Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Poll for date of Halifax crawl. with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Grange, Bermondsey, SE1
SE1
SE1 3BW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Grange
Dating from the mid-19th century, I’ll bet that this place was rebuilt in the 1930s; there’s a very attractive exterior, with long frontal extension and Dutch gables atop the Grange Road façade.
Sadly, none of the original interior remains, with pale boarded floor, a wasabi colour scheme with full height wasabi coloured velour curtains with salmon velour trim, black fronted modern bar with pale wood top with a modern wood and mirrored bar back, simple pale wood mismatched furniture, each table topped with a glass pot containing dried flowers. To the left-hand side there are substantial, brash oil paintings, looking a little continental, all lit from spotlights and hanging glass lamps with fluted saucer shades. Spanish or French crooners oozed out of the stereo, the whole experience was like being in a continental wine bar or restaurant. As for dining, it’s a bit schizophrenic on the food front, with burgers clashing with some dishes containing ‘parmesan essence gel’. Of a Saturday, I was the only customer indoors, around eight sat at tables in the side alley, though apparently there’s a rear garden.
There’s no cask ale here, with 10 taps from two chrome founts, dispensing the likes of multi-fizz, Guinness and Brew by Numbers No. 5 IPA at a tearful £4.50 a half, served by an almost mute barman. However, it was the first keg ale where I would actually have gone for a refill had I not been on a mission, tasting for once neither ‘juicy’ (like a fruit salad) nor soapy (like a bar of soap).
This place is really a bit of a fag to reach and for little reward; the Victoria is the preferred choice in this area.
On 18th June 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Grange
There were three handpumps on the bar - two had Abbot and Seafarers clips reversed, and the third had a London Pride clip facing forward but I was told that it was not on. That's disappointing to say the least. Keg John Smith's or GKIPA were the only bitters available, as well as the usual standard lagers. There was no sign of food or menus on Thursday lunchtime, but I suppose that they must do food as some of the tables had place mats and condiments on them.
Furnishings are mainly normal tables and chairs, but with a clutch of sofas near the entrance. This is a very "red" pub inside, although this is not evident from the outside. The upholstery, carpet and lampshades above the pool table are all red, and the walls are a combination of bright red and crimson. Gives the place a warm feel I suppose. As well as the pool table, other entertainment includes gameas and fruit machines, a juke box, and the TV that was showing the cricket when I was in. There's also a small covered seating area at the front, used regularly by smokers during my visit. I would say that the customers could be described as the salt of the earth (as evidenced by their earthy language) and one of them, seeing me poring over my photocopy of the appropriate A-Z page, came over to ensure that I knew where I was going.
This pub is certainly not worth going out of your way to visit, but might be worth a swift one if the handpumps are ever in use.
On 4th January 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]