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The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon), Rotherhithe, SE16

185 Lower Road
SE16
SE16 2LW
Phone: 02073942832

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Pub Type

J D Wetherspoon

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


Tris C left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

Born on 12th May 1997, this is as mentioned not the largest ‘spoons, with a faux ‘Victorian’ interior of dark wood then all the typical ‘spoons touches. There are still photos of local boys on the way to the khazi as in ‘you can see photos when you’re en route to’ rather than celebs ‘on the way to the khazi’, which would amount to an invasion of privacy. Customers are a big mix, with some rather younger and more fashionable than in most outlets, many seemingly Spanish.
The ale front here is rather more limited than anticipated, with the usual suspects then just Sambrook’s Powerhouse and Sidekick at only £1.00 a half and fine, served by an uninterested barmaid.
Not being a purpose-built pub, I only made a visit due to needing a comfort break, as I was bursting for a comfort. This place is ok for a stop but obviously there’s no real reason for a special visit.

On 26th June 2023 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]


Delboy 20 left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

Classic old style Spoons well described below. It was fairly quiet when I called at 10 on a Saturday morning. Black Sheep Special, Oakham Citra and Southwark Brewing Harvard American Pale alongside the usual trio. I went for the Harvard which was in decent shape. All ales were £1.99 so it was by far the cheapest pint of a long day! Glad to have called in.

On 14th June 2023 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

Old Skool JDW which looks bigger on the outside than is actually the case within. Dog legged shape with a classic mid-90s Spoons interior; wood panelling, cream ceilings, black and white photos of the docks from back in the days. Pen pics of famous locals (Caine, Bygraves and Hardee on the way to the khazee). Four ales on with two genuine guests from Southwark brewery. The latter's LPA was serviceable (NBSS 2.5) though I suspect it wasn't that great a brew to begin with. Notably cheap here compared to many other London Wetherspoons. Busy on my early afternoon Sunday visit and doing the job it’s designed to do.

On 1st November 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

Very undistinguished 'spoons, albeit still the main place in the area for a decent pint. Partly opened out inside a low-rise building near the Overground station, with seating areas in a staple-shaped layout around the bar counter. Usual faux-traditional furniture and decor that could be anywhere. However, the front patio is a reasonable size if the weather permits, and the hanging baskets and boundary planters improve matters somewhat. So-so selection of real ales from two banks of four handpumps on this visit: Ruddles, Doom Bar, Abbot, Hog's Back TEA and two from Sambook's - Junction and Lavender Hill (normally £2.49, but just £2.19 this time).

On 13th August 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

This is a modern Spoons handy for Surrey Quays Overground that is GBG (2014) listed. Inside it is furnished fairly typically for a Spoons including five Fruit Machines that I counted which seems excessive for a building this size. The idea that the paved area overlooking the busy road junction at the front could be described as a beer garden is as ludicrous as calling a grass covered main road roundabout a Wildlife Park.
The beer choice was disappointing given the GBG listing, of the 8 pumps 3 were not in use, one had Ruddles and the other 4 had festival ales. My Bateman's Hazelnut Brownie (£2.29) was in very good nick.
Overall it really is nothing more than an average Spoons.

On 26th October 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

This is a fairly small Wetherspoons pub, a couple of minutes from Surrey Quays tube station. A decent sized front patio area, not something usually associated with ‘Spoons pubs, leads you into an unusually shaped single room with the servery running down the right hand side behind a series of pillars. The room is carpeted throughout with some attractive wood panelled walls and muted lighting helping to create quite a nice, cosy ambiance. The wide front section of the pub is perhaps a bit brighter, benefitting from the front windows, but the room quickly narrows before eventually opening out again at the rear, where you can find a raised seating area in the back corner, screened from the rest of the pub by partitioning walls and more pillars, and decorated with large bookshelves along the far wall. There is some sort of nautical navigational devise standing in a large cabinet in the mid section of the pub, next to stairs leading up to the toilets. The staircase has pictures of various local celebrities and a nice photo of the pub in its former guise as the ‘Sovereign of the Seas’.
I counted eight hand pumps, but only six were in action, mostly offering ‘Spoons regulars or mainstream stuff like London Pride and Spitfire. The only interesting guest was Coach House Blueberry Classic Bitter, which I found well kept but slightly misleading as there was nothing ‘classic’ or ‘bitter’ about it, although there was much ‘blueberry’ going on. I grabbed a bite to eat here too, and the grub was typical Wetherspoons stuff, served in a timely manner by friendly waiting staff.
I thought this place had a bit more character than some of the previous reviewers give it credit for and I can certainly think of many other Wetherspoons pubs that feel more bland and generic than this one. The ale selection was the real let-down for me, but I’d be prepared to give this place another go.

On 26th September 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

This is a Wetherspoon’s pub, so expect the typical sort of ale selection, food, and prices. This one was very full when I was in there at 12.15 PM on a Saturday, with the clientele being mainly of the young and noisy sort. There are the usual ‘Spoon’s decor and furnishings, and nothing to make this one stand out from the crowd. In fact I would rate it as poor by ‘Spoon’s standards.

On 26th February 2011 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Surrey Docks (JD Wetherspoon)

A very typical but quite nice Wetherspoons, handy for station and shopping centre. One word of caution - popular with Millwall fans for home games, although in fairness, the pub coped well with the numbers and they were quite a friendly bunch.

On 19th May 2010 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john mcgraw left this review about The Surrey Docks

Compared to other Wetherspoon's this is a fairly small pub.Usual Wetherbeer on offer.2 mins from Surrey Quays station.(yes.The docks are now known by the yuppyfied name"Quays")

On 18th February 2007 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]