User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann on the Pub Forum

Bunch of Grapes, SE1

2 St Thomas Street
SE1
SE1 9RS
Phone: 02074032070

Return to pub summary

Page: 1 2

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


. Wittenden left this review about Bunch of Grapes

Early evening in late May.The gloomy decor drew us out onto the pavement.Busy with revellers between the landmarks of The Shard and the gates of Borough Market.Amongst others on the bar, Southwark Brewery Best, new to me, and fairly memorable.

On 9th July 2023 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about Bunch of Grapes

Situated opposite the London Sperm Bank, the Grapes is a late Georgian pub, bunched I know not when.
A first in here the other night and I had thought that this was some sort of traditional London pub, perhaps geared towards tourists seeking a slice of Merry Olde London after a trip to Southwark Cathedral or the London Dungeon, but no. Most of the surfaces seem to have been painted black, though it’s hard to make out given the gloom, but there does seem to be some original dark woodwork and there’s much glazed white tiling to the rear, rather than behind the bar for once; I wonder if this place has had a rather savage makeover since the last review? There’s a multi-level ‘garden’ out back, the music was very loud and the mainly young, but mixed crowd was chucking itself about with gay abandon, all having a lot more fun than me.
The usual suspects were up for grabs at the bar, with Proper Job ‘coming soon’. A half of Special was a wincing £2.70, but very good.
In an area that has undergone much revision in recent years to become something of a nightlife hotspot, it’s no surprise that the pubs here tend to be a bit awful, the honourable exceptions being the Market Porter and Old King’s Head, which is where I’ll end up if I find myself in the area again.

On 31st October 2021 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1955 recommendations about 1922 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Delboy 20 left this review about Bunch of Grapes

Nice little pub near the train station and well used by football fans passing through. Bouncer on the door as you would expect. 4 beers from the Young's range in OK shape.

On 11th October 2018 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 1650 recommendations about 1552 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about Bunch of Grapes

Surprised to come across this pub.Thought I had visited all the Borough pubs.Havent missed much.Nice enough and busy.Youngs -waggle dance (dull) and Wandle were the choices.Nice rear space.

On 22nd July 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bunch of Grapes

This place suffered from a controversial refurbishment by Youngs a few years ago, but all seems to have settled down again now. I have still never tried the upstairs bar, but there is some interest in the main bar (provided you can get a seat or find somewhere to stand in busy periods). Despite the jumbled layout, somehow manages to fit in live music from time to time. Compact patio beer garden at the back, with a semi-open basement section below. Beer-wise, the four handpumps usually offer a choice of Ordinary and Special plus something else from Youngs / Wells (the seasonal Autumn Gold plus Bombardier on my latest visit) and/or a guest. Worth popping in if waiting for a train at nearby London Bridge.

On 15th October 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about The Bunch Of Grapes

A traditional pub near Borough Market and now in the shadow of the Shard, this was surprisingly quiet on a recent early lunchtime visit.

The main bar area is an open plan, square room, although there are a couple of wood partitions with frosted and etched glass to break up the space a little. The decor is mostly exposed brick that has been painted cream although there is also some cream wood panelling and the paintwork elsewhere is a dark brown to compliment the wood that is used. The flooring is bare wooden boards and there are a number of black and white pictures on the wall, many of the local market and a large Bass mirror at the rear. These have recently been joined by a mural of the Shard painted on to the wall. Large windows look out on to the street. Seating is mostly quite high tables and chairs which can be slightly difficult to manoeuvre in to position as your feet are nowhere near the ground.

There is a courtyard garden at the rear which unusually includes a lower level. Although this has brick walls and is somewhat overlooked by the neighbouring office blocks (one nearby office had a row of skittles in the window?), they’ve nonetheless made an effort to make it feel more homely with gilded mirrors around the walls and a number of heated awnings. Helpfully they also provide blankets to keep out the chilly weather.

The food menu looked to be a decent enough “pub grub” affair with options such as Chilli, Haddock & Chips and Bangers & Mash and these were mostly priced at around the £8 - £10 mark. They are also apparently famous for their burgers and pies (their words, not mine). Bar staff were efficient, quickly wiping down any tables as soon as they were vacated.

Beers on tap were Young’s Bitter, Young’s Special, London Gold and Bombardier. The solitary cider was Aspall’s Suffolk.

On 21st February 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Bunch Of Grapes

Built for St Thomas Hospital back in 1819, this is now a nice two storey Young’s pub close to London Bridge station and Borough Market. The ground floor room has bare floorboards, white brick walls and lots of dark wood panels and pillars which have been used effectively as partitioning to create more cosy spaces. Seating is mainly in the shape of high tables and stools with plenty of drinking ledges throughout and vertical drinking is often the order of the day as the pub can get extremely busy at peak times. There are a few points of interest including a huge Bass mirror near the rear door and some nice glasswork in the partitioning screens and above the door. The place was covered with Union Jack flags on my pre-Jubilee visit, which detracted somewhat from the pub’s feel. There’s a nice little split level paved courtyard to the rear, although it’s not uncommon to find lots of people spilled out onto the pavement at the front in good weather.
Upstairs is a smart lounge with exposed floorboards, nice furnishings, floral wallpaper and a large fireplace. It’s probably best to nab a table here if you’re planning on eating here and the menu offers main meals in the £8-11 price bracket. The window seats give you a good view over the street below.
Four hand pumps were dispensing Young’s Ordinary, Special and Jubilee Ale plus Well’s Bombardier. I gave the Jubilee Ale a try and got a nice, refreshing summer ale which went down very well given the hot weather. The staff seemed to be quite efficient in dealing with the crowds that had built up early in the evening.
I quite like the feel of this place and whilst it doesn’t have the wow factor of some of the other pubs in this part of town, it is a reliable enough place and well worth a look if you’re on a crawl of the area.

On 9th June 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


E TA left this review about The Bunch Of Grapes

A multi-level pub convenient for London Bridge Station comprising a cosy floorboarded bar downstairs and a dining room upstairs. The garden at the rear is also terraced. Pleasant music adds to the ambiance and it provides a nice calm escape from the bustle outside. The staff were friendly and professional. Two ales on; I had a pint of Young's Bitter which was well kept and most enjoyable. Worth dropping in while waiting for a train, to quote JAQPTIO, below.

On 22nd May 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Bunch Of Grapes

The ground floor is a single room, divided by three-quarter height screens with some etched glass. The floor is boarded, most of the seating is at high tables with stools, there were candles and clipboard menus on the tables providing that modern twist. The upstairs bar, or rather "lounge", is a rectangular room with large windows overlooking the street below, there is a feature fireplace, a decent looking ornate mirror and a collection of books and board games up here.
To the rear there is a decked garden, unusually on two levels; there are also a couple of barrels upturned to the front where smokers can perch with their pints.
It's a Youngs pub, so that meant Ordinary Bitter, Special, Bombardier and also St Austell Tribute (£3.65). Food was reasonably priced for the area with standard pub fare staples such as chilli, bangers & mash and burgers all under a tenner.
An ok if unspectacular pub which will not stand out in this area which is blessed with some fine pubs.

On 8th November 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Philip Carter left this review about The Bunch Of Grapes

Nice smallish pub, tucked away of busy Borough High street. Youngs ale on sale. A small bar area to the left, dark wood interior. Has an outside seating area on multiple levels, blankets are available for use in cold weather. There is an upstairs dining area. The only downside I noticed, was all the doors slam. The exit, gents and ladies. No one tried the garden door while I was there.

On 14th January 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]

Page: 1 2