The Mudlark, SE1

Named after 18th Century river scavangers, this wll hidden Southwark back street pub is more of an office workers retreat than anything for locals or tourists. The interior is a small, single room in the ground floor of a fairly modern office building. The fake pillars and beams make it look less of the shoe box it could be although the interior does feel a bit plastic and contrived but certainly not unattractive or unwelcoming. In an area full of pubs in dingy cellars or hemmed in between former warehouses, the Mudlark does benefit from having plenty of natural light courtesy of the copious window space down one side. There were 5 ales available on my vist (1 pump undergoing cleaning), 3 Nicholsons regulars (Landlord, Pride, and Doom Bar) plus Thwaites Wainwright and Brakspear Bitter from their current pool of guest ales. Prices are very reasonable given the area. Ther background music was arather bland and safe but not intrusive and there is just a small basic TV. A blackboard was advertising a Meet the Brewer session on 1st June (but omitted to say what brewery was being represented!). Outside is a covered and shady patio that stands in the shadow of Southwark Cathedral and probably has more floorspace than the pub itself. It aklso catches the early evening sunshine and with BBQ’s appearing to be a regular function, is not a bad little spot on a summers evening although I dare say it does get busy. Overall, a fairly bland but inoffensive place with a few decent ales and whilst I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to find the place, I certainly wouldn’t rule out further visits even though it does have some very strong competition in the neighbourhood.

The Mudlark is a smallish pub situated on the South Thames path, just down the steps from London Bridge and under the shadow of Southwark Cathedral. It takes its name from the 18th century term for the child street urchins who used to scavenge the banks and mudflats of the Thames for bits of coal and other flotsam and jetsam. Nowadays it’s a Nicholsons pub and therefore usually has a decent range of real ales with six hand pumps on the bar area, which the other night included a very passable pint of Brakespears Oxford Gold. The inside ground floor bar area is quite small, but is complemented by a larger outside patio area with parasols and patio heaters which, like other pubs in the area supports regular outside barbecues during the summer months. It tends to get quite busy during weekday lunchtime and early evenings with local office workers and at these periods, the small bar serving area can come under pressure and expect to be three to four deep at the bar. But outside these periods it is much quieter and you can usually get a seat. It does an extensive food menu include the usual Nicholsons sausage menu, but I have never bothered to eat here. So in conclusion a decent pub close to London bridge which has been good for a pint before moving off elsewhere.

Official site of the Mudlark, contains menu and real ale list - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Official site of the Mudlark, contains menu and real ale list - www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

It was very busy in here during my recent visit, but I was served promptly and the barman was polite. Greene King IPA and Bloomin Marvelous were available alongside some well kept Landlord and there were also some standard and premium lagers. There is an outside drinking area that was also heaving and there were a lot of people dining, but I would still return if in the area.