October 2026. Bermondsey. South-east London.
A real tourist walk up next,
past the Tower, and the bridge that was sold in error to Americans but proved too expensive to send via Amazon.
Don’t those buildings look quaint when you look back from the Thames ? You used to be able to see St Paul’s, you know.
New GBG tick No. 2 takes you just west of the Bermondsey beer mile,
just below lovely St Mary Magdalen and the fast creeping (or is that impossible) gentrification of Bermondsey Square.
It’s a joy just walking and discovering little pockets of London, like the one occupied by the Hand & Marigold.
Only re-opened 18 months ago, though it seems to have had what Wikipedia would call “Universal acclaim” from #PubMen for much longer than that.
And I’m sure I’m the last of the tickers to get here.
Nowhere does ornate Victorian corner pubs as well as London, and I’ve been to Harare and Tbilisi so I know what I’m talking about.
Absolutely gorgeous, almost a Bass shrine (so put it on !), and a touch of Stockport’s Crown about it with the comfy seating and good mix of custom. And really lovely staff.
Proper glasses for quality pints like the Verdant Fresh Hop ’26 (VERY GOOD)
and what my notes descibe as “classic rock”.
Which could mean Rick Wakeman. Or Def Leppard. But probably not Charli XCX.
