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Beer of the Week (w/e 17th March 2024) with Mobyduck on the Pub Forum

The Rake, Borough Market, SE1

14 Winchester Walk
SE1
SE1 9AG
Phone: 02074070557

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


. Wittenden left this review about The Rake

Update May 2022
This pub has been picking up some adverse comments on this site, so as the conclusion of a gentle saunter round The Borough on a sunny mid May Saturday we decided to revisit(in my case for the first time since 2019.) Perhaps owing to some football match, it wasn'nt too busy, the beer, an IPA and Stout from Navigation in good order,partnered by Red Top from Old Dairy. I have to mention that my compadre's red wine was poor, but heigh ho.Yes, I still rate this pub.

Original entry from December 2011:

A small, one roomed pub in the trendy Borough Market, its footprint doubled by the heated decked patio “outside” in the Market. Attracting a young clientele, I was about twenty years older than most on an early Saturday evening in late November.
Primarily a show case for a firm of beer wholesalers in the Market, the Rake is a sister pub to the new Tap East , over at Stratford’s Westfield shopping centre. Three handpumps dispense a constantly changing array of eclectic cask beers, together with “Craft Keg” and a large assortment of specialist bottled beers. Dark Star seems to be a favoured supplier, and a glass of Winter Meltdown proved a fine conclusion to a rigorous day’s beer tourism and reminiscence.

This pub seems a bit less frenetic than the Market Porter, and much less impersonal than Brew Wharf across the way, and is handily placed when I need to wait for a train at London Bridge.

On 22nd May 2022 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Rake

Dating from at least 1822, though possibly rebuilt later in the 19th century, this was amazingly, once a real pub called the King’s Head, which ceased trading around 1938, only to reopen as a pub – I use the term very loosely – in 2006; that’s quite some history in the Rake’s progress.
After experiencing an absolutely packed Market Porter two nights ago, where bar access was nigh-on impossible, I left in search of further sustenance, only to stumble upon this place to the rear of Borough Market. The interior is absolutely tiny; I don’t think I’ve ever drunk in such a small venue, other than in an aeroplane. The interior is very industrial, with a rough floor, petite rear bar with industrial plank and metal pole shelving, with bright modern sconces to white walls, which have been ‘autographed’ by visiting micro brewers. Furniture comprises just three, tall four-seater scaffold and plank tables, with uncomfortable pressed metal stools, apparently known as the Paris Metal Retro High Bar Stool and so close together that drinkers at the table to my right kept knocking mine whenever they leant back; several times I feared my pint would topple. Actually, they’d have done me a favour as it wasn’t very nice. Customers to the right were a highly objectionable group of young multinational drinkers, swearing their heads off and behaving in a boorish manner, so much so that the two barmaids were somewhat putout, judging by the looks of concern on their kindly faces.
There was a TV info screen advertising 14 keg beers and just one real ale (the Market Porter had on five), flanked by three unused pumps, dispensing Bradfield’s Farmer’s Best at £4.60 a pint, which tasted of burnt leaves.
With the rowdy customers, industrial appearance and just the one rather unpleasant real ale, I really didn’t take to this place one bit, wishing I’d stayed over the road. A wider choice of ale and narrower choice of customer would get the mark up; nice lavs though…

On 2nd April 2022 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1943 recommendations about 1910 pubs]


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Ian Mapp left this review about The Rake

Looks like a traditional pub from the outside but very much a micro feel inside. Three rows of bench seating, a TV Screen. A much bigger patio area out the front.

Cask wise a bit limited - normally four on - but one was off, one was a Rhubarb Red and one a mild. I failed to notice the 4th.

Keg is where it's at - 16 lines on. Marble Beer Lagonda Pale in great condition.

GBG 2021. Fighting against a lot of competition in the area.

On 8th November 2021 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Rake

ORIGINAL REVIEW March 2013
A conversion from a small shop unit,this could well be described these days as a "micro pub".The modest square room has four circular high tables and stools arranged alongside the plate glass window side and there is a small shelf to rest a pint but little else in the way of furniture.Unless you are very lucky ,vertical drinking is the order of the day unless you go outside to the covered courtyard with patio heaters.The internal walls have scrawled messages from drinkers about their favourite tipple sampled here and together with a collection of pump clip shows that some award winning brewers output may be encountered here.
The three handpumps were drawing Oakham JHB & Jester's Ferret and Highland Dark Munro MILD ,all three were in top condition but given all three were below 4% and £3.60 the team were disappointed there wasn't a stronger option.The five keg taps below a sign "No Crap on Tap" had an eclectic selection of Continental beers but a 7.4% Belgian offering was an eyewatering £4.70 a half !!! There is also a decent selection of bottled beers but the wallet bashing was taking it's toll and we departed for pastures new.Very limited selection of bar nibbles,but lack of space means this will always be a wet led pub.The service is swift and knowledgeable ,so no long wait to be served.
It's easy to do a walk past to see what ale is on ,and I would certainly pop in if I spied an outstanding pint,which must always be a possibility.The ale quality here is higher than anywhere else around Borough Market,which warrants a visit to this GBG regular if you are in the area,despite the high prices.

MARCH 2015
Another very good visit and the ale selection and quality was top notch.There is such a volume of sales that there is a constant change of barrels and the Oakham Citra lasted less than two hours.You are likely to find output from some of the new London area micros and the Big Smoke and Canopy beers on during my trip were excellent.There is now a short menu of bar snacks and nibbles all under £5 and I discovered that only brewers are allowed to write on the walls,so the scrawlings make interesting reading and shows what a real ale institution this pub is.Now the best place in Borough Market IMHO and rating increased.

UPDATE
The eye has been taken off the real ale ball here.Two recent visits resulted in poor brews from avarage brewers,there seems no longer a persuit of excellence.Even the keg range is much more conservative and lacked interest.They may well showcase up and coming brewers,but some of the brewers leaving messages on the walls would not inspire you to go out of your way to visit here.Shame as I used to enjoy my visits to The Rake.Downgrade.

On 16th March 2020 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


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hondo . left this review about The Rake

Quite a small basic basic interior as described below with a patio area at the side. 3 real ales and "craft keg". Bar snacks available.

On 26th October 2016 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


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Rex Rattus left this review about The Rake

This one has been pretty thoroughly described by others before me. The single inside room has just three tall and small round tables, with tall stools of course. Luckily they have a bit of outside seating, where you can enjoy the sounds and smells (fishy smells when I was in) of Borough Market next door.

Three pumps were clipped when we walked in, but one went off straightaway leaving a stout, and a 5.9% hopbomb called "Shameless" from Red Willow Brewery. No boring brown bitters here, unfortunately. But the Shameless turned out to be superb - I would rank it above the similar ABV Jaipur. Don't think there was any food - at least I didn't see any. This place is certainly worth a punt, but because of its small size it's best to arrive at an off-peak time if you can.

On 26th November 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about The Rake

I also noticed an interesting array of brewers signatures, written around the walls, three of which were signed from Anarchy Brewery, Morpeth, Northumberland.
The owner/landlord was an interesting character and would happily spend hours chatting about beer. Three ales on handpump, we went for the Orkney Brewery Northern Light 4%, which was in excellent condition. I paid £3.90 for a pint of Orkney, which for this area was quite reasonable.

On 20th July 2015 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3368 recommendations about 3368 pubs]


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Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Rake

Funny little place, which suffers from its own success because it is always (over)crowded. A big range of bottled beers in the fridges behind the small bar, several unusual craft beers on tap, and three handpumps offering rarities such as the Farmer Walloon from Brains Craft Brewery on my latest visit. Would be better with a bit more space, but otherwise pretty good.

On 6th March 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8039 recommendations about 8039 pubs]


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Moby Duck left this review about The Rake

A great little bar , always seems to be busy and always something interesting on one of the three handpulls, last Saturday for me it was St Peters Fruit Beer, the most extraordinary grapefruit flavours,its amazing what can be done with hops. Very much a "happening" place and one to visit whenever possible.

On 7th October 2013 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1853 recommendations about 1827 pubs]


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I L left this review about The Rake

Update 15 April 2013
Still our favourite pub in the Market area. It does suffer from its own success due to its small size but earlier in the week it's well worth visiting as the range of small brewers and foreign brewers is great and always interesting. Really good staff even when it's really busy later onion the week.
End of update.

If you like a beer a bit different from the norm then this is a good place to go. only three handpumps for cask ales but half a dozen taps for unusual foreign beers quite often including USA microbrews. Has a huge range of bottled beers in the cabinets at the back of the bar. This is a samll pub with the outside area being larger and normally covered by a huge heated umbrella. Its often warm enough to sit outside even in winter months. Get there early in the evening if you want a seat. A favourite of ours.

On 15th April 2013 - rating: 9
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]

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