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Submitted on Saturday, 5th May 2018
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The Gladstone Arms, Borough, SE1
SE1
SE1 1QN
Gladstone Arms
RT @priyacga: Sunday roast with scrambled paneer pie. I’m happy ☀️
2:15 PM Jun 2nd 2021 from Twitter for Android
Reviews of The Gladstone Arms (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Gladstone Arms
This is a compact, backstreet boozer that has been given a modest, gentrified makeover that nicely blends traditional and contemporary elements. In many ways, it’s still a basic pub, with bare floorboards and low wood panelled walls with plain upper sections. The servery is immediately to the left upon entering, with a garishly painted wood panel counter and a modern shelf and mirror bar back where most of the keg taps have been relocated. Some nice lamps above the bar help add to a muted lighting set-up which gives the room a relaxed and warm ambiance. The decor is pretty eclectic and includes a large, unusual mural of an Asian temple scene, a fabulous old bulldog pub sign along with a new neon sign, loads of potted plants, some decent modern artwork, Union Jack bunting and much more. Seating comes in the form of tables and chairs arranged around the perimeter and I noticed a few folk going out through a door to the rear, possibly to the roof terrace or upstairs overspill room, neither of which I managed to explore. Music played very quietly in the background but this very quickly got lost under the chatter from a modest sized crowd, and despite the presence of a couple of rugs on the floor to dampen the sound, I get the impression this pub can get very noisy when it’s full.
There are just two handpulls on the bar and one of these was out of action, leaving the sole option of Sambrooks Glorious, which I’d fortuitously never tried before. The staff seemed really friendly and the pint of Glorious they served up was perhaps a little short of living up to its name, but in decent nick nonetheless. Twelve craft keg lines ensure that craft beer fans are well catered for, with a couple of them reserved for cider options.
This is another pub I’ve walked past many times but never had recourse to venture into, and as with the nearby Kings Arms, it goes to show that you should always take a punt, as this is a great little pub with a cosy interior, interesting beer and good service. Definitely worth checking out if you’re crawling through the local area.
Date of visit - 20th May 2023
On 5th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Gladstone Arms
Tucked away from regular pedestrian routes, you would really have to know it was here to find it. It is what I've only recently discoverd is called a 'Desi Pub', owned by people of Indian origin giving the pub an oriental feel whilst maintaining a traditional pub feel, designed to appeal to and welcome people of all cultures. It is of course housed in a traditional London corner pub, there is a strong food aspect, unsuprisingly the menu is Anglo/Asian, at the same time it still keeps a good boozer quality in the fairly small L shaped room, there is an upstairs lounge and roof terrace that I didn't investigate. There are two handpumps but the cask ale was confined to the one on my visit, ELB Foundation, the beer policy seemed to be firmly in favour of craft keg with 14 taps on the wall with some decent brewers on display, I settled for a Gipsy Hill Bandit. Although it was quiet on my mid week mid afternoon visit I can see this being rather popular. Very nice 7.5/10
On 12th May 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Gladstone Arms
Dating from the 19th century but rebuilt in the ‘20s, I had assumed from a couple of the reviews, that this was some sort of ‘left-wing’-themed pub, with a ‘Greetings Comrade’ from the staff and perhaps some suitable décor: an autographed copy of Mao’s Little Red Book, Tony Benn’s teapot, Harold Wilson’s pipe, Michael Foot’s donkey jacket and stick, or perhaps a jar containing Tony Blair’s conscience, but no.
It is as mentioned, a bit Boho hip, seemingly Indian run, judging by some of the staff, Anglo-Indian food and a depiction of Ganesh printed on a sheet, a bit like a Hindu version of the Turin Shroud, the only thing missing being cosmic smells from ethnic candles; George Harrison would have felt right at home here. I did get a few strange looks (don’t I always), but had my phone out with The Guardian app on standby.
An unused pump sat next to a solitary active one, dispensing Innis & Gunn’s Gunpowder IPA, missed as it was obscured, me plumping for a half of Hammerton’s Pentonville oyster stout at £3.00 a half and interesting, not having had this type of beer before.
With Simon the Tanner, the Roebuck and Libertine for starters, this makes for a good crawl; the Gladstone’s definitely my bag!
On 27th November 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
View more reviews of The Gladstone Arms (10)
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- Official site of The Gladstone Arms - www.thegladpub.co.uk
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- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Gladstone Arms - whatpub.com
London Bridge, 0.69 miles, 13 min walk (show)
London Bridge, 0.69 miles, 13 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 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes - Roof terrace - last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Car Park : No last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : No last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes - Anglo-Indian. - last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : Yes last updated 28 September 2013 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 05 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : Yes - Mondays. - last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No - Addlestones - not real - last updated 28 September 2013 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 14 November 2021 by Tris C
