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The Gipsy Moth, Greenwich, SE10
SE10
SE10 9BL
Pub Type
Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Gipsy Moth
Originally the Wheatsheaf and renamed after Frank Chichester’s eponymous round-the-world sailing boat’s exploits, the pub dates from at least the mid-18th century and could easily be original, or at least the façade, if not the interior.
This is a large affair, going quite a way back to a modern extension, then beyond to a beer garden; it was also by far and away the busiest pub in central Greenwich on my Thursday evening visit, indeed the only busy pub in central Greenwich. The floor is modern boarded, the interior sporting a dark grey colour scheme, with little if anything of the original pub remaining. Furniture is conventional, décor amounting to hanging ferns, nautical prints with lighting being either hanging things with filament bulbs or bulkhead lights. Customers were very studenty with a few tourists and an elderly group, the patriarch looking appropriately enough like Captain Birdseye.
There were just two ales on, pumps marginalised to the far end of the long bar, drawing Birmingham’s Pale Brummie and Hadrian Border’s Farne Island at a jaw dropping £3.10 a half, served by an absolutely hopeless barman, who seemed not to have pulled a pint before; it was though rather good.
This place is fine if you want a bit of action and a decent half, as on balance this is one of the better places in central Greenwich, but perhaps it’s just a bit too lively for me and the prices are obscene – you don’t pay this much for cask in Mayfair.
On 5th April 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Gipsy Moth
Corner pub just opposite the Cutty Sark and close to the Cutty Sark DLR station.
The pub has recently started opening at 11am on a Sunday, to take advantage of the summer tourist trade. It suited my early start and will undoubtedly suit the needs of thirsty tourists to Greenwich.
The ground floor bar felt dark, but window seats are a good place for people watching. The bar is split into two separate areas, the rear part being slightly below the front, if my memory serves me right. Toilets are upstairs.
Two cask ales can be found at the end of the bar nearest the entrance. For my visit, the regular Doom Bar was supplemented by Hophead.
The craft beer range is more extensive - New Belgium Voodoo Ranger, Beavertown Neck Oil, Camden Pale, Signature Backstage IPA, Big Hug Pave The Way, Brewgooder Tropical Pale & Vocation Life and Death. My Voodoo Ranger was enjoyable.
A pub I'd not visited on previous trips to Greenwich. But it's location may mean I will make a return visit.
On 14th April 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Gipsy Moth
A fairly large pub strategically located alongside the Cutty Sark, so unsurprisingly popular with tourists, but not unpleasant if peak visiting times are avoided. At the front is a small traditional bar area while ther rear is opened out into a large room generally set up for dining with a kitchen counter. A dark green colour scheme, part glazed roof and numerous trailing plants give something of a greenhouse feel. There is a large patio area to the back and side. Just TT Landlord and Doom Bar on the pumps, possibly reduced due to Covid effects on trade but condition good.
On 3rd February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Gipsy Moth
Very close to The Cutty Sark,this pub has an interesting interior which winds around and is worth inspecting.The drinking area is nominally to the front,with mainly dining to the rear.However it will be popular with tourists during the day,and is quite lively with a young professional crowd in the evening and the muzak is played at quite some volume.There is an open kitchen to the rear ,and food is popular with all tables being numbered.Furniture is all quite traditional,and you order food from the bar,which itself has several sections.At one end are two handpumps for the regular Doom Bar and London Pride,while almost hidden away is a small section with three guest ales,St Austell Proper Job,Thornbridge Wild Holly (OK condition) and a porter from a brewery whose name was indestinct on my visit.
We were eating and the food almost beat me back from the bar but it was tasty pub grub and not wildly expensive.If you can put up with a noisy pub,I was quite impressed by the ale range and would pop in again next time I'm in Greenwich.
On 30th November 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Gipsy Moth
Next to the cutty sark interior as described by Steve c below. 5 real ales and "craft keg" served.
On 1st May 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Gipsy Moth
Ok place but not relay interested in you if not ordering food had a pint of Reverent James had better to be honest to touristy to have a comfortable pint in
On 11th January 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 122 recommendations about 122 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Gipsy Moth
The Gipsy Moth is overlooked by the Cutty Sark so expect tourists galore, especially during the lunch period. The cheapest main that I spotted on the menu adjacent to the entrance was a salad of some sort that rocked in at £10.
The interior consists of a small bar area at the front of the pub and a large open plan dining area to the rear. From here access can be gained to some outside covered seating and a well-kept split level beer garden. During my wander around I didn’t spot any TVs or advertisements for live music or sport. There was some very low background music playing which did little to add to the atmosphere.
Alongside a premium draught selection are at least six hand pumps that were drawing Sharp’s Doom Bar, St Austell’s Proper Job, Sambrook’s Junction, Ilkley Brewery’s Mary Jane, Fuller’s London Pride and Navigation’s Icebreaker.
This place is too much of a tourist trap for me to consider returning.
On 11th June 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Gipsy Moth
A very busy pub indeed, not a seat to be had, in the heart of the touristy bit of Greenwich. Renamed years ago in honour of Sir Francis Chichester who circumnavigated the world in the boat of this name, his picture and those of his boat are displayed next to the bar in the front area. The bar is immediately ahead on entering from the front, the pub being effectively split into two main areas, the bar continues through. There are two banks of handpumps, shared either side of the divide, although some of the beers are doubled up, it is wise to consult the chalkboards in case something you fancy is not in view. My visit had seven shared across the pumps, Doom Bar, Ilkley Mary Jane Pale Ale, Pride, Sambrook's Junction, St Austell Proper Job, Navigation Icebreaker and Channel Islands Liberation Ale. I went for the Liberation, very expensive at £4.35 and I had to request a significant top up.
The two areas are semi divided, the smaller front section has a slightly raised area to one corner which has some wood panelling, the rear oddly shaped area leads on to a small conservatory with an extensive and pleasant garden beyond, from where there are views of the Cutty Sark. Food is served and despite many tables in the larger rear area being set for dining, no one was, all occupied by drinkers. A tour of the garden found a few enjoying meals however, obviously the preferred spot on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon.
The pub is probably quite nice, the beer range is eclectic and interesting but it was just too busy to be a pleasant stay. I reckon you need to time a visit carefully.
On 18th May 2014
- 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 The Gipsy Moth
Quite an attractive pub from the front, although the single-storey side extension does little for the setting of the nearby Cutty Sark. Odd shape inside, but not too cluttered apart from the narrow links between the main part of the bar at the front with the dining areas to the rear. Some dark-wood panelling, and mostly semi-traditional furniture. Very much food led, with many reserved tables on a Sunday lunchtime. Patio seating area to the side. Two banks of five handpumps, offering Pride, Doom Bar, Kirkstall Dissolution IPA, DBC Frosted Jack and Sambrooks Junction (£3.80). Quite a relaxed atmosphere, so a reasonable spot overall.
On 15th March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Gipsy Moth
I’ve been in here several times in the past, but having been unable to get a seat, have never actually managed to get as far as ordering a drink, such is this pub’s popularity. Given its proximity to the Cutty Sark, it is perhaps not surprising that it’s regularly filled with tourists, but it can make a visit less than comfortable. You enter into a fairly small front bar with limited seating either side of the front door and this area struck me as the best place to grab a seat if you’re just visiting for a drink. You then have to pass through a series of pillars, behind which you can still catch glimpses of the servery, before emerging into a strangely shaped rear room which is set up more for diners, with plenty of tables available. There is an open kitchen on the right hand side and the space to the left extends quite a long way and had a TV screen showing live rugby. At the rear there is a conservatory type space with a tile floor, which leads out to a large garden which is rightly popular in the summer months. The servery runs down the right hand side of the pub, connecting the front and rear sections, and has a mock ship’s figurehead at the far end, keeping with the pub’s vague nautical theme. Music was playing in the background during my stay, but with so many people in, it was almost impossible to hear it.
The beer range was quite appealing, with a varied line up on my recent visit comprising Sharp’s Doom Bar, Great Yorkshire Brewery Yorkshire Lager, Green Jack Trawlerboys, Fullers London Pride and Bristol Beer Factory Bitter Californian. I gave the latter a try and thought it was a good beer in decent condition. The keg range had a few rarities including Veltins, Hoegaarden and Budvar with ciders from Aspall’s and Bulmers. I didn’t see any menus, but did spot a blackboard which listed various main meals at around the £11.00 mark.
This place is a bit of a mixed bag and from my experience, the timing of your visit will most likely determine how much you enjoy yourself. For a Grade I listed building, there’s not a great deal to admire within, but the interesting ale range and lovely rear garden mean that it’s still well worth giving this place a try.
On 10th March 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]