Picture of Blacksmiths Arms, SE16 5EJ

Historical version 17 of Blacksmiths Arms, SE16 5EJ (view current version)

  • 020 7237 1349
  • 257 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5EJ (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
  • noon-11pm Mon-Thu; noon-midnight Fri; noon-11pm (midnight if custom demands) Sat; noon-11pm Sun

Fuller's pub on the edge of the Rotherhithe peninsula, serving decent beer (London Pride £2.70/pint as of May 2007, possibly gone up to £3 as of May 2008). Not particularly close to any public transport other than the Hilton Ferry to Canary Wharf, but convenient for a Thames path walk.

Horseshoe-shaped bar out the front with tables and chairs along each side; dining room with table service out the back. The ladies' toilet (single, slightly cramped cubicle, clean enough though) is worth a visit for the amusing cartoons on the wall. There's a beer garden out through the dining room, though we've not been out there for a look yet.

Offers good Thai food at reasonable prices (main courses with rice from around £7.50 as of May 2007), as well as a small selection of more traditional pub food. As of July 2007, food is served noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm Mon-Thu; noon-3pm and 6pm-10:30pm Fri; noon-10pm Sat-Sun, and takeaway is also available during these hours. (They used to offer a delivery service, but we don't know whether this is still available.)

In May 2007, Kake and Bob tried the £10 starter platter for two; the spring rolls were very good, and the rest of the platter was fine too. Pla rad pric (deep-fried cod with tamarind sauce, £9) was good, if a little sweet, and a generous portion. However, it wasn't spicy at all, despite being described as such on the menu. Food service was polite, unobtrusive, and perceptive - even though they were very busy. Kake would say it was excellent for a pub.

Bar skills are perhaps just slightly less excellent; Bob has noted on two occasions that the staff didn't seem to know they were supposed to turn the pump clips around for beers that were off.

As of May 2008 the Pride may have gone up to £3/pint - this is the price we (Kake and doop) were told, but we paid "7 pound something" for a pint of Pride, a coffee (£1.95, from a filter jug, "perfectly respectable"), and a slice of apple pie photo (£3.25, reheated in microwave, with squirty cream from a can on the side). The place was fairly quiet on a Sunday afternoon, with four or five other customers. Music playing but not annoyingly loud, and quite chilled out. Landlord seems quite friendly.

See also:

Last visited by Kake and doop, 25 May 2008. Opening hours and food times determined by phone, 1 July 2007.

GPS data collected by bob on a Garmin eTrex, 1 April 2007, and released into the public domain: OSGB 536521, 180292

OS X co-ord: 536521 OS Y co-ord: 180292 (Latitude: 51.504566 Longitude: -0.032728)
This is version 17 (as of 2008-09-25 01:31:08). View current version. List all versions.