The Angel, SE16

2 floor Sam Smith's pub next to the river Thames. A central bar with old style fittings as described below. The pub has a dartboard. Sadly the statue mentioned by Steve C below has been stolen but posters advertised the local community raising money to try and purchase a replacement.

This pub is in a fantastic riverside location by the Thames and I was very surprised that there were only six or seven people outside taking advantage of the fantastic weekday sun. There is plenty of seating and standing room in which is for pub users and passers by alike and there are a couple of tables along the river front where the water ripples lap up just the other side of a balustrade. I am struggling to think of anywhere better in London to while away the hours on a sunny day. The inside of the pub has been restored to its finest by those people at Samuel Smiths, it’s just a shame that there is no real ale on hand pump and I would have devoured a nice pint of Guinness. The booze is cheap and the welcome from the barman was very friendly and the location is superb, it’s just a shame about the range and lack of beer. I wouldn’t go out of my way to drink here again, which is unfortunate. A quite interesting fact is that at the opposite side of the public area to the pub there is a statue of Dr Salter sitting on a bench looking at his daughter and her cat. This guy was a bit of a crusader for the needy in Bermondsey and was a Labour councillor for some years in between the two World Wars.

Randomness Guide to London - Angel entry

Randomness Guide to London - Angel entry

The first thing to note is that this is a Sam Smiths pub. To some this means heaven (good beer at knockdown prices), to others it means hell (crap beer as knockdown prices)...and don't even mention the Sam Smiths Cola! Personally I have no problem with Sam Smiths beers, the Cider Reserve is excellent and I even like the infamous wheaty tasting “Man In A Box” Ayingerbrau lager. So it's a good start for the Angel apart from the fact that there are no beers on hand-pump. Having recently reopened after a lengthy refurbishment, everything is gleaming and spotless with several nautical themed pictures adorning the walls. From the central bar 2 or 3 Victorian style screens radiate, separating the pub into several smaller drinking areas. There are a few snugs for those who wish to get intimate over their pint. Upstairs is a quieter non smoking room and it is from here that the pub's greatest asset becomes obvious. The panoramic windows offer the legendary picture postcard views of Tower Bridge – spectacularly illuminated at night-time. The Angel will probably appeal immensely to tourists but for now it seems that just a privileged few are aware that it is once again up and running – well worth going out of the way for and idling some time watching the boats go by…if you can stomach the Sam Smiths!

This pub retains a lot of its original character, which is entirely consistent with how Sam Smith's looks after its estate. It has a superb location overhanging the river - in fact it's so close to the river that when there is a high tide, as there was this afternoon, the sun deck at the back gets very wet. If only they did a decent real ale it would be a superb pub. Even the handpump version of Old Brewery Bitter would be a quantum leap forward.

A quaint little 2 bar pub on the banks of the river Thames. Plenty of wood panelling but unfortunately no real ale which i am surprised at as it on a London tourist trail and it would have given our visitors a chance to try some of our excellent real ales. Outside seating area with panoramic views of Tower Bridge and the city. 15 minutes from Bermondsey station