The Gun, E14

I paid my first visit to this pub for a couple of years, and found it essentially unchanged. There is a sign on the main road pointing to a “riverside pub”, but that it is a bit deceptive as the main business of this pub looks to be the restaurant. As you enter you are in the main restaurant area with all the tables on the left reserved for diners, and with just a couple of tables on the right that can be used by those just wanting a drink. But a door to the right of the bar counter leads to another small room, which in turn leads on to yet another room with a sort of gentleman’s club feel to it. There is an outside terrace at the back overlooking the river and over to the O2 arena. So, although the main room is effectively a restaurant, there is more seating for drinkers tucked away at the back. I didn’t get to see the main restaurant menu, but the bar food menu gave me a clue as to what to expect, featuring Colchester rock oysters at £36 for 18. I saw a sign by the window advertising a free taxi service from Canary Wharf, which is a clear indicator of the market they are aiming for. However they do offer e reasonable ale selection, with Sambrook Junction (£2 for a half), Adnam’s Southwold Bitter, and Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted on. There was also a reversed clip for Otter Amber on a fourth pump. The ale selection is pretty good, even if at London gastropub prices. What I do like about this pub is the decor and features in the main restaurant area. The impressive bar back and bar counter look like original features, and the numerous nautically themed paintings are also impressive features. I also spotted an old black and white photograph of two naval gunners operating their artillery piece – the photograph I recognised as the one used in the tile picture at one time in The Clarence Arms, Woolwich. Long gone now, of course. This looks like a good place to eat if you’re in the mood for splashing out on a meal, but although it has some interesting nooks for drinkers, it’s not really “pubby” enough for me to want to spend an evening in. But that’s just my opinion – I am sure that others will love it.

Takes a bit of finding, located at the corner of a narrow cobbled street lined with Victorian houses that have survived the Luftwaffe and redevelopment. The exterior looks nice, with a large hanging cannon acting as the pub sign. The interior I clean and smart; the bar is straight in front of you as you enter, though it becomes swiftly apparent that things are heavily slanted towards eating (overpriced Portuguese gubbins seems to be a speciality), with the drinking area further back (check out the large old whiskey barrels on the way) leading onto the Big Selling Point, the rear patio garden which overlooks the Thames and has great views of the Dome and nascent Olympic area. Three ales, Adnams Bitter, Broadside and London Pride available at an eye-watering £3.60pp. The staff were a bit cloth-eared, as my order of a half got turned into a pint. Mind you, the quality of the beer was good, so no complaints there and the pub has been GBG listed in past. Clientele were boorish wannabe City types who ticked many a stereotype box. It certainly has selling points but isn’t one I’d say was worth the special effort to sample.