Town of Ramsgate, Wapping, E1

A long narrow pub ,with ultimately a three level beer garden which has views of the River Thames and is a good suntrap.There is a sensible glass screen to keep high tide wash from spraying customers and the quiet lapping of water is a relaxing soundtrack. The internal decoration contains a lot of wood panelling ,a drinking area at the front but with food being popular from a pub grub menu ,you may well be seated next to diners.There are no river views from inside the pub. The 4 handpumps were drawing Youngs Bitter,London Pride,Harvey's Sussex Best and Woodforde's Nice Try (sadly tangy).This is a decent ,traditional pub but with that ale line up,I'm unlikely to pay another visit.

This riverside pub, just a short walk along the cobbles from Wapping station, was originally known as the Prince of Denmark and Ramsgate Old town before adopting its present name in 1811, as a nod to the Ramsgate fisherman who would unload their catch outside the pub. The pub's position next to the Thames means it has witnessed a lot of interesting moments in history, with Judge Jeffreys apparently being arrested in the pub and Dick Turpin supposedly firing his final shot just outside. Today we find a pleasant single room pub with a long narrow interior which manages to mix traditional and contemporary aspects quite well. You enter to a front seating area with dark floorboards and pleasant large latticed windows where a few standard tables and chairs have been arranged, supplemented by some low stools. The walls here have decent wood panelling, a large section of which is covered by a board detailing the pub's background and the wider history of Wapping, whilst to the side of this there is a huge 'Ramsgate Harbour' mirror which looks rather spectacular and dominates the front section of the pub. The servery appears along the left hand side of the room, with a curved ended, dark wood counter with cream frontage and a smart mirrored bar back. More regular tables and chairs run opposite, under barometers, old lamps, large potted plants and other such bits and bobs. The room then opens out again to the rear in a pleasant seating area with more wood panelling and various old paintings. From here there is access to a riverside garden of sorts - an elevated space with a view that is rather hemmed in by the large warehouse buildings to either side. A visit isn't really complete without descending Wapping Old Stairs which can be found down the passage to the right of the pub. There were three ales on hand pump at the bar - Youngs Ordinary, Sharps Doom Bar and Wye Valley HPA - with the latter setting me back a rather troubling £4.60 a pint. The bar staff seemed a bit distant, but I was served quickly and my HPA was in very good condition, as you might expect from a pub in the current edition of the Good Beer Guide. This is an interesting old pub with a history that seems a little at odds with its current incarnation. Perhaps the place is better visited at night when all that dark wood no doubt helps create an image befitting the pub's legacy, rather than a daytime visit when it's bright and full of children and diners. I liked this place but not as much as I'd expected and whilst I'd happily revisit, I'd rather cross the river for the superior Mayflower.

With a history dating back to the 1460s, it would seem that this pub has a greater claim to being London's 'oldest riverside pub' than The Prospect of Whitby down the road, by quite a margin. This is quite a long, narrow, wood panelled traditional pub which unfortunately means that punters at the bar rather block through-access somewhat. Furniture is dark and traditional too and some lighting appears to come courtesy of old ships' lanterns. Muted 'easy listening' music played on the stereo. The crowd is a decent mix of people from both the local estates and yuppies. Ales on offer were Sharp's Gloom Bore, Young's Bitter and Fuller's London Pride (£4.35 a pint) which tasted as if it was slightly on the turn; alas there was no sign of the Amber Otter; there are premium lagers aplenty. Despite the minor evening crush, service was swift and friendly. On balance this is a good pub and I'd happily come again, but the average ale, comedically small lavs and pack of hounds lets it down.

Official site of Town of Ramsgate - www.townoframsgate.co.uk

Official site of Town of Ramsgate - www.townoframsgate.co.uk