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Poll for Lancaster crawl June /July 2026 with Bucking Fastard
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Detail Pages
Simon the Tanner, Bermondsey, SE1
SE1
SE1 4PR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Simon the Tanner
This is a pleasant locals pub on a fairly quiet stretch of Long Lane. Four hand pumps along the left hand side of the bar counter, and the two people sitting in front of them didn't mind too much when I asked them to shift so that I could see what beers were on, and again a minute later so that I could get my usual photo of the three beer pump clips and one cider. I went for the repetitively named Belleville Bellevue Mild 4% (NBSS 3, £4.50/pint), which only got that score because there was nothing wrong with it that the cellarman could have put right. The other two beers were bitters from Marble and Siren, so customers who like their beers pale and hoppy would be looking at the "tap list" on the blackboard. Actually, that was quite an interesting list. Not that I was tempted.
On 16th April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4733 recommendations about 4337 pubs]
John Neering left this review about Simon the Tanner
Had the Burning sky Dark Mild at 3.2% and it was quite delicious. The fish cheeks and chips were also good.
On 4th January 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9 recommendations about 9 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Simon the Tanner
Half gastro, half pubby bar is probably the best way to describe it, there were two ales on offer, Black Sheep Bitter and Southwark Bankside Blonde, I had a pint of the latter at £5.80, in fair condition. The place was busy on a late sunny Saturday afternoon, the lone barman struggled to keep up, not only with serving drinks but also tasked with delivering the good looking food to the tables, help arrived twenty minutes into my stay and normal business resumed.
I didn't think it was a bad place but not really good enough to draw me back for another visit.
On 9th March 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2306 recommendations about 2269 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Simon the Tanner
Reviewed: 27th November 2021 - rating: 7
Little if anything has changed since the previous reviews, with PSM covering all aspects, though I too was surprised to learn that it’s a sister pub of the Queen’s Head off Greys Inn Road, but that site confirms it.
The place dates from 1788 and it’s quite possible that this is the original building, due to the lack of horns to two of the windows. The barman was very friendly and knowledgeable: “You won’t find Doom Bar here”, he reassured me. The interior is very simple – Simple Simon? – with bare boarding to the rear, with wainscotting and wooden features seemingly dating from the 1930s. However, the front room has a wood effect laminate floor, which was lifting and littered with crisp crumbs; not attractive. Décor is very limited with just a few prints and a couple of clocks; there’s a strange nook to the left side, to the right is a blackboard listing all beers, brewers, ABV and price. Lavs are surprisingly very smart and spacious. Lighting is conventional, with tealights to tables. Customers were very mixed, from an elderly couple, to a group of young women in duffle coats, a noted look of contentment on their faces as they raised dimple mugs to their lips.
Tasters were offered from four pumps, with a real cider on the go from Hackney Downs, then Redemption’s Trinity, By the Horns’ Stiff Upper Lip and Bristol Beer Factory’s Milk Stout at a very reasonable £4.60 a pint. I don’t know about the quality though, as I’ve never had a milk stout due both to lack of availability and its association with Ena Sharples, but thought it would be sweet and malty. However, it tasted rather sour, like it had spent time in a red wine barrel; is it meant to taste like this?
This place is definitely worth seeking out, but a bit of cash spent to make it a bit more homely would get the score up as would dealing with the floor.
---------------------------------
A return last night and having had BBF's Milk Stout now on several occasions, I can safely say that it shouldn't taste slightly sour so was indeed on the turn.
My ale of choice this time - from a sad selection of just two pumps with one unused - was Saltaire Titus (£2.75 a half) and also slightly on the turn; I managed to finish it but I certainly wouldn't have ordered another and as the cask choice was lacklustre and I'll bet the other option was off too, I left.
Can this pub get its act together and sort out the quality of its cask beers, because right now I can't recommend a revisit.
On 12th June 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2324 recommendations about 2267 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Simon the Tanner
Limited frills pub with a few gastro-pub style pretensions (such as the clipboard lists of snacks and drinks) and rather curious fenestration at the front. The 'L'-shaped counter (although hardly large) takes up a fair amount of the floor-space in the bar so many of the tables are to be found in the opened-out back room. Plainly furnished too, although there is a good display of pump clips behind the servery. Three real ales - Marble Manchester Bitter, Great Heck Navigator and Gun Parabellum milk stout (£3.80) - plus a cider on handpump, together with a reasonable selection of craft keg offerings.
On 12th November 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9119 recommendations about 9119 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Simon the Tanner
Quite a small plain interior with the bar area at the front a more foodie area to the rear. 3 real ales and "craft keg" served.
On 26th October 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3061 recommendations about 2989 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Simon the Tanner
Set in the middle of a terrace along a prominent road in the trendy part of Bermondsey, this is a traditional pub given a bit of a modern makeover. The pub has a single room layout but retains two distinctly different areas, with the front part sporting dark floorboards, an unusual but not entirely unappealing paint scheme and plenty of standard tables and chairs. Décor includes stag's skulls and antlers, a beer board and some Warhol-style paintings. A simple curved servery with an art deco counter and plain bar back covered in pump clips stands midway into the room on the right hand side. As you move past the bar, the floorboards change and you find a space with four small tables, a large TV screen and a few unremarkable decorative bits. A small recess opposite the bar houses an upright piano and a collection of board games and next to this was a plaque commemorating John Shirley, also known as "Ale John", who was one of the pub's first and most loyal regulars. Limited seating is available on the pavement outside and there was an indie music soundtrack playing throughout my visit. The menu seemed a little basic, with just five main meals available, each costing around £9.00, which sounds pretty reasonable to me.
The pub, previously tied to Shepherd Neame, is now operated as a freehouse and has appeared in recent editions of the Good Beer Guide. Siren Undercurrent, Otley Thai-Bo, Adnams Lighthouse and Hamerton Pentonville Oyster Stout occupied the handpulls alongside one real cider. I tried the Undercurrent which was passable, if not quite up to GBG standards. Keg stuff included beers from The Kernel and Gipsy Hill, whilst the fridges (and beer menus) boasted a strong range of bottled goodies.
I had quite high hopes for this place, which seemed like a good bet for some interesting beer in a part of town where good cask ale seems to gravitate towards London Bridge. However, my pint was a bit of a let-down and the place lacked the character of their sister pub, the Queen's Head in Kings Cross. Perhaps one for a revisit, but not quite up to scratch this time round.
On 20th October 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Simon the Tanner
Simon the Tanner is set in a terrace,this used to be a Shepherd Neame tied house that i tried going in years ago but it never opened,the pub still sports the old Shepherd Neame pub sign and paint work.
Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the right side,the seating is normal tables and chairs.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Belleville Northcote Blonde which went down very well,the other beers were Adnams Lighthouse,Vale Malestrom and Hackney Golden Ale.
Background music was playing,the pub reasonably busy for a late Tuesday afternoon.
I was happy enough having a drink in this pub,just a shame the Sheps beers are not on here any more.
Pub visited 26/5/2015
On 26th May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Simon the Tanner
Modern-ish fit out of a small, plain boozer. Dimmed lighting, tee-lites on the table, worn wooden floor to the front of the pub. 4 real ales but served too warm though otherwise ok.
On 29th October 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1598 recommendations about 1575 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Simon the Tanner
Unassuming (Georgian?) mid-terrace with a sign and frontage that reminded me a little of Sheps branding (and reading below I see that it once was an SN outlet). It’s a fairly plain L-shaped bar, painted in a light battleship grey with darker trim. Dark laminate flooring. Not too much décor, just a couple of mounted antlers, some pump clips and an upright piano (oddly located behind a shallow arch) in the main bar. The rear area is more set for dining and looks a little more inviting with quarter length wood panelling and a sun-themed clock. A wall-mounted was TV switched off. Five pumps, three ales (W&E Kohinoor, Adnams Ghost Ship and Fusilier Hop Stuff). I tried the Hop Stuff which was warm and a little below-par. Not to be put off I also had a half of Kohinoor which was worse, a real disappointment as I know how splendid a beer this is as I spend plenty of time drinking it in Reading. Also a cider (Lilleys Crazy Goat) and a small craft keg selection. Special mention of the barmaid, who was very friendly. Disappointing, I doubt I’d return; quite how this one got into the 2014 GBG is a mystery to me. I read somewhere else that this place is the sister pub of the Queens Head on Greys Inn Road which surprises me even more.
On 10th June 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6004 recommendations about 5984 pubs]