PubsAndBeer.co.uk - The Grapes, Limehouse, Greater London

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The Grapes (Free House)

Beer (sort)	Average Score (sort)	No. Samples (sort)
Adnams - Southwold Bitter		3
Timothy Taylor - Landlord		2
Adnams - Secret Springs (collaboration with Siren Craft)		1
Black Sheep - Best Bitter	Not Tried	0
Greene King - Hardys & Hansons Bitter (was Kimberley Bitter)	Not Tried	0
Marston's - Pedigree	Not Tried	0
Otter - Ale	Not Tried	0
Otter - Amber	Not Tried	0
Sharp's - Doom Bar	Not Tried	0

Picture 1. The Grapes, Limehouse, Greater London

Picture 2. The Grapes, Limehouse, Greater London

Stephen Harris

Visits Details

27 May 2023 (Wittenden)

Banging on the door at noontime opening, but we still didn't get to sit on the little balcony overlooking the River. Filled up rapidly. We were instructed on the provenance of Gandalf's Staff that lurks behind the bar.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Adnams - Secret Springs (collaboration with Siren Craft)	3.40		Full of tropical flavour for the modest abv. A Mountain IPA.
Adnams - Southwold Bitter	3.70		First out of the pump, but fine.A blast from the past for our group.
Timothy Taylor - Landlord	4.30	Not Tried
Greene King - Hardys & Hansons Bitter (was Kimberley Bitter)	3.90	Not Tried

12 May 2016 (Stephen Harris)

Hot and crowded at around 9pm. A bit uncomfortable really. Most people in the bar are eating. Perhaps the restaurant upstairs is full of drinkers?

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Adnams - Southwold Bitter	3.70		A shade too warm, but pretty decent.
Timothy Taylor - Landlord	4.30	Not Tried
Otter - Ale	4.50	Not Tried
Otter - Amber	4.00	Not Tried
Black Sheep - Best Bitter	3.80	Not Tried

17 Jun 2014 (Stephen Harris)

A nice evening for sitting out by the Thames at high tide. Lots of people knew this, so no chance unfortunately of finding a place on the riverside platform. The view through the window was nice though.

Beer	ABV	Score
Adnams - Southwold Bitter	3.70
Marston's - Pedigree	4.50	Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar	4.00	Not Tried
Black Sheep - Best Bitter	3.80	Not Tried

07 Apr 2014 (Stephen Harris)

Pub fairly quiet at lunchtime, although inevitably the riverside deck had been bagged, and I enjoyed a pint and a bowl of pasta.

Beer	ABV	Score
Timothy Taylor - Landlord	4.30
Marston's - Pedigree	4.50	Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar	4.00	Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter	3.70	Not Tried

19 May 2013 (Stephen Harris)

Sunday lunchtime and the doors open just as I am walking past at noon. Rude not to go in, and a good chance to grab a space out the back and watch the river go by before the crowds gather.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Timothy Taylor - Landlord	4.30		A middling sort of pint of TTL.
Marston's - Pedigree	4.50	Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar	4.00	Not Tried
Adnams - Southwold Bitter	3.70	Not Tried

About The Grapes

The pub sign. The Grapes, Limehouse, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

	Total
	-
	1
	5
	-
	-

Website.

The pub is found in Limehouse, Greater London, E14 8BP.

This Thames-side pub was first established in 1583 and was rebuilt in its present form in 1720, after the original building was destroyed by fire. Historically, the pub belonged to the nearby Taylor Walker Brewery, and until the 1930s it bore the name Bunch of Grapes. It is one of several old riverside pubs which have been suggested as the inspiration for the “Five Jolly Fellowship Porters” in Dickens’s ‘Our Mutual Friend’. The pub is small and narrow, with a bar at the front and the old taproom behind. A well-regarded fish restaurant opened upstairs in 1982. The most popular feature, in appropriate weather, is the little wooden rear platform which offers great river views. In recent years, ownership of the pub has passed from Punch Taverns to a partnership including Gandalf actor Sir Ian McKellen.

We have visited this pub 5 times, seen 9 different beers and tried 3 of them.

Map location

Postcode: E14 8BP