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Rising Sun, Smithfield, EC1
EC1
EC1A 7JQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about Rising Sun
Another basic Smiths pub and one very much for the locals, just a few old boys and a couple market workers in on my visit.Nice upstairs lounge as mentioned before but apart from that pretty boring all in all.
On 28th April 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Rising Sun
A revisit required as part of the Sam Smiths Challenge. This time we encountered a no-nonsense Sam's with a no nonsense, old skool cockney geezer guv'nor. Internally it’s two areas either side of the bar, the left is slightly more upmarket, the right is high tables and a dart board. An austere feel to the décor - wood floor, leaded dimpled/opaque windows – and a similar feel to atmosphere, you would have heard more noise in a village library. Nice upstairs lounge which I think I would have preferred to sit in (“Grave-diggers used to meet in the upper room to discuss sale of cadavers to doctors at nearby Barts” quoth WhatPub). OBB on but no Alpine Lager (“we don’t sell that girly juice”) so I went for a bottle of the ultra-manly apricot fruit beer which was rather decent. I still struggled to get much out of this one, if I’m honest.
December 2006
Tucked away in the windy streets-cum-alleyways. It’s not a bad little place looks-wise. We popped in for a quick half but the stock was pretty depleted. Being a Sam Smith's meant it was time to move on as I simply can't abide the OBB. The barmaid was very good, and I guess for the area it's a decent choice - it's near St Bartholomew's church which was the one used in Four Weddings and a Funeral, I think. Apparently there's a darts board but I didn't spot it. Low mark due to the depleted stock. Rated 5
On 20th December 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Rising Sun
Typical Sam Smith's house,it all looks very traditional both inside and out ,but when the only ale option is Old Brewery Bitter the heart sinks ,it really was tastless after a decent crawl and I just could not be bothered to finish my half.
The interior is open plan in two section with the far end having a darts board,while the larger back section is rather sparse on the furniture front.Wood panelling everywhere,carved wood bar but this is such a usual feature in SS pubs that it's almost a pastiche in here.There is a first floor restaurant with prices for pub grub that looked cheap but like the ale is it cheap for a reason ?
It's so boring I won't be rushing back.
On 2nd March 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Rising Sun
21st March 2016:
I can't add much to that below, the pub dates back in some form to at least the mid-17th century but is now probably a 19th century replacement and agree with Mr Rattus when he disputes the age of the wooden interior as I too think that it's a modern addition.
Nevertheless, the landlord was friendly and welcoming despite being bored out of his skull, reading his paper behind the bar for lack of customers on our early week late evening visit.
The cask OBB was, well, OBB and obviously cheap at £2.90.
There's no reason to avoid this place and the pub gets good marks for location, tradition and landlord but rather misses the mark in other respects. The Hand & Shears across the road trounces this place - really one for crawl tickers.
Addendum:
The pub closed during World War II and didn't reopen until the mid-1980s, presumably undergoing a change of use, so the interior probably dates from this time.
On 22nd December 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Rising Sun
A visually attractive pub, partially hidden away on a corner of a side road and lane near Smithfield Market. Tall opaque glazed leaded windows, one curved glass version, flowering tubs at first floor level. Inside there is a boarded floor and lots of dark polished wood, A SS speciality so I also doubt any originality, however it does look the part.
Mixed seating, high tables opposite the bar, benches, pews and stools elsewhere. Framed market scenes and SS dray horses form the majority of the wall mounted stuff plus very unusually locally a dartboard, in full use this afternoon by a group of four blokes.
Two doors, the corner entrance has "Public Bar" over, the side door unmarked. A sign however directs up a winding stair to a "Lounge Bar" which has its own servery and great views of the ancient St Bartholemews Church opposite.
Being Sam Smith's there is never going to be much choice, at least the OBB was on cask and not as cold as usual. Food served.
Worth noting that this is one of few pubs that open at weekends around here and food is served too.
On 10th September 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Rising Sun
Old-fashioned alleyway pub on the south side of Smithfield Market. Plenty of old photographs and prints on the walls, both in the main bar and upstairs lounge. Nothing fancy, just conversation and a group playing darts. As a Sam Smith's house, it was only OBB (£2.90) on handpump of course, but if the mood suits (which it did on this occasion) I really appreciate this type of place.
On 16th January 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about Rising Sun
This is an idiosyncratic little time-warp boozer in the middle of Central London; but also strangely fitting given its location of Barbican/Smithfield, which has an altogether different feel to the more touristy areas. I liked it I must say, and think most people would regardless of their views on Samuel Smiths beer. Its an efficient, welcoming pub with a homely feel, a roaring fire and space for a dartboard, which members of my party appreciated. And with the beer as cheap as it is, everyone's happy.
On 22nd December 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Rising Sun
A Sam Smith's pub, so obviously only expect the Sam Smith's range of beers. But they do have OBB on handpump. It's full of what looks like original features, but could be modern replacements bearing in mind Sam Smith's record of sympathetic and tasteful replacements. As the RS doesn't appear in CAMRA's London inventory of heritage pubs then I suppose they must be modern reproductions. Interestingly they have gone for traditional lino flooring, and what appears to be recycled pews forming the majority of the seating.
This is a super little pub in a quiet-ish setting opposite St Bartholomew's church a few feet away from Smithfield market. If only they did a better ale than OBB (I'm not a fan)! But I still like the pub.
On 30th August 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]