please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Meantime run this place I believe. A full range of Meantime beers and other interesting ones. Pleasant bar and a nice sun trap garden.
Nothing not to like.
That tap water's not for you Alphonso!
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Next door to another pub but this is a bit of a 'specialty' pub. No cask ales on draft as such, but a huge range of bottled beers available from a fridge. They're all on the strong side, and although a 'menu' of beers is offered it doesn't quite match what's in the fridge. Snacks available but no meals spotted.
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A large range of beers to try and a nice garden to sit and drink them in. Not cheap but then it is a destination pub I suppose. Had some London IPA which was pleasant in the sun.
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Interesting and tasty food ,hang on was that a brake bros van parked outside Ping ping oops there goes that microwave again
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If you wish to pay exorbitant prices for your beer then that is entirely up to you of course. Two shillings for a pint was also way before my time .sixty pence was the price of my first pint circa 1979. And I have never had a Cornish pasti from a cellophane packet I can't stand them. Now a steak and kidney pie yes. Was the Richard the first going out of business? I was trying to make the point that with the plethora of eating establishments in greenwich did those brainless burkes at youngs have to destroy yet another truly great tradititonal pub to give us this . I don't think so . As I have said I am not adverse to Change or a bit of a refurb or even a change of direction as they did with the barley mow (now the hill restaurant) as this pub was going down fast , again great in the 80s early 90s and no I didn't rant when this happened. So please enjoy the richard the first but I'm afraid it's not for me and lots of others I have spoken too. It's a pub that has lost it's soul
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Excellent pub, excellent beer, excellent food.
Clean, busy, but generally helpful staff with above-average product knowledge – valuable when many first-time visitors are accustomed only to the big national and international brands. And of course the range of said product is, as you would expect, first class. Although a bit slow to clear tables when under pressure – an extra pair of hands on a Friday would improve service and probably help, rather than harm, the bottom line.
Female-friendly, clean loos.
Most of the above is also true for its neighbour, the Richard I. Ignore the remarks from prejudiced and foul-mouthed commentators who are determined to live in the past, and must want to see pubs go out of business. Maybe they did not like being turned away for abusing staff when they discovered that the award-winning IPA cost more than 2 shillings a pint. Or made adverse comment on finding interesting and tasty food rather than a pasty from a packet.
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Please ignore the may 13 the comment as the Richard the first is now fucked up good and proper take my advice and pile in the plume of feathers
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Other reviews say it all.
Pricey. Poncey. Fizzy.
Kicked out of the CAMRA guide and quite right too.
Mind you they do give you your beer in a glass, unlike the Richard I which fobbed us off with a plastic glass because it was "a bit busy".
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way over the top prices which are so out of order and totally pretentious go straight past and slip in the richard the 1st for a far more enjoyable night for you and your pocket .YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED UNLESS YOU,VE WON THE LOTTERY OF COURSE
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Similar to other reviews, I found this pub to be far too expensive to consider a return visit.
We visited on a Friday night, the stone floors were fairly full with customers, all relishing the large choice of Meantime brewery beers available on the bar. there was a good atmosphere and I would have liked to have stayed for a second, but..........
I suppose the shame of this place is that it is a 'must do', if you find yourself in Greenwich, and like the idea of drinking in a pub owned by a brewery like this, but at £8.90 for a pint of their Pilsner and another of a 4.8% dark beer, it is not a place to linger ! Go to the pub next door for better value !!!
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I was a reluctant visitor to this place as I don't really like the Greenwich beers. Fortunately they had a couple of ales from Dark Star and Adnams on tap hidden away around the side of the bar so there was some variety. We were quite fortunate to get a table as it gets busy later on (although by 10pm when we left, seats were freeing up). Plenty of people passing through while we were there including several with dogs, so good to see there are welcomed. Staff were very pleasant too. Not a cheap day out though, especially if you wanted to explore the bottled beers in the fridges.
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The biggest thing to hit you is the bill - frankly even I really loved their beers the prices are a total rip-off. As it is, I had the London Pale, which in bottle I find quite a decent drink. here it was so cold i couldn't really taste anything apart from the bitterness of being asked to part with far too much cash. If anything the Old Brewery in town is even worse - they wanted over six quid a pint for the 4.8% Oktoberfest!! Where are these price hikes going to end?
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First of all, let me say that I am a big fan of Meantime's range and quality of spectacular (albeit overpriced) drinks.
This is a distinctly pros and cons pub though. On the one hand you have the great drinks (the wheat beer is the one single disappointment, although full credit to them for trying). And there are an impressive range on draft in this pub.
But in contrast, this is laid out more like a cafeteria; and you will almost certainly have to stand with your drinks. Largely because the cafeteria layout means that people pairs of people will occupy fixed booths which sit six people (with no wrongdoing on their part), whilst the lack of moveable seats mean that it's standing room only for most patrons. More than half of the seating is actually in the beer garden, which isn't entirely convenient during much of the year.
I wanted to stay for the evening; but instead we stayed for one drink; because I don't much enjoy going for a beer and basically standing in everybody's way in a corridor for the duration of the night. Great drinks Meantime, but now open a decent pub, and then you'll score more than 5/10 from me.
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Went here last Friday afternoon with some friends. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. And very knowledgeable about the vast selection of quality beers on offer. The food was delicious as well - the pheasant terrine and pork belly was superb! About as good an afternoon as could possibly be had. Can't recommend this place highly enough!
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Nice place. Pretty much all Mean time Beers, but bar staff are friendly and knowledgable enough to help with your choice, and are happy to give you a sample of everything on tap. All the beer is very well kept, and my "Cranberry Stout" came up exactly how you'd want it to. Only draw back are the prices, a little too pricey for my pocket. Went in on a Sunday, late lunch time and it was packed, no chance of a seat for around 30 minutes. Once we managed to squeeze our selves in, we ordered some food. Fish and chips were pretty average, but my other half ordered the beef and stout pie, which was HUGE and very tasty. Will be back to try some other beers, and some of the other items on the menu
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Being new to Greenwich, I have tried most. A very good pub, good quality food and enjoy the Meantime selection. Good crowd, nice garden and one of the best pubs in Greenwich. Also you dont have to deal with over crowding from tourists on the weekend.
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I'm a big fan of Meantime beer (not such a fan of the prices, mind) and this place is a great place to go and try some of the range. Indeed without prompting the bar maid offered us a taster (I'd never tried Yakima Red before and it's pretty good).
Nice little garden out the back, though it was too wet for that so we enjoyed the conservatory to the rear which is very light and airy even on a cloudy day. The bar is quite small so I imagine this isn't the best place to go at busy times, but during the day it's very pleasant.
Going to go back for lunch soon so I will report back on food. If you've never tried Meantime beer, try this place and you'll love the stuff.
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Decent pub serving great beers, only drawback are the prices.
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A bit "young couples and baby set" for my liking. May look better on a mid-week.
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Meantime Brewery pub which served most of their beers in the keg variety. Although 3 real ales were on - Sambrooks Junction, Meantime London Pale Ale and Darkstar Hophead. Aspalls was the draught cider of choice. I chose the Breton Cider, which at �3.80 a bottle precluded any option of getting drunk. There is also a good variety of continental lagers and bottled Belgian beers. But I assume they are also an exorbitant price. The interior consists of a long narrow bar with a stone floor. There was also an upstairs section presumably for diners. At the rear is a garden. The food looked very nice. But I dread to think what the price was. Unsurprisingly given the prices, the clientele was fairly upper class and I doubt if there are too many regulars. Despite the better beer selection here, the Richard I next door is much more affordable.
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Massive fan of Greenwich beers so this place was like Heaven for me.
Visited around 7pm on a Saturday and not too busy but a good atmosphere was had in here. Had a Banana flavoured beer which was in tip top condition and my friends also sampled some other Greenwich beers which were in good nick, well worth the visit if in the area. 8/10
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Been here a few times. Beer is great as is the food- burgers very good. I was a bit disppointed with the fizziness of their London IPA until it was explained to me that they offer both cask and pump and that the cask is the 'flat' version. D'oh.
Staff always helpful and quick to serve even when it's full- which seems to be quite regularly.
Cons- rather pricey.
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A very clean and contemporarily decorated pub, narrow but fairly deep with a beer garden at the rear. I visited mid Thursday afternoon when there was a group sitting in the front window seats, another group towards the rear of the pub and a couple off lone drinkers scattered around so it was quite quiet and comfortable. At busier times, however, I would be concerned that the narrowness by the bar would cause problems. Also there's a hell of a steep staircase down to the toilets!
As noted below, there are three real ales on, a great selection of bottled beers and the full range of Meantime beers on keg. I tried a pint of the Meantime Stout which was very welcome.
A good pub to pop into if passing but I'm not sure that I'd make it a destination pub.
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Good pub with interesting range of beers but no disabled facilities makes this a no go area - plenty of space always allowed for a garden and pushchairs however!
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Not a great fan of the extremely clinical and fairly modern interior. However I have to say that in my experience, this pub serves excellent, well kept beers on tap, and an eclectic array of bottled premium beers from around the world.
The staff range from students to young professionals ' in between jobs'. Without hesitation on my last visit, the staff kindly and obligingly allowed me to keep my push bike within the premises. They set up a tab, and explained key differences between regional and national beers, which demonstrated passion and knowledge. Anyone ever faced a barman who can explain what a Lambic beer is? I obliged by downing a few ales. Thirsty work!!!
Must be one of the best pubs, if not the best pub in the central Greenwich area. If coming across this pub, step inside and avoid it's immediate neighbour/s.
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Big fan of this place - really like the beer and the staff have always seemed polite, conversational and happy to help. As has been said above, it's an intelligent, liberal man's pub.
Food is a little expensive, but worth paying for - the surroundings are lovely.
Currently looking for a place to live in Greenwich town centre, and being close to the Union is a preferred option!!
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I visited this pub on New Years day, for the first time in 5 years.
Was alarmed to be charged �4.20 for a pint of Aspall's Cider.
When I asked the barmaid why it was so expensive, she informed me that it was the average price for cider in this area of London.
I told her that I'd drank in many places in South East London and the most expensive I'd found was �3.65 for a pint of Addlestones in The Clockhouse on Barry Road.
The strangest thing is that the rest of the drinks in the little drinks menu/book thing are a pretty reasonable price. Can't understand why Aspalls has been singled out to be extortionate.
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Visited yesterday for the first time. A pleasant enough pub in a pleasant area close to the station. It was fairly busy for a late Wednesday afternoon mainly with people eating. Staff seemed polite and efficient.
3 handpumps dispensing Meantime London Pale Ale, Harveys' Sussex and Dark Star Hophead along with 9 or so continental style fonts with other Meantime beers. If you want to sample the Meantime LPA, make sure that you specify it from the handpump - the beer from which I found most acceptable! My companion forgot and the fizz version is everything you'd imagine - cold, gassy and pretty tasteless compared wit the real.
The lunchtime food menu falls between "pub" and "gastro pub" grub and wasn't over imaginative. The prices to me were rather on the high side. I was surprised when the evening menus were put out to find the food selection almost identical although some of the prices had increased.
They seemed to be having problems with the lighting during my visit which kept changing from too dark to read a paper by to bright enough to play floodlit football! The barman did explain that they were having some problems.
I'd certainly visit again if in the area especially on a weekday afternoon when i guess that it is less busy.
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Rubbish customer service!! If you're going to set up a bar that sells lots of different beers then it would be nice if they let you try a sample before you buy a pint!! walked straight out never to return!!
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Dropped in as part of a stag do (well, glorified pub crawl really) expecting only to partake of a couple of pints, but ended up taking lunch as well, which emboldens me to provide a few comments about both grub and grog.
I must say that I echo quite a bit of what has been said by recent visitors. The Union is a worthy pub in that it strikes a reasonable balance between the traditional and the contemporary, with a mix of decor and design that can appeal to the long-term local or the first-time tourist. A mix of punters can be found there, although arguably accented towards the young. It is the tap for Meantime brewery and although always being of the belief that Alistair Hook focuses his brewing efforts on keg and bottled offerings only (the latter very successful in the US Export market), I was heartened to see 2 cask ales on the bar (albeit that only 1 was a Meantime beer - IPA; the other being Adnams Bitter). Despite all the plaudits for its bottled and draught products I stuck to my guns and eschewed these for the cask IPA, which was excellent, if very reminiscent of several other ales of a similar ilk. Others enjoyed some of the other options, including a 75cl wine bottle of London Porter, which did look pretty scrumptious. Even the non-cask stuff seemed to be relatively gas-free from what I observed of others. So, worthy of a visit for the beer I would say.
The food, which one by one each member of our merry throng decided to order despite initial resolve to delay, didn't offer a huge variety, although there were some more unusual offerings; the "brunch" selection of bacon butties, eggs benedict etc was appealing and both were sampled, as was one of the burgers. Portions were generous, which perhaps began to justify the plainly over-inflated price bracket. However, it was generally agreed that it was not quite prepared to the levels of gastronomic excellence the pub would purport to maintain. For a start, my eggs benedict was served lukewarm. Lovely flavours, but by the end, cold! A friend who opted for a dessert declared the ice cream to have been "re-frozen" and altogether an average experience. So, it flatters to deceive somewhat on the victuals side, but still I wouldn't advise future visitors not to eat here.
The one thing I will have to contradict is the comments on service: last Saturday's visit found the staff to be welcoming, talkative, knowledgeable, and entirely friendly. Beer and food were dispensed efficiently and with good grace. I have no negative comments on the service whatsoever.
Definitely worth the effort for non-Greenwichites, provided you aim to visit various other hostelries nearby too, with a view to broadening your experience and to get beyond the semi-gastro pretense that seems to be on the rise at the Union by trying some more down-to-earth boozers. The Richard I next door looked good (Young's) and was popular, but we didn't have time.
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I like this place. Polite, middle class, liberal, arty, - with all that comes with such a mix. The place always feels like Sunday afternoon with The Sunday Times. Conversation is intelligent, urbane, and never loud or foul. The back beer garden is casual and understated - it feels like sitting in someone's back garden in a nice area.
Flaws:
The menu always tends to look interesting, but the food when it arrives doesn't live up to expectations. The prices average around �10 - which is slightly high for the quality and the setting (for this is most certainly a pub rather than a restaurant).
The service is always polite, though could involve a bit more human interaction. The politeness is just too cool and considered, and sometimes there is the feeling that the person serving you thinks of you as a customer rather than another person. The waitress was very attractive but never smiled all evening. The barman went out of his way to be very patient to a group of people going through various beer samples before selecting half a pint of the wheat beer. That was OK, but a queue had formed, and the group could have easily been left to think about each sample while somebody else was served. There seemed to be little awareness by the barman that other people were waiting. When we got served he was smooth and charming, so it was good service, but I'd have rather got served quicker with a bit less charm!
There are two casks on offer - Adnams and Meantime's British version of an American Pale Ale - the rest of the beers on tap are Meantime's well done but largely uninteresting pale lagers and wheat beers. The High Saison is good - but that is only available during the summer. The bottled beer list is good, but rather pricey. So, on the whole, the beer experience can be less than exciting. However, as this is Meantime's own pub, there is the attraction of being able to explore a number of Meantime's beers in one place - so people will come here just for that.
So, the beers are worth trying, but on the whole are not exciting, the food is not good value for money, and the service can be a little detached.
But it's still a must visit pub in Greenwich. And I like it.
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I've been drinking in the Union since it was first opened, and had more than a few cracking nights there. But I have to say this place is getting more and more pretentious on each and every visit. What used to be a group of friendly, helpful staff has sadly degenerated into a group that frankly, take themselves far too seriously and look down their noses at anyone who doesn't quite fit their post millennium Greenwich utopian ideals. It�s called hospitality ladies and gents.
The beer is fantastic, and while I wouldn't object to a night here with friends, I'm having a lot more fun elsewhere these days, and that's what it should be about. Food is good (but expensive).
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Despite memories of this place displaying a disregard for cask ale, and something nearer to disdain for paying customers, I would have taken a look yesterday but was outvoted. I somehow doubt that I missed much.
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Reasonable pub with 6 keg Greenwich beers which are (even compared to real ale) very tasty. The two cask ales were a bit of a let-down compared to the London Stout (4.5%) and True Belgian (6.2%) actually.
That said, the place is full of wannabe posh folk - please remember this is supposed to be a normal pub, not really a place to sip mineral water whilst reading the Guardian for three hours on a Saturday afternoon and casting disappointed glances at anyone either drinking beer or who appears to earn less money than you.
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Visited here several times over the 18 months. Always impressed by the beer; Helles and London Stout maybe the pick of the bunch. There ARE plenty of those rich young couples with expensively dressed kids on sunday afternoon, but also no trouble or snide old locals. Staff seemed friendly, and if you get the seats you want the place is a pleasure to drink in.
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Saturday and Sunday afternoons this place resembles a middle class kindergarten with little Tarquins and Guineveres screaming their (darling) heads off amongst a fleet of the latest designer buggies whilst mummy and daddy discuss the price of organic veg. Other than that it's OK.
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Excellent little pub with a really friendly cosy atmosphere and cheerful staff who seem happy to let you try all of their interesting home brew. Will go back for an easy going night.
dan88 - 15 Dec 2008 20:42 |
You have to go...and this is really one which might be best experienced as an outing in its own right rather than as part of a pub tour....staff friendly and we were offered samples..always a good sign. Didn't really get to experience the negatives hinted at in other postings and if you are a beer lover you just have to visit the Greenwich Union
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Somewhat improved since my last visit about a year ago with darker more intimate lighting which led to a better atmospher. I thought the barstaff were pleasant and the food was pretty good. The range and quality of beer can't be faulted, but it is very expensive. You'd have to be well healed to have it as a local, but as an occasional treat it is well worth it.
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Used to be a semi regular here for a number of years and always tried to take friends here to sample beers when they are in Greenwich. Odd as although in the pub twice a week for the whole evening, never once was this fact shown in the faces of the staff of manager, who it seems don't do regulars! One thing that is noticable is the high level of staff turnover and the lack of friendiness of the staff. Weekends in daytime seems more like a kindergarden then a pub with large designer pushchairs and toddlers running around place. Stopped going as now full of prentenious drama students as customers and drama students as staff and food has gone downhill (fish and chips was just two small battered cods and steak arrived without sauce as had run out on last visit) Staff have no time for you unless you look like them or their drama student friends. As I look like a geezer, never made to feel welcome, despite trying to chat to manager and staff. Pity really, their loss as although look like south london geezer, I work as pro theatre director and cast for major theatre tours around UK. If any of the staff and drama student customers had been one inch friendly, they may have found this out themselves, but then again, don't think I want to be accepted by that lot now anyway! Now drink in Plumb and Feathers which is cosy, friendly and treated like a regular. The Union has lost its local secret charm and take away the excellent beer and everything else is awful about this place.
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A great pub, their own beers are wonderful, we had the chocolate, union, wheat and porter, all extremely drinkable. We would have had more but it's a long way back to Harringey. Their list of bottled beers is not too shabby either. Well worth a visit if you're down Sarf Lunnen way.
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I've only been twice, both during the day at the weekend, so I've not experienced it busy or the evil bald manager etc. We have used it recently as a stop-off for a beery lunch during a cycling expedition which was just perfect.
I've had a massively positive experience so far - nice decor and atmosphere, friendly and helpful staff, simply superb food and a great range of beers, mostly Meantime (Chocolate Porter, mmmmm...), not loud and smelling of stale beer.
Negatives: It's not cheap.
Possible Negatives based on personal preference: It's quiet. It doesn't serve cheap (bad) macrobrews and doesn't have a 72" plasma TV or a resident DJ.
It largely succeeds well at its apparent goal of harkening back to a gentler, less hectic age where people had time to enjoy the simple things in life. If you like that "village" feel - people reading books in the beer garden over a real ale, a lazy lunch, flagstone floors, an easy-going and quiet atmosphere, this is your place. There's a greengrocers 100 yards up the road that sells everything from wicker baskets if you want to complete the idyll.
I can't imagine it would suit the crowd who would like a loud, lively "party" pub. This is a place for people who like to eat well, drink well, relax and enjoy good conversation. Two thumbs up!
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The problem with posting a high rating for a pub is that more people will go there. OK, Im stating the bleeding obvious, but there are lots of pubs that are really good and you want to keep them a secret. What did I like about this pub? It was a Tuesday afternoon and basically empty. I love empty pubs. I wanted the strawberry beer. That was off. But have I tried the Special or the Wheatbeer or the stout or, or, or. In all I was given 5 or 6 different beers to try before I settled for the excellent Special at 7.5%. My kind of beer in my kind of pub.
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I made a special trip here up from the country to meet some old friends last night. It was my first visit and I was not disappointed. Some very pleasant beers from Meantime Brewery were had in a calm, relaxed and friendly (contrary to some previous comments below)atmosphere. The stout was particularly noteworthy. We popped next door for some cheaper food then I had to catch a train but my friends went back to the Union, so impressed were we by the place.I look forward to making a return visit before too long.
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A few years on from my first review... this place is a few aggravating steps away from perfection. The crowd can get irritating on Friday/Saturday nights (sending you fleeing to the unpretentious Albert down the road) but it's lovely when it's quieter. Prices have gone up a fair deal over the past few years but the beer remains lovely.
But the staff can be aloof - and having overheard the bald bar manager last night bossing his staff about and refusing to move from his own position behind the bar ("go out there and clear the garden, and make sure they move"), it doesn't make you feel good about the place.
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Use to spend a fair amount of time in here but the beer made me lose far more of my life than was warranted by the amount I actually drank of it. It does bad things to my brain! That said, I only drank the raspberry as it was the only one I liked, even though I am normally an appreciator of many lagers and ales.
The atmosphere is trying to be a bit over pretentious, which is definitely apparent in the prices, especially of the food (although it is very nice).
The garden is quite pretty and nice in the summer. It doesn't get as crowded as the more central Greenwich pubs with outside space.
I found a fair proportion of the bar staff a bit aloof and the landlord a bit sarcastic and patronising at times (although that may have just been me).
Its not a bad pub, just not really my kinda place.
Seems to go down well with some I know though.
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After walking from the Thames Barrier to Greenwich and a quick pie and mash from the food market, �2.50 very good value, I dropped in for a quick one at the Greenwich Union. Adanams Bitter and a raft of Meantime beers including Helles, Kolner, London Pale Ale (assume it's the ordinary pale ale), London Stout, Wheat, Raspberry and something labelled "Special" whch might have just have been a spare tap. Also a list of 30 or so bootled beers, some Meantime but some unusual ones including Rodenbach Grand Cru as well as the normal Belgians.
Sunny day so I headed into the beer garden with a pint of the stout which was very tasty although at �3.40 a little pricy. Touristy place, as is to be expected on a Sunday afternoon, all wood and generally clean.
Definitely worth a visit and I will hope to be back.
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Polite, middle class, liberal, arty, woody, expensive. Echoing noise and loud banging front door. One cask, Adnams Bitter (a great beer), but the draw here is this pub is the main outlet for the Meantime brewery - eight kegs and a variety of bottles (nothing cask conditioned as Meantime is a lager rather than an ale brewery). Food is about �10 a main dish. I like the place.
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lovely pub, decent beers, nice staff.
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Really can't fault the beer, all the Meantime stuff is good (particularly enjoy the stout), and the bottled beers are excellent too (I'm a fan of the American beers they have - Anchor, Brooklyn etc).
The staff are generally friendly and helpful but can be a bit eager come 11pm. Also, it does attract the stereotypical Royal Hill crowd, but what should I expect?
I would say the main problem is the narrowness of the place can make it a real pain to navigate at busy times - especially if people congregate at the bar. Still, the beers alone make it well worth a visit.
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The guy who say's the food is rough must have very strange taste.
Thr pub has just git a new Chef and he seems to be the same standard as the last ie excellent.
The risottos are superb, the antipasta great, the sandwiches interesting and the chips very tasty.
I reckon the food here is cheaper and somewhat better than most other Greenwich Eateries.
Now for their beer........ a delight for discerning continental beer drinkers and a very drinkable Admans for me and a good pint of Aspall's cider for my mate.
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Nice pint of locally brewed Meantime "Raspberry Beer",just bl**dy expensive!,7/10
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Been to this pub quite a few times over the past 12 months, but ate here for the first time today. Love the pub, hate the food. I don't know what the chef was trying to achieve, but s/he totally missed the mark. The food is overpriced and the most disappointing pub food I have ever had...ever, which is a shame as the drinks/atmosphere is so good here. Love the kids policy, and would frequent again if the food wasn't so very wrong.
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If the pub has no policy on kids being in there then it's fair game. Having a bit of lunch as a family - what a crime! Yes there are other places to do this, but then Greenwich isn't short of pubs to drink in either, especially on Royal Hill. Plus if you want decent grub and a decent beer then the options are limited to a pub environment.
anonymous - 9 Apr 2007 21:50 |
Personally I don't take my kid to the pub - but I don't have a problem with others doing so. A little more tolerance required I think.
anonymous - 9 Apr 2007 12:04 |
I would like to add my support to renewablebumpy. This place has become like a creche and I too will no longer be frequenting it either. The way it is going they will soon be doing face painting and putting in a sand pit! Why not take your kids to play in Greenwich Park instead of spoiling a great pub?
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Where do I start .....
For the past 3-4 years I have been coming to this pub to sink a couple of beers and perhaps some grub pre Charlton FC 3pm kick off (beer is required before any CAFC match!)
The odd pushchair used to nudge our bar stools as we supped our beers, no problem, but I went in on the 31st March at midday to a bleedin KINDERGARTEN. There must have been at least 10 children under 7 in the bar, this is just not cricket! Why should I be surrounded by kids in an environment which has been purposely created for adults?
This isn't a micro-brew pub anymore it's an extension of a typical young familys' lounge. I can't possibly drink here anymore with kids running up and down the joint, crying, shouting or just simply being there, it's not right.
So our custom is lost, the beer is commendable, the bar has charm but it's totally overrun with young parents who think that punters like us are happy to drink with their kids ..... utterly wrong. The Union is dead, long live Richard I (next door minus the rug-rats)
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The food here is so good that I want to kick them in the faces for making it so expensive.
It's like a restaurant that wants to be a pub this place.
Plus the barstaff always seem to be squabbling like children, literally everytime I come here.
Still great food and beer so cant complain.
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Always enjoy the beer here but can get very busy at times. Could always pop next door to the Richard I which is also a good pub but a little quieter
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Great beer - massive selection, and some delicious own-pub brewed beer. Didn't think the staff were at all rude, in fact the opposite. Thoroughly recommended, would definitely go back. Food looked good too.
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one of the nicest pubs in greenwich, in one of the nicest parts too
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Sadly, this pub isn't quite as nice as it used to be. Slightly smaller range of beers, I think, and certainly less diverse (do they need a Helles *and* Pilsner?). The food's not as good as it was even six months ago - I got what seemed to be a bowl of oven chips on the night I went, rather than the chunky skin on beauties they used to do. And although the bar staff are still very friendly, they did seem a bit stressed and depressed. A change of manager? I thought the clientele was a nice mix of students, posh people, and not that posh people. Conversation was a quiet murmur.
anonymous - 15 Jan 2007 10:07 |
Some superb beers from the Meantime Brewery and Flying Dog from the US. Unfortunately the staff decided to call time well before 11 and didnt seem to understand why I wouldn't down my pint of 7% IPA in one and leave them to whatever business was so much more important than keeping the pub open til it's stated closing time! Next time I'm in Greenwich I'll stick to the Youngs Pub next door or the Spanish Galleon (Shepherd Neame) in town. Shame, because those beers do rule.
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"I'm also getting tired of the tediously middle class, increasingly middle aged crowd who frequent this place..."
Middle class? Middle aged? In a niche bar halfway up Royal Hill in Greenwich? I'm shocked......
"Yeah, the zoo wasn't bad....except for all those damn animals"
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Sarah - what I acutally said was they give you 5 minutes to drink it not that I bought it 5 minutes before closing! The bar actually shut 10 minutes BEFORE 11 when I went there with no last orders being shouted, no time etc. There was no drinking up time at all - the girl actually just shouted "go home" at everyone. As for the rude comment - I dont think anyone deserves one actually - a civilised "Time" usually suffices in most normal drinking establishments - at the end of the legally allowed drinking up time. If they're going to close early they should perhaps advertise the fact that they dont operate normal opening hours
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Nice pub, quite different to the other pubs on Royal Hill with interesting beers.
As for all of this inverted snobbery - get a life. If a pub having too many middle class people in it is enough to put you off you must have something seriously wrong with you. Live and let live.
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Beers still good, level of kids now reaching critical level, even on a friday or saturday evening and braying, pretentious adults can get really irritating especially if you are crammed into the smoking area at the bottom.
Not sure what all the comments about the bar staff are about, I have always found them really friendly and tbh if your dumb enough to buy a pint 5 mins before closing you deserve a rude comment when you think you can spend as long as you like drinking it AFTER they have closed, especially when there are numnerous pubs only a couple of mins down the road open till 1 or 2.
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Having visited this pub for the second time last night my review is slightly different than it would've been if I could've remembered my password after my first visit.
GREAT range of Meantime beers HOWEVER the bar staff didn't seem to have much idea about what they were serving - when asked what % the IPA was by another customer the girl stated "I dont know its like lager". Last orders was called VERY early (10.25ish) with time being called at 10.50 (which resulted in a loud WUHU from aforementioned barmaid). My husband went to the loo just before time was called and came back to a dimly lit pub with loads of chairs up on the tables - he thought he'd fallen asleep and we'd all gone home.
We also ate food there - it was nice but uninspired really. And I realise pubs aren't all about food (god forbid) but I do expect a fish "goujon" to contain fish - call me finniky but thats how I am.
I'd definately say if you like Meantime beers to pop in for a few drinks but take lots of cash (it is rather expensive) and dont buy a pint too late on in the evening as you have about 5 minutes to drink it before they start asking you to leave.
Actually if you're after some Meantime beer go to the Market Porter as its a nicer pub
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Cracking little pub, next door to the Richard I (another good pub - I like that kind of distances between boozers). There is a microbrewery so they make all their own beers. and they will allow you to sample all of the before you decide what to buy. I've enjoyed a few of their beers now, and they have all been excellent. Nice atmosphere in the place too, it's far enough away from the town centre to escape from all the tourists and other undesirables. Pleasant beer garden out the back as well. Nice.
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This is quite a nice pub with a good atmosphere although the service is a little slow. The food is good though portions are on the small side. Unfortunately at closing time the staff sell you a pint and expect you to leave the pub 5 minutes later. They stand over you whilst you drink up and are generally unpleasant. This has happened the last 2 times I have been there and I am now boycotting the place. A shame as otherwise I think it's a good pub and a nice place for a night out.
anonymous - 25 Sep 2006 15:06 |
Nice enough place. The bers good but i cant help but wonder how many people actually know what their pretentious mate bantering about politics actually know about it??????
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Recognise all the reviews below about this place except for the negative comments about the food - I've always had good food here. Besides - if it's a microbrewery, you come for the beer and good food is a bonus...
Staff are very friendly and meantime beers are good and make a change from the usual choice. Good smokefree section at the front with good choice of seating depending on your mood.
Yes there are more copies of the Observer and small kids with curly blond hair than your average boozer - look out the windows at the houses opposite and say they're not in their local!
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An unusual and indeed excellent range of beers on offer, very friendly staff, the only criticism I can offer is that they called time quite early on Saturday night. I'll definitely be back for more - and yes this is a lovely street for a mini crawl taking in the Prince Albert and Richard I as well.
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Staff always friendly, beer is excellent-perfect if you can get a table outside in the sun.
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Wallet-botheringly overpriced trendy bar. Couldn't help feel horribly underdressed and as if I'd wandered into an art critic's convention or something. The beer was nice, don't get me wrong, but I found the atmosphere to be very "rah-rah" and I didn't feel entirely like I fitted in.
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Love the raspberry beer they do here. And I'm not usually one for beer. Service is good - they always let you try the ones on tap first. The beer garden is also very relaxing in the summer. Strongly recommend!
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The Union has become a well establshed microbrewery but unless you are a specialist beer drinker you will not necessarily see the attraction. If chocolate and raspberry beers are your thing, then this is the place for you. It is certainly not for the casual drinker and I would almost dare anyone to spend an entire evening on the rather heavy beers on offer. The pub/bar is fairly small, cramped and quite plainly furnished but is very popular and reasonably welcoming. On its own merits it is proably not a place for a long session and they are quick to let you know when time is up at the end of the evening. Situated out of the general touristville Greenwich area, the Union is probably worth going that extra few hundred yards to visit in conjunction with 2 highly recommended pubs - the Richard I is next door and the Prince Albert less than 30 yards down the road.
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Nice enough in the summer when you can go in the small beer garden. Ive never enjoyed sitting inside much, its too small and cramped to be comfortable unless there are few other customers.
Nice atmosphere at night and the staff are helpful. Expect most of the space in the daytime to be taken up by ever so middle class people with three wheeled buggies and bored toddlers called Jemima.
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Having been living down the road for a couple of years and coming in here regularly my opinion of this place has changed somewhat.
I'm not sure about the comments on the quality of the food. If you want restaurant quality food then dont go to a pub basically. I'm also getting tired of the tediously middle class, increasingly middle aged crowd who frequent this place. Granted they dont stay late but as this is pub is so small please dont bring your children, we who are paying for alcohol would like a seat.
On the topic of alcohol, the beers are on the whole good, the white beer is better than hoegaarden and the majoprity of white beers you would find in a pub but the IPA is one of the worst beers I have ever tasted. I have to respect them for having the balls to try to produce a mainstream ale with a high alcohol content but this is just awful, it tastes of Super Ts with a nasty alcoholic aftertaste that doesnt encourage repeat drinking. Gets you wrecked nicely though!
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A mixed bag this place, the music pumped out on the middle of a saturday afternoon seemed rather excessive, attracts an up market local bohemnian type crowd, as previously commented upon you'd need to be raving bonkers to pay the askng price for the bottled beers - like Brew Wharf. The food menu seemed simple and good quality though the one item i tried to order of "off" The draught beers are good - especially the Chocolate Beer !- made my visit truely worthwhile. Probably worth an occasional diversion if your in the area.
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The back conservatory was very nice, and the staff very friendly. The front bar leaves a lot to be desired however. Very much a gastropub - but the food looked pretty hopeless to us so we didn't eat here.
The meantime beers were good - we tried Union, IPA and the Strawberry. Surprisingly reasonable prices for all of those (�2.80 - �3 a pint).
In contrast, the bottled world beers are ludicrously priced - �4.20 for a Liefmans Kriek, I recall!
Not a real ale purist's place - the only cask ale they are currently doing is Fullers Discovery - all the rest of the draught beers are products of the Meantime brewery. Although these are unpasteurised, they are dispensed under pressure.
anonymous - 20 Mar 2006 09:57 |
Of all the poncey bars in Greenwich this is the best. Not quite the best bar in Greenwich but the best poncey one mind. It brews its own beer. The selection includes interesting fruit beer and chocolate stout too (mmm). Very nice if a little pricey. Does some good food too. There's a traditional pub next door if that's what you prefer.
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This is probably my favourite pub in London. It's not as pretentious as it looks, has friendly bar staff, a huge no smoking area, and, of course, a range of fantastic beers. Although the imported stuff is expensive, their own brews, of which there are usually 9 or 10, are pretty much standard pub prices. All have recently been overhauled, too, so that their previously mediocre wheat beer is now as good as anything I've tried in Bavaria, and the very bitter, hoppy Pilsner was an unexpected treat. What's more, if you don't like it, there's a more traditional Young's pub right next door, so it won't be a wasted journey.
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I shouldn't really like this pub, it doesn't serve bitter, it caters for families with kids, it's pretty pricey, and it's miles from where I live, but I love it, it's the best pub in London. The beer's great, the staff are fantastic, and the atmosphere is always friendly. Treat yourself, go there.
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I got told off for swearing once in here....made me chuckle
anonymous - 11 Jan 2006 18:01 |
I love this pub, by far the best in Greenwich.
Home brew is excellent, its dog and children friendly so there's always a bizarre atmosphere and the food vacilates between good and excellent.
I like the way its tucked away and the garden is great in the summer. Oh and the staff are nice as well which is a novelty for the rest of South London where barstaffs general attitude is to visually assault you before even considering serving you an overpriced pint.
Go to this pub.
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Is �4.20 the highest UK price for a 330ml Sierra Nevada ale? Is �4.80 the highest for Schneider Aventinus and �3.80 for Schneider Weisse?
The long ambitious food menu is littered with spelling mistakes eg Cheese Bignet (Beignet?) and Ratatuille (Ratatouille?) and this sums up the attitude to food here and in Greenwich generally. Expensive West end prices for elaborate sounding but pathetically executed food
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The Chocolate beer has been given an overhaul for the winter season- its now un-filtered and 6.5% alcohol- and it's wonderful- do try it !
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Great beers (especially the Blonde and Chocolate),good wine( no big glasses though!) good food, and friendly staff. The only downside is it gets too crowded (unlike it's days as The Observatory' when it was dead). One of the best in Greenwich and thankfully not owned by the dreadful Greenwich Inc but by Meantime Brewery. Keep up the good work.
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Great friendly pub. Would be the best pub in Greenwich if it wasn't for the Cutty Sark.
Good place to take mates as it's a bit of a novelty - "home brew"! Because it's so good it is often crowded. :(
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qulaity place, always busy and lively. Give the 'Union' beer a try, very tasty.
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Wicked pub. Can get a bit cramped when busy but serves good food and a nice range of original beers and lagers.
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Greenwich is becoming a haven for stressed workers who enjoy nothing more than a relaxing pub. The Service is excellent as is the beer. Good place to chill out in the afternoon.
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This place is very cool, the beers are different and there's a great space in the beer garden.
Can't understand the previous comments about the beer making people ill. Never had a similar problem despite trying all the beers.
The staff should get a mention as well, freindly polite and apparently aware of all the relevant licensing laws.
Highly recommended.
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Excellent place. Young and enthusiastic barman took time to explain about the beer and offer samples while we tried to choose from the impressive array of delicious beers. Recommended.
mally - 23 Jul 2005 13:01 |
Great food. Lovely beer that doesn't give you a hangover and the best looking bar staff in Greenwich! Superb place!
Shaft - 30 Jun 2005 13:02 |
Oh dear did someone take your pint away? And at 11.20 when the licensing laws say you have to have finished? How simply awful for you....
I work in this pub, we HAVE to get you out BY LAW, so why don't you do what most other people do - drink up and move onto a late licensed bar?
Our beer is of a supirior quality and isn't designed to be guzzled away, you should have lined your stomach with some of our amazing food - might've helped....
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Actually, I was there on Friday and saw a load of rude posh kids have a row with the bar staff about being thrown out of the pub at... 11.20pm!
Yup, it's the "middle class idiots who think the world revolves around them" syndrome! It's those punters who spoil the pub, because otherwise it's magic, simply magic.
And if your stomach hurts after drinking lots of beer, you know what you need to do less of, eh?
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The Staff in this pub were extremely rude at closing time, they were trying to take the drinks out our hands.
The beer upset everyones stomach, seven people in all. One commented on the beer smelling of bad eggs, (sulphurous) We drank two pints and all felt sick later that night and all weekend. One of us was still vomiting on Saturday afternoon. Drink here at your peril!
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Originally the Fox and Hounds, the pub was given a face lift and a name change to offer something different to it's next door neighbour, the Richard I.
It's very much a pub targetted at the ale connoisseur - those looking for something a bit different and a bit special. There's not much in the way of lager or alcopops but that's not why you're there. It's the unique range of delicious beers that make this establishment rather unique.
The furniture is not the best, but the food is good and the bar staff are friendly and often offer a try before you buy on the various beers they have.
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Brilliant pub. Excellent Selection of Greenwich Brewed beers, friendly staff, well diverse clientele. Students, Professionals, Family, Old Men, Loners and Posers. Certainly not bothered by any non-locals - I'm from the other side!
Regularly make a very long detour to sup on my favourite beer "Union".
Quality Beer, Quality People, Quality Atmosphere.
Ignore the negative reviews and form your own opinion - you'll either love it, or it won't spin your wheels. Nothing to dislike though.
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Brilliant, heavingly popular pub offering free samples of their unique range of beers, which makes it easy to choose the right pint. The staff are very friendly, whether you're a local or not. I went in for a quick half and stayed for an hour, relaxing with the Sunday papers. The red beer is fruity, cloudy and sharp - interesting, but not to my taste. The chocolate beer is very delicious, and not as heavy as a stout. I'll be back to try the rest and sample the delicious-looking food.
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One of my favurite London pubs, and possibly my favourite summer pub.
Tasty range of beers makes for interesting drinking, with my favourites being the heavier, darker ales (the "chocolate" stout being the best of the bunch for my money) but the lager and pilsner stand up to inspection too.
Great beer and staff, lovelly little garden, friendly and homely. A definite winner.
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Best place to sit and pass the time whilst waiting on my laundry.
A half of red, a book and a fag and I'm a happy girlie.
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8 out of 10 from me: I like to take people to this place because it brews a variety of it's own good beers, has a unique look (long and narrow) & has a generally nice feel/vibe. The staff are always helpful and friendly; just try talking to them and you'll find out. One of the best pubs in Greenwich, with (unusually) another good pub - Richard I, which is a Young's - literally just next door. You can look over the fence from one beer garden to the other!
It surprises me how pubs on this website can attract similar comments but there are always one or two that say the opposite.
Mike - the beer is good and it's a friendly place. So you don't like the White Beer but that doesn't make it vile to everyone else. Can't think why you say it's "rubbish" although I admit some of the chairs are uncomfortable but that's about it on the downside.
Louise - how exactly were you made to feel unwelcome because you're not a local? (I think you're reading something in that just wasn't there. Were you in a bad mood when you went in possibly?)
Wayne - 27 Oct 2004 19:45 |
This used to be my lcal till I moved to the other end of Greewich but I still always come back here - it is the perfect local. A really good mix of people as in, perfect to hang out with your mates but you can also take your parents in and they would be comfortable. Fntastic drinks, food and live music on Mondays and Thursdays. Best pub in greenwich.
Emma - 18 Oct 2004 12:24 |
My favorite London Pub
Dave Evans - 23 Aug 2004 02:14 |
I'm not so sure .. am not a local and didn't feel particularly welcome.
Louise - 21 Jul 2004 09:43 |
I visited this pub for the first time yesterday (4/6/2004) and had a superb session.
This is a very friendly and welcoming modern pub in the backstreets of Greenwich, offering the discerning drinker a wide range of beers from the Meantime brewery. NOTE the cask ale on handpump is brewed by Roosters brewery.
The serious, discerning drinker is offered tasters before making his or her choice, which is very useful if you have not tasted the beers. Good food by day, excellent tapas by night.
I found the place very friendly. The blonde girl who was always smiling came to see how we enjoyed our food and our beer, and the two guys behind the bar were helpful and efficient.
I will go again. Recommended.
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Loved this pub as soon as I walked in it. The beers are wonderful, so good that my partner and I had to try them all!! The food was also wonderful and healthy. Agree that there were lots of children, but it was Sunday lunchtime. Wish I lived closer (but then would live in there)
Caroline - 5 Jun 2004 16:33 |
A proper boozer - the beer is excellent, the nibbles good (and free bombay mix is a nice touch). The garden's OK (but not as pleasant as the Richard I's next door) and on Sunday lunchtimes it is invaded by parents who seem more than happy for their small children to run around, scream and generally make a nuissance of themselves. Still, it's a genial place for a few Saturday late afternoon pints (and the music's usually tolerable).
Seba - 29 Apr 2004 15:01 |
By far the best pub in Greenwich. Love the beer but the crisps are bloody expensive 80p a pack what a con. You do get some (hampstead wannabies)in the bar.
ian - 9 Mar 2004 15:07 |
This is the place to unwind after a crap day at work or to share a few pints with friends at the weekend. Absolutely the best sunday roast I've had in all of London! Great music through the weeknights, excellent prices and friendliest bar staff around.
Elise - 3 Mar 2004 16:51 |
Its rubbish! Everything from the chairs to the very annoying poor music makes you feel uncomfortable � the place is just too small and unfriendly. As for the beer, well the pilsner is just about tolerable but don�t ever go near the white beer its vile. The one good thing about this pub is its garden which is really nice in the summer. Staff sometimes ok but nice but dim comes to mind.
Mike - 23 Feb 2004 16:12 |
I think this is the best bar in Greenwich - quality beer, friendly bar staff & a good atmosphere on weekends. Lots of live music too during teh week - have had some good meals here as well. Much better than the Frankopoly that is Admiral Hardy, Bar Du Musee, Inc Bar etc etc etc
GreenwichG - 18 Feb 2004 09:56 |
I really like it, it is full of trendies who look like they've come over from Richmond or Wimbledon and the staff are the clumsiest bunch of so and so's I've ever seen working in a pub but they're friendly enough and the beer is bloody great. Yay for Micro-breweries.
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I think they supply Sainsburys rather than Tesco. In fact I had one of their lovely raspberry wheat beers only yesterday evening. Yum.
Clare - 21 Sep 2003 12:55 |
enticing atmosphere and fantastic sunday roast (limited menu), although you should get there early to avoid lamb envy. very reasonable prices considering the quality of the beer, oh and they supply Tesco with their range too.
marc - 3 Sep 2003 13:37 |
Can not say enough good things about this place. Go there, even if it is just to get hammered on the selection of Belgium beer.
tom - 30 Jul 2003 11:15 |
very well to do hooray henry set,
not too expensive though.
all newspapers on sunday lunchtime
pete t - 30 Jun 2003 13:18 |
Trendies? If you don't like people who aren't stumbling around looking for trouble after 10pm then you might be dissapointed.
Excelent lagers that are brewed properly to ensure much less of a hang over.
Matthew - 22 Jun 2003 20:59 |
i love this place. the atmosphere is fantastic inside, the beer is fantastic and in the summer you can sit in the garden which is much larger than some pubs have.
james - 28 May 2003 20:31 |
good pub and been drinking wheat beer for years why is not more pubs around that sell it and not hoegarden to expensive. if you like good beer go try gut some of the punters are a bit annoying.dave
dave - 9 May 2003 15:33 |
This Pub is really nice and friendly. I had a nice pint of Blonde and it cured my hangover. The beer is far better than the one's served in Zero Degrees
ian - 9 May 2003 10:52 |
The beers are brewed in Charlton, the Pils is rather good - but watch it, it's quite strong (5.9 I think). Luckily, there's a pub right next door for when the trendies get too annoying :) Food served up till 6PM. Glasses cooled by water jets before beer added, nice touch
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Lovely, lovely, lovely beer. The trendies can be a bit irritating, but the beer more than makes up for it - as do the friendly staff. Great place.
Darryl - 27 Apr 2003 22:53 |
Excellent - best atmosphere of all greenwich pubs.
Very sexy barmen too!
anonymous - 21 Feb 2003 13:21 |
Does all its own beers, including raspberry beer and chocolate stout. We stuck to slightly more sensible drinks, and the blond beer was lovely.
Clare - 16 Feb 2003 18:51 |
