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Image posted by Blackthorn _
Submitted on Tuesday, 2nd May 2023
With picture contributions to 5202 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (24 more images)
Detail Pages
The Bishops Finger, Smithfield, EC1
EC1
EC1A 9JR
Served areas
Reviews of The Bishops Finger (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Bishops Finger
An attractive and traditional looking pub just across the road from Smithfield Market, it’s reasonably compact internally and was pretty much full to capacity on my recent Tuesday evening visit, although I did manage to squeeze in to a small table in the corner.
Décor wise it’s fairly unremarkable, with black wooden boards on the floor that have been polished smooth over the years, white embossed wallpaper on the ceiling and black supporting pillars, whilst the walls were predominately a pale taupe colour, with some deep maroon off to the left. A number of old pictures were on the walls including some of the local market, as well as various brewery related advertising and artefacts. Seating was a mixture of regular tables and chairs, some smaller high tables and a little padded bench seating. A carved wooden backdrop behind the bar was something of a feature, incorporating the pub’s name, a clock and a brewery mirror.
The menu offered a decent selection of pub grub dishes, including a number of sausages which appear to be something of a speciality, with today’s selection chalked up on a blackboard. I opted for the smoked haddock fishcakes and these were perfectly adequate, if nothing spectacular, but for the £12.50 price point I though they were very good value given the area.
Beers on tap were all from Shepherd Neame with their Bishop’s Finger, Spitfire and Whitstable Bay, whilst a fourth pump appeared unused. The solitary cider meanwhile was Orchard View. Overall, whilst nothing particularly made it stand out, the staff were very friendly and the food was good value. I’d be happy to return if in the area.
On 16th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Bishops Finger
A pretty basic and straight forward Shepherd Neame pub, it didn't do a lot for me much like their beers.
On 28th April 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Bishops Finger
As described below, bare boarded with basic furniture, some high tables and chairs and columns; there's also an interesting patterned ceiling. Muted music played and there were no TVs (gain one point!).
Ales on: Spitfire, Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Bootleg Brewing Co's Speakeasy and no surprise, Bishop's Finger at £4.20 which is fair for the area, and a decent pint.
This is a decent enough place and I'd return, but I'd prefer the short walk to The Hand & Shears.
On 25th March 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bishops Finger (5)
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
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 05 April 2016 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 25 March 2016 by Tris C
