The Blacksmith's Arms, Rotherhithe

I like this place - I'm a regular at the Hilton next door for many years and this pub is my London-local. I've seen it progress well during the past few years from its old management to the current management.

The service by-and-large is premium to anything else in the area, with excellent food and a fine pint of

Pride. The Irish landlord has proven to be most flexable when our team at work wanted a special arrangement

for the Rugby a few months ago (there were about ten of us, short notice but he managed to sort us our own

TV (honest!) in a private area at the back, with a heater and enough comfort for a good feed of food, wine

and beer).

Things have changed slightly for the worst and I'm hoping its a temporary thing as I noticed the Irish

landlord hasn't been about (holidays maybe?).

A charming girl who introduced herself as "Twa" took my order and brought me the pint of Pride I'd spent half the day traveling and thinking about.

A different girl served me my food - I was hungry and the food a little on the warmish side - I commented on this and had expected an offer to reheat but was instead served a cooler response of "sorry, we're busy!".

I've probably got a tad too comfortable in this place because the service is typically premium hence my surprise to get a cold shoulder over something so simple. I was tired, hungry and thirsty and had not expected this. It took the shine from my pint.

"Twa" gets full marks however for noticing my disappointment - Like the previous Thai girls of months ago ("Tulip" and "On" come to mind), she smiled and offered to get my food re-heated and offered an apology.

Again - this is a fine place, like a wine, its maturing beautifully but on that evening I was left feeling a

bit sour. I'd consider a takeaway if it were not that I'd miss out on a beautiful pint of Pride!

27 Nov 2007 16:37