The Ship and Whale, Rotherhithe

Yep - clearly under new management. They seem to have some pretty big ideas for the place and, from what i've seen, most of them seem to be working. Food is pretty good (burgers superb, chicken very overpriced), new staff are really friendly and their service is excellent, and they've done a nice job inside. Could turn into a real winner this one...

27 Jan 2006 13:52

The Bunch of Grapes, London Bridge

Very decent, well run Youngs boozer. Well kept Young's range, polite and quick staff, genuine atmosphere. Landlord who knows how to run a pub. Worth a visit. Or two.

27 Jan 2006 13:48

Spice Island, Rotherhithe

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.

26 Jan 2006 14:00