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Pub Of The Month - October 2025 with ROBCamra on the Pub Forum

The Libertine, Borough, SE1

125 Great Suffolk Street
SE1
SE1 1PQ

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Libertine

The Libertine appears to be the last traditional building standing in an area that has seen extensive post war redevelopment. My only previous visit here was in its days as the Town House some years ago when it came over as a place aimed at bored housewives in search of cheap entertainment. Thankfully it has now moved on a bit.

The once brightly coloured exterior has now been dampened so it doesn’t stand out quite like it used to. Internally, it is a single knocked through room with job lot trendypub style décor and furnishings, bare floors and some interesting artwork. A raised section in the front corner has a dart board and also doubles up as a stage for live music (which was my purpose of visit). DJ’s, quiz nights and sport on TV are also regular features.

The beer range is certainly better than my previous visit with 3 ales initially available – Hop Back GB (which ran out after I managed to get my pint), Truman Swallow & Swift and the ubiquitous Doom Bar. Prices were reasonable for the area at around £3.50 a pint. On the food front they specialize in stone baked Pizzas which cost around £7-£9.

Service was efficient and welcoming and the pub itself was quite vibrant with a good Saturday night atmosphere. On the whole it isn’t really my sort of pub but I would certainly return if there was a specific reason.

On 15th April 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Libertine

Maybe it was my imagination, but I would have sworn that it has tinted windows. If so, it really is a case of it emulating the traditional pub in turning its back on the outside world, and protecting the sensibilities of passers by from the unseemly activities going on inside. In which case it’s aptly named.
Anyway, enough of that. There were a couple of ales on – Sharp’s Doom Bar and Truman Runner (£3.40 a pint). I didn’t see any menus but an A-board outside offered a Monday and Wednesday deal for students, giving two pizzas for the price of one. The inside doesn’t look much a like a students’ pub (potted plants, candles on the tables, etc) but maybe it becomes one in the evenings. There’s a small slightly raised balustraded area on the left with a dartboard, and unencumbered by any furniture cluttering it up. The rest of the room is furnished mainly with normal tables and chairs, but there are a couple of sofas lurking at the back. There are a few bits of odd decor – a snakeskin (python possibly judging by the size), a stuffed animal head sporting an Australian “cork” hat, and a pair of life size upside down gold coloured legs (!?) on top of the bar back. A couple of standard lamps at the back near the sofas emphasize the Edwardian drawing room look. It’s not the sort of pub that I would make a bee-line for, but I wouldn’t object to dropping in again sometime.

On 20th November 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2610 recommendations about 2524 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Nick Johnstone left this review about The Libertine

Awful food orientated place. Hardly anyone in and the barmaid stuffing herself with pizza.
Used to be the skinners arms amongst it's other guises. Truly dreadful.

On 29th April 2011 - rating: 1
[User has posted 98 recommendations about 98 pubs]

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