The Mad Hatter, SE1

Dating back little more than 20 years, this is a Fuller’s hotel-cum-pub which wasn’t on my list, but because it initially looked authentic, I thought it must be an omission so ventured in. The Victorian-style interior essentially looks like a posh ‘spoons, with lots of modern dark wood with mirrored and etched partitions to booth-style seating, conventional tables and chairs, carpeted with a tiled bar apron. On high, there’s an impressive dentilled coffered ceiling, lighting coming from Victorian-style brass and glass lamps and a bit bright. Décor amounted to shiny steel vases containing large sprays of cut flowers and what few customers were in attendance were studenty – again – and a bit rowdy, certainly drowning out the barely audible piped music. The overall impression is that this is a hotel bar, but then of course that’s exactly what it is. A predictable ale line-up amounted to Pride, HSB, ESB and Hophead at an astonishing £2.00 a half and good, served by a very friendly barmaid. This isn’t a bad place as such, but I’m more of a pub traditionalist and given that there’s no shortage of interesting pubs in SE1, I can’t see a reason for returning.

A fairly smart Fuller's pub with traditional-style fittings, although clearly not original, including some nice glasswork. Ales on were London Pride, ESB, Hophead and Seafarers. Gradually becoming surrounded by large new developments.

Fuller’s pub with accommodation. Quite a quirky shaped interior with some booth seating.

The Mad Hatter is a large Fuller’s run pub with traditional décor that includes snugs and plenty of mirrors. During my recent weekday visit there was some background music playing and I didn’t spot any televisions for airing such things as football. Standard and premium keg is available from the bar that also supports the full Fullers cask ale range. Food is available all day and the doors open at 07:00 during the week and 08:00 at the weekend for the breakfast crowd. I found the service to be polite and as a fan of Fullers I would have no problem returning.

This is a Fuller's pub with the full range of core beers on - ESB, London Pride, Oliver's Island, Seafarers, with what must be a guest ale of Adnam's Ghost Ship. But the real surprise was seeing Vintage Ale on handpump, which in the past I've only seen available in bottles. Having passed up the opportunity of sampling St Austell's 7.2% Big Job hop bomb on the only occasion on which I saw it on handpump, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again. These sort of opportunities are meant to be seized when they arise. I normally regard £4.50 a pint as a bit over the top, but that price for this 8.5% monster seems good value. Being a Fuller's pub they obviously do food, but I didn't look at a menu. The pub itself is Fuller's faux antique with modern replica Victorian glass and woodwork. But it's comfortable enough, being carpeted and furnished with banquettes and normal tables and chairs, plus a few booths along the wall on the right. There are TVs of course, but one unusual piece of decor was the variety of hats in glass cases on the wall by the booths.. It does have a bit of the hotel lounge look about it, but I suppose that's fair enough as it is also a hotel. This is a pub that I've visited many times in the past, although not in the past ten years, and it's not changed in any appreciable way that I can see. There's nothing wrong with a bit of stability. I would certainly visit again given the opportunity, especially if I thought there might be a chance of getting my hands on some draught Vintage Ale again.

A fairly large (internally) Fullers Ale and Pie establishment which has been well described by previous reviewers. For my early evening weekday visit it was strangely very quiet, especially when compared to those pubs by the river which were absolutely rammed as it was a fine evening. I can only imagine that the fact that there is a lot of building work going on around this pub at the moment with parts of it under scaffolding, and the fact that it has no garden space that I could see had something to do with it. London Pride, ESB, Oliver's Island and Seafarers were the four available brews around the pumps and my pint of Oliver’s Island was pleasant enough as was the generous portion of pork scratchings served in a metal tub.. Also no problems to get served here unlike the next pub, the nearby Founders Arms by the waterside where it took me 15 minutes to get a beer and if I hadn’t been meeting others I would have cut my losses an turned tail and headed back here.

This is a large well appointed Fullers Ale and Pie establishment which also serves as a hotel. Carpeted but with a chequerboard tiled area around the bar, the main room features comfortable red bench seating opposite the bar and with a series of booths along a side wall, overlooked by a line of hats displayed in glass cases, the pub was once a hat factory. To the rear of the bar are a few sofas and pouffes with a TV over and a shelf of board games. Lots of mirrors and contemporary etched glass, flowers on the tables. Another room extends back to the rear right, this looks like a dining area and can be reserved, there were just a couple of blokes in here who seemed to be having a business meeting to which I was clearly not invited having regard to the stares I got on popping my head in for a look. The ceiling is worthy of a mention, elaborate cornices and a frieze which extends around and over the bar area. Several handpumps but the beers repeat, Pride, ESB, Oliver's Island, Seafarers and with Front Row "coming soon". Food served obviously with the pie selection being the primary choice. I liked it here, Fullers do good interiors as a rule and I'm always a bit of a sucker for an ESB.