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Submitted on Thursday, 30th March 2017
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The Pilot Inn, SE10
SE10
SE10 0BE
The Pilot Greenwich
We're delighted to announce that our outside area will be back open from 12 April and can be booked in advance thro… https://t.co/x5cAL8iSw5
11:19 AM Mar 19th 2021 from Falcon Social Media Management
Reviews of The Pilot Inn (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Pilot Inn
This is an early 19th century pub which I thought was a riverside hostelry, perhaps one oozing history like the Cutty Sark, Prospect of Whitby and especially the Mayflower.
Located amid some massive collection of ‘luxury’ housing developments, it’s actually a little too far inland to qualify as a riverside pub and anything historic about it has been well and truly washed away, as this is some sort of Fuller’s ‘boutique’ hotel venture, though certainly the closest ‘real’ pub to the Millennium Dome. The interior has been savagely altered by some interior designer, with split levels, shades of grey or turquoise colour scheme and a floor of either bare boards or trendy charcoal grey hexagonal tiles; knickknacks displayed were trendy little ‘lifestyle’ items, like small ceramic pots or vases for just one flower; the modern bar setup featured ugly repurposed gas main pipes screwed to its front. Customers seemed to be middle-aged types dining, then an excruciating bunch of noisy students at the neighbouring table.
I was expecting the usual dreary Fuller’s offerings, seeking succour with the Dark Star option, but what initially looked enticing (Pride the only Fuller’s option available) amounted to Tiny Rebel’s Star Revelation (off), Butcombe New Zealand Pale Ale ‘coming soon’, Fuller’s Wild River ‘coming soon’, the preferred Dark Star offering – Revelation – ‘Actually, Sir, that’s off too.’, me opting for of all things, a half of Amstel, for which thankfully I don’t appear to have been charged, as there’s no log on my phone.
This is a very disappointing place, requiring a fair investment in time to reach, for little reward.
On 18th April 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Pilot Inn
A traditional looking pub that is just a short stroll from the O2 arena, and certainly makes a pleasant change from the rather formulaic chain bars that can be found there. In fact, if you don’t want a pint in or around the O2 complex, then this seems to be the only other option on the peninsula. It’s just a shame that they don’t start doing food until 6:00pm during the week, otherwise we would have eaten here as well.
It’s a good sized pub, both inside and out and split over a couple of levels. Décor wise, it’s perhaps a bit of a mismatch with each room having a slightly different style, but is certainly pleasant enough. One of the larger rooms off to the right has a wood strip floor and pale grey paintwork, with some rather vibrant aqua blue on the timberwork. An unusual feature was a table that had a globe of the world built in to the end of it, presumably in a nod to the nearby meridian. A snug off to the left was quite cosy, with some yellow paintwork on the end wall, some cosy Chesterfield arm chairs and an old brick fire-place, although all it contained on our visit was an electric light. Hopefully it’s used in the colder weather. A plasma screen mounted on the chimney breast grated somewhat, but at least it was turned off. Elsewhere an upper level bar had a parquet wood floor and led out on to a terrace whilst the bar counter had an unusual selection of industrial looking pipework affixed to the front of it. Further outside seating included a patio at the rear as well as a few tables and chairs at the front.
Beers on tap were something from Hackney whose name escapes me, ESB, London Pride and Oliver’s Island, whilst a fifth pump appeared to have sold out. The solitary cider was Golden Orchards. All in all I thought this was a decent pub, and certainly a better bet than all the other options in the vicinity.
On 13th April 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Pilot Inn
This large Fullers dates back to 1801 and would have served the various industrial workers employed in the area, but now finds itself as the only proper pub on the Greenwich Peninsula, which is of course nowadays associated with the O2 complex - a five minute walk away. The pub underwent a big refurbishment a few years ago and presents itself as an upmarket alternative to the chain bars and restaurants in and around the O2. You enter to the main bar area with the servery down the left hand wall. The bar counter has a chunky wooden top and some rowing oars strapped to the front whilst the bar back has a modern look, having been painted in dark shades, and there is an open kitchen to one end. Some attractive hexagonal tiles map out the floor around the bar and there are bare brick walls opposite bearing a rack filled with the day's papers, some kitsch postcards and a few framed Billy Bunter paperbacks. To the front is a small seating area with a handful of high tables and stools under a large bay window and some aqua-marine coloured wall panelling with the pub's social media details stencilled on. To the left of the entrance is a cosy little lounge with a large rug covering old floorboards. A brick fireplace on the end wall provides a good focal point and there was a TV screen turned off in one corner. Seating here is mainly in the form of comfy armchairs and the space has been decorated with model ships, small cages, seascape paintings and old cartoons. Opposite the bar is a large, open-plan seating area with loads of good standard chair seating with luggage cases placed in various spots around the room and a beautiful wooden globe as a centrepiece. Steps lead up to a small formal dining area to the rear with lots of reserved tables, seashell wallpaper and an unusual large framed light. Beneath is possibly the largest seating space in the whole pub with rows of seating and access to the beer garden. The pub also has several rooms which could be handy if you need to overnight after a show.
For such a prominent Fuller's pub, I expected to see their full ale range on the bar, but instead there was just London Pride, ESB and Oliver's Island, with two guest ales from Weird Beard - Black Perle and Little Things That Kill. Keg options included Fullers Honeydew, Meantime Yakima Red and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, with some of these served from taps on the bar back. I decided to try one of the guest ales and ordered a pint of the Black Perle, but was staggered to then be charged £5.25 - surely the most expensive pint of ale on the peninsula. When the barman logged into the cash register to process the transaction, his name appeared as 'Al Capone', which seemed appropriate for such a racket.
I was all ready to sing this pub's praises in view of the fact that it's by far the nicest environment to enjoy a drink on the peninsula and actually a very well presented pub in its own right, but the staggering and completely unjustified cost of beer brewed in London means that I will have to think long and hard about frequenting this place again. A great pub if you're loaded and can turn a blind eye to blatant profiteering.
On 17th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
View more reviews of The Pilot Inn (7)
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- Official site of The Pilot Inn - www.pilotgreenwich.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Pilot Inn entry
- Facebook - The Pilot
- Twitter - The Pilot Greenwich
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Pilot Inn - whatpub.com
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 : Yes last updated 27 November 2013 by hondo .
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 09 April 2023 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 11 July 2008 by Moby Duck
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 09 April 2023 by Tris C
- Car Park : Yes last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 09 April 2023 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : Yes last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 11 March 2014 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : No last updated 09 April 2023 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : No last updated 09 April 2023 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 11 March 2014 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 17 March 2016 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 27 November 2013 by hondo .
