The Dickens Inn — Restaurant in London

The Dickens Inn, St Katherine Docks, London.

The Dickens Inn is set over three floors !!. The ground floor was the sawdust floored candlelit drinking area, the first floor was and is set out for more formal dining, with the third floor set aside for booking the two large grandiose rooms.

Now the ground floor is dimly lit to take you back to the era of the 1800s, but the bar and fittings are state of the art, but retain a charm of its own. Looking very period in character.

A taven, restaurant and bar meals, even traditional games are available.

This is again is very close to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. If you would like somewhere to rest and refresh, a nice meal and a great range of drinks, including real ales, this must be on your list !!!.... This inn is just behind the #Guanamo Hotel, or #The Tower Hotel and on #St Katherine's Dock, so never a dull moment. Highly recommend !!!. The size gives you an opertunity to find either a cosy corner or games, plus the large television area to the very far end, you would never know this was there unless you explore !..

This could be your introduction into the walkways along the Thames. You can even get down to the foreshore of the Thames itself, Mudlarking is looking for items in the beach that appears twice a day when the tide is out on the Thames. But more about this in another article.

The only conjecture ?, could Charles Dickens ever have drunk here ?, it seems very unlikely. Probably not, but this has some amazing history and who knows who or what frequents this place at night !!!....

He certainly would have passed this building on a regular basis. Did he know the owner when it was a a warehouse, full of alchahol ?. We will never know.

For more info visit www.dickensinn.co.uk.

Some history...

The building dates from the early 1800 / 1900s, some believe this was actually earlier. The original building was a wooden frame with wattle and daub, or cob infill. This made these buildings a target for the gangs, who could dig their way in !!. The expensive contents, would have made this a lucrative crime. The Rum, a staple for the Royal Navy, with rations of half to a pint per day !!, being made with expensive sugar. Beer, not so much, the gin again not so easy to sell on, but Whiskey and the top selling Tea !. Very expensive still. If the rumours were true many more items would have been stored. Wattle and daub, or cob, was not waterproof. The pretty black wood with white paint is a recent addition to wooden framed structures. White paint, was not available, so what we're or did they look like ?. They were Pink !, Why Pink ?. The only waterproofer for wattle and daub, or cob, was pigs blood !!. Hence the Pink and not white look. Who knew ?... In the 1820s in bid to modernize the warehouse and make it more secure due to the high price of tea and goods within. It would have had some Bonded status, the building had a brick skin built around and into it. Fast forward to the 1970s, the building was in need of some repair and the entire waterfront properties were gaining value at a very high pace. It looked doomed to be demolished. The original site was some 200 yards to the East of its present location. During the rebuild that was extensive, it was said to resemble a three storey balconied Inn of the 18th Century, However even this is disputed as this was not the fashion in the 1800s. This was when in 1976 the building was saved as Sir Charles Dickens, Grandson, Cedric Charles Dickens, purchased the property, It was in May of 1976 that the Inn eventually opened as a public house. Cedric Dickens is quoted as saying My Great Grandfather, Sir Charles Dickens, would have loved this...

A Dickens of a Delight: My Fantastic Experience at The Dickens Inn, London

From the moment I stepped through the doors of The Dickens Inn, I was transported to another era. Nestled in the heart of St. Katharine Docks, this beautifully restored 18th-century brewery offers a truly unique and charming experience that's hard to find anywhere else in London. Forget sterile modern pubs – The Dickens Inn oozes character and history from every beam and cobblestone.

The building itself is a marvel. Its multi-tiered structure, with balconies overlooking the docks, provides stunning views and a lovely atmosphere. I was lucky enough to snag a table on one of the outdoor terraces, and the combination of the gentle breeze, the twinkling lights, and the sight of the boats bobbing in the water was simply magical.

The food was equally impressive. I opted for [mention a specific dish you might imagine having], and it was cooked to perfection and incredibly flavorful. The portions were generous, and the quality of the ingredients was clearly evident. The menu offers a good mix of traditional pub fare and more modern dishes, so there's something to suit every palate.

What truly made my experience special, however, was the exceptional service. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. They were happy to answer my questions about the building's history and provided excellent recommendations on both food and drinks. Their genuine enthusiasm for their job was contagious and added to the overall positive vibe.

The Dickens Inn is more than just a pub; it's an experience. It's a place where you can soak up the atmosphere, enjoy delicious food and drink, and create lasting memories. Whether you're a local looking for a charming spot for a pint or a tourist eager to immerse yourself in London's history, I highly recommend a visit to The Dickens Inn. It's a true gem and definitely deserves a five-star rating. I can't...

On our booking we requested a highchair, but when we arrived this wasn't at our table. We asked for it again, and someone went to get it. After a few minutes of waiting, we saw the same person seating another table, so went to find a highchair ourselves. This may seem like a minor thing, but it would have really made it much smoother and easier if I could have just sat my son as soon as we arrived, particularly as I had put a note on the booking. There wasn't any cider on draught which was confusing as in the bar downstairs there were more drinks on offer. I don't understand why the same options aren't available throughout? It seems the selection for the restaurant was more limited which is odd. The adult's food came first which meant ours was getting cold while we were cutting up the children's food. We were told that it was the end of service, and all of the food was lukewarm which was disappointing. We ordered the 'unlimited roast potatoes' with our lunches and just received a plate of 6 extra potatoes. All of the veg was incredibly hard, which was quite unpleasant and meant the children didn't eat much of it at all. The vegetarian plates didn't have yorkshire puddings or cabbage included and I had to ask for the yorkshires to be brought separately. Service was slow and we had to wait a lot to get someone's attention when we wanted to order the children's desserts and get the bill. Having worked nearby for a number of years, I'd wanted to visit for some time and felt let down. While it wasn't the most expensive meal, I don't feel our experience matched the cost and unfortunately wouldn't want to return, nor would I recommend to...