The Salt Quay, Rotherhithe, SE16

Official site of The Salt Quay - www.saltquay-rotherhithe.co.uk

Official site of The Salt Quay - www.saltquay-rotherhithe.co.uk

Modern Greene King pub, designed well to make the most of its fine riverside position. Plenty of outside space, with the open-air tables and seats supplemented by a covered seating / dining area in front of the main building. The interior is quite well appointed too (albeit in a way that probably won't appeal to the traditionalist), and there is also the Terrace Bar and viewing area upstairs (not visited). The only problem was the real ale, with only the guest Landlord (at a whopping £4.55) available from the four handpumps, with reversed clips for the regular IPA, Churchill IPA and Belhaven Old Gold noted (although the latter went on while I was there). Perhaps I just caught it on a bad day?

This is a large modern riverside pub on two levels, I suspect the segmental arched windows are included to mimic the nearby riverside warehouses with the upper dark stained barge boarded exterior designed to suggest age. The large areas of exposed brickwork inside continue the theme of an old warehouse but overall for me it just doesn't work. It really is a huge barn of a place though and with boarded floors, high ceilings and a child friendly policy it makes for a loud and resonant interior. Thankfully you can escape to the large riverside terrace or first floor deck where excellent river views are available. A sign in the window indicates that a planning and licensing application has been made to extend the upper deck. The ground floor bar has three handpumps, two on, offering GK IPA and Abbot, sadly the third had a reversed clip for the infinitely superior St Austell Proper Job. Another bar serves upstairs but there are no handpumps here. Service was at best, perfunctory, why oh why when there are two staff is it that both go on walkabout serving food and collecting glasses at the same time? Food served, sports on TV, this pub will certainly suit some people but the overall feel is of a large bland and corporate barn. Given the premium site it occupies this is a bit of a shame, for me, the riverside views are the only redeeming feature.