The Hare and Billet, Blackheath

You'll have to go a long way to get a better pint than here. A great selection of mostly local, fresh, ales that have been carefully chosen and are always well kept. It has become expensive, but, seriously, the beer on offer is so much better than most pubs, it is impossible to consider saving 30p on a pint if that pint is so inferior. The food is also pricey, but very good.

Recent highlights have been Late Knights Frosty Morning, Portobello VPA, Brockley Brewery Red Ale and some nice offerings from Hop Stuff and Kent Brewery. And some exceptional keg beer from The Kernel and, I think, Beavertown.

I've no idea what the previous poster is taking about with his barb about "braying hipsters". This is Blackheath. It's doesn't have any hipsters. At the weekends it is full of families. I only hope their philosophy of excellent local fare proves to be succesful enough to continue, as it is head and shoulders above any pub in the area, as far as beer is concerned, anyway.

20 Feb 2014 13:36

The Mayflower, Rotherhithe

Shockingly low rating for such a lovely old historic pub. Great location, one of the best riverside pubs in London, decent ales and good, friendly service.

20 Feb 2014 13:27

The Gipsy Moth, Greenwich

It's a tourist pub really, so the lack of customer care sometimes shows. In my last visit, the service was slow and they looked understaffed. It wasn't helped by one tattooed barman complaining loudly to another barman about another member of staff that who was "f***ing rude," a "f***ing d***head" and a "f***ing c***", in front of a long queue of startled elderly customers.

I was with someone who recently worked in an American restaurant and she was amazed with the attitude. If you ask for an item to be replaced by another the answer is always yes, as the customer's happiness is important. When she asked, the barman had to ask a senior member of staff who said "I doubt it." What? You can't put something that's in your kitchen on a plate because the menu says no. It's a ridiculous attitude to customer service.

18 Jun 2012 11:40