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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Blue Maid, Borough, SE1
SE1
SE1 1HR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Blue Maid
Perhaps this pub takes its name from a female pupil from a long defunct Bluecoat school as it seems that this was originally just called the Blue Maid as there are references to the name in the immediate vicinity in the early 18th century, the pub presumably rebuilt in the 19th when it was Eyed-up sometime in or after 1842.
Closed in 2020, the pub reopened last Monday (7th), original name reinstated and with a substantial makeover, the previous reviews no longer apply. It’s part of the same chain as the Earl of Essex (N1), Duke of St. Albans (NW5) and Axe (N16), their trademark being a huge, slatted beer board (see photo), no pump clips or fisheyes allowed. The interior is relatively narrow but goes back a fair way to a raised snug. The floor is new bare boarded, natural wood wainscoting to white walls and Anaglypta ceiling; window reveals to the front are painted a sympathetic navy blue, where you can see a new Blue Maid mirror. The bar back along with said board is modern, the bar front possibly of some vintage. Furniture is dark wood contemporary, tall to a peripheral drinking ledge, décor thin aside from a few trendy prints.
I counted 18 options advertised including a cider – ‘real’ or not unknown – and margarita for those looking to supercharge their blood pressure, fourteen ‘craft’ keg options featuring Verdant Pulp DIPA at 8% then just three cask offerings which I could have predicted from visits to the three pubs mentioned above: Five Points Best, Howling Hops Dark Mild, £2.50 the half and not bad then Burning Sky Plateau, £2.50 a half and a bit green, both served by very friendly bartenders. Customers were few, though of course the place has just reopened, so it was young trendies, then an infuriating trio of jabbering Scandi-noir types at the neighbouring table, behaviour perhaps precipitated by not paying thirty quid a pint like back home, their Swedish meatball routine forcing me to change tables, though either way, the acoustics here are terrible.
Obviously this place is an improvement on the former incarnation and makes for a good addition to the Borough drinking scene, but a short walk to the Hand & Marigold delivered greater rewards. Nevertheless, this pub would make for a good SE1 crawl inclusion along with the above, Simon the Tanner, Market Porter, Lord Palmerston, Gladstone and Royal Oak, but the place desperately needs some sound deadening material. So does the Earl of Essex.
On 15th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Blue Eyed Maid
I don't think that this pub has improved since the previous reviewer's visit a couple of years ago. There were clips on three of the handpumps for Doom Bar, GK IPA, and Timothy Taylor Landlord. The Landlord was £2.25 a half, served well short, and in very poor condition. Thank goodness I didn't ask for a top up. There was a simple menu on the tables, including an all day breakfast at £6.95, with sarnies ranging from £3.95 (BLT) to £6.95 (steal & cheese). Beefburgers are £8.95. I didn't see any Chutney Jane branding or menus in the pub itself.
The pub is a very simple affair; a pool table as you enter; normal tables and chairs down the left with the bar counter on the right, with some slightly better quality furnishings down at the back. This is a pub that I've walked past on many occasions, and on a whim decided to venture insides. It was cold and dingy on a wet and cold April day. I think I'll walk past in future.
On 8th May 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Blue Eyed Maid
Beaten-up and scruffy interior with a remarkable stench of damp. Enter to immediately confront a pool table and that gives you an idea of how this place operates. Three pumps displaying Doom Bar, GK IPA and Tim Taylor Landlord. My half of the latter was a rancid pea souper which tasted of farmhouse scrumpy. On its immediate return all I got was a shrug, told that the others were off and I could have a Blue Moon as replacement even though 'it is more expensive'. Wow, how generous! Despite a mutterance about changing the barrel after I harped on, nothing happened and I suspect they were waiting for me to shove off before attempting to palm it off on an unsuspecting customer later. Anyway, I think this one won't last much longer in its current guise – if at all.
On 1st February 2018
- rating: 2
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Blue Eyed Maid
Even more run down than on my previous visits, this one has very basic furniture and decor in the narrow rectangular bar and slightly more upmarket rear dining area now operating under the Chutney Jane brand. Apart from that, it's just three large sports TV and a few tables out in the side alley to note. All three of the handpumps - with reversed Greene King IPA, Doom Bar and Landlord clips noted - were off, but for once that didn't matter since I had a voucher for a free pint of something otherwise 'reassuringly expensive'.
On 9th July 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Blue Eyed Maid
The Blue Eyed Maid is situated on the busy borough high street.
Once inside there is a long narrow room which extends to the rear,the bar is to the front right,the room is bare boarded and the seating tall tables and chairs to the front,the rear area is slightly raised,there were two TVs showing cricket.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Taylor Landlord,the other beer was Doom Bar.
The pub does food and a full English Breakfast was advertised from 10am,i did'nt see any signs of it being an Indian Restaurant.
This pub was ok for a quick half.
Pub visited 26/5/2015
On 26th May 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about Blue Eyed Maid
Large long bar with lively young crowd.Three beers on handpump.Doombar.GK ipa and my Timothy Taylor -landlord.
On 6th March 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Johnstone left this review about Blue Eyed Maid
Visited here in the late 1970's and much has changed. As Roger points out it now doubles as an Indian restaurant, I was in here during the cricket world cup so my timing could have been better!
Lots of people comimg in with cans of coke and sitting in front of the telly shouting the odds.
That said the pleasant barmaid coped admirably although she didn't have blue eyes.
On 29th April 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 98 recommendations about 98 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Blue Eyed Maid
The bright blue frontage immediately catches the eye of this pub come bar come indian restaurant. The Spice Lounge upstairs does the Indian food but manages to avoid stinking out the main bar downstairs. Not being an Indian food eater I cannot comment on prices / quality of the food but other sites suggest that it is quite cheap and quite edible. The main drinking area on the ground floor is geared to being more of a trendy bar with stacks of wine bottles and spirits etc but the traditional pub fanatic should not be put off - there are 2 Real Ales that tasted fine and the atmosphere quite comfortable and not too clubby. Note the unusual wooden seats. 1 small TV. Unobtrusive music. Friendly staff. One of the better bars of it's kind and well worth a visit if in the area or part of a crawl.
On 4th November 2005
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]