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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

Founders Arms, Southbank, SE1

52 Hopton Street
SE1
SE1 9JH
Phone: 02079281899

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Tris C left this review about Founders Arms

Dating from 1976, this was a replacement for a pub with the same name which was just a short walk south-west from here at the junction of Hopton Street and Holland Street (see Lost Pubs), the current modern edifice shown on satellite imagery as an irregular nine-sided thing with a terrace overlooking the Thames.
The interior is modern as to be expected with terrible acoustics. The stairs up to the lavs are so narrow that passing is almost impossible for all but the very skinny. Customers were rather drunk and the place was scruffy, with assorted detritus littering the floor, uncleared tables, stuff dumped on the bar, the queuing system employed amounting to little more than organised chaos, being four deep at the bar in some places, other customers standing in an immobile queue.
London Original and Special were on offer with the Proper Job option but as I couldn’t face queuing and for no reward in an awful pub with no available seats, I decided to leave.

On 28th June 2023 - rating: 3
[User has posted 1955 recommendations about 1922 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about Founders Arms

A hell hole tourist trap,in a very modern building with vast plate glass windows which give good river views.It was noisy and packed on my visit,the only calm spot was a raised wait to be seated dining area to one side,serving pub grub from a corporate menu from an open kitchen.The customer base is very transient so Youngs Pubco don't need to try hard,and the three handpumps were offering Sharp's Proper Job (unavailable but clip not reversed,aaarrrggghhh ) and CW Youngs Bitter and Special (malty mess and not special at all).Insufficient staff caused a scrum at the bar,tables were stacked with used plates and glasses.There are pork pies on sale,they didn't look great.

Best left to the tourists.

On 5th May 2019 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about Founders Arms

The Founders Arms is a Youngs pub with magnificent views across the Thames. Conversely the architecture of the pub itself is anything but magnificent. The long bar supports a premium keg range and I counted three banks of three hand pumps that were drawing the same three Youngs cask ales. Food is available.
The are no televisions, but some festive background music was airing during my visit on the Friday before Christmas. It was busy, but there was nobody waiting at the bar so I was served instantly. The location dictates that there is more seating outside than inside this long and thin bar. This is for the best as there is no atmosphere to speak of.

On 16th January 2018 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about Founders Arms

As pubs go this place is completely characterless and I can think of several better options a short walk away. However it does have one main redeeming key selling point which is that it probably provides one of the most iconic views of all the riverside pubs in London and how drab and boring it may be inside is of no consequence when you are standing on the edge of the outside terrace sipping a beer staring out at St Pauls and the architecturally striking buildings of the City of London beyond.
Another positive is actually that the Youngs beers are usually in good nick, as the Youngs Bitter was on this occasion. But that has to be negated with the fact that this place does get insanely busy when the sun is out and it was four deep at the bar on this mid-week early evening, and despite the efforts of the hardworking bar staff it took a good 15-20 minutes to get served.
I’d still recommend it for a beer with a view, just try to avoid the after work crowd when the sun is out.

On 22nd August 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about Founders Arms

Oddly shaped pub but with great views across the river towards the city.Lovely sitting outside in the sunshine.Youngs beer only Special,Ordinary and my Hummingbird was good.Beer tastes better on sunny days imo.

On 25th September 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about Founders Arms

Not a great building but positioned in with one of the best views in London. Nice patio area, that is also heated in the Winter - so great to have a pint and soak up the landscape. The Youngs Special was really good.

On 10th March 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Founders Arms

Charmless modern building in a great Thames-side location (which is a very mixed blessing as the place gets horribly overcrowded as soon as the sun comes out). Crammed with functional furniture, both indoors and outside on the extensive brick terrace (now covered by white awnings). Nine handpumps in total, but with several duplicated the choice is usually just Ordinary, Special, Bombardier and a seasonal such as DNA or a guest (although it had both McMullen Cask and Harveys Wild Hop on my latest visit). Overall, I've never really liked the place but as the beer is good quality I will undoubtedly be back...

On 10th October 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about Founders Arms

A large open plan young's pub with an outside terrace overlooking the Thames. Real ale and food served.

On 29th October 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about Founders Arms

A modern single storey pub in a prime Thameside spot, the fully glazed outer facade is angled to give a complete panorama of the river scene. There is a large and hugely popular terrace on the riverside too. Internally it is modern with clean straight lines, Thames bridges are named on the ceiling beams, there is a large wood block map of the river on an end wall, and I thought the circular columns had been designed to replicate the supports to nearby Blackfriars Bridge. The bar runs along the back wall, turning the corner as the building angles back, then there is a separate food servery. Unusually, at the far end and entirely separate from the bar is a coffee bar/counter. Seating is mostly standard issue if rather crammed in, although there are a couple of high tables in the middle. A slightly raised area at the end is really just for diners but a few people were sat here drinking. Two TVs were showing different Olympics channels.
Youngs beers, no guests were on, Bitter, Special, London Gold and Bombardier. The pub was very busy indeed but it was pleasing to hear a barmaid taking time to explain about the real ales to a foreign tourist even if he did end up plumping for the Bombardier.
There's not really any character here and the clientele are transient but I've never had a bad pint in here and the views are worth a stop by on their own.

On 11th August 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about Founders Arms

A large, popular pub on the Thames path. It's main draw is undoubtedly the good sized terrace at the rear that is crammed full of tables and chairs as well as plenty of infra-red heaters to help make the most of the views along the river.

Inside, it's a little less inspiring being a pretty much unremarkable place. Again, the best feature is the floor to ceiling wrap around windows that offer views of the river in the more inclement weather. Besides that there is little to say. There's plenty of tables and chairs, the flooring is mostly carpet except for some dark parquet wood around the bar, and there is a plasma stuck on the wall at the far end, although this was not in use on a recent visit.

An unusual feature is a small counter in one corner for coffee and cakes, although with thin slices of sponge being sold at £3.95, I'd be surprised if this does much business. Other than that, food seemed quite popular although I didn't check the menu.

Beers on tap were Young's Bitter, Special and Bombardier along with Black Sheep and Hogs Back TEA. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately.

On 9th October 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]

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