Town of Ramsgate, Wapping, E1

The Town of Ramsgate is a long and thin pub with a floorboarded seating area at the front and a long carpeted area the length of the bar counter to seating at the rear. Up the right wall, opposite the long counter, is more seating. The bar supports four hand pumps that were drawing Portobello Brewing’s Market Porter, Wye Valley’s HPA, Harvey’s Best and Black Sheep’s Finisher. Standard and premium keg was also available and on the bar was a basket full of jars containing ‘nuts and bits’ for £3.50. Proper food is also available, the cheese and bacon burger is priced at £14. The are no televisions, but there was some background music playing to the handful of customers during a recent midweek afternoon visit. Out the back is a small riverside split-level decked beer garden, that is no smoking. The limited views across the Thames aren’t as interesting as from the Prospect and Captain Kidd further down the river. However, this pub is a lot more authentic as a proper London boozer, well it was during my visit. I liked it in here and will revisit when next in the area.

A single long carpeted room leading to a narrow outside drinking area on the bank of the Thames. Four handles and four beers, the same as described by Blackthorn below. Despite the staid beer offerings the pub was a reasonable stop off.

A traditional, brick-built pub in the centre of what Wapping describes as it’s High Street, this is a long narrow pub that backs on to The Thames, although the small width means that there are only two tables directly overlooking the river. That said, the courtyard itself is a decent size and with some of the seating being elevated, you can certainly get the odd glimpse of the river or the buildings opposite from elsewhere. Internally it’s quite traditional and fittingly perhaps has a slightly nautical feel with tartan style carpet on much of the floor and wood panelling covering much of the walls. A row of tables on the right of the pub opposite the bar counter were segregated with glazed green wood panelling, and there was further green wood panelling on the walls at the front. The pub felt light and airy with windows on two sides, ship’s lanterns providing additional lighting and cream wooden boards on the ceiling. A history of the pub was displayed on one wall, as well as a few old portrait pictures, a barometer and a few other odds and ends. Beers on tap were Black Sheep, Harvey’s Sussex Best, Whitstable Bay and Young’s London Original, whilst the solitary cider was Cornish Orchards. Overall, with it’s jovial landlord, riverside setting as pleasant ambience I thought this was a decent pit stop and would have stayed longer if we had time.

Best in the area for me. History dripping off the walls and more of a claim to fame to some stories than the Prospect of Whitby and Captain Kidd nearby. An incredibly good pint of Harveys Sussex Best at the second cheapest price of the evening - beaten only by Turners Old Star. One to visit.