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Detail Pages
The Grapes, Limehouse, E14
E14
E14 8BP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Grapes
There is something very apt about the fact that this fine historical pub is located on Narrow Street, given the extremely narrow layout encountered upon entering the premises. A plaque on the wall outside notes that there has been a pub on this site since 1583, although the present day building dates from 1720, and it has attracted a fair few distinguished customers over the years including Samuel Pepys who mentions the pub in his famous diary, and Charles Dickens who introduces the pub as The Six Jolly Fellowship Porters in his novel ‘Our Mutual Friend’. Today, the pub’s leaseholder is the actor Sir Ian Mckellan who stepped in after the long standing previous licensee decided to retire. Despite the celebrity associations (the likes of Patrick Stewart, Anthony Gormley, Kirsten Scott Thomas and Sting have been spotted drinking here since Mckellan got involved), the pub has very few pretensions and offers a classic traditional London drinking experience.
The front room has bare floorboards and dark wood panels with red walls and ceiling. Some settles are arranged along the left hand side before the servery appears and there is an interesting fixed seat in the small curved front window, which is beautifully etched with the pub’s name. A few old pictures dot the walls, in keeping with the pub’s art heritage (Francis Bacon used to drink here) and Mckellan has written a piece on the pub’s website giving details about several of the paintings on show. The servery makes the room even narrower, as does the staircase leading up to the restaurant, before you emerge in the rear snug with its fixed seating and vinyl flooring. There is a fireplace on one wall and the complete works of Dickens are available for perusal, alongside a figurine of Gandalf – Mckellen’s character from the Lord of the Rings movies. Both rooms are free from distractions such as TV screens or piped music, with conversation dominating and it is telling that when the owners insisted the former landlady had to have a fruit machine in the front bar, she put a sign on it asking that people refrained from using it, which resulted in the machine lasting just two weeks before it was taken away again. A small outdoor platform has room for no more than three or four people, but gives some unbeatable views down the Thames for those lucky enough to bag a spot. The restaurant was set up very formally with white tablecloths and another fine view of the river below. We had some food, but plumped for burgers from the considerably cheaper bar menu, which we ate from bar stools as the few tables downstairs were already fully occupied by the time we arrived.
The pub seems to keep a core range of ales in the shape of Sharp’s Doom Bar, Taylor Landlord (off on our visit), Marston’s Pedigree and Adnams Southwold Bitter, plus a guest which was Shepherd Neame Master Brew. Not the most thrilling line up, but my Doom Bar was in good condition, despite the barmaid’s complex routine of pouring the pint into two different glasses before combining them to ensure a full pint.
For such a small pub, there is a lot to take in here and I really enjoyed our food and drink in these civilised surroundings. It’s surprisingly easy to get here from the city and anyone walking the Thames Path would do well to build in a drinks break here. A fine traditional pub that knows how to continue attracting customers – I’d happily return, hopefully to snag that table on the balcony.
On 2nd June 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Grapes
Update - August 2012
Seems to have had a bit of a redecoration since my last visit in June 2011. Sadly most of the historical prints and photos have disappeared and, apart from a few paintings that have remained, the burgundy coloured walls look rather bare by comparison with previously. Some padded high backed chairs have been introduced, replacing the former wooden stools at the bar, and I'm afraid that these do look somewhat out of place in an old pub like this.
Beers on were TT Landlord, Adnams and Pedigree as reported in June 2011 and these seem to be the regulars. TT Landlord in good form and, at £ 3.60p, perhaps cheaper than you might expect in a famous tourist trap like this.
Overall, it's still worth seeking out.
Original review - June 2011
Famous old riverside pub in Limehouse on the north side of the Thames. The history books tell us that there's been an inn on the site since the 16th Century and that the present building dates back to around 1720.
It's a longish narrow single bar featuring wood pannelling and a fine collection of old prints and pictures on the walls. You'll notice a splendid painting - "Saturday night at the Grapes" - definitely no chavs or scumbags in sight.
There's no TV, background music, fruit machines etc to disturb the fine atmosphere. The pub is very much on the tourist circuit, a good number of whom come for the fish and chips at lunch in the popular upstairs restaurant.
At the rear of the pub up several steps is a small wooden balcony on stilts affording fine views of the river and the opposite bank.
Beers on recently were TT Landlord, Pedigree and Adnams, the latter being in good form. It's been a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular in recent years
I've always liked this pub and think it's well worth finding
On 7th August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Grapes
A cosy and traditional haven selling consistently decent quality ale in an area which has been radically regenerated and modernised over the last 20 years or so. The Grapes feels like something of a refuge and the welcome is warm.
The reviews below give excellent and accurate detail which I won't repeat. Beers offered on a recent visit were Adnams Bitter, Pedigree and Landlord as regulars and Quantock Sunraker as a guest. Both the Sunraker and Pedigree were crisp and quaffable. Unfortunately, the Sunraker and Landlord both ran out and weren't replaced but this may be a function of being a Tuesday lunchtime and the weekend batch not yet being in or ready. Well worth a visit for the beer, food, view and history.
OCTOBER 2010
UPDATE November 2011
Happily, The Grapes remains totally unchanged. A welcoming traditional pub in a modern and thriving area.
Minor quibbles would be an unlit fire on a chilly day and one table on a busy lunchtime swamped by Christmas decorations. These are though minor quibbles more than offset by the welcome, ale and food quality, traditional building and stunning location.
Beer on this time was Adnams Bitter, Pedigree, Robinsons Double Hop and TT Landlord. The latter being in excellent condition and as good as you're likely to find outside Yorkshire. It wouldn't stay in the glass.
A great boozer and well worth a detour for if in London.
On 1st December 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Grapes
Historical Dickensian dockside pub that has survived the Luftwaffe and 1980’s redevelopment. Not easy to find and is a semi-confusing ten minutes’ walk from Limehouse DLR. The interior is long and narrow (must be barely ten foot wide), replete with dark wood paneling, settles, tables and uneven wood floor. The old style semi-oval bar adorned with nautical paraphernalia makes for a nice focal point, with maritime pictures and plates adorning the walls, along with etched windows at the pub’s front. The pub has no TV or piped music which I think adds to the atmosphere. Some board games were available and the pub appeared to be dog-friendly. Four ales (TT Landlord, Adnams Bitter and two Marstons brews) available on my visit. My TTL was in decent nick though I observed the unsupervised surly Eastern European barmaid filling up other punters glasses from the drip trays, so I assume she must have done it to mine - oh dear. To the rear of the pub, up several steps is a small little waterside balcony (no smokers!) which gives a nice view of the river; craning your neck a little you can see the Docklands redevelopment to the east and the London Eye to the west. A quick mention should be made of the toilets, which are a splendid display of green Victorian tiling and mahogany trim.
All in all, this is a fine old boozer but the barmaid’s antics left a sour taste and made me wonder quite how well the place is run. A shame as it should have been a default 9.
On 30th October 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Grapes
Very good review below ,so little to add.Appropriate given the address,this must be one of the narrowest pubs in London,which only adds to the charm.4 handpumps with Youngs Kew Gold ,Adnams Bitter and Pedigree as regulars and TT Landlord as guest,prices very reasonable for the area .There is a voting system for the guest,enqire at the bar.Ale quality good ,great river view from the small outside terrace this is a pub interior worth checking out.It wouldnt take many customers to fill the interior but outside peak periods this is a very traditional drinking spot.Restaurant upstairs has peak prices on their fish orientated menu which I didnt partake.
On 1st April 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Grapes
I really like this pub. Going into this pub feels a bit like stepping back into Dickensian London, but without the whores, cutthroats and other diverse miscreants that infested this part of the world. In fact Dickens knew the area well, and is said to have used The Grapes as the basis for the “Six Jolly Fellowship Porters” (and what an interesting name for a pub that is!) in “Our Mutual Friend”. There’s plenty of dark wood all over the place, solid wood furniture – in fact not much in the way of luxury to be had here. They have a fish restaurant upstairs, but I haven’t eaten there so can’t comment on it. There’s a large gantry over the bar holding masses of assorted and dusty bric-a-brac; there’s several interesting sketches of the pub on the walls; and some miniature toby jugs in display cabinets. In fact the décor is the mixed bag of assorted odds and ends that I rather like. The back of the pub leads out to a very small landing on the river, affording some excellent views. It was open during Friday afternoon - in the past it has closed at 1500 on other weekdays, so prospective visitors planning to visit in the afternoon might be advised to check opening (and closing!) times.
They had Timothy Taylor Landlord and one or two other mainstream ales on, but my chums and I went for Something called Ridley’s “Old Bob”, simply because we had not seen it before. As soon as I tried it I said that it had that Greene King taste, and my chum from somewhere up North said that it reminded him a bit of Tetley’s. Anyway, it transpired that it was an ersatz Greene King ale. And at £3.10 for a weak 3% GK ale we thought that it was somewhat overpriced. Interestingly it was the second ersatz GK 3% ale we had seen along that stretch of the river – the other being something called “Swift”, seen in the Prospect of Whitby. Anyway, I still like the pub and think that it is definitely worth a visit if you like a traditional pub.
On 6th March 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Grapes
First in Weds 17:30 and liked the look of it straight away. Pride, Pedigree, TT Landlord, Brakspear Oxford Gold, drank a few of the latter which was very good. Not a big selection of wines but the friendly barman poured a taster of the couple of reds before choosing. The whole has a nice lived-in woody feel, narrowish bar space widens either end with tables & seating and there is the much mentioned ‘deck' to the rear over the river, although those suits who used it that night must've been frozen, maybe had some top level secret takeover to discuss, haha. Little dog at table next to ours, so it seems they are allowed which I like. Loos are upstairs which gave me a chance to spot the little restaurant, and very nice it looked too – it seems to have a good rep especially for fish, maybe I'll check that out some time. Busy when we left, but nowhere near as rammed as the post-work Canary Wharf hell-holes.
13 January 2008
CLOSED at 15:10 last Thurs, making my trip in the rain somewhat maddening. Odd that they bother to close for a coupla hours round here, but I'll be back to check it out when open.
On 7th March 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Grapes
So much better than I expected following the walk from Westferry DLR past dodgy looking 60's estates and bland recent "regeneration"
Great river views from the small deck at the back, even if it seems London was only developed after 1986, where has all the history gone? No smoking outside as well as in, suits me if not all.
Marstons Ped, Adnams Bitter, TT's Landlord and my choice Otter Ale on yesterday, OA a bit heavy and rich for a lunchtime I might add. A sign at the bar encourages customers to vote for their choice of guest ale, an excellent idea.
Upstairs is a highly lauded fish restaurant, and perhaps the finest pub toilets I've seen in ages, loads of original green Victorian tiling and mahogany. All assuming you get upstairs without knocking yourself out on the seriously short of headroom steep staircase, although to be fair, warning signs are there.
In short, great little pub worthy of the journey.
On 24th November 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]