The Raven, Bermondsey, SE1

Official site of The Raven - raventowerbridge.com

Official site of The Raven - raventowerbridge.com

Fortunately there were quite a few in just having a drink on this early evening visit, but I can see the comments that this place comes over a more bar / restaurant than pub. I noticed two pumps each for Adnams Bitter and Broadside and then also Ghost ship, and my pint of Broadside was fine enough. I will add myself to the list who find it strange that this is the type of place that Adnams would choose as their only outlet in London. As I can take or leave Adnams beers I can’t see myself returning to this one over some of the more true pub experiences close by.

This is still an Adnam's house, with Southwold Bitter, Fat Sprat, and my favourite Adnam's beer, Ghost Ship on when we visited at lunchtime on Friday. Pints of Southwold Bitter and Ghost Ship came to £8.80, which is at the top end of the price spectrum, even for a pub that's just a stone's throw from Tower Bridge. They clearly do food as saw people eating, but I didn't get to see a menu. There's apparently a restaurant upstairs, but I didn't go exploring up there. We were greeted by a young lady who would presumably have ushered us to a table for two, but on saying we just wanted a drink we were allowed to proceed to the bar without an escort. I suspect that table service was available, as I saw said young lady bringing a tray of drinks to one table. This place seemed pleasantly quiet after the mayhem of The Draft House just down the road, even though there was some music playing not too loudly. But this is obviously essentially a tourists' pub due to its proximity to Tower Bridge, being full of visitors as far as I could tell. I didn't spot any obvious regulars. But for all that it's fairly comfortably furnished - just a couple of tall tables/tall stools, with banquette seating along the right hand wall, plus a good number of normal tables and chairs. I really didn't mind this one at all. I like to see tourists enjoying themselves. It's not a destination pub, but a decent place to stop off for a pint.

A small modern decor bar selling a full range of Adnams ales. Good to sit by the front window and watch the hordes of people heading up to Tower Bridge.