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Beer of the Week (w/e 2nd August 2026) with Wittenden
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Vanbrugh, Greenwich, SE10
SE10
SE10 9EZ
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Vanbrugh
Visited 20/07/26. Visited previously as the Duke of Greenwich on 04/04/24 and prior to that also as the Vanbrugh on 27/07/21.
Cask here was three hand pumps providing TT LL, Wainwright’s Gold, and Courage Directors. Keg offering of Estrella, Guinness, Thatchers Gold, Brooklyn Stonewall Inn IPA, Angel Poretti, 1664 Blanche and their own branded Vanbrugh Pilsner. The Wainwright’s Gold was not in good shape.
Corner venue. Bare boarded L shape at the front with the bar counter following the internal shape of the venue. A small marble drinking ledge between the two corner entrances with some tall stools and a couple of tall tables either side. A row of regular tables up the left-hand wall. Up a couple of steps beyond the bar counter the venue remains bare boarded with some chunkier tables and chairs on the lead out to a rear beer garden, initially decked and then a gravelled area. Plenty of patio style furniture and there is some cover in parts plus an outdoor bar counter not staffed on my quiet early week visit. There is an open kitchen beyond the end of the bar counter on the same level and a dining area effectively in the continuation of the space behind the bar counter with the tables all laid for diners. A couple of screens were switched off on my visit and a poppy soundtrack playing. Might be my first example of visiting a venue where events saw the original name changing only to subsequently revert to the original name!
On 28th July 2026
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1877 recommendations about 1847 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Walton left this review about The Duke of Greenwich
Last venue in SE10 was the old Vanbrugh Tavern last visited in July 2021 but first visit since re-opened and re-named. Had a pint of the Anspach & Hobday Bermondsey pale ale. Also had another stronger brown ale from the same plus Absolutely Fuggled pale ale from Signal on hand pump plus a rather decent menu of craft options. Have the rather strange astroturfed outside drinking area at the back plus an inside drinking area beyond the bar with a bit of a Bavarian beer hall feel of tables and benches to perch on with your beer choice. Better than good but below great.
On 4th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1877 recommendations about 1847 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Duke of Greenwich
This is a mid-19th century pub, located deep in the backstreets of scenic and genteel Greenwich and originally the Duke of Edinburgh, previously the Vanbrugh, named after Sir John Vanbrugh, one the architects of the Royal Hospital, Greenwich.
Older photos show a rather traditional locals’ boozer, but with a change of name comes a change of colour scheme and a predictable one at that: the exterior is now white and obligatory smoky blue which matches the interior with said smoky blue paint to the dado, then white up to a white ceiling above a boarded floor supporting traditional furniture; to the rear is a modern-looking area, possibly geared towards dining where the likes of smoked pumpkin houmous with toasted walnuts and balsamic syrup can be consumed by the mixed crowd. The bar front is also smoky blue with a pale wood top, a partially bare brick bar back with beers applied to a blackboard. Lighting comes from wire cage sconces with filament bulbs, décor amounting to just a few pot plants to windowsills; it’s still a bit bland.
An ale lineup comprised just Southwark Top Drop and Bexley Amber at £2.50 a half and drinkable, served by a friendly barman.
This isn’t a bad pub but it’s a bit anodyne; a more traditional and cosy interior along with a broader ale choice would get the score up to above average, but it really can’t compete with the Pelton down the road.
On 19th October 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2342 recommendations about 2283 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Vanbrugh Tavern
Named after Sir John Vanbrugh, playwrite and architect whos work is represented by Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard and Greenwich Hospital among others, this back street pub can be found tucked away near Maze Hill station. The initial impression are of a slightly gastro trendy bar with little traditional pub aspects. The interior has been modernized in a “seen it all before” way with plain dark walls and a an abundance of grey paintwork. A flat screen is mounted in one corner and some local artwork for sale adorns the walls but other than that there is little of note. The bar area is quite small and cramped and seating is limited. Beyond to the right is an extension housing a spacious dining area and running alongside, a permanent marquee structure with mainly sofa seating. This leads to a pleasant patio with covered benches, some open air sofas (weather permitting), trellises, a tidy lawn area and BBQ.
Overall I found the place pretty bland and there is little on the beer front to attract anyone looking for anything beyond the mundane; just the 2 ales – Greene King IPA and London Pride (as a guest!) and m y pint was just about bordering on undrinkable. I can see the appeal to some but at best the place is OK for a couple of pints in the garden before it gets busy but that’s about the limit for me.
On 3rd June 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]