Simon the Tanner, Bermondsey, SE1

Tris C left this review about Simon the Tanner

Reviewed: 27th November 2021 - rating: 7

Little if anything has changed since the previous reviews, with PSM covering all aspects, though I too was surprised to learn that it’s a sister pub of the Queen’s Head off Greys Inn Road, but that site confirms it.
The place dates from 1788 and it’s quite possible that this is the original building, due to the lack of horns to two of the windows. The barman was very friendly and knowledgeable: “You won’t find Doom Bar here”, he reassured me. The interior is very simple – Simple Simon? – with bare boarding to the rear, with wainscotting and wooden features seemingly dating from the 1930s. However, the front room has a wood effect laminate floor, which was lifting and littered with crisp crumbs; not attractive. Décor is very limited with just a few prints and a couple of clocks; there’s a strange nook to the left side, to the right is a blackboard listing all beers, brewers, ABV and price. Lavs are surprisingly very smart and spacious. Lighting is conventional, with tealights to tables. Customers were very mixed, from an elderly couple, to a group of young women in duffle coats, a noted look of contentment on their faces as they raised dimple mugs to their lips.
Tasters were offered from four pumps, with a real cider on the go from Hackney Downs, then Redemption’s Trinity, By the Horns’ Stiff Upper Lip and Bristol Beer Factory’s Milk Stout at a very reasonable £4.60 a pint. I don’t know about the quality though, as I’ve never had a milk stout due both to lack of availability and its association with Ena Sharples, but thought it would be sweet and malty. However, it tasted rather sour, like it had spent time in a red wine barrel; is it meant to taste like this?
This place is definitely worth seeking out, but a bit of cash spent to make it a bit more homely would get the score up as would dealing with the floor.

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A return last night and having had BBF's Milk Stout now on several occasions, I can safely say that it shouldn't taste slightly sour so was indeed on the turn.
My ale of choice this time - from a sad selection of just two pumps with one unused - was Saltaire Titus (£2.75 a half) and also slightly on the turn; I managed to finish it but I certainly wouldn't have ordered another and as the cask choice was lacklustre and I'll bet the other option was off too, I left.
Can this pub get its act together and sort out the quality of its cask beers, because right now I can't recommend a revisit.

On 12^th June 2023 - rating: 5
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