Tower Bridge Arms, Bermondsey, SE1

Larger than the nearby Dean Swift however seemingly looking to attract a similar customer base, this pub also has an extensive range of keykeg products which included a trio from Camden. Four handpumps at the end of the bar had a couple previously unknown to me, Hewitt's Urbane Gorilla, Cully's Orange Ale plus O'Hanlon's Flagship IPA (£3.50) and Sambrooks Wandle. A large bottled selection in fridges and along the bar gantry. The main room with the bar to one side is bare boarded, has tall tables along the front of the bar and a mixture of benches and pews to the perimeter. The side room resembles an American diner with lurid green benches facing each other across the tables booth style, decor in here consists of large movie and music posters. TVs were showing golf muted while a laid back bluesy soundtrack played. It's all a bit modern and stripped out, apart from the green benches the colour scheme is grey and dark green. Service was friendly and informed and the barman agreed with my deep distrust of the Orange Ale. There is a third room downstairs, the Tower Bridge Tasting Rooms which has it's own bar, this was closed but is available for private hire. Food is served, I didn't see a menu but there were pots of mustard, bottles of Tabasco and salt and pepper sets on each table. A bit quirky and not at all a traditional pub but I quite liked the place.

Semi-modernised rectangular bar plus separate diner up two steps. Full height windows open onto Tower Bridge Road in good weather so can be noisy. Additional downstairs bar does not appear to be in regular use. Background blues music. Three Bath Ales were available: SPA, Barnsey and Gem (£3.70), plus their keg Bounders cider. The fourth handpump offered Dark Star Hophead, and there was also a good selection of continental beers. Overall, seemed quite a reasonable place.