please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Having first visited here in April 2014 I have since been a frequent visitor and have also eaten here a couple of times.
The service is always very good, the ale choice and quality is excellent and the food is superb.
It’s not your normal pub food but it’s superb and reasonably priced for the quality.
Obviously a much nicer outlook in the summer but it’s not that bad in winter.
Worth a visit for sure.
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Beers were reasonably priced but £16.50 for a burger? Are you having a giraffe?
Anyway - nicely set next to the river, the rear area has a nice view of same with the O2 (aka The Dome) prominent, as was Boris' Folly (aka the cable car).
A large part of the rear section was closed off for a private function (as was the so-called Gin Garden), so viewing options were limited to a quick shufti then back to the main bar.
Pictures here: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EZsWLlyxYtWPd
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Having worked in the area for over 14 months today was my first visit to The Gun...I have no idea why I haven't visited before today.
4 cask ales....my pints of Stringers Yellow Lorry @ 4.0% & Jugged Hare's Pale Ale @ 4.3% were both excellent.
The front bar has tables laid for food to the left as you enter and "pub" seating areas to the right...the back bar is more like a pub and leads on the terrace that has a small standing area and a large covered area for diners.
River views are a massive plus, the pub has decent and attentive staff, good well kept ales & the food looks blinking excellent.
Tucked away from the main road this is a quality pub that is worthy of another visit ASAP.
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After trying a traditional local down the road - the George, we moved on to the Gun. This gastropub is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The front bar is primarily for diners. There is also a rear bar that was packed with tennis fans and a terrace with great views over to the Dome and the new cable car. Prices are astronomical - �7.50 for a bottle of stout and a half of bitter! �25.50 for a steak! Beers on were Caledonian Flying Dutchman, Sambrooks Junction, Adnams Bitter & Otter Amber. We only stayed for one.
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Found pub as a result of downloadable DLR Real Ale Trail, and not easy as well tucked away. Diamond Jubilee weekend so very busy, but staff made us welcome, and steak sandwich off bar menu was �9.50 but very good. Excellent pint of Dark Star Hophead at �3.70, other beers were Sambrooks Junction and Adnams Bitter. Outside Terrace with Portugese Bar B Q would probably be great on a dry day ... If ever out this way again would pop by.
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Wonderful pub. Really atmospheric with great views. It is a gastro pub, but the real ales (Adnams, Hophead and Scottish flyer) were really well kept. Cosy fires as well for the winter nights. Food is expensive, but was top quality.
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Nice beer, great interior almost too nice to be a pub - the eating area feels like a restaurant (and the type of restaurant that's too expensive for my pocket). Had a nice real ale - one I had'nt heard of before and sat on the terrace looking at the Millennium Dome and the Thames. Did encounter some slight difficulty communicating with some foreign bar staff. A good place but not entirely my cup of tea.
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This Pub looks just like the O2.
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The pub has more quality about it than any other pub in the vicinity, and some really interesting history. Drinks and food are fairly expensive, but a visit here is enjoyable if you're leaning towards a more relaxing evening, rather than wild, especially if spent supping a pint on the decking, watching the boats go by. Can be a little tricky to get served quickly but I've never felt any bad atmosphere in the staff or crowd. It doesn't have a high footfall, so it's a good little gem to know about.
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Attractive riverside pub with great views of the Dome right opposite accross the Thames. It is approached down a small residential side road off Preston's Road and I was amused to see that the pub sign has been built complete with a "shell hole" through it.
On entering, the bar is right in front of you, with a resturant area to the left and a more pubby area to your right. Following the bar round to the right is another small serving area in a room with stunning views of passing river traffic and is dominated by an large wooden barrel, with the wall festooned with old flintlock pistols and muskets. To the left of this bar is a snug area with wood panelling and leather sofas giving a luxurious feel.
Passing through double doors you emerge onto a timber riverside terrace which would be a tremendous place to sit in the summer. Unfortunatly on Saturday afternoon the wind was bloody freezing! We stuck it out for about half a pint though, seeing a cormorant catch a fish and three drakes chasing a relutant looking female. To the right of the pub is a barbeque area.
Upstairs is a function room reached by an ancient spiral staircase, complete with spyhole to look out for Revenue officers. A plaque out on the terrace tells us the Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton used to meet for trysts upstairs.
Ales on tap were Adnam's - Bitter, Broardside and, unusually, Southwold Mild, which was excellent. Kegs included Symonds Founders Reserve Cider, Amstel and Bitberger lagers. Prices were a bit steep, to be expected in a place like this and I think the locals can afford it! Service was calmly efficient from some rather pretty young barmaids.
There is a resturant menu, a bar snack menu and a Sunday roast menu. All look really interesting and the people in the resurant section all seemed to enjoying their food. Two girls devouring cheese boards near the bar certainly had me salivating (i am very fond of cheese.)
All in all a excellent destination for a summer's treat although friends have warned me that during the week it gets rammed with suits, not suprisng being almost in the shadow of Canary Warf.
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Stopped for a pint with four friends whilst out on a bike ride,we had a couple of pints of bitter and a Guiness and a lager.My pint was fine my friendsd pulled after mine was not,it was the last one out my friend asked me to see if the beer was a bad has he thought ( I have managed cellars) and it was not up to sctratch.He asked the barman to change it the barman asked why," it s not cloudy, it will be cloudy if its off" I explained that we wanted it changed because it didn't taste good, he tasted it and said in his opinoin it was fine but did offer to swap it eventually.
i agree with Sir Adams comment its not a pub but even so they pride themselfs on offering good food and wine ,its a shame it doesn't extend to the beer I dont expect to have to argue the toss over a pint.Its a shame really we all liked the pub and its location the menu looked very good not cheap but looking at some of the food as it came out I would say worth it, but due to one barman we will not be returning.(He was French, fine by me but don't try to tell me about english real ale.)
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Brilliant pub! Cosy little place hidden away next to the river. Great views and beers, and an open fire in the winter. P.S. Loads of great history too. Ask the staff.
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I absolutely love this place. I lived in the area a couple of years ago, and frequented The Gun quite regularly. I still go back as often as possible. I love all the little rooms, the burning fireplaces in winter, and the history of the place.
As the person below commented, it can get busy with 'suits' at times, but not all the time, you just have to wise about when you go down. They do have private events/parties, so now I go early in the week, and check if they have anything else going on before heading down.
It's busy for a reason. It's a fantastic pub.
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This place is not a pub. Not by a long shot. This is a restaurant and caters only for suit-and tie types from Canary Wharf. When I went the staff where like robots, there was no engagement with them. The food and drink where outragously expensive, had a meal in the terrace and when it was done we couldn't wait to leave, there is absolutely no atmosphere in the place. This is just an All Bar One with bells on, and as said by another reviewer, only for the blueberry brigade.
For rich snobby soulless types; 10/10
every one else; 1/10
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I live about 10 mins walk from here and had always meant to pop in to see how the pub was. Very pretty front facade with a big hanging sign of a cannon.
After having seen it rated as pub number one for Britain I felt I had no excuse not to go.
Upon arrival I was very impressed at the friendliness of the staff the courtesy with describing the different menus and the different parts of the pub.
I loved how the bar menu was cheap and cheerful but the restaurant menu had some of my faves on it. Oysters being top of my list. And they were pristine and beautiful, perfect shallot vinegar and the wonderfully set up for us.
I would be very happy to sit there in jeans and jumper to have a pint of something but also dress up for the restaurant for special romantic nights out.
The drinks are expensive but I suppose it's part and parcel of being in a nice place. Cant wait to see what its like in summer... will be back for sure.
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On a sunny Saturday aternoon in July we decided to go along and check this pub out as it came recommended by the Guardian Summer Pubs guide.
It's a well hidden secret this place, in more ways than one. Upon leaving Canary Wharf tube it took us a good 15-20 mins to find it. Tucked away on a cute residential street in the small area of Coldharbour, it's literally on the edge of the Thames, and is worth the wait.
Inside is the main bar, and restaurant, which has a balcony over the river which looked like a romantic setting to take ones partner.
However, the real gem of The Gun lies in its terrace bar.
It serves barbecued Portugese fayre and free flowing Super Bock or Sangria, and the wofting scent of sardines could make you think you were on the Algarve, but you are snapped back to reality when to our left we can see the gigantic O2 arena over the river, and to the right the imposing builings of The City, and Canary Wharf. it's a lovely setting in its own right.
The smells really are irresistable, I had baby squid cooked in garlic and corriander (�6), and a friend had grilled king prawns (�10), expensive, but delicious.
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I live just round the corner from this great pub and often pop down for a beer after work. It is great to see that they now offer their pub menu for lunch and dinner so you don't have to sit in the dining room and can have bar snacks, for example the shin burger for under �13. During the summer they also open their outside bbq which is a real sun trap by the river on a lazy afternoon!
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Sunday Roast, only two tatties, half a snip, cold meat and cream for Horseradish, not bad for 15 Nicker!!!!
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The food at this place is amazing -the same can be said for their sister pub 'The Empress' in Hackney. Grea views from the decking outside and great wine list. HIghly recommended.
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I posted a review about this place last year, and after today's visit felt compelled to update. We live across the road from the pub and usually drink in Greenwich but keep trying to convince ourselves this place is ok by popping in for a pint every few months (once we've forgotten how expensively pretentious and irritating it was
the last time), only to leave more hacked off than we arrived.
This lunch time we nipped over for a quick pint and a bite to eat; it took 3 members of staff to serve us our drinks at the bar (and then we were given the wrong beer - we asked for Youngs and got Adnams); when requesting a bar menu were advised they only had the main menu on, which was great if you wanted boudin of salmon, fois gras or steak with snails in garlic butter (at 20 quid a pop!)!
If your idea of a nice pub is a place where they have waiting staff bringing your drinks to the table (in between complaining about working double shifts), and you enjoy being surrounded by men in suits braying into their Blackberries then go for your life.
If your idea of a pub is somewhere with amicable staff where you can enjoy a decent pint with a bag of crisps and maybe some pub grub don�t even think about it!
I've given it a low rating because it�s not really a pub � more an expensive restaurant with a very nice (small) bar attached.
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Visited for the first time this lunch. Beautiful weather, fabulous spot on the river looking across to North Greenwich, well-kept beer (Abbot, Adnam's Broadside and Bitter on tap) and wonderful history. Service was quite slow though, and the pub was nigh on empty - I hate to think what it would be like if it were any busier. That said, they were fine with us sitting out on the foodie terrace, although again, it was quiet. So, an enjoyable experience, but the jury is still out. I will report again soon, given that my office is just round the corner now!
sc597 - 19 Nov 2008 15:53 |
Amazing pub by the river! My top stop for a couple of pints around the isle of dogs.
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Great location, yes a bit out the way but worth it. Brilliant views, delicious food and a extensive wine list and good selection of beers. We enjoyed a long afternoon of food and drink on the terrace, will definitely be back.
Nelli - 15 Sep 2008 11:01 |
Plus points for the wonderfully out of the way location and stunning views; down points for the number of lazy individuals who choose to make their way there by cab. This place puts the "gastro" into "gastropub" with gusto and concocts an expensive but delectable take on fish and chips. Too many table cloths relegate the few less heralded seats to secondary status, but they are happy to serve food at either. The back room and balcony were being used for a private party on our Friday night visit, leaving too few tables open for casual punters - rain fittingly intervened.
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Went to The Gun the other day, enjoyed a quality pint and they have good grub there too.
I will be back, good place to go with mates.
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I really enjoy entertaining friends at The Gun. I have been a few times and I have often gone for Sunday roast which is always fantastic!
Great selection of ales and lagers too which is always a good thing.
The views of the river are unbeatable and the surroundings are pretty good too, I will definitely be back again.
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I notice that all the gushing, marketing-speak positive reviews are from accounts that have commented on the Gun only.
Funny that.
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This pub is great!
Fantastic mix of a traditional public house with draft beers and ales. Open fires and the dark wooden bar. Intermingled with a modern British menu, with pub dishes alongside more fine dining dishes. The Gun pulls this off with style.
I will be back, a great local and also worth the little trip if your not too local.
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Had waited quite some time to try this beautiful looking place & the experience was a bit disappointing. Good selection of drinks, although Adnams broadside was way, way too cold to be fully appreciated (why do so many pubs do this?).
The food was nice rather than great. Clams & chorizo were good, but the braised pork belly was 80% fat! It all felt a little too expensive which is fine if the food meets &/or exceeds expectations.
The service was also haphazard on a mid week evening which couldn't be described as busy (less than half full) they didn't seem to cope. Dishes came to the wrong sittings & we were twice offered someone else's drinks, whilst waiting over 20 minutes to get ours & order some food.
So many great reviews have been written about this place, I would definitely try it again if I was in the area, but having been to so many other great gastro's including the Lock & the Pumphouse, the old quality & service vs wallet, really didn't add up on this visit.
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What a great pub!
Had a great chat with the bartender he told me that the bar dates back 200+ years, when Nelson use to frequent.
I really enjoyed my beer and the fantastic view of the river from the terrace, will definitely be back!
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The Gun is a lovely old pub with a great terrace overlooking the Thames and the food is absolutely delicious!
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We visited this pub last night and sat on the terrace, things were looking good when we ordered a selection of Adnams ales on draught, but made the fatal error of asking for an extra two minutes to order food, 20 minutes later we finally ordered. Food was good quality, if slightly overpriced (are we paying for the view?), but the service was just awful, it was as though we did'nt exist. I had to take a pint of Youngs back, as it was last from the barrel and full of floaty bits, and it took 15 minutes standing at the bar to get it changed. Where are all the staff? During the evening we saw three pints of Guiness being returned.... It took another 15 mins to pay, and release credit card from hostage, all in all, a disapointing night and I will not be returning.
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Couldn't wait till summer to go back, so I went on Saturday (which just happened to be the most amazing summer day) and sat outside on the terrace- was of course fantastic! I wish I was a local so I could go all the time, this comes strongly recommended by my friends and I.
AnnaS - 28 Apr 2008 18:55 |
This is the place to be in London when the weather is good, right on the side of the river Thames.
Well, I've just been for the first time when it�s freezing outside but great. The staff was very friendly. We had food to die for. The Gun has a great atmosphere and it is so nice inside even when it�s dreary outside.
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London's own hidden Gem.
Location is amazing right on a quite part of the river looking directly across at the O2 Arena.
They have a great outside area where you can reserve a spot for a private function or just have an afternoon pint with some mates.
The food is also amazing with a great selection to suit anyones tastebuds.
The staff are awesome and give off a certain vibe that often doesn't come from a place like The Gun.
i personally am looking forward to summer, when they will have the Portugese Grill area open again. Who could think of a better spot to be on a summers afternoon.
The Gun are definately gunning for top spot for pubs in London. Amazing
tclap - 15 Apr 2008 16:14 |
My friends and I had a great time on Sunday... tasty food, good booze selection and friendly and helpful staff. Perfect pub!
dbc74 - 31 Mar 2008 15:05 |
Visited this past weekend and was saddened that I hadn't come across it before!! All these past years wasted at other places... A couple of friends and I had lunch in the restaurant, then went for after-lunch drinks in the snug at the back (Red Room), so cosy with an open fire! Loved it! I was definitely happy with the food, the posh pasty filling was AMAZING!!! I 'seagulled' a few bites after diverting my friends attention to something else, will definitely order that next time. Can't wait to go back this summer and sit outside...
AnnaS - 17 Mar 2008 17:36 |
Free wifi and some good beers on tap. The location just makes it worthwhile (overlooking the O2). But I would agree with the other reviewers, they have a problem working out whether they are a pub or restaurant
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A bit of a wild and blustery weekend - cold and wet part of the time yesterday, but a good day for a walk/amble back in Docklands, with Bow Creek Ecology Park, the Dome and the river (mainly the Thames) featuring quite strongly. Lunch-stop was here. It's rather gastro-ish, but warm and appealing, and we 5 arrived with Bertie the dog (still a very puppyish 20 month old Bedlington terrier) and went out onto the terrace. Enjoying a good pint of Adnams Broadside (Bjorn on Hoegarden at �4.60!!!!), and saying no thanks we won't be ordering food 2 times to over-attentive waiting staff, and then about to get another beer when a white polo-necked 'jobsworth' says they'd 'just noticed' the dog and pooches weren't allowed. Why? Because they treat the whole pub as a restaurant. There's no public hygiene rationale - you're more likely to get food poisoning from carelessness in the kitchen - and there was no signage (but plenty about other matters). So the Gun gets a firm thumbs down.
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I've really tried to like this pub as it's our local, has a great location and a good selection of beers. (No crisps though - which should say it all really) Myself and partner have been on a couple of Sundays with visiting relations for lunch, and both times were over-priced and disappointing, both for the quality of the food and the attitude of the staff.
I went again with a friend this evening and have vowed not to go back - arrogant bar staff who ignore you, bar food menu that's so limited it's laughable (burger and chips, fois gras cornish pasty, or roast beef sarnie). When I eventually managed to get the attention of a barman and ask him if it was possible to get a table I was told no, and similarly we couldn't order from the restaurant menu at our bar table. We ate at the outside Portuguese terrace, which was good, but again over-priced and very slow service. On returning to the bar to get a coffee (after growing tired of waiting 15 minutes to be asked outside) I discovered that the table we'd been sat at in the bar has been laid-up and three people were enjoying food from the restaurant menu there. Grrr! The attitude of the staff sucks - will not be returning, and wouldn't recommend anyone else to go, unless you're horribly pretentious and have the patience of a saint!
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Took my parents to The Gun last Sunday. It was to say the least uninpressive! Food was mediocre and very expensive, the standard Sunday lunch was good but at �15 you expect it to be! Three of us ate Halibut and all agreed it was very poor! Wine choice is very good but again expensive. We bought a rioja at 18.50 and was happy, when I asked for a second it appeared but on the bill cost 25.00, the explanation was they had run out of the first sort!!! Should we not have been asked?? On the whole a aesthetically pleasing pub that has massive pretentions along with some of the staff, of which there were loads!! Watch the 12.5% service charge too!
Try the narrow, much better if you can get in!
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Went to The Gun on a Saturday afternoon and it was crowded so we asked if we could get a table at their Portuguese bar/restaurant terrace extension next door. When we asked about it a staff member joked that there was a thousand quid minimum if we wanted to go in, and we soon found out why. After being herded into the roped off 'drinks only' area, a staff member demanded a credit card in advance, even though we were only two people and had just ordered a couple glasses of wine. None of the bar snacks we ordered arrived, and when it came to settling the bill they first lost the credit card they had held hostage, then messed up the bill by trying to charge for the snacks we never received, and had the audacity to add on a 12% service charge. All this for one pint and one glass of wine. We have never been treated so rudely before, and we are certainly never going back.
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Not sure if this is a pub pretending to be a restaurant, or vice versa. Probably a bit of both - bit of a mixed bag really. Drinking in the main bar is, as a previous reviewer says, like drinking in an upmarket restaurant. Don't like this bar very much, even though the Young's Bitter I had was OK. I quite like the back bar though, and the terrace really does have a superb riverside location with a view dominated by the Dome. Not too easy to get to if you do not live or work locally though, so i do not expect to be a regular visitor.
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Visited this pub on a Friday night for a works dinner and a few beers. The pub is nice in appearence but has taken gastropub too far in my opinion. The dining section was trying to appear as a five star resturaunt but in a pub setting?!?!? The food was fine but I was not raving about it and the price worked out to be about �35 a head for 2 courses. Was only drinking lager (plus a little wine with dinner) and it was fine in quality.
I doubt I will visit again but do not speak for everyone as some people may find this dining experience to their taste.
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Tried to book table on terrace. Was told they don't do that on the weekend. Got there to find tables reserved. Grrr.
Went for Sunday lunch. Ordered lamb. Was given beef with horseradish. When I pointed this out I was told rudely 'That's lamb'.
I've heard from too many people now about the dreadful attitude & service. What a shame.
Go to the Prospect of Whitby in Wapping instead. Great views, good beer, good service.
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visited this pub hundred's of times over the years,thought i'd take a trip down memory lane last week and pay it a visit; pulled up in the cab and told the driver to do a u turn out of there. shame.
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Nice for a quick pint of Youngs and a view of the Thames. Real fires nice touch. Food prices frightening.
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As most people have mentioned the pub's main asset is the view of the river (quite impressive) and the owners realy do cash in on it. I have visited the pub many times however it still seems to me that I am drinking in an upmarket restaurant. The range of beer is pretty average - nothing too inspired.
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My local and a good place to relax. Food is definitely upmarket and pricey, usually good but smallish portions as noted by other posters. Ale is better value for money than the lager, �2.80 for Adnams Broadside. Expensive but great on the terrace next to the river in summer and log fires inside in winter. Service is hit & miss unless you are an attractive woman (mostly male bar staff). Table service is a plus!
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had a roast here yesterday, not impressed. �15 for roast lamb, plate cold, meat cold, yorkshire pudding cold... wont be going back... outside terrace was cool though
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Having waited so long for it to reopen, my initial impression on the way it was laid out seemed to convince me that the good old days are, definately gone.
The decor is very nice. The paintings are amazing.
The staff are, on the most part, polite and attentive.
The striking thing about the place has always been its view over the Thames. Admittedly, it still retains the feel that The Gun always had, but now it seems that us locals have been priced out of another of our pubs.
�3 a pint of San Miguel? Someone should tell the owners that E14 is NOT the West End.
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A beautiful pub with great ale, amazing food and fantastic views over the river.
anonymous - 8 Apr 2005 12:14 |
Decent pub with good ale, and a lovely back bar that has the potential to be snug in front of an open fire, but instead the owners have plonked a massive great 'nautical' barrel in front of the hearth- oh well at least the barrel's warm! A waste.
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just reopened after a fire 2 years ago. Pricey, but well worth it for a romantic night out or just fancy some top class food. Amazing riverside terrace looking directly at the dome
mark - 9 Oct 2004 16:08 |
