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Dial Arch, Woolwich, SE18
SE18
SE18 6GH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Dial Arch
This is a converted building forming part of the Royal Arsenal site, one of the old workshops I understand, it must be at least 60m long. The "Dial Arch" I presume relates to the unusual clock/sundial over the main arched central entrance. There is a claim, marked on a sign outside that this is the birthplace of Arsenal F.C., formed by munitions factory workers in 1886, the team being originally called "Dial Square" before renaming as Woolwich Arsenal. Probably the first example of franchise football when they relocated to North London.
You enter this historic building via a modern glazed atrium with a long bar on the back wall and exposed services and ducting above. The exposed steel beams supporting this recent addition are sympathetic with the largely exposed brickwork interior and open roof structure in an adjacent side room. To the right as you enter is a dedicated restaurant complete with the "Please Wait to be Seated" signage, to the left is an area internally of booth style seating. A separate front room has more natural light and a few bits of artwork and also a real fire which really didn't need to be lit on a warm July afternoon. The bar area itself is limited in seating apart from a couple of high tables and a pair of armchairs.
The pub is part of Wells' Young's stable but only had their ordinary bitter and Special on, otherwise there were Redemption Hopspur,(4.30), ELB Jamboree and also Cowcatcher, a cider from Aspells, Temple Moon with one pump remaining unclipped. Food looks to be important here, many were eating both in the restaurant and the bar area, table menus listed various pub staples such as steak and ale pie with mash and veg with ale gravy (13), no pound signs or decimals, thin crust pizzas around 9.5-11. Specials were listed on a chalkboard peaking at rib eye with peppercorn sauce and the trimmings for 22.
I liked the pub a great deal, it is a sympathetic and useful conversion of an historic building now put to public use. There is no doubt that it is expensive but it is not somewhere I would retire to for a session, more a pitstop on exploring the fascinating history of this area.
On 3rd July 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Dial Arch
This is a large Youngs pub with a most impressive setting inside one of the marvellous old Royal Arsenal buildings. You enter the pub through an impressive porch, past an upright piano and straight into the main bar area with the servery opposite along the rear wall. The room has a quarry stone floor and the servery boasts a chunky counter with a high mirrored bar back, a large black and white image of the building back in the day on the end wall and a rather disappointing mess of exposed pipes, ducts and wires above. A few high tables and stools can be found here but the space has mostly been set aside for vertical drinking, with a series of seating areas available in most other directions. To the right there is a sizeable formal dining area which was out of bounds for drinkers, so I was unable to get a good look around. The left hand side sees a passageway with button backed sofas and padded bench booths under bare brick walls adorned with more photos of local interest including some large images depicting local industry. To the front left there is a smart bare boarded lounge accessed through a decorative wrought iron doorway offering a mix of comfy sofas and standard tables and chairs. Mirrors seem to be the decorative item of choice for much of this room and there are some display cages along the wall separating the space from the aforementioned passageway, full of all sorts of random bits and bobs. A fireplace stands in the middle of the room under an extractor hood and this was lit on a chilly winter's evening. Music played quietly throughout my stay but I didn't spot any TV screens in any of the rooms. There is a large seating area out the front of the pub on the old cobblestones with a mixture of plush seats and hard benches, which would be a great spot on a warm summer's day.
I was expecting the usual Youngs dross and little else of interest at the bar, but was surprised to find the ubiquitous Ordinary and Special supplemented by Southwark Ruckin Red, By the Horns Hopslinger and Hop Stuff Fusilier with Adnams Broadside and Truman's Blindside due to come on soon. The bar staff were very friendly and chatty and explained to me that the Hopslinger was by far the most popular beer they had on at present, so I gave that a try and enjoyed a very tasty pint.
This is a great old building being put to good use by a pubco that doesn't always get these things right. The guest ales are a definite bonus and there is plenty here to explore, making return visits an appealing prospect. With so many Youngs pubs being given character-killing corporate makeovers, this place stands out as a rare example of them getting it right. A very enjoyable visit and, whilst it certainly isn't cheap in here, I would happily return nevertheless.
On 5th April 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Dial Arch
The real ales on here were Young's Bitter, Special, London Gold, Bombardier, Adnam's Ghost Ship, and Sambrook Wandle (£2 a half), plus Aspall's cider on handpump. The bar menu has main courses from £11 (London bangers, creamy mashed potatoes, caramelised onion gravy) to £21.50 (21-day aged rib-eye, etc, etc). Pizze are from £9 to £11.
This new-ish Young's pub is housed in a large old brick built building that was once part of the historic Woolwich Arsenal complex, but is now within the riverside development. There's a dining area on the right as you enter that's comprised of several nooks and crannies (although you can of course eat in other pub areas if you want); on the left are a couple more rooms, one with some booths and sofas/armchairs, and the other with a pretty equal mix of normal tables and chairs and more armchairs/sofas. This is a large place, but with the discreet drinking and dining areas Young's have not converted it into a drinking barn.
The walls are mainly exposed brickwork, and there are a few barrels around the place adding atmosphere, and a grand piano sits grandly in the entrance. But perhaps the nicest area of this place is the outside, with loads of tables and chairs on the extensive terrace at the front. When I was there it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and many were sitting on the grassed area in front of the pub, surrounded by the ancient artillery pieces presumably left over from its Arsenal days.
The ale selection is pretty good by Young's standards. This is a nice enough place even if it's new enough not to have any traditional pub character, although it's in a historical setting which is a big plus. I reckon it's best visited on a warm day when the outside area can be enjoyed. I would visit again.
On 15th May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Dial Arch
The Dial Arch is a newish Youngs pub that is housed in part of the old Woolwich Arsenal buildings.
Once inside this is a very large pub with lots of different areas,the right side seem to be set aside for diners,this area was quite busy with them,the left side has two large oblong shaped drinking areas which have mix of seating type including normal tables and chairs some american diner type seats.
There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar and i was offered a taster by the friendly barman,i had a drink of Hop Stuff Pale Ale which was a very nice drink but pricey at over £4.00 a pint,the other beers i noted were Youngs Bitter /Special /London Gold.
This is a very smart and comfortable pub to have a drink in.
I quite liked this pub.
Pub visited 2/5/2015
On 2nd May 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Dial Arch
A large modern Young's pub with rooms and nooks and crannies everywhere. A selection of real ales with a very sub standard pint of Hop Stuff Pale ale being an eye watering £4.15 a pint. So if you visit make sure you come with a fat wallet, you will need it. A rip off.
On 20th August 2014
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
S Armstrong left this review about Dial Arch
After eating here nine times (out of the twelve evenings I was in Woolwich), on just two occasions, the food was not quite so good. Not bad in any way, but just not as good as I'd come to expect. Still, seven out of nine isn't a bad score.
There's a choice of eight (or was it more?) real ales, and many keg beers. The place is adorned with interesting knicknacks - possibly from the building's days as a store/workshop in the Royal Arsenal, or perhaps just any old thing bought in by some interior designer.
A welcome find in a good food and drink wasteland, and I will certainly eat here again if I have the misfortune to be working in Woolwich again.
On 21st March 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 7 recommendations about 7 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
B Lamb left this review about Dial Arch
New Young's pub opened this summer in the Royal Arsenal after a long wait following refurbishment. Early teething problems with food - good, but a bit on the expensive side for Woolwich - but a good addition to the local offerings. Lots of outside seating, as well as plenty inside both formal for eating and sofas for lounging. Busy in the evenings particularly at weekends. Worth a visit.
On 26th September 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]