Tower Bridge Arms — Restaurant in London

This pub is a nice airy space and perfect for a large group. We came on a Sunday in a group of 13 with two babies, pre-booked. Most of us had been out the night before so we ordered some Bloody Marys, which would have been very tasty had the bar man not insisted on putting so much horseradish in - I had to surrender mine to someone with a more adventurous palate.

Most of us ordered the roasts, and a couple of us the sausage and mash and there was the odd burger on our order. Food came out very quickly (especially considering our booking was for 12pm when the pub opens). Across the board, the roasts were dry and the vegetables raw. One plate in particular was so inedible the waiting staff gave a refund on the spot when it was asked to be taken away. The roasts came without any roast potatoes - two bowls of which were brought out with the last two pork roasts ordered, but about half an hour behind the rest of the food along with extra gravy that was requested in substitute for bread sauce that they had 'run out of' at the beginning of service. By this point the roasts were either done with or stone cold.

The sausage and mash wasn't much better. One ordered as a toad in the hole came looking like it was missing the Yorkshire pudding; however it was beneath the mashed potato and had soaked up all the gravy. The mash was put inside of it and tasted like it had been made of reconstituted frozen potato pellets. The sausages were a little overdone but not awful, but the whole plate was covered with an unnecessary addition of curly leaf parsley and spring onions.

One of our party paid £6.50 for a Pork Pie 'duo' which turned out to be one pork pie cut in half and looked shop bought and apparently tasted horrible. This was left uneaten. The chicken burger was edible but the chips were soggy and cold although they looked like they'd been in the fryer twice over.

It felt like the kitchen were short staffed and in a panic - since we booked this as a birthday lunch celebration we would have rather been told the kitchen wasn't able to cater for us than waste an incredible amount of money and food.

The only reason I'm giving this pub 2 stars is because they had sanitary products in the toilet which I ended up needing to use!

Brewdog is much better at chicken...

For those who have been to this establishment before, or its sister pubs elsewhere, you will already be aware that the Draft House provides a wide range of beverages that would satisfy even the most snooty of hipsters. That I cannot fault, it does beer competently, just as any watering hole with that name should. Where it falls down, however, is its farcical, almost laughable, attempt at cookery.

My expectations were never high from the start - it is only pub grub after all - but to have them let down from such low ambitions is telling. Who wants soft, flaccid, lukewarm chips that have been left to steam themselves in a twee miniature plant pot during their idle neglect on the bar? Which dimwit thought it would be a great idea to smother chicken breasts in fish batter and pretend it was a novel, yet appetising, take on its more traditional deep fried cousin (I was duped into buying it by the well-meaning waitress - apparently it's her favourite - but obviously she's either paid to say that or has never eaten anything more interesting than rusks before working there)? How can you mess up doughnuts with Nutella? You could be addicted the gooey brown stuff and still turn your nose up at it. And to not even take something off the bill, even when you've forgotten half the order, is just plain rude.

On every metric you can think of, apart from food poisoning (although let's see what happens this evening) it failed. The initially attentive service drifted into indifference, nothing came out as it should, what did was sub standard and they couldn't even give us the right bill! That's right, they even managed to mess up the final deal. After all of that we were left wondering whether it might have been more pleasant to have eaten at the Wetherspoons a few doors down.

Now I'm not saying don't come here. Google's rating system is basic, so this review is no knock on this place's class as a straight-up boozer. However, it now makes sense why they lead on their beers, you'd have to be drunk to buy their food and not demand...

A Culinary Haven at Tower Bridge Arms - A BrewDog Experience

Tucked away within the vibrant heart of London's Tower Bridge area lies a treasure trove for the discerning palate – the Tower Bridge Arms, a BrewDog pub that effortlessly melds historic charm with modern flair. My recent visit there wasn't just lunch; it was an immersion into a gastronomic bliss that BrewDog has perfected.

From the moment I stepped in, the pub's warm embrace was palpable. The space, steeped in the lore of London yet buzzing with contemporary energy, set the stage for a memorable dining experience. In a nod to my personal ethos, a sparkling water served in a Punk IPA glass was my rebellious twist – after all, being Punk AF isn't just an attitude, it's a lifestyle. And on this day, it also meant quenching my thirst AF with a refreshing effervescence that set the tone for the meal to come.

The highlight, without question, was the March special – a curry spiced burger that could only be described as a culinary revelation. Each bite was an exploration of flavour that many burgers aspire to but few achieve, leaving me not just nourished but rejuvenated. It's rare to find a meal that fuels the body while uplifting the spirit, but BrewDog's Tower Bridge Arms delivered just that.

I'd be remiss not to mention Josh, whose warm welcome felt like a kindred spirit guiding me through the BrewDog universe. His and the entire staff's hospitality were the secret ingredients that transformed a simple lunch into a feast among friends.

Leaving Tower Bridge Arms, I was energised, content, and already anticipating my next visit. This isn't just a pub; it's a haven where the weariest of souls can find solace, satisfaction, and a hearty meal. See you soon, Tower Bridge Arms – until then, keep the spirit alive and the burgers...