Great Guns Social, SE1

This is a typical black painted pub. You just know what it's going to be like as you approach it. Bare-boarded of course; clipboard menus on the tables; gastro stuff on the bar counter; wine bottles on the bar back, chalkboards much in evidence, etc. But the furnishings were OK, with mainly normal tables and chairs but a couple of wicker armchairs to add a bit of diversity. Wall decor seemed to comprise of a couple of mirrors. I don't think that there were any fruit machines or others of their kind. But they did have some real ale on - Doom Bar, Brakspear's Bitter, and Whitstable Pale Ale (£2.10 a half). I didn't get close enough to the tables (it was too busy) to see a menu, but the inevitable chalkboard on the wall behind the bar listed some specials, with the "Thai red curry with steamed mussels, jasmine rice" weighing in at £13.50. Another chalkboard at the end of the bar counter advertised hot drinks, no doubt produced by the large shiny machine I also saw behind the bar. It included things like latte and mocca but didn't bother to have prices. This is a foody place, and the beer's not cheap. But for all that it's OK if you can bag one of the tables. However it's not really my kind of place, although it was doing a good trade when I dropped in on Wednesday evening.

How did I not know this great little pub was here? I don’t live in the area of the pub – Southwark or Borough to be more precise, but, I have walked around here for years and suddenly I find it. This pub is a little ray of sun-shine at the end of a long day. I had a great meal with my partner, a Baked Camembert in the box which we shared to start, served with all the ‘goods’ – cornichons, little new potatoes, hot griddle toast. Lovely. Then I had Chicken and Chorizo Pie and my Partner had the Thai Green Curry. Both were flavoursome and filling. I started by drinking the Bitter. The Goldsmith likes to have ‘Guest Beers’ so I am not sure but I think it was Harvey’s Sussex Bitter, but we moved on to wine. The wine list is short but great, everything by the glass as far as I could see. – Which if truth be told, I was not seeing too straight at the end, as I did have a few by the glass. The service was the best part. Very Friendly. Lovely atmosphere. It was not too busy whilst I was there but I bet this is a popular little venue at the end of the week. Nice décor and lighting – can’t rate this highly enough.