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Disappearing and 'in peril' breweries with Mobyduck
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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Sunday, 15th March 2026
With picture contributions to 11609 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (27 more images)
Detail Pages
The Bishops Finger, Smithfield, EC1
EC1
EC1A 9JR
Served areas
Reviews of The Bishops Finger (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about The Bishops Finger
The Bishops Finger is a Shepherd Neame pub with a serving counter up the right-hand wall that supports the usual odd mix of SN keg alongside four hand pumps, three of which were in use drawing Creekside, Whitstable Bay and Spitfire. There’s a banquette with a couple of small tables and some stools under the large front window and high tables run up the centre of the room. Up the left-hand wall are more banquettes with tables and upstairs are the toilets and another advertised bar that I didn’t visit. There was some 1960s background music playing so thankfully me and the other customer weren’t sat in midweek afternoon silence. I’m not a huge fan of SN pubs, but the service was friendly and the pub is well looked after so I’d pop back in if passing.
On 12th May 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6654 recommendations about 6616 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bishops Finger
Shepherd Neame's Smithfield pub, with a fairly small square-ish bar and an upstairs dining room. Of no particular interest inside, but still a proper pub with traditional furniture and decor. On this visit, my first for ten years, I suppose that I should have had a pint of the eponymous cask ale from one of the four handpumps (which was on). However, I went for the Spitfire (£6.55,) that was also being poured, along with Master Brew.
On 16th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9127 recommendations about 9127 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bishops Finger
Only open during the week, this Shepherd Neame establishment was the last remaining pub in the Good Beer Guide in Central London that I was yet to visit.
I arrived on a Friday lunchtime to find it fairly busy with all tables taken or reserved. Most people were standing at the bar, but some of the reservations were for later in the afternoon. So, we still managed to bag a table. The ground floor room feels fairly traditional and has many small pictures on the walls.We did also take a peak at the upstairs room on a visit to the gents. Whilst there were tables available in there, those that were occupied were with people working on laptops. So, there may well have been some kind of works do taking place.
At the bar, Shepherd Neame Spitfire & Bishop's Finger are the regular cask ales. In addition, there was also Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay Pale Ale & their Christmas Ale. Craft beers were Shepherd Neame Bear Island, First Drop & Whitstable Bay Black Stout, as well as Beavertown Neck Oil.
The barman seemed a bit of a character. He drew a cross on his chest when I only ordered a half of the Christmas Ale, which was at least one of the better Shepherd Neame beers I've had.
On 15th December 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3461 recommendations about 3459 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bishops Finger (8)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Bishops Finger page at the Shepherd Neame site - www.shepherdneame.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Bishops Finger entry
- Facebook - The Bishops Finger Pub
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Bishops Finger - whatpub.com
Farringdon (London), 0.35 miles, 6 min walk (show)
Moorgate, 0.79 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Darts : Yes - Upstairs. - last updated 08 August 2019 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes last updated 25 March 2016 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 20 April 2010 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 21 March 2016 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 08 August 2019 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 25 March 2016 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 December 2024 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Looks like a tight turn for a wheelchair - last updated 07 November 2024 by Will Larter
- WiFi : No last updated 07 November 2024 by Will Larter
