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The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon), Woolwich, SE18
SE18
SE18 6NY
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
Despite the large and imposing building in which it’s sited (a former FADS store – the kids won’t recognise that brand!), this is a basic Spoons, though I might well have missed the lounge area described below. The large plate glass windows at least allow for more light to penetrate than is often the case in JDW outlets. Apparently the local area gets a bit fruity in the evening, but my lunchtime visit found a civilised atmosphere. My Oakham JHB was solid (NBSS 3) and the grub was a notch above the usual in terms of presentation. Does a job for the locals but unless you’re trying to tick off all the London Wethers, you needn’t seek this one specifically. At least you can pretend to be Jimmy Pursey in here and shout Hurry Up Harry at your dawdling fellow crawlees. Or the staff, if you’re feeling game. 5.5
On 21st November 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
Located in the centre of Woolwich and taking its name from Henry VII's flagship which was built in the nearby dockyards, this is a large modern Wetherspoons pub that was rebuilt following a petrol bomb fire during the 2011 London riots. The pub comprises two distinct separate areas - a large rectangular main bar and a smaller and quieter lounge to the right of the entrance. The main bar is a simple space filled with the usual varied mix of seating options including a row of high, metal topped tables each with a bank of plug sockets in the middle, which struck me as a good idea in this age when people want to charge various devices on the move. The servery runs along the back wall and has been decorated with some colourful arty touches around the bar back, whilst décor elsewhere includes a series of large paintings all with a vague seafaring theme. A passageway to the right of the bar passes an open kitchen before leading into the lounge. Here there are a mix of padded banquettes and standard chairs and the walls have been covered with various bits of local interest including local photos blown up to an enormous size, an information board about the Woolwich Ferry, a colourful street scene painting and a display relating to Charlton Athletic. The whole pub was absolutely packed on a Friday evening, including a surprisingly large number of loud children in the otherwise peaceful lounge area.
The beer range was a little disappointing with three regular ales doubled up and two ciders leaving room for just two guest ales on the remaining hand pumps. I ended up with a pint of Red Ale from a Swedish Brewer whose name I failed to record. It was served in reasonable condition by one of the overworked and thus rather brusque member of staff.
Considering that this pub had a £1.3 million refurbishment and opened in time for the 2012 Olympics, it already feels a bit worn and frayed around the edges and whilst the modern styling helps make it stand out from other such Wetherspoons venues, I couldn't help but think that the place is perhaps destined to always be a sub-par part of this particular chain. With a number of other interesting venues opened around Woolwich in recent years, this is no longer the essential port of call it once was.
On 5th April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
The Great harry is a Spoons that is situated in the middle of Woolwich under a 60s looking low rise office block.
Once inside the main room is fairly large and oblong shaped with the bar facing,the seating is mainly normal tables and chairs with a few tall tables and chairs in the middle area,there is a separate area to the right which is smaller and is set aside for family dining.
There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Milestone Dark Mild which went down very well,the other beers that i noted were Hop Stuff pale Ale,Portobello Market Porter,Fotheringham best,plus the usuall Spoons regulars,Doom Bar,Ruddles Best and GK Abbot.
The pub was packed on my Saturday dinner visit with a mixed bunch including lots of Charlton fans having a pre match drink.
This is a bog standard Spoons,but the drink was nice enough.
Pub visited 2/5/2015
On 2nd May 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
This Spoons occupies the ground floor of a ghastly office block not far from Woolwich Arsenal station. It is several decades since I had been to Woolwich and to be honest I didn't recognise any of it. The pub has the saving grace of having windows down two sides of it unlike the usual long narrow shop conversion, but that was the only redeeming feature for me as the beer selection was rubbish. There are ten handpumps but five were taken up with cider (1 Available Soon) then there was Abbot, Ruddles, Old Speckled Hen, Caledonian / Stone Session IPA and Elgood's Snickalmas. I went for the Elgood's Snickalmas which was in very good nick but at £2.65 more expensive than most Spoons outside Central London.
The best part of my visit to this pub was leaving it and getting the 51 bus over what seemed like mountains and a vast variety of suburbia to get to Welling.
On 30th November 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a ‘spoons, and is typical of the brand, being functional and characterless. It’s a large shop conversion slap bang in the middle of Woolwich and was very busy on Saturday with families possibly visiting the fair opposite or having a well-earned respite from the rigours of Christmas shopping. Anyway, you know what you’re going to get with a Wetherspoons, and this one doesn’t disappoint.
On 9th December 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
Named after Henry VIII’s flagship that was built a short stagger away in Woolwich Dockyard, this modern glass fronted Wetherspoons is housed in a former FADS store. To be honest this was never a good ‘Spoons and I doubt too many tears were shed when the pub was burned to the ground during the 2011 riots. After almost a year of closure, the pub has now been literally Phoenixed from the flames.
The pub is divided into a large open plan main bar area and a separate section that is geared more towards those dining. There probably isn’t much you can do with the quite dull and featureless interior but the necessary refurbishment since the riots does appear to have breathed a little bit of life into the aesthetic blandness that it once was.
The 10 hand pumps had a couple of guest Nelson beers among the usual suspects but from my past experience it has never been a good hunting ground for unusual guest beers but then again, in Woolwich you have to be thankful for the tiniest droplet of ale that you can find.
To be honest this was never a particularly good ‘Spoons and Woolwich isn’t exactly noted for having the most welcoming drinker demigraph but I didn’t find it as menacing on my recent visit as I have in the past although I wouldn’t take that as being a regular occurrence. It’s very much a fall back kind of place and given the absence in quality of the local competition (Dial Arch and Roses excepted), you may just find yourself falling back on it more than you would like to.
On 28th August 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
A typical Spoons pub, the Great Harry is a bright, open establisment next to the busy Woolwich town Centre. Yesterday it was ful of football supporters watching the World Cup on huge screens. I got intol thes spirit by having a pint of Marstons Fever Pitch, one of the 8 ales on offer. It was normal for JDW - too cold, but drinkable. I would probably go back next time I'm waiting for a train, but I can't say I'd go out of my way to come here.
On 26th June 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3283 recommendations about 3248 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Great Harry (JD Wetherspoon)
Large Single bar Wetherspoons with a seperate "family" area.can get packed.Usual JD's real ales on tap.
On 7th October 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]