ReviewThis is a gay pub for older men, which I didn't spot until I was sitting on my own by the gents writing my little notes in my phone. As I was leaving I spotted a standard draught selection alongside Peroni and there was a plasma screen showing Sky News, which was muted for the decent background music.
The barmaid was friendly enough and there was nothing wrong with my Guinness, but I'll not be returning.
Amended to:First established in 1801 the Pilot is a rather isolated pub tacked onto the end of a series of cottages that are among the last remnants of pre-Millenium developments. When the Dome was built nearby, the pub came into prominence as it was the nearest (actually the only) pub in the vicinity. After the Dome shut, the Pilot reverted back to its quiet and peaceful backwater old self until the O2 Arena complex saw the area once again thrust into the spotlight. One would expect the Pilot to have found itself at the forefront of mass invasions from Concert spectators, Cinema fans and exhibition goers but, almost incredibly, most people still don't realise that the Pilot is a mere 5 minute walk away and it currently remains a haven of decent beer, sensible prices and pleasant surroundings, a far cry from the crowded, corporate drinking and dining hell that exists beneath the O2 masts.
The mock Tudor interior has several nooks, crannies and split level rooms to the rear. There is a general nautical theme throughout the pub with ship pictures, reproduction smuggling posters, wreck details, lifebelts, model boats etc as well as museum like informative displays about the observatory, Greenwich Mean Time, the maritime history. There are also a few newspaper cuttings regarding the pub itself and its role at the time of the Millenium. A small room to the left of the entrance is admittedly a bit tatty with (as afr as I can see) the only TV in the pub. A few historic snippets about Charlton Athletic, including carictures of the 1947 Cup Final team, show where the pub’s football loyalties lie. One of the main assets for summer months is the spacious and well kept beer garden with plenty of cover just in case!
They carry an excellent selection of Fullers beers including any seasonal or commemorative specials and the quality has always justified its Cask Marque accreditation. This is one of the cheapest Fullers pubs I have come across with prices ranging from Chiswick at £2.70 to the new Bengal Lancer at £3.20, 20p cheaper than I have found it anywhere else. I have always found the service second to none and often feel like a regular despite my sporadic appearances. I have also eaten here on a few occasions and found the food to be excellent value with snacks starting at around £4 and main dishes, including their excellent fresh fish specialities, around the £7-£9 mark.
It’s not hard to tell that I am a big fan of the Pilot and always look forward to my pre-O2 pints in here. Long may it remain five minutes too far for the bulk of the O2 crowds.
