The Rising, Newington, SE1

Visit previously as the Rising Sun on 10/02/2020 This has rebranded itself considerably since I was last here when it then felt like it was an estate pub. It is now an entertainment venue with a stage at the end of the left hand side of the pub, with the wrap around bar in front of you as you walk in the front door. Seating is a mixture of miscellaneous tables, chairs, sofas, banquettes (along the left side leading up to the stage). The wooden flooring is pretty dark and looks like it has seen better days. There is, somewhat out of place it feels, a pool table in the right hand side of the pub, which doesn’t stretch round as far as the other side. The TV was showing Michael Portillo’s Railway Journeys program and the fire grate the other side of the pool table had an array of candles I wine bottles. I was one of the few punters inside, most sat outside in the sunshine. No cask. Ten shiny taps offering the lager and tropical pale ale from FourPure, Jubel Peach, an apple and a flavoured cider from Aspall, Pravha, Hepcat, keg Doom Bar, Atlantic Pale Ale and Rainbow Pilsner from Polari (new one for me). The tropical pale ale seemed like a fitting choice here. This visit was a world away from my previous one where the venue was rammed late night just ahead of the first lockdown. Felt quite party like and free this evening. Right I need to drink up before getting a train.

Facebook page of The Rising - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Rising - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Rising - www.therisingse1.com

Official site of The Rising - www.therisingse1.com

This pub dates from the early 19th century but was rebuilt for Barclay Perkins in its current form around 1937, with the surrounding estate presumably bolted on a few decades later. On approach it’s easy to determine what kind of pub this is going to be with ugly banners advertising Sky Sports. On entering, I was encountered by a pub with no customers and several stools on tables. Approaching the bar, I was informed by the very old-school landlady that the place was closed and at 9.30 on a Saturday evening. For the record, this is a very plain pub indeed, opened out with only the pool table by way of a focal point. There’s no real ale and nothing I could see that would have made me want to stay for anything other than a very swift half of Fosters, even if I could be persuaded to drink the stuff. There are better places locally and I don’t envisage a return at an earlier time; I can’t see this place surviving.

Basic London boozer with bar in front of you on entrance. TVs and a dartboard to the left - the landlady was practising her skills whilst I was there.