definite 7/10
|
Still really nice pub, seems to be getting busier. Great work local, ales IPA, Cheshire Gold and Roosters Leghorn this week.
|
Had one of the best pub sunday roasts here for a long time. Ive never seen so much chicken on one plate. I got thinking whether they rear their chickens myself and that they are some kind of super chickens with skin heads and flick knives there was that much meat on the plate. Nice pint of Doom bar as well.
|
The Tower has overgone a real change over the last few months. Used to avoid the place only popping in every now and then to watch Sky and was always put off by the overly loud and sweary locals. However been in a few times recently and the new Landlord seems to have got rid of them all (achieved by taking Sky out, it's back now but not advertised - top idea), the result is a really rather nice pub inside. It's still hideous outside but you can't knock down the building!
The service is excellent, automatic table service when it's quiet (which does seem to be everyday I go in which really doesn't recognise how good it is now). The beers are good with regular Guest Ales in addition to various rotating GK beers - it's a GK tenancy. The food is very tasty and very reasonably priced.
I really would recommend this pub it's an undiscovered little place, nothing to look at but really does deserve to be doing better than it appears to.
Good range of whiskys too!
|
Get past the look of the outside and you'll be pleasantly surprised. IPA, Okell's Olde Skipper and Ridley's Old Bob on at last visit, very friendly place.
|
Good friendly pub with a warm welcome from the staff.
Food very good.
Beers still from the Greene King range, but the landlord takes advantage of the Guest Beers that he can now sell. York Breweey Yorkshire Terrier being a recent example.
Mixed crowd of local workers and residents.
But, you can't please everyone, especially somebody whose terms of reference is Trainspotting. Probably the type of punter the landlord isn't tyring to attract.
ajsqs - 21 Feb 2010 21:23 |
it is a pretty dreadful place reminds me of trainspotting. Ready for a revamp. It is a shame as there seems to be a new landlord and they are clearly trying to improve the place. But it just seems the only thing to get a new group of punters in is a clean slate.
|
First Friday each month is well attended when Bloodless Coup come and play Chicago style blues.
Boasting ex members of Iron Maiden, Wilson Pickett, Alvin Stardust, David Essex Band and more, you can be sure of a great night.
As another reviewer said, Mike and Bob work hard to make sure the beer, the food and the overall atmosphereare the best, and they combine to make this one of central london's best kept secrets
|
Landlord really making an effort with this place.
He has the Greene King special offers available. Carlsberg and Greene King IPA at �1.99 a pint. He is offering �0.99 meals as well, which must be the best value in the area.
For music lovers he has Karaoke every Thursday and live bands most Fridays and Saturdays.
Plenty of outside seating for those who want to relax outside.
ajsqs - 12 Jul 2009 11:42 |
If there was an award for ugliest pub in London this place would be a strong contender for top prize. Thankfully once inside thoughts of the grotesque exterior are soon banished by the extremely hospitable governor who seems to make it his business to make people feel welcome.
Olde Trip and Greene King IPA were available alongside Rev. James, which was good, and some standard and premium lagers.
There are a couple of plasma screens and the pub shows Sky Sports and Setanta. A band was setting up during my visit late on a Friday afternoon and I also got the feeling that this is a live music venue at the weekends.
This isn�t the greatest of pubs, but it is very friendly making it a stop off point when next in the area.
|
Ugly as sin from the outside but as much fun within. Beers are from the Greene King range: the usual 'cooking' IPA and also at the moment Olde Trip. Karaoke on a Sunday evening (unusual that) with a competent KJ and good equipment. Either a 6 or because of the events it hosts a 7.
|
Turning in to a bit of a music venue. Live music on 13th and 15th November, Karaoke on 14th November. Bloodless Coup back on 5th December. Good to see the landlord trying something different.
On the beer side, he is changing the beers on a regular basis albeit within the Greene King range due to the tie. Good selection of lagers as well.
Food as good as ever.
Big canopies outside that give some protection for smokers. I will not use a pub in wet weather if it has no protection for smokers, so this place is top of my list on a wet winter evening.
ajsqs - 12 Nov 2008 20:22 |
Great rock music from the Bloodless Coup and enjoying atmosphere. I would have preferred a better range of real ales, though I have nothing to complain about my pints of Morland Original Bitter � they were well kept.
|
A pub near work that I am not sure I had ever visited. Only GK IPA and Morland Original. Also had the keg version of Hen but nothing special on tap or in bottles. One room pub, TV screens showing sport. Food seemed cheap. Have rounded this up to a 6 because of the barmaid, excellent service.
|
The Tower Tavern is under new management and the difference is noticeable.Polite and friendly tenant with motivated bar staff. The atmosphere is relaxed and trade is picking up nicely. Good food at sensible prices.
Still work to be done after the damage caused by the last tenant, but the improvement in just a few weeks is impressive.
Don't just take my word for it, visit the pub and judge for yourself. Hopefully, you will be pleasantly surprised.
ajsqs - 10 Apr 2008 13:33 |
Rapidly becoming a good place if you want to be on your own. Pub getting quieter by the week. Partly due to the smoking ban and credit crunch, but mainly because the current tenant does not have a clue. Thankfully, he has handed in his notice and should be gone some time in March. The new tenants, assuming Greene King can actually find someone who relishes a challenge, will have their work cut out trying to turn this place back in to the profit making pub it was six months ago.
ajsqs - 12 Feb 2008 13:36 |
The pub has reopened after being closed for a fortnight for refurbishment. The work is not yet finished, but the difference is noticeable. The lighting is more subdued and the pub has a different feel to it.
Good to have the old local back open again.
ajsqs - 11 Nov 2007 16:11 |
Gary and Shani have moved on and will be missed.
The pub is now under new ownership. First noticeable change is that the cost of the daily special has increased from �5.00 to �6.95. Often cheaper to buy a very similar dish from the standard menu. Sunday lunch has also increased to �7.95.
Other changes noted to date are that the till can be taken away at 22.45 effectively closing the pub early. Hopefully things will get back to normal whenm the new team settle in.
anonymous - 5 Oct 2007 13:40 |
the genius of this place is that it's the only pub in central london where you're pretty much guaranteed a seat for you and your mates, even on a friday evening after payday.
people are put off by the exterior, i guess, but it's absolutely fine inside.
|
Excellent pub.Used to work on Oxford street and often came to sit outside and enjoy a pint or two.Good friendly service and ice cold Stella on tap.A bit out of the way but well worth the trip
|
A strange looking boozer locked away in the side streets of London. This is possibly the cleanest gaff I have ever been in, service is really briska nd freindly but the beer falls slightly short of what could be a wonderful little find. Maybe just a duff pint??
|
Our offices were just round the corner and this place had a terrible reputation. Actually it is a lot better than it looks (60s estate pub). Decent food at lunch time.
|
Ok, fair enough Florence. Glad you came on here and defended yourselves. I can assure you I wasn't "cidered" at the time I wrote it...I just didn't find them favourably comparable to some of the Pie, Mash & Liquor I have had in the East End, but that's my personal opinion at the end of the day. I've happily wolfed down quite a few, so they can't be bad can they??!! Overall it's a good pub so I ain't knockin' ya!
|
Great pub. Friendly staff, real ale well conditioned and at a good temperature, generous portions of good, tasty food well priced and quickly delivered. The large screens are good for sport but don't intefere if you just want a chat.
|
Top pub. Cracking food (the Sunday roast has to be one of the best around), friendly staff and a great place to watch football. And the beer's not bad either!
|
The only real ale on offer here is the `hit n miss` GK IPA, where I have tasted better at other venues such as the peerless Duke of York !. A mate had a pie, and can second that it is from Manzes and not from Iceland- if it was a Goddards (greenwich) pie, then we would be talking pie heaven. A venue if you want to watch football in spacious surroundings.
|
We feel we have to respond to the comment placed by cidered.
We do advertise Manze's Pie Mash & Liquor and we can assure you we do not state anywhere the pie's are homemade by ourselves. We purchase the pies and liquor from Manze's at Tower Bridge Road. All this can be checked out and verified. Perhaps 'Cidered' was cidered and cannot read correctly. Manzes' pies are made on the site of Manzes.
|
Ok kinda place. Nothing to look at from the outside, but fairly decent inside. Good to watch the footy in. Pie, Mash & Liquor served on Fridays - however the pie is v much a Somerfield 99p for 4 job, no matter how much they go on about being homemade. Although it is superb hangover food.
|
When I visit London - I always go to the Tower. The food is basic pub grub - but it is good and fresh and cheap. The Guinness is always very well served and competitively priced.
Has a low ceiling so can get a bit smiky if busy, but also has tables outside for a nice sunny day (road is a bit busy but it is central London)
Staff are friendly and attentive, you dont stand waiting for 10 minuted to be served, and they do remember a face.
|
A dull, modern Greene King pub.
|
Despite the look of it this place is surprisingly good. The food, while not great, is decent enough and comes quickly.
The staff are great, very freindly and with three large screens it's perfect for the football.
|
A little local diamond. They got 3 low-res plasmas in last year, alright if the atmosphere's good. Watched the England v France game here in 2004, no trouble even though I was wearing my Gers shirt. Inhabited by real people rather than plastic newmedia Jemimas and Ollies - a rarity in that part of town. Sound.
|
Quality hidden away boozer in the middle of media land. Been here several times to watch LFC progress through to the Champions League final. Several plasma screens and cheap(ish) beer makes it a top location for watching the big match. Friendly staff too.
|
The Tower Tavern is now under new management. They are also open on Saturday and Sundays and have home cooked food - worth a visit. Nice atmosphere.
shani pollard - 14 Dec 2003 15:52 |
As a journalist working on most national newspapers I find Mr Jimmy Norden's remarks total fabrication. He has clearly never been in the Tower Tavern of an evening where the old man's pub that he mentioned is usually crammed with 30 somethings.
Paul Davis (Journalist). - 24 Jul 2003 23:44 |
friendly staff, beer is reasonable, always some where to sit, bit of an old mans pub but it grows on you.
Jimmy Noden - 23 Apr 2003 13:33 |
