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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Wittenden
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Alan Winfield
Submitted on Sunday, 14th June 2015
With picture contributions to 6053 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (15 more images)
Detail Pages
The Sheaf, SE1
SE1
SE1 1TY
Served areas
Reviews of The Sheaf (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Sheaf
Housed in the basement of the former Hop Exchange (1867), this had been known as a bar called The Dive since 1949, taken over by William and Rebecca Willeter around 1954, later to become the legendary Becky’s Dive Bar, an early proponent of real ale from around the 1960s, forcibly closed down in 1975 due to unsafe and unsanitary conditions. This had been known in later years as the Wheatsheaf, but the name was abbreviated in 2013, so as not to cause confusion with the neighbouring pub of the same name.
Down a short flight of steps and you enter a large open space with a very low, white brick barrel vaulted ceiling and bare brick walls. The floor is covered with pale grey vinyl, which gives it something of an institutional feel; the bar is off in a corner. The walls are covered with dozens of black and white framed photos of customers from the bar’s former venue; further décor comprises ugly exposed aircon units. Lighting comes in the form of overly bright spotlights shining in the face and wire framed sconces; the ceiling is swathed with white fairy lights, which gives the feel of drinking in a planetarium, but with a load of TVs showing the footie, whilst dull mood music played at a low volume. Off to the side, there's an alcove with two dartboards, used by very enthusiastic players. Furniture comprises studded oxblood banquettes to the walls, with bench tables and normal stools. Furniture in the centre is all tall, stools with tubular steel legs. Customers were all blokes, many effing and jeffing with abundance.
Those who sang the praises of this establishment’s ale range will now be sorely disappointed, with four pumps all unused, then a reversed Young’s London Original clip and Hophead at a reasonable £4.95 a pint and a bit tired, though I may have lucked out, as just the one real ale is listed on the bar’s website, served by a rather fed-up barmaid; can’t say I blame her.
I only really came here out of curiosity due to its mid-20th century history, but aside from parallel darts, as BF says, this is now just good for televised sport but little else, being dull, characterless and with a feeble beer selection.
On 19th January 2022
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2242 recommendations about 2199 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Sheaf
ORIGINAL REVIEW Dec 2010.
Little to add to Roger B's accurate review,I enjoyed my visit to this pub which still retains the feel of it's previous incarnation as a "Ball's Brothers".Seven real ales available with Youngs Bitter and Nethergate Redcar Best as regulars and a changing array of guests,my Dark Star American IPA was on good form.Will definately use this place again as it does appear much less hectic than The Market Porter,but still provides a good range of ales.Food served including a Pie of the Day if you plan an extended stay.
UPDATE
Now has just three handpumped ales and both my Dark Star Hophead and Castle Rock Harvest Pale were in poor condition and quite tasteless.I couldn't be bothered to try the house Redcar Bitter.Dominted by flat screens ,this is good for televised sport but little else.
On 30th September 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Sheaf
Housed under the former Hop Exchange building, this is brighter and more open than most basement bars, benefitting from a fairly restrained used of dark timber when compared with the likes of Davy's, etc. Tends to be busy, but not crowded, except at the height of the early evening rush. As always, a fine selection from the ten handpumps, including the tasty Shefford Plum Mild (£4.30) on this visit.
On 15th April 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8733 recommendations about 8733 pubs]
View more reviews of The Sheaf (20)
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- Official site of The Sheaf - sheaf.london
- Randomness Guide to London - Wheatsheaf entry
- Facebook - The Sheaf
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Sheaf - whatpub.com
London Bridge, 0.36 miles, 6 min walk (show)
London Cannon Street, 0.63 miles, 12 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 15 January 2020 by Philip Carter
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 January 2020 by Philip Carter
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 30 July 2013 by Moby Duck
- Car Park : No last updated 30 July 2013 by Moby Duck
- Darts : Yes - x 2. - last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 15 January 2020 by Philip Carter
- Karaoke : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by hondo .
- Micropub : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 15 January 2020 by Philip Carter
- Pool Table : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 30 March 2024 by Rex Rattus
- Real Cider : No last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : No - Downstairs venue. - last updated 19 January 2022 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 26 October 2016 by hondo .
