The Garrison, Bermondsey, SE1

This pub dates from the early/mid-19th century but I suspect was rebuilt sometime later in the century and originally known as the Yorkshire Grey; today the exterior features some attractive green glazed tiles to the ground floor and a former Courage sign bracket, minus cockerel. The interior seems unchanged from previous reviews, the place having been reinvented as very much the gastropub in 2003 and that’s the feeling exuded today. The interior is very pastely, sightly distressed furniture with a copious quantity of white tiles to the bar back, the bar itself being very cluttered with restaurant paraphernalia and a couple of taps dispensing fizz alongside an unused pump. Customers were young sophistos and all were eating, tables laid and punctuated with carafes of water, no doubt ‘spring’ in origin. As I didn’t fancy fizz, standing at the cramped bar – always assuming this is allowed – and no table being available – not that I’d probably be allowed one as I was not drinking – I decided to leave; the Woolpack is opposite.

Pub turned restaurant, but still retaining a bar plus a little seating for non-diners. Tastefully refurbished in a light semi-rustic style, with just a servery separating the compact kitchen from the seating / dining area. Only two handpumps on the counter, one offering Portobello Westway pale ale (£4.60, very indifferent), the other a cider.

Nice old looking pub from outside but very food led inside.Warm and comfortable on a cold night. The diners food looked and smelt amazing. Siren -soundwave on cask was a big plus.

The exterior tiling is great,but the interior feels much more like a tea room than pub with the pastel coloured wall coverings ,pine and wicker furniture and open plan layout.There is an emphasis on food,and some tables are reserved for diners only.The bar to one side had a single handpump offering Thornbridge Brother Rabbit while 7 unclipped taps offer keg beers from a list.It all felt a little twee and uninviting as somewhere to sink a few pints,but it is popular with the diners and coffee drinkers of the area.

The garrison is a corner pub that has some nice green tiling outside.. Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room with the bar facing,the room is bare boarded,the seating a few high tables and wicker stools to the front,there are normal tables and chairs elsewhere,there is a small raised area to the rear left which has american diner type seating. There was one pump on the bar which was unclipped,i asked for a drink of real ale more in hope,but was poured a drink of Portobello Star from the unclipped pump,this was quite a nice drink. Decent background music was playing. I quite liked this pub with its laid back atmosphere on a Tuesday afternoon. Pub visited 26/5/2015