The Salt Quay, Rotherhithe, SE16

Randomness Guide to London - Old Salt Quay entry

Randomness Guide to London - Old Salt Quay entry

I can't stand this type of fancy wine bar, but the frequency with which I seem to bump into them all over the country suggests that there is clearly a large number of people who love this sort of bland drinking experience. Basically stripped of anything that makes a pub interesting and with the music turned to a level which rules out any form of conversation, the only appeal for me is from the decent beer selection, which covers some well-known and slightly more obscure European lagers. Unfortunately they attact a hyper-inflated price tag, and as such the bar tends to be filled with preening executive types arguing about who has the biggest wad. Best avoided unless you're the kind of person who likes this sort of night out, in which case, you probably don't need this website to tell you where to drink.

This pub used to be called the Spice Island, and is located pretty much at the location of the boatyard where the Mayflower was constructed before its famous voyage to the New World. It’s now a Greene King pub so there are no surprises as to the ales you will usually find available. On my weekday lunchtime visit, the only real available when I arrived was Abbot Ale (at £3.10 a pint). However I noticed that one of the reversed clips was for York Brewery Yorkshire Terrier. The barman informed me that it had just finished, but that they would soon be putting Old Hooky on. So, pretty naff timing on my part, but it is encouraging that they do have a guest ale policy even if I just missed out. There is a typical pubco type food menu – my cheese and pickle baguette, with the smallest salad garnish I have seen, was £3.99. Par for the course I guess. The pub itself is a large stand alone building right by the river. Inside it’s a large drinking barn on two floors. There is pine cladding everywhere, with the walls a mixture of brick facing and crimson painted. Its floor is bare boarded of course, with furniture a mixed bag of normal tables and chairs, high tables and stools, and some sofas/armchairs. It has an enviable position on the river, with plenty of seating outside from which to enjoy the view. It can be superb, if pretty crowded, sitting outside on a warm day. As a pub it’s just about OK, but what makes it a bit special is its location. [Admin edit: Name changed to The Old Salt Quay from The Spice Island 22/2/10]