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Detail Pages
St James of Bermondsey, Bermondsey, SE16
SE16
SE16 4QZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about St James of Bermondsey
Dating from the late 19th century as the St. James Tavern, the current name was applied in 2014, presumably along with the trendy grey ‘gastro’ exterior paint scheme; there’s no longer a fish van, unless it serves turbot with a beurre blanc sauce.
The interior has probably changed little since the last two reviews, though the colour scheme is now one of dark grey wainscoting with battleship grey walls and a mid-grey Anaglypta ceiling, all to illumination from trendy light fixtures. There’s a modern steel bar back and Wimbledon played in silence on the TV to mixed customers, young professional in the main, older traditional locals seated at a picnic bench out front.
There’s now just the one cask pump here dispensing Hammerton N1 at a very stiff £2.95 a half and decent, served by a barmaid who was a bit cunctative.
This place is ok but needs a better cask lineup; as things stand it’s the best option in the immediate vicinity though.
On 8th July 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about St James of Bermondsey
Corner pub, partly opened-out to leave a 'J'-shaped bar, and refurbished in a gastro-pub style. The generally dark wood and paintwork made the advertised beer garden seem appealing, and the rear patio is a much more colourful space altogether. There are also a few wooden picnic benches out on the pavement. Three of four handpumps in use, offering Bermondsey Best from Southwark Brewery, Pride and Twickenham Naked Ladies (£4.50).
On 10th September 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about St James of Bermondsey
GK IPA, London Pride, and Sambrook's Powerhouse Porter (£2.30 a half) were all on in here. There was a fourth handpump unclipped, and the barmaid apologised because the usual selection of four ales wasn't available. That's nice, and rather touching. As far as food goes, they seem to specialise in Piminister pies at £6.50 a pop.
Inside it's had a relatively recent makeover. Now completely bare-boarded, and with the bar counter front and much of the walls painted indigo, arty lights hanging from the ceiling, and furnished with hard wooden settles, one or two winged armchairs and mainly normal tables and chairs. OK so far, but these high ceilinged pubs that eschew carpets and upholstery do get noisy when only moderately busy.
There are two distinct rooms - the main bar area at the front has the handpumps, and through a doorway on the left (the door itself having been dispensed with) is another room that has a continuation of the bar counter but no handpumps and looks as if the servery in there might be used for food preparation.
This pub fits nicely into the OK category, although I don't really think there's enough about it to tempt me back. My porter was excellent though - and it should be at £2.30 a half.
On 22nd July 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The St James Tavern
I’m always happy when I see a permanent fish van parked outside a pub and I’m not sure why because I never buy anything, maybe it’s the fact that it’s usually a good sign that the pub is a proper local’s boozer as this one is. There is a pool table, dartboard and a couple of flat screen for showing Sky Sports and I found the regulars to be a lively, but harmless bunch. The woman behind the bar was very friendly and I was served a very nice pint of Guinness. The only ale available was Pedigree, but a good range of standard draught products were also available. Some upbeat 70s and 80s music was playing during my late afternoon weekday visit and it was at a good volume so people didn’t have to shout over it.
This is a good backstreet boozer and I would be very happy if my local pub was like this.
On 11th July 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The St James Tavern
Large roadside pub but unfortunately there was no real ale on sale here, the only good thing about the place was they had a seafood stall outside, very nice for those who love Seafood
On 18th February 2007
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]