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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
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Simon The Tanner
A small mid terrace pub refurbed in that very modern style with lighting provided by numerous bulbs with trendy lampshades hanging from the ceiling.The front section has a few wooden tables below the windows and two alcoves opposite the bar,one housing an upright piano,played one night a week.Towards the rear there is a square section with more tables and although menus decorated each table,it is quite possible to simply drink while seated,tables weren't laid for diners.There are also several bar stools on which chatty regulars gather,and the welcome from behind the bar was very friendly.There is an eclectic choice of recorded music played here at modest volume,and at a Saturday lunchtime the vibe was very laid back.
The free newspapers on the bar were The Guardian and The Independent which give an indication that customers tend to be part of the gentrification of the area rather than longer term residents of Bermondsey and the prices of both real ale and the food on offer reinforces the point.
There are 5 handpumps ,with on my trip ELB Cowcatcher (well kept and £3.80),Adnams Mosaic,Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde Mild with a clip reversed while line cleaning went on and one pump unused.A decent selection and the quality justifying the GBG 2014 listing.There is a large collection of pump clips on the walls showing that you may well find output from leading microbrewers in here. There are also 9 keg taps with an interesting selection including Kernel and Camden produce.There is no flatscreen ,juke box,gambling machines nor any sign of mass produced lager brands.The food was pretty good,my fish finger sarnie with skinny chips was spot on,and portion sizes are generous.
I will certainly pay a revisit and could consider it a good place to sink quite a few quality pints,it's far enough away from the tourist trail to maintain a calm atmosphere.
On 12th April 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3141 recommendations about 3141 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Simon The Tanner
This is a fairly small L-shaped one room pub with a bit of a modern cafe-bar/Habitat feel. Boarded flooring, regular seating mostly in fours, there are numerous chalkboards advertising and declaring this and that, some sort of antelope skull with antlers, a sun themed clock and a trio of photos of iconic women, Marylin Monroe, Liz Taylor and some other one. There is a piano in a recess which apparently sees some action on Wednesday evenings, a few novels and a few boardgames. No TVs or machines, little pot plants on the tables as well as clipboard menus advertising pretty regular sounding fare such as chilli and rice (£9) and fish and chips (£10.50), snacks available such as half a pork pie with pickles for £3.50.
Four handpumps, seemingly a rotating policy, Adnams Sole Star, Trumans Runner and Dark Star Partridge which was in good shape. The fourth was reversed, the clip indicating a cider.
Friendly on the ball staff and the barmaid/landlady politely advised us that the pub was to close shortly for a private function but that we had time for another round should we wish.
A photo near the piano indicates this was once a Shepherd Neame pub but clearly free of tie nowadays.
I quite liked it here despite its non-traditional feel and would happily nip back in for one if passing by.
On 27th January 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1711 recommendations about 1684 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Simon The Tanner
The three handpumps were clipped with Adnam’s Extra Special Ale (I think that’s what it was called), Kelburn Goldihops, and Windsor and Eton Guardsman. I had had an excellent pint of W&E Windsor Knot recently so went for the Guardsman (metaphorically of course) which unfortunately went off as the barmaid started to pull it. But the Goldihops turned out to be a pretty decent pint, and not overly hopped as the name might suggest. And at ££3.20 a pint not overpriced either.
The pub itself has clearly been given a thorough makeover. It’s bare-boarded, but with original boards by the look of them, and the walls are painted magenta up to the dado rail level, as is the front of the bar counter. The rest of the walls are painted a mix of dark and light grey. All the furnishings are normal (but solid wood) tables and chairs, apart from the obligatory handful of stools at the bar. The walls would benefit from a bit more in the way of decor, as at the moment they are sparsely populated with a few isolated prints. The bar counter bears that other hallmark of upmarket aspiration – a wicker basket containing the stock of crisp packets – and all the tables had little pots of flowers on them.
This is a fairly small pub, with the bar counter occupying the right hand side, with just three or four tables/chairs to the front of it, and a few more to the left and rear of the room. I assume that the space at the rear is intended as the dining area, this based on the fact that the tables there had menus on them, whereas the tables at the front didn’t. There are no fruit machines, or other machines of that ilk, although there was some low key music being played. This is a decent enough little pub, with some important plus points, such as decent ale and no mechanical distractions, even though it has had an upmarket style makeover.
On 21st April 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2621 recommendations about 2535 pubs]