please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Been here a few lunchtimes over the last few years - seems to have perked up recently. Good choice of beers, even though today I paid £9 for two pints.
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Very popular and busy pub opposite Southwark station. Great range of real ales.
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Busy even on a Tuesday. Splendid atmosphere.
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This pub has been a class pub for a few years now. I along with some fellow staff working In the area used to pop In before getting on the tube, dead opposite, or walk to nearby Waterloo Station. Especially on Thursday the new Friday ! Our offices moved out the area. but we meet up there still when we can It's still friendly even better food now, awesome burgers. Good Ales just at the right temperature. Quality go there
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Went here to cool down in the afternoon having taken Mrs Smudge and the kids to the Olympics on 9th August. She was sweltering by late afternoon and needed to cool down so this was handy being right outside Southwark tube. I had a fine pint of Ringwood Best and a pint Worthington Red Shield, both superbly poured using the right labelled glasses (I quite like that touch!) The family all had soft drinks which seemed expensive, but I'd certainly go back to sample again.
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I've been drinking here since before the war, and used to box up stairs. I wish I could these days. A good pub still, apart from the charmless, unsmiling staff behind the bar; with especial note towards Polish Baldy. Cheer up mate! Outsides ideal for smokers; undercover and large benches to sit upon, sup your beer, puff on your old lardy and watch the talented totty pass by in all directions. Enjoy!
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Love this venue, staff always polite& friendly, new menu, no more Thai just proper British pub grub that's done really well, the burgers are huge & totally smash Byron's offer up the road! Would recommend thi to anyone in the area, it's awesome
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Went there for a beer on a sunny Sunday afternoon with a whole family group of about 12 people.
After 2 hours we were rudely told that one member of the family gathering could no longer drink as it was 21 and over - no common sense was used, and it was obviously not a legal requirement as we all know the law here.
After complying one of our guests left. The bar-staff then moved all the outside chairs around us, and made us feel cramped up and stacked them around both our tables making us feel unwelcome.
Unprofessional, lack of common sense and unwelcome. I suggest keeping clear of this one.
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Awesome pub, I had a great time in there and the Thai Red Curry was perfect for a cold Feb afternoon. Staff very cheerful and a good selection of ales on tap. Will definitely return!!!
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After sitting for an HOUR & A HALF WAITING FOR FOOD, we decided to cancel.
The response from the kitchen staff was sorry we're really busy and there's nothing we can do.... er 1) Get more staff 2) Learn to run a restaurant... pick one
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after a top quality curry at the Southbank Tandoori, this post grub pub really hit the spot. Very lively for a Thursday night. Ale not bad either.
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i often to go this pub as it's very local. last night we asked if the kitchen was still open, it was for another 10 minutes we ordered wine, took some menus and the bar person said she'd send someone over
5 minutes later the waiter came to tell us the kicthen was shut. we went to the bar to complain and so was another couple. the manager clearly said it wasn't his fault and refused to refund us after much huffing and puffing we all got our money back. but we recieved no appology and were told to arrive earlier next time - there wont be a next time
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location is everything, if this place was away from the station, it would be dead.
we had the worst ever sunday lunch in here , last weekend. staff were fine , meal was microwaved mush, dryed out roast spuds and 3 pieces of leather that was supposed to be beef.
not impressed at all.
also the blackboard outside says �6.95, the menu inside says �8.95
inretrospect , i suppose we got what we paid for as most other places charge over �10 for roast around here
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A very nice pub and postioning to sit outside (junction of Blackfriars rd & The Cut) enjoying the pleasures of the Hop,puffing on the weed and watching the hordes of goodlookers pass by in the twilight of an evening.
Good service within,food and very clean. Highly recommended!
anonymous - 26 Jul 2010 11:48 |
Not open on Saturdays by the looks of it.
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A good, clean, well sited, run pub.
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as a local I'm surprised that The Ring is one of bites top pubs, there must have been a marked improvement as this was always one of the places you would walk past on a local crawl
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Nice pub. Clean,busy,well sited,good,covered area outside to enjoy smoke & drink. Central too.
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Great pub;highly recommended.
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A clean, pleasant pub. Very well situated, especially for sitting outside and waiting to meet someone, (opposite Southwark tube). Highly recommended.
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I�ve walked past this pub many times in the past, but for some reason have never ventured inside. But I put that omission right earlier this week. They had three real ales on (Jennings Bitter; Brakspear�s Bitter; and Hobgoblin), plus another handpump with a Doom Bar clip turned round, as well as the usual forest of keg/lager fonts. I had the Jennings Bitter which was OK, but at �3.25 a pint I thought that it was a bit expensive for a 3.5% bitter. I didn�t eat there, but had a quick look at the menu which featured mainly Thai food. The stir fries or curries at �5.95 were possibly a better bet than the sandwiches at �6.50 a throw. The Thai waitress (chef?) provided some table service for diners.
The pub itself is an imposing building opposite Southwark underground station. It�s painted a sort of battleship gray, which inevitably gives it a somewhat dull aspect. Inside the walls and ceiling are painted a lighter shade of gray, which seems to be the colour of choice for pubs that are trying to move upmarket. There�s only one small room, with mainly banquette seating around the sides and normal tables and chairs in the middle of the room. As has been stated by a previous reviewer, the decor on the walls is comprised mainly of old black and white photographs of erstwhile boxing heroes. I also noticed the hat and antlers, and was equally nonplussed. Mind, you I have seen some incredibly strange things on pub walls over the years. The floor is bare-boarded, which is a must for any gray or taupe painted pub. The flat screen TV on one of the walls was switched off, and there was some varied music being played.
Essentially this place is like a hundred other expensive overly modernised pubs that I have been in. It�s not really the sort of place I take to, but it could be handy for a pint if it is on your route to the station, and on the plus side it does do three (and presumably sometimes four) real ales and does not have any one armed bandits and games machines that blight so many pubs.
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first time Ive been in here on a weekend, was a lot quieter than during the week, have to agree with previous poster, wondered what the hats and antlers were all about. Oxford gold was good drop, but my mate wasnt happy with no cider on tap. strong paint smell due to recent works. only stayed for 1 then continued on our way.
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SE1 as a postcode is full of really good pubs, and this week I got to sample The Ring after a short period while it was closed for a small refurb. Its deceptively small inside, and still adorned with the boxing memorabilia which gives it a good character. Of less interest (and logic) is the hats and antlers they've also stuck to the wall - They'll have to talk me through that one.
Hobgoblin, Brakspears Bitter, Oxford Gold and Doom Bar were on, which is fine, but I was rather taken aback by the �3.25 I was charged for the Oxford Gold, as good a pint as it was. Even in central london that is a fair bit of damage. Would I go back? Probably, if I wanted a quick one before getting the tube.
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Getting better. No longer a Punch Tavern. Less nitro-gas and now 4 real ales on tap. DoomBar, Pride, and a pair of Brakespears today, and a promise of more rotation. All were in good condition even if they are slightly too cold. The only downside is the loss of the Leffe.
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5 beggars in 20 mins, no chance of a quiet drink here. very basic collection on tap a few boutique beers in bottles.
not great but not bad either
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Increadably busy and popular pub,what with the new Southwark tube across the way,both the old & new Vic theatres along the Cut. Sunny ituated corner street pub,with plenty of comfortable benches to sit in front. The Tia food looked good andappeared popular. A very good pub to recommend.
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I don�t usually get this far south of the river , so when it was recommended to do a crawl of The Cut and to meet here due to its proximity to Southwark Tube Station I wasn�t expecting much.
But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by The Ring. As mentioned below clean modern d�cor but not too modern, and all walls festooned with Black and White photo�s of sluggers from time gone by. Beers were not that inspiring being just Courage Best and London Pride but the Pride was well kept and a good start for the evening. And there were plenty of poncey foreign lagers for those of our group who were of that persuasion.
Can�t fault the service with the two guys being fast and efficient considering the pub was very busy on this early Friday evening. Yes, the girl who joined them later did wear a permanent scowl and seemed to suffer for her profession, but again the pints were pulled efficiently so I�m certainly not going to be all curmudgeonly over the lack of a smile.
The pub does have some outside bench seating underneath awnings , but probably not the most pleasant place for an outside pint considering the pubs corner setting on the junction of The Cut and Blackfriars road.
But in conclusion a decent pub for a decent pint close to Southwark Tube Station.
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Much improved; recommended.
anonymous - 28 Feb 2009 13:21 |
Popped in for a quick pint, stayed for some fantastic and cheap Thai food.
Was on the black stuff so can't comment on the beer, although as memory serves there was only Pride on.
Decor very nice, not overly modern. Boxing tat on the walls to give you a reminder of where you are.
mrse1 - 26 Jan 2009 13:02 |
Yes the staff can be a bit charmless but I love this pub. Although very modern, it's still cosy and the Thai food, served by friendly and helpful staff, is excellent! Highly recommended.
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Maybe its just my charm and stylish wit (as if) , but I've always had good service here. Then again I'm in the place on an almost daily basis. So much so that my beer us usually being poured before I reach the bar. I've found that most Eastern European bar staff are like mirrors. Approach the bar with a scowl and miserable demeanor and you get the same in return. Order with a smile, manners, and a 'hello' and they will respond in kind.
Talltorquil, I was there the night of the French tv crew. The staff had no choice in the matter and were very pissed off as well as the rest of the regulars. I was tempted at one point to insert that bloody tripod where le sun doesn't shine.
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Slowest, charmless staff in London.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2008 19:10 |
Used to come in here years ago on a regular basis; boxing gym up stairs, great pictures of former boxers on the wall. Incidently, looking at "Top Dog Andys" comments; Pratt!! This is the original pub, it wasn't destroyed during the war. The Ring diagonially across the way, where the new Transport for London building is now, was blown to bits in the Blitz. You can still see the bomb sprang damage on the white tiles under the railway bridge. Twit. The Ring was the home and start of modern boxing in this country 1n 1911. Sadly, if you'd visited the Ring Pub prior to the refurb, you would know this. The photos on the wall are a historical must see for anyone interested in boxing history. Sadly they were remounted a few years ago, but it was forgotten to put the details of who the boxers are? When this was pointed out to the management, the answer came back that the details were all on the rear of the frames. All screwed to the walls! Yes, it's Irish owned; enough said.
On Monday, they allowed a French film company to interview a Chinese fella right in the middle of the pub at 6.30. God knows why? Having charmless, hard faced Poles behind the bar serving, it's little wonder the Windmill or Charles Dickens are a better bet for a pleasant nights drinking.
anonymous - 25 Sep 2008 01:22 |
i went to this pub,few weeks ago,,i have never seen enything,,like the staff,rude is not the word,.toilets smelt very bad,,when i said this to the lady in the bar,.i was told thats the way it was..so i will not be back..walk down the cut and you have lovely bars ,vic bar,windmill.
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Not been in here for a while but popped in for a few beers on a Saturday afternoon. Still really like this pub and the Guinness was excellent.
Far from busy but then pubs in SE1 are generally quieter at weekends. Good service, good decor and nothing to complain about.
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been four times now and i like it a little bit more with each time, a good mix of drinkers and diners and its directly across the road from a tube so getting home sloshed was no problem, not flash like most boozers around that area and they serve hoegarden, my bangers and mash had the best tasting gravy ive ever had(sorry mum!)
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Went along to the Ring last night and found it to be a very plesant pub. OK the range of beers is a little basic however the John Smiths and Guinness were bith good. The boxing photographs are teriffic.
Food was good and well priced I thought.
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In reply to the dear anonymous (who posted on 16 Mar 2007):
You asked: "What did u say to the young lady."
Well, I summarized the conversation in my original post, so why are you asking? To summarize again, I asked if I could have a clean glass because the glass I was being given was dirty. She refused in a rude manner, and was rude throughout the rest of the conversation, and eventually began speaking over me.
You also said: "If you dont like it dont go back,no ones forcing you and its tenanacy."
(I'm not sure what the significance of "and its tenanacy" [sic] is but) I wrote in my original post: "Suffice to say, I won't ever be going back there."
So please read posts properly before commenting on them. You might think that the young lady "knows how to do her job" (perhaps YOU ARE the young lady) just because she's 'been there for four years'. However, she was rude to me. So I wrote something to that effect & posted it here, as is my right.
For an example on how to politely differ with someone's opinion or experience see Zaphod's post below yours.
Also, to a different anonymous (who posted on 5 Jun 2007):
Thanks mate, well said!
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Plenty of uniformed staff whose unexplained duties don't seem to involve serving customers, and a surprising lack of choice on the beer front too. A bit pokey inside, but there are quite a few benches outdoors if the sun is out. Close to Southwark tube station.
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thought it was avg and avg service. anonymous is prob just owner or friend of. quit ur moaning and let other people post their opinions
anonymous - 5 Jun 2007 16:27 |
Stopped in here on Saturday afternoon after disappointly finding The Charles Dickens was closed(!?), and scrambling for the nearest alternative. I was drawn to this place by the sign out front, which seems to proclaim that this place is where boxing began in 1910. Now, my previous experience with the BiTE administrators has shown me that I can't tell you the exact words that sprung to mind, so let's just say it was "Fornicating male bovine excrement" I had to look in to this claim a bit more.
There doesn't appear to be much about the history of the pub on the net, but this is what I've managed to piece together. First of all, I'm no historian, but I'm fairly certain boxing has been around much longer than 100 years......unless they meant 1910 BC, which would probably be somewhat closer. Second of all, the Luftwaffe - perhaps trying to wipe the sport off the map after Max Schmeling's pummeling by Joe Louis in 1938 - flattened the pub in WWII. I don't mean a slight grazing, I'm talking complete destruction. As a result, the current pub holds no historical value, unless you're a member of the Post-War Architectural enthusiasts club (current membership: about 3). Thirdly, historical accounts seem to indicate that the historical boxing venue (not where boxing began, just a legendary venue), was in fact across the road, where the Southwark Underground Station currently stands. Having struggled on occassion to change from Waterloo East to Southwark underground at rush hour, I'm happy to say the boxing tradition continues on the site.
So...perhaps they should change the sign to state "The Ring: A relatively new pub across the road from where boxing once took place, long after it was established"? Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
Anyway, enough about it's bombastic historical claims. The pub itself is fairly pleasant, and what they lack in genuine history, they make up for in some interesting paraphenilia on the walls. The beer selection's not much to write home (or here) about - the only ales available are Greene King, which in my opinion any ale/pub lover should be boycotting. They do have Fruli in bottles though, which made the female contingent of the visit happy.
Overall, a fairly average pub, in an area where most of the time (bizarre closures excluded) average doesn't cut it.
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To The Dear Razorlaugh,
What did u say to the young lady.
The Young Lady you speak about has been there since the new owners took over 4 years ago
She is the manager and knows how to do her job
very well indeed as if you read the reviews there is a complaint about the toilets not the service.
Being in the trade my self its the same as the old saying u cant choose your family and for me that goes with customers you might get one out of (187200) at a rough guess of 150 customers a day over six days (yes its a proper job-we do long hours)*52 weeks*4 years.If you dont like it dont go back,no ones forcing you and its tenanacy.THE RING ROCKS AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THERE TELLS U THAT.
anonymous - 16 Mar 2007 00:30 |
I'm suprised at Razorlaugh's experience. I've been popping in for a fast half before my train home most afternoons for the past month, and on and off for the past 3 years. The staff aren't the best but I've never had anything other than 'polite' service. Its a decent boozer but as said previously the ale selection is poor. They haven't rotated the Greene King out for over a year now. Prior to that they had a different 'guest' every few weeks. Overall, not a bad place to grab a quick drink or to meet up before heading off to another pub. Until the smoking ban, it's not a session pub for me due to the poor ventilation.
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I went to this pub recently (13 Jan 2007) & encountered the rudest barmaid ever.
I approached the bar & was wondering what to have so I made some small talk (there were no other customers waiting). She asked 'Are you OK?' (in a sarcastic way), I replied yes. She walked off in a huff to fiddle with some glasses (I was going to write 'to clean some glasses' but i haven't, see below). When she returned, I ordered a pint of Guinness. She poured it the lazy way, resting the pint on an upturned pint glass. I also noticed that the glass was dirty. I asked if i could have it in a clean glass. She replied that all the glasses were the same (rudely). I queried this. She replied that the glass-washing machine was faulty & that there was nothing she could do (rudely). She asked if i wanted the drink. I said 'Yes, but can i have it in a clean glass please?' She said 'No, you either have it like this or not at all'. So I said 'Not at all then'.
I then sat with some friends who had arrived before me & had already bought drinks. I told them what had happened, and one friend said, 'yeah, she was a bit rude to me as well'. So I went back up to her & asked to speak to the manager. She said that she was the manager (I should have known she would say that). I began to explain that I thought she had been rude, and apparently my friend thought the same; but she began talking over me. So i interrupted her and said 'Are you going to let me finish?'. She said 'No, I'm not'. So i walked back to our table. Me & my friends left after they had finished their drinks.
Suffice to say, I won't ever be going back there. And if i can be bothered, I might even complain to the brewery about how rude she was.
With dirty glasses and a rude barmaid (who claimed that she was the manager), I would AVOID this pub.
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Good pub
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Not a bad boozer although the ale selection is poor. Unless you like your London Pride, which I dont. Do some nice Thai food in there as well with a friendly waitress who served the food.
Can get crowded but then most pubs round here do and its manages it better than others.
Worth a pint or two
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Not a bad little boozer this. Mixed crowd from young and trendy to old London gangsters (at least that is how they sounded).
Only ever stopped for a quick one or two before getting on the tube but liked it.
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Plenty Of Foreign lager's. We Sat outside on one of the benches with Leffe , Fruli, and Heineken amongst others. Being the 13th and final pub of the day cannot recall 2 much else!!
My Rating 7/10
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Good pub with a laid back atmosphere and lots of black & white photos of boxers all over the walls. Only negative would be the terrible stench coming from the gents, which was truly awful.
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Good pub excelant pint
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Great pub, really good atmosphere - just slightly quirkier than the norm. The toilets need modernising somewhat.
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A great pub for a drink after work, or whenever. Gets very busy. Full of beautiful people.
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Excellent spot, excellent crowd, great theme and the foods spot on! Even serve a tasty pint of Guiness. Not many like this left.
What more could you ask for?
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Good pub - the entire place has a tendancy to smell of the gent's toilets though. By far the best pub in the area however.
robin - 5 Oct 2004 15:30 |
THAI FODD HERE IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, AND THE STAFF THAT SERVE IT ARE ACE, A BIT SMALL ON THE TOILET SIDE BUT A GREAT CHARACTER ABOUT THIS PUB, and location is fab! great pub!
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Is a good pub but staff are a bit miserable. Food is lovely, location brilliant and seating is nice too. But Food is the best part of this pub
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yes i that is me tommy tucker love this place coz i painted it and my grandfather was a boxer here its a top place in london 10 out off 10
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Serves a decent pint ! Constantly shows "classic" boxing matches on its tv screens however the crowd are surprisingly passive !!
Male toilets are TINY but its a decent spot !
breandain o cinneide - 28 May 2003 16:57 |
