please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Third rate Wetherspoons
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It's very unusual for me to give a pub less than a 4 as if I know a pub is lousy I tend not to go. However, I had just finished a work meeting and me and my workmate decided on going for a swifty before jumping on the train.
Well what an experience that was and not a positive one unfortunately and I have to say that previous reviews some as far back as 10 plus years ago hit the nail on the head.
Firstly pub doesn't smell pleasant. A bit of a mix of unwashed bodies with a faint aroma of farts thrown in for good measure.
Noise levels are deafening with the slurred conversations of tables full of alkies and some very undesirable types who appear like they are looking for a row. Place has a bit of an atmosphere to it and you feel that the likelihood of something kicking off is never too far away.
Staff were efficient but looked very world weary. Not surprising as I guess they get subjected to a fair amount of abuse. In fact I saw a young barmaid getting a load of stick from a woman who looked like she'll be on the waiting list for a liver transplant within a year which was due to her feeling she was taking too long to serve.
The only plus points is that service was quick even though it was very busy and my guest ale was very tasty and well kept. For those reasons the pub gets a 2 but if it hadn't it would have got a big fat zero.
Not in a rush to return!
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This pub gets my vote - good beer, acceptable cheap food, plenty of space and pleasant staff. The other punters are very variable (it is Wetherspoons after all) but I've never had any trouble.
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Together with the nearby elephant and castle pub and Charlie chaplins , the Rockingham arms makes up a trio of horrific booze factories around the e&c roundabout. Had some decent ales and a standard wetherburger, but Jesus h Corbett, the clientele are a mixed bag. Only go if in the company of several large men and not easily intimidated.
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Modern Wetherspoon's on the large roundabout at Elephant by the subway tunnels.
Never been to this pub before, so as I was passing around 11am on Saturday I decided to drop in for a quick pint. It was fairly busy with quite a few people eating breakfast
8 ales on the hand pumps, I went for a pint of Bruins Ruin from Beartown.
Quick and friendly service, I took my pint and sat out the front enjoying the sunshine. I choose a decent time of the day to visit as I understand it gets a bit rowdy in the evenings.
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Have been here quite a few times. I believe the pub is an old 1960s DHSS building. Last time I was at this pub 3 police cars were called to deal with a bloke who I believe was trying to steal somebody's bag, and he was being held down on the floor ! And that was in the afternoon ! On the visit before that there were a few "rough types" getting nasty at the bar because they felt they must be served next. Big pub right on The Elephant & Castle - but only visit if you feel that you can "handle yourself", if you get any "bother" !
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My first experience of this pub was last saturday and it wasn't a good one. Fell under some interrogation from Millwall fans.
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Error, this is a DH Wetherspoon - frequented at lunch time by many workers from the nearby DH Headquarters building. Also packed with students. Like all Wetherspoons establishments you occasionally get a gem of an unusual ale at low prices but you can also get rubbishy beer.
They do good food too but the customers, be careful. Don't sit on the left hand side as you go in.
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Another sad DHSS Wetherspoons. The real ales are usually in ok condition but, apart from that, the only thing going for it is that it's not the Great Harry in Woolwich!
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"There tend to be 2 types of Wethespoons. Either some quite interesting conversions in unusual buildings or beer warehouses full of people counting the days to their next giro. This is very much in the second group."
Have to say that hits the nail on the head. It is a bit of a dump, mainly because of the client�le. When it first opened it was actually rather nice, good range of cheap beers, but management changed, staff became lazy etc.... it went downhill faster than an Olympic skier.
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Epic fail
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If you're good at avoiding eye contact with inebriated old men then give this place a try. Make eye contact and you might obtain a slurred, frantic anecdote or a redundant threat.
As usual with a JDW impressive range at the bar but undermined by complete absence of charm and atmosphere.
The long-term unemployed are known to come here to re-write their CVs.
Get a window seat and pretend to be a mannequin.
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Firstly anon 4 Feb, there are a few links between the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham, an 18th century Prime Minister and landowner and the firm who built Southwark Bridge so I am guessing that the pub, the local Rockingham Estate and adjoining roads are a nod to him (Wetherspoons have a tendency to link their pubs to its local history).
As for the pub, the terminal is a very apt description. It carries all the hallmarks of a sterile and faceless environment that you would really struggle to spend much more than an hour in whilst waiting for someone. It could also be described as a reception for a large office block which is probably what it was to start with. The glass frontage, plain walls and ceilings do not really conjure up any great inspirational or imaginative feats of interior design and the usual policy of no music makes the lack of atmosphere even more apparent. There are a couple of decent sized screens for when the occasion arises although it is hard to picture this place being a hotbed of passionate sport fans. On the plus side and contrary to a previous posting, the beer selection was a bit more adventurous than suggested. Last night they had Barnstormer, Theakstons, O�Hanlons Stout + 2 Real Ciders (Old Rosie & Westons) alongside the more regular offerings. Perhaps weak compared to some Weatherpoons but infinitely superior to what the neighbouring pubs have to offer. It does attract its fair share of well oiled regulars but there is sufficient space in here to steer clear of them. This is certainly not a great pub but probably the best of a bad triumvirate around the shopping centre.
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Recently renamed The Rockingham Arms, why? Dissafectionaly known by locals as The Departure Lounge. It has the same atmoshere as the Wetherspoons at Stanstead and Gatwick.
anonymous - 4 Feb 2007 12:37 |
The most amazing collection of full time alcoholics I've ever seen.
The pub's dirty, it smells like a tramps jumper and the food's pretty lousy.
But, the drinks are cheap!!
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very average - usual crap choice of beers from Greene King/Marston/Shep Neame Nothing special at all. Natty decour though.
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Visited once and found it totally lacking in atmosphere, uninteresting and definitely not welcoming. Would not go again.
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I agree that there is a lot of students in this pub, i am aone of them! I see no problem with the pub, the staff are all friendly, and its the only spoons that offers student discount. it cant be that bad as the university lecturers go to the pub as well for a beer and a meal. plus its cheaper than the Student Union!!!!
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The pub has been renamed to "The Rockingham Arms". Otherwise it is unchanged. Still not very nice.
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Went in there on the way home from work and made the mistake of ordering food. Pub was a complete mess, tables littered with empty glasses/plates. When I went to the bar and asked for someone to clear the table I was sitting at I was informed quite rudely that "there's a guy on the floor now, he'll get to it at some point". Food was disgusting and cold when it got to me, chips looked anemic. Definitely wouldn't return or recommend to anyone.
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5.15 on a Sunday afternoon......very busy. VERY scary!
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All I can say is cheap & chearful!! However, there is nothing chearful about the place.
The cheapness may explain the deluge of sad old piss-heads scattered around the place.
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Ordered food here on Saturday, mixed grill and a cheeseburger.
Mixed grill resembled charcoal briquettes and beefburger had changed itself into a lamb flavoured frisbee. Awful.....say no more
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The Wetherspoons in E&C is for 2 types of people..........
..........students and those who can only afford cheap drinks.
It doesn't have a relaxing atmosphere and it's impossible to get comfortable, especially as it's usually full of obnoxious lads being loud.
It's very unclean, with dirty tables, floors and drinks/plates not being taken away by staff.
The non-smoking area always has young idiots smoking in there and the staff don't bat an eyelid.
This place is not worth going to just for the sake of saving 50p on a drink.
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Went in only to face one side full of unemployed drinkers keen to excape from the rain and the other side full of old age pensioners all tucking into the inedible muck that this pub attempts to pass off as food.
A good place to come then.....
Rosie - 15 Oct 2004 21:46 |
There tend to be 2 types of Wethespoons. Either some quite interesting conversions in unusual buildings or beer warehouses full of people counting the days to their next giro. This is very much in the second group.
Bernard - 2 Sep 2004 10:06 |
ok, full of characters
Kit - 30 Apr 2004 02:45 |
