The Mad Hatter, SE1

Official site of The Mad Hatter - www.madhatterhotel.co.uk

Official site of The Mad Hatter - www.madhatterhotel.co.uk

One of 6 Fullers Hotels in London, the Mad Hatter has a bit of a formulaic feel to it that would be obvious to anyone who has visited some of the other cards in the pack (the Sanctuary (Westminster) and the Chamberlain Hotel (Minories) being good examples. The carpeted interior is bigger and more rambling than it first appears with low ceilings, a long U shaped bar and the feel of refurbishment. A series of small booths offer some intimacy down one side above which is a collection of hats. The floor around the bar has some chessboard tiling and there are a couple of more loungey sofa sections. The rear section was roped off for a private function during my visit but seemed to be much the same as the rest of the pub. Despite there being 13 hand pumps, just 4 Fullers standard Fullers related ales were available (Pride, ESB, Discovery and Chiswick). I didn’t get the beers in here so I can’t comment on the prices but from experience, central London Fullers pubs aren’t particularly cheap. The pub is fine for what it is but lacks any real charm and you get the impression people only go there out of convenience than any real affection for the place. That said, I have no real problems in popping in if I am passing although the river route between Waterloo and London Bridge generally takes preference.

One of the smaller Fullers ale and pie pubs but it does have a rather large extra room out the back. however, the main front area does give it a real of a pleasant traditional type Victorian pub in a recently heavily redeveloped area. a good range of Fullers ales on and in good condition.

Visited in May 2010 The Mad Hatter is a Fullers Ale and Pie House / Hotel situated just south of Blackfriars Bridge. A collection of framed hats reminds us that the building formerly housed a Victorian hat factory. It's now a fairly typical Ale and Pie House mock - Victorian interior, comfortably furnished with much wood and glasswork, but without the stunning interior of the converted banks such as The Counting House or The Old Bank of England. The pub is popular with workers from nearby offices, but appears to suffer through not having a riverside location. On my visit, the Chiswick - at a rather pricey £ 2.95p - was in reasonable form. The pub is listed in the 2010 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. This is a comfortable and pleasant, if unremarkable, pub in an area with a number of attractive options.

Typical Fullers this - solid and dependable. Victorian interior (original? One would hope so) is welcoming if a little too dimly lit. The Seafarers and Chiswick were in good condition though expensive at over the £3 mark (though thats standard for the area). Quite popular with workers from the nearby offices and the odd wandering tourist who's trying to find their way to or from the Tate Modern. Worth a try if you find yourself in the area.