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The Lord Clyde, Borough, SE1
SE1
SE1 1ER
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Johnstone left this review about Lord Clyde
Has to rival the nearby Royak Oak as the best pub in the area. Tucked away slightly but with a traditional frontage. Friendly efficient staff who clearly know how to run a pub. Superb.
On 24th March 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 98 recommendations about 98 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Lord Clyde
The current Lord Clyde dates from 1913 but a pub has stood here for over 300 years. The pub is rightly praised for its wonderfully preserved Truman Hanbury Buxton emblazoned exterior and the interior is also notable for being relatively unscathed by the terrors of pub modernization.
The 2 doorways labeled public and saloon bars lead to curtained lobbies although the front bar is now one L-shaped room instead of the 2 bars that it obviously once was. To the rear is a separate room with a service hatch to the main bar.
The pub is carpeted throughout and neatly presentable with some patterned glazing, several interesting displays, brewery mirrors, old photos and couple of old Trumans pricelists dating from 1961 and 1966. A picture of the queen is a throwback to the days when it was almost de rigueur to have such respect for royalty on display. Above the fireplace in the rear bar is an annotated picture of the Battle of Balaclava featuring the pub’s namesake Lord Clyde and his “Thin Red Line” tactic used in the Crimean War. There are flat screens in both bars, a dart board in the rear section and music played at a barely audible level. The ambience is on the whole quite relaxed and there never seems to be anything offputting about the customer base. There is some seating outside under a pull down canopy if the weather allows.
The biggest disappointment for me has always been the rather mundane choice of ales. Youngs, Adnams and Pride seem to be the regulars with a further 2 that tend to be quite generic guests (Doom Bar and T.E.A.on my latest visit). Prices are not particularly cheap but about par for the area with the Doom Bar clocking up £3.30 on my recent visit.
The Lord Clyde is certainly worth the extended walk from the London Bridge area but, as others have often noted, would really benefit from a more adventurous selection of beers.
On 6th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Lord Clyde
A fine traditional pub not too far from Borough tube station. The somewhat cramped U-shaped room is full of interesting features including some huge brewery mirrors, a collection of old clocks and black and white photos of the pub in days gone by.
Five hand pumps presented a surprisingly uninspired range of ale with Young’s Ordinary, London Pride, Hook Norton Hooky (£3.20), Hogs Back TEA and Adnams Bitter - all fairly standard London choices. The Hooky was pretty good though and it was served by one of a number of friendly and helpful barmaids.
The good weather saw a number of people sat outside on the handily positioned paved section at the front of the pub, which has room for several standard benches. From here you can admire the fine exterior - one of the pubs highlights.
Food was doing a great trade and the meals that passed under my nose looked very nice, if not exactly traditional pub grub.
A fine pub overall, just a shame that the ales were so predictable. Even so, it's still worth a visit - another of this area's great selection of drinking establishments.
On 15th June 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Lord Clyde
First impressions were great, the preserved tiled exterior, and the old Truman's Eagle presiding over the corner entrance door, all boded well. Once inside, just excellent, two rooms in the old traditional style, although the outside doors suggested the front bar was once two, the front room has the bar, a seperate area to the rear served via a hatch. Loads of interesting old photos, but my favourite bit of decor was the 1961 price list for Truman's Ales; Bitter at 1/5, best, 1/8 and mild at 1/2. Where is that Tardis when you want one!!
Fires lit in both rooms on a cold day, a real homely feel with curtains at the windows, spotless tables and carpets, even a chiming clock.
Great quality beer, Youngs Bitter, Pride, Adnams Bitter, Hogs Back TEA, and Hook Norton Hooky Bitter.
A superb pub with real character situated in an area of good pubs. Don't miss this one.
On 1st February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about Lord Clyde
I think the two previous reviewers are spot on, this is a good pub but is rather overshadowed by the fact there are better pubs in the SE1 proximity. The tiled exterior of this place is fantastic, and should be preserved for that alone, but the range of beers was a little predictable - Pride, Adnams, Youngs Bitter and the ubiquitous Greene King IPA, all priced at the £3 mark. My Adnams was in very reasonable form and it was filled with locals on a saturday afternoon. I'd consider giving it another shot but Borough has better.
On 29th March 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Lord Clyde
This is a great pub with excellent staff, good clientele and I counted five ales which seemd to be going down well.
There is a dartboard case on the wall, but there were tables and chairs set out on the oche so I'm not sure if there is actually a board in there. There is also a plasma screen in the back bar above the gents door so don't worry if you walk out of it and think that everyone is staring at you.
The curtains around the doors were worth their weight in gold as it was freezing outside, but they kept the heat in. I wish that more pubs would add little touches like this to make their patrons more comfortable.
This pub certainly stands out in an area of great drinking establishments and I would make a special trip to drink here again.
On 7th January 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Lord Clyde
A great, traditional boozer with a very friendly atmosphere. Five real ales on - always in excellent condition - albeit with a rather unadventurous choice of London Pride, Spitfire, Greene King IPA, Youngs Ordinary and Broadside. Well worth a visit.
On 1st October 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Lord Clyde
This area seems to boast a plethora of really good pubs, and the Lord Clyde is well justified to be included in their number. Some superb original Truman’s tiling and signage remains. It was pretty busy on the Thursday evening when I was in there, but had no difficulty in getting served. Can’t remember what I was drinking – Pride or something similar I think – but it was fine. Really good atmosphere – another of my favourites. Highly recommended.
On 6th February 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]