The Moby Dick, Rotherhithe, SE16

Built in the 1980’s as part of the redevelopment of the old timber yards around Greenland Dock, this is a no-frills Fullers pub that benefits from the great view it has across the water. The pub is elevated from street level, which certainly helps to enhance the aforementioned view, but requires customers to climb a fair few steps or navigate a long ramp to get inside. Having said that, most customers were sat out on the dockside picnic benches on a balmy autumn evening, with a few more outdoor seats available part way up the steps. Once inside, you find yourself in an unusual semi-circular room with a long, curved front wall comprised of a series of floor to ceiling windows helping to ensure that the view can be enjoyed from pretty much anywhere in the pub. Staring across the water is probably more preferable to taking in the interior, which is a little underwhelming, as the modern laminate flooring, bare brick walls and minimal décor are hardly worthy of closer inspection. Some centrally positioned support pillars have circular drinking ledges around them with high stools in support, whilst broad chairs with patterned upholstery and low stools serve tables of varying sizes through the rest of the room. The servery is to the rear and has a panelled counter front painted in a dark shade which contrasts quite nicely with the light wood pot shelf and support posts and mirrored bar back. Food was advertised but no-one seemed to be eating and there was a nice reggae soundtrack chugging away in the background with an unused TV screen notable to one side of the bar. Despite feeling very much like a family run business, this is actually a Fullers house – a fact reflected by the choice of Fullers London Pride and ESB and Gales Seafarers on the handpulls. A friendly barmaid drew me a pint of the Seafarers, which came in at £4.95 – a big jump from the £4.20 pint I bought in the Ship & Whale at the far end of the dock and just shy of the £5 minimum spend for card purchases. This is a decent enough pub which makes up for a lack of interesting features (aside from the shape of the room) by giving customers some fine views. I liked the general vibe here and thought the place came across very differently to the majority of Fuller’s more corporate feeling venues, but the expensive beer would probably put me off coming back here again.

1980s Fuller's pub overlooking the Greenland Dock, partly brick-built but its the two-storey curved glazed extension that catches the eye. The interior is surprisingly traditional, as is the unfussy menu, and a first-floor lounge is available for the busy periods. For the better weather (or the desperate smoker), there is also some external seating on a split-level terrace at the front. Thankfully, being a real pub, real ale is offered from a bank of four handpumps: Pride, Oliver's Island, ESB and the seasonal Santa by the Surf (£4.30, and in good shape).