The Greenwich Union, Greenwich, SE10

Despite memories of this place displaying a disregard for cask ale, and something nearer to disdain for paying customers, I would have taken a look yesterday but was outvoted. I somehow doubt that I missed much.

The Greenwich Union is a long thin pub that I can imagine gets very ‘cosy’ at times busier than my recent Wednesday afternoon visit. The bar is stocked with the full Meantime Brewery range and I went for a stout that slipped down well. There is some seating outside the front of the pub and a beer garden full of picnic tables at the rear. I found the service to be friendly and this place was good for a quiet pint as there were no distractions such as a television or background music.

On our visit this weekend, I discovered that the Union has now totally given up on Draught ale and everything on the bar was from the Meantime keg range. I settled for a pint of IPA, which tasted excellent, although a little fizzy and cold for my taste. we sat in the rear garden soaking up the rays whilst punters indulged in the superb looking aasunday roasts that were being delivered from the kitchen. This is quite a trendy establishment and at £12 for a pint and a glass of Sauv, quite expensive, we did not stop for a second, opting to go back into town. The decor is modern but very well put together, I particularly liked the glass roofed eating area at the back of the pub. Probably would not go back as keg isn't really my thing but well worth a visit to make your own mind up.

Opening back in 2001, this pub which is run by the local Meantime Brewery, became the first in the capital to sell no products from national brewers – a policy that still stands today. The pub has a surprisingly narrow single room interior with a flagstone floor and half paneled walls. You enter into a front seating area which is centred around a small fireplace, next to which is a small bottle shop display where you can seemingly purchase various Meantime products. The servery is midway into the room on the right hand wall and has a fancy modern canopy which details the pub’s location in relation to the Greenwich Meridian. The drawback of positioning the bar here is that the narrow room, made narrower by a staircase leading to a function room, is that it creates a pinch point at busy times and on my Saturday evening visit I found it awkward pushing through the crowd to get served or to reach the rear of the room. Once you manage to get past the bar area, there is further seating including some padded booths. This was the only pub out of six visited on the same evening, that wasn’t showing sport, with a TV screen switched off when I arrived. Three hand pumps were dispensing Dark Star Hophead and Adnams Southwold Bitter with one unclipped, which will no doubt keep the cask ale hardliners happy, but it would be churlish not to try a Meantime beer from one of the many available taps. On my visit I noted London Pale Ale, London Lager, Wheat, Stout, Yakima Red, Pilsner, Saison du Nuit and Bohemian Dark which strikes me as a good range of styles and strengths. I opted for the Stout, which was far too cold initially, but about halfway through I started to get some flavour and it turned out to be a very nice drop. A few other taps offer selected beers and ciders such as Boon Kriek, Liefmans Kriek and Thatcher’s Gold Cider. I didn’t warm to this pub quite as much as I thought I would, but having said that, I still thought it was an interesting place to spend a bit of time and I would most certainly give it another go, perhaps when it’s a little bit less hectic. Makes a good double header with the Richard I next door.

Previously called the Observatory, the Greenwich Union opened in 2001 as the original outlet for the local Meantime Brewery although the emphasis has now switched to the recently opened Old Brewery in the grounds of the Naval College. The long, narrow interior is divided into 2 sections. The front oak paneled front section has a stone floor, solid basic furnishings centred on a simple fireplace and a TV. A ledge runs along one wall with a few stools. Beyond the bar is an extended conservatory area with glazed pitched roof and more of a loungey feel and a couple more TV’s. At the rear is an attractive patio garden. Naturally Meantime Beers are at the forefront and, although mainly keg, there is an extensive selection available that included Helles, India Pale Ale, London Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Pacific Pale, Union, Raspberry, London Stout and the Famous Belgian on my recent visit. In addition, there are 3 Cask ales generally available, Meantime’s own Pale Ale, Sambrook Junction and Thatchers Heritage Cider. If none of that grabs you, a choice of round 50 global bottled beers is also available.Prices are quite high with the irony that the Menatime beers are often cheaper in neighbouring opubs although the selection is obviously not as extensive. The bar staff are very knowledgeable and will steer you through the beers on offer and I have occasionally been offered a try before you buy sampler at their prompting. I have always found it quite a civilized place, the sort where people can be found just sitting doing the crossword although the place can get uncomfortably busy at peak times, not helped by its compact interior and narrow layout. With 3 pubs within 30 yards of each other, this tucked away little section of Greenwich is certainly worth exploring.

Official site of The Greenwich Union, includes menus and beer list - www.greenwichunion.com

Official site of The Greenwich Union, includes menus and beer list - www.greenwichunion.com

Randomness Guide to London - Greenwich Union entry