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Big Hug Social, Bermondsey, SE16
SE16
SE16 3RA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about Big Hug Social
Visited 15/07/26. Visited previously as Gosnells Meadery Taproom on 30/10/22.
No cask. Keg offering of their own brews, namely Planet Pilsner, Juicy Pale, Pave the Way, Hibernation, Lawless, Big Juicy, Bigger Dinger, Collosus, Red & Berried and What the Helles!? Nice to see Gosnells retain some beers on their taps.
Recently taken the space over from Gosnells. Arch beer hall with some seating outside at the front. Original concrete flooring with predominately bench style seating with the bar counter on the right-hand wall mid venue with some tall stool seating on the front edge. Beer fridge just ahead of the bar counter. There is a large screen on the far wall and some other TVs on the wall towards the front. Also, some seating via sofas and armchairs at the front and the rear. Strong music soundtrack playing on my early evening visit.
On 26th July 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1877 recommendations about 1847 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about London Calling Sweden
One of many similar establishments forming part of the famous Bermondsey Beer Mile, like many of the others this is located in the arches under the railway track, and is of course a brewery tap rather than a pub, and this is reflected in the somewhat industrial style décor, if one could go so far as calling it that.
The flooring was some type of concrete screed, whilst the usual white corrugated iron of these establishments was cladding the ceiling and walls in order to channel the continually dripping water from the tunnel roof away from the punters underneath. There was though some exposed brickwork at the front of the pub as well as a brick built bar counter, so it was perhaps a little more atmospheric than some of it’s nearby competitors, and overall it did seem as though they had made a bit more effort to make it a little more atmospheric rather than feeling as though you’re just sat in the middle of a warehouse. A small stage area was at the rear, so presumably live music is featured on occasions, and there were a number of old speaker cones fixed to a pillar as well as a few light string around. A number of upside down umbrellas were attached to the ceiling and some merchandise such as bags and t-shirts was for sale. A large tin of Abba pilchards was an unusual feature, and although I was aware that the name of the country’s most famous band was also a variety of tinned fish, this was not something I had ever seen before, even when visiting the Abba museum in Stockholm.
Beers on tap were Session IPA, Passion Pale, American Pale, Imperial Russian Stout and Neipa. The solitary cider meanwhile was Gravity Theory. They have unfortunately followed Sweden’s example with regard to pricing, with my flight of three thirds coming in at a whopping £9.90. I actually quite liked this as a pub, with a lot more atmosphere than many others nearby, but the pricing rather put me off and I’d consequently be unlikely to rush back.
On 5th February 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2148 recommendations about 2044 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about London Calling Sweden
Opened around May / June 2018 this bar focuses on Swedish Craft beers and predominantly beers from a brewery called Poppels from Gothenburg and they had four of their brews on including a couple of UK brews from Ubrew.
I went for something called Passion Pale Ale which was OK but hardly stunning, but at least it cost me significantly less than it would have done if I had paid for it in Sweden. The dark interior is enhanced by some funky lighting and my visit was enhanced (I think that’s the right word) by trying to find the toilets.
There are those that will rave about bars like this and there were several bright young things in at the time. But sandwiched between tap rooms for two of Britain’s cutting edge craft brewers I found its presence on the Bermondsey beer mile to be a bit of an irrelevance.
On 21st June 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2358 recommendations about 2203 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Mason left this review about London Calling Swden
Swedish Tap House.
On 28th August 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 25 recommendations about 25 pubs]