The Mayflower, Rotherhithe, SE16

This has a history dating back to around 1550, when it was the Shippe Inn. It was later known as the Spread Eagle & Crown upon rebuilding in the 1800s, then just the Spread Eagle, the current name arriving in 1958 to commemorate the ship taking the Puritans who set sail for America a stone’s throw from here in 1620. The pub is on CAMRA’s list of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Some Regional Importance. Sometimes I think CAMRA doesn’t quite appreciate what’s around as the interior, much of which dates from the late ‘50s, gives the visitor a true nautical experience of old, with sturdy wood beams, dark from age and not Dulux. There are simple walls and leaded stained-glass windows, much dark wood and a riot of nautical bric-a-brac, such as a stuffed parrot and rats climbing ceiling mounted rigging; out back there’s a poop deck patio, with fine views out over the Thames. Customers had packed out the pub, even on a Tuesday evening, no doubt drawn in by the quiz, a mixed bunch with a few American tourists in attendance. No longer a GK outlet (Black Dog pubco since 2013), there was one clip reversed, then Tribute, Kent’s El Dorada, Southwark Brewing’s Full Sail and Bedlam’s Amagansett, a 5% APA at £2.35 a half – how much would Hopwood’s have charged me – served by very friendly and professional bar staff, one barman carefully inspecting glasses of ale after prolonged pull throughs following barrel changes and all deftly skipping over the open cellar hatch, like wallabies. This is an absolute must-visit at a national level. Rated 9.75.

Haven’t been to this wonderful historic atmospheric pub in the backstreets of Rotherhithe for quite a while, so being in the area decided to look it up again. In these covid pandemic table service only times we were lucky to get a table for a drink opposite the bar in the main section of the pub for an hour or so, but only due to it being pre booked at 6.00PM. But at least the upside due to the covid restrictions were that it did not get uncomfortably crowded which can happen as previously mentioned. Four of the five ale pumps were in operation with one reverse clipped and alongside the pubs Mayflower Scurvy Ale were Bexley Brewery Golden Acre, East London Brewing Pale Ale and a very decent stout that I failed to make a note of. Very good service levels from the young team and although we had not intended to eat here we were talked into going for some of the snack dishes by the guy who seemed to be in charge and fortunately the home made scotch egg with Piccalilli lived up to its central London £6 price tag, and the spicy Pattas Bravas (apparently on the menu due to their being an Ecuadorian chef in the kitchen) took no prisioners and were some of the best I’ve had in a long while. Very good ale, very good food, and a warm atmospheric historic pub on a cold October afternoon, it was actually a bloody good job that they had to move us on at 6.