Angel Pub in Southwark

Perfect place and owners are fantastic and old school love it

The cocktails were very nice! The pricing of the drinks was exceptionally good. But despite my warning about not needing mayo as I hoped the burger would be succulent and not dry (jokingly). They excessively char grilled my burger. It was beyond peak. The staff were lovely despite the chef lacking it. Table 14

A classic pub good food readily available. Only downside is the silly Sam Smiths anti-mobile rules which don’t extend as far add using one’s mobile to pay! That aside, this pub is well worth a visit, not least for the beautiful interior.

Such a fun pub right on the Thames, it is an historical setting with a great selection of beers and ales. We didn’t eat here, but am looking forward to going back. We sat up on the wall overlooking the city and the river, great spot.

Didn’t eat. Was greeted on arrival with manager telling people if they didn’t have a booking, they should go home - despite there being plenty of room around and people naturally churning through tables as they finish up. Saw a table being refused a food order as kitchen too busy with a shrug - despite the place positioning itself as a pub restaurant - then 5 minutes later a different table having their order put through. Generally inattentive and abrupt staff. Seems they’re making so much money they don’t feel they have to care.

Fantastic Landlord and Landlady, can't do enough, good homely atmosphere. Fantastic views, a must visit place

Behind the Charm of The Angel – A Former Employee’s Honest Review As a former employee of The Angel, a Samuel Smith pub, I feel compelled to share the reality behind the scenes. While this establishment may appear charming on the surface with its stunning riverside location, there are significant internal issues that greatly impact both the experience of staff and the quality of service. One of the most pressing concerns is the pub’s approach to hygiene. All cleaning products, from washing-up liquid, bathroom sanitiser and hand soap in the staff areas, are routinely watered down. This compromises even the most basic sanitation measures, especially in the restroom facilities, which are often left in an unsanitary condition due to lack of proper supplies and upkeep. Despite frequent efforts by staff to raise these concerns, the tools provided are simply inadequate for maintaining acceptable standards of cleanliness. Management’s behavior further complicates matters. The current live-in managers frequently engage in public arguments on the premises, with heated accusations of affairs with both customers and staff members alike. These personal conflicts create an uncomfortable and tense atmosphere, making it difficult for employees to receive consistent support or direction, and leaving the team feeling undervalued. It’s important to note that these issues have been brought to the attention of the Samuel Smith brewery multiple times by former staff members who were concerned for both their colleagues and the patrons. Unfortunately, these concerns have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears. Current management dismisses all complaints by suggesting that former employees are simply “disgruntled,” rather than addressing the very real issues that affect the entire establishment. Having spoken to numerous regular patrons and current staff members these issues are still very prominent within the establishment. The kitchen is equally concerning. Without sufficient cleaning supplies, food preparation surfaces are rarely sanitized properly, making it challenging to uphold even the most basic standards of food hygiene. In conclusion, while The Angel’s traditional exterior may attract patrons, the establishment struggles with significant issues behind the scenes, including poor hygiene, ineffective management, and an overall lack of attention from the brewery. For those who prioritize cleanliness, professionalism, and a positive atmosphere, this pub may not meet expectations.

Really rude and unwelcoming atmosphere, told we couldn’t order food downstairs even though people were eating next to us. Got basically kicked out because water was coming in, but their approach was to shout “everyone needs to move right now”.. not “sorry guys, but welcome to sit elsewhere”. Whole experience was very unpleasant which is a shame as it’s a great spot. Pity.

Popped in on a sunny midweek afternoon, bar area fairly quiet and we sat upstairs to enjoy the view. Decent beer and food, average price but certainly less than the tourist prices nearer London Bridge. A pleasant experience overall.

Nice place to chill and spend time with friends 🧡

We had breakfast. Opened promptly at 10am and we were very pleased that we didn't have a long wait. The waiter was very rested and cheerful and we ate pancake and veg. Breakfast. Very good service. Clean toilets.

Tonnes of outdoor seating directly by the river, always reliable

A nice pub along the Thames. You can enjoy a pint outside also. This is a local pub and the best thing, there is no loud music being played. We didn't eat here so I can't comment on the food

Great little joint to get a pint and look at London from the river. Ahhhh- London from the river, nothing quite like it. Reminds me of when I was younger and had more hair. My mother left me on a boat that was collected by some barge men in the 1920’s. I lived with them, shovelling coal until the woke police (child services) came and took me from them. Some of the best years of my life. This pub reminds me of it. The vegan fish and chips is good!

Unfortunately all the bad reviews are true. We came by purposely because we heard good things in the past, but we had a terrible experience. Food: frozen pies, boiled sausages and stale mash. Barely warmed up. The fries smelled of burnt oil. The food that you receive is not the same of the eye watering pictures. Service: total chaos downstairs at the beer counter. Complete disarray upstairs where we waited for over 1 hour to receive our food, after all other tables - despite some of them ordering after us - had been served. Nobody wears a consistent uniform and they are rather wearing worn out and dirty clothes. We even saw the waiter licking his fingers to remove some food that he touched from somebody’s plate. Prices: rather on the expensive side, and clearly not matched by the quality of the food/service you pay for. It’s unfortunate because the view from the pub is breathtaking and the interiors are delightful. It just seems really bad managed and in the hands of not the right people. I will never come back, and I completely discourage from visiting.

Don’t bother with the food as pre - booked over the phone to eat in and told the kitchen closes at 5pm. We arrived for the booking at the set time to be told there was no chef or food and also told very rudely. I don’t understand the horrible reaction from the team given that a booking was made over the phone? Only bother if you’re going for a casual drink because the nice view of the river and quiet surroundings is the only thing that saves this place.

A great pub on the banks of the Thames!

Despite a spring time,all excellent!

Very slow. Honestly try somewhere else

Great river views. Superb Yorkshire beer at a good price.

The full Sam Smiths experience, either you know or you don't 😉 BTW ignore the spend per head figure, I drink a lot of beer and eat a lot of crisps and pistachios

Great views of The Shard and Tower Bridge. We sat upstairs, which I think is better. Probably also worth visiting in the summer as the outdoor areas look decent. Cosy for the autumns but also pretty busy. We went on a Wednesday night. No loud music, just pub chatter. :p Pubs all seem to be struggling these days with their kitchens, taking orders, unable to provide everything on the menu or all described for that meal. I've seen this in almost every pub I've visited in the last few months. It probably would help if people book and tell them they are eating, so they can plan. I think it is important we support a thriving pub culture, so popping to different pubs more. The staff seemed like they were a bit stretched, but did a fab job trying to manage it all. Overall I'd say this is a pub to visit. I generally write positive reviews of businesses I want to succeed. :p

Popped in briefly on Saturday. Has a box of chips and a stout. Not sure about prices I the area but £6 for a pint seems a bit on high side? The pub itself is lovely. It shows it's age with style and grace.

Everything is super, completely idyllic

Terrible experience. We arrived 15 minutes before opening and were happy to wait. We politely asked if we could have coffee upstairs, but were told this was only allowed if we ordered food, even though the place was completely empty. On a quiet, cloudy Sunday, with hardly anyone around, it didn’t seem like there would be a rush for lunch. The staff were extremely rude—both the young lady and a tall man barely responded to our question about sitting upstairs. The woman was chewing gum with her mouth open, and their demeanor felt more like they were encouraging us to leave rather than stay. It was a very disappointing experience, and we will definitely not be returning.

Rude staff, hostile to people walking / jogging by. Strange man

Now a John Smiths pub and so dealing in some great Yorkshire brews and everything with their branding. Their was a warm welcome and advice on the drinks. I am a big fan of the Oatmeal Stout, which comes on a bottle and is ruinous expensive. Settled on their pump stout which was very good. On a high tide the river laps at the balcony. Will return soon as it's a gem of a pub.

We arrived at the angel at approximately 1640 on Saturday. However all the food tables were filled up until we eventually got one before it was cleared. After clearing it ourselves, half our party proceeded to order food. Midway through their order, the bar staff quietly announced no food for an hour. The rest of our party tried to order food and was told the chef was on break. After questioning the weird break time (5pm) and saying he was cooking for half the party anyway, they said the original half who had ordered couldn’t get a refund and the second half would have to sit and watch them eat whilst waiting an hour for food. This is without even mentioning the miserable mumbling staff. And the fact, the first half did successfully order had to pay a small mortgage for their subpar burger and cardboard fries. Don’t fall for a deceiving view of the Thames, it stinks and doesn’t make up for the poor lack of service, good food and cheerfulness that a classic london pub would normally deliver. Worst £50 I have ever spent.

Lovely pub by the river with a great view over the river and Tower Bridge. Also a very nice atmosphere pleasant staff. The only negative point was the wait for food. We ordered a burger around 8.30 pm and we waited for more than an hour. In the end, we cancelled it.

I came here with my family and a friend. My son is 6 months’ old. The first thing I hear from the manager is: “we have no baby change here, sorry, old pub”. The staff is INCREDIBLY rude. I have never seen anything like it. Especially the older bigger lady with the black hair parted to the side. They told us the food would be 10 minutes because the cook had not arrived (this was midday). After an hour, they told us that the cook had arrived so we ordered (first). Our food took an additional 30 minutes to come after having to complain again as we saw other people, getting their food first. The lady serving said defiently, that were WERE NOT the first to order (a lie, there was nobody there when we did). We were told that the cook had arrived 1 hour late and that there was another cook, but that we somehow were assigned this late one… (bare in mind I am a mom with a baby who can’t really be waiting in pubs for this long). After 2 hours wait our food comes. My burger was charred black with an old lettuce leave on top. I had asked for the vegan menu. They give us unlabeled mayo and tell us its vegan (doubtful as the guy just grabbed it from the table somewhere next to us). My partner complains and they were reluctant to get a refund. We inssisted and finally got one but will NOT be visiting this place ever again.

Arrived after a walk just in time for one of the highest tides of the year. Breathtaking being so close to Pop Thames in belligerent mood. The beer was fabulous as well.

Had a lovely pit stop here for an Irish coffee on a day out. Bar staff were keen to provide a good service. We sat outside with our toes almost in the Thames! And watched the world go by. Might need a second mortgage for a larger group or if buying food, but would still love to visit again.

Rude, unhelpful staff. Queued for 10 minutes at the bar and then told by the bar staff to join another queue for outside drinks despite there not being an obvious sign. The staff seemed to have a smile & take joy in this. I also saw them be quite rude to other customers. It’s a shame as it’s a fantastic location, just a pity the staff have a bad attitude.

Unless you have no self respect and hate eating- avoid this place! The worst cold excuse for a meal I’ve had all year. I’m sorry I ever walked in to this place… Bar? Can’t sort out drinks which are overpriced for the quality Food? Absolute garbage Atmosphere? Average. Good location

This is such a nice place! The view from the lounge area was great: while eating dinner we had a nice view of tower bridge, the shard,... The foos was also very nice and tasty. Portions where ideal. The staff and service was very friendly and fast. The pub is located in a less touristy place. Would absolutely come here again!

Beautiful view, nice old pub. We were excited for lunch when we ordered and were told our food would be along in 10-15 minutes. An hour later we watched as the table next to us received their food after a 15 minute wait, while we sat with empty bellies. The owner seemed bemused and insulted when we then requested a refund due to the lengthy wait. They refused to admit that they'd forgotten our table, claiming first that they were very busy (despite being half empty) and then that the oil in the fryer had to be changed (at lunchtime on a Saturday, with no communication and only affecting our table).

Historic pub that had made an effort to retain its charm. Friendly staff.

Great place to come if you like watching people who ordered 45 min after you get your food first... Waited an hour for our food and decided to cancel only to have the server tell us we should have let them know if we were in a rush. This is after he said our food would be 10-15 min when we sat down. Good view though.

Everything is perfect - except for the landlady which consistently bullies her staff and is a loud obnoxious member. Find better management, then you’re golden!

Amazing location however, staff is very unfriendly and just bad in general. Dont even attempt to order food as it is a difficult task in this pub.

The balcony directly over the Thamse is unbeatable on a beautiful day when the sun sets behind the Tower Bridge. They have the very nice Samuel Smith's Pure Brewed Organic Lager on tab, which is a plus in itself. The staff is very friendly and the food was ok.

Nice little place looking over the water had a few drinks sat outside in the sunshine.

The place is lovely, astonishing riverside views of the City and Tower Bridge. HOWEVER, worst service I have had in 5 years in London. Cigarette ash in a glass (like they didn't clean before serving), 1+ hour waiting for our food order, and they come back saying they have run out of half our order... unbelievable. We request to talk to the manager and he comes out with unpolite behaviour... At least we got a refund...

Fantastic pub in a great spot on the river. Lovely views outside and a beautiful interior

Just like what says on the other comments, we waited for 1.5 hrs for chicken wings.. 🤣

The owners were very welcoming, as if we were part of their family. We stayed for the Tuesday night quiz, which was eventful. A lot of fun had there. The beer is excellent as well as their food on offer.

First time in the place & Loved It. We sat in a room Completely on out our own with the window up looking out on river

Great pub on the Thames, lovely place for a pint after a long walk!

Good ole fashion South London boozer by the Thames...

Truly exceptional atmosphere, a real English pub! Amazing view of the Thames, tasty and tasty dishes, excellent beer and truly friendly service, especially the attentive gentleman who kindly took photos of us from the magnificent veranda :)

It's my local pub and I love the fact they added tables outside. Great selection of Samuel Smiths beers and cider (one of the best), that's why we are coming back to this specific pub. As before no music inside or outside. We ordered a couple of snacks like burrata and Korean chicken, but food was served in huge carton boxes, not on the plates. But the food was tasty. Service incredibly slow. I would like to suggest to be more client orientated and make them feel welcomed and make it easy to order food inside or outside and just serve food on plates not some takeaway boxes if not requested so. I heard so many people would love to sit there and have a proper brunch with a good pint. Hope management will hear our suggestion.

Typical London expensive beer prices, friendly service. The plastic glasses ruin it abit butttt Sat on the balcony with a great view with a cold beer …. Could be worse

Worst meal ever. Nice place but if you go do not eat, just grab a drink

Insufficient Product Range but Wonderful view

We arrived on a Monday lunchtime to find that the kitchen was not open. We didnt enquire if this was usual but I would guess it was. Also there was no beer on draught only a range of beers served on top pressure or keg beers if you like. We had a beer in this lovely historic pub with great view up the river towards Tower Bridge and conversed with the barmaid.. Probably worth phoning if you go on a Monday lunch time to see if the kitchen is open. We walked down the river to the next pub and had lunch there.

Beautiful pub in lovely location, however we waited 50 mins for 2 x burger and chips (no one else eating at the time) which was underwhelming and small for the price. communication was poor, service slow.

Great food, great view, great service

Visited on a sunny Saturday afternoon to sit on the balcony overlooking the Thames with stunning views of Tower Bridge, the City and The Shard tonour left and the old wharfs of Wapping opposite. The Angel is on a lovely quite stretch of the Thames Path. The owner is great fun with his banter and the staff super friendly and helpful. After the balcony we went inside to the upstairs diningroom with squishy sofas, tables and chairs and a huge three sided window showing off that perfect river view. Lunch was lovely pub grub. Front of House chap was wonderful, fantastic at his job and it was great chatting to him. Chef did a great job. We went early at lunchtime (12) so the pub was quiet but as we were leaving an hour or so later it'd filled up nicely. Lovely pub. Oh and it must be cosy in winter - there's an open fireplace upstairs.

Had the Caesar salad with grilled chicken. And nachos. Service at the counter was nice. But the kitchen was completely overwhelmed. Apart from the fact that the salad came late and was without chicken - the subsequent delivery was a disgrace. The worst Caesars salad ever... tasteless, the chicken was just warmed up, not grilled and there was no salt. Outrageous for 12 pounds. But even 5 pounds would have been too much. The nachos came so late....just about to leave and cancel. Then it was no longer possible... zero flexibility. The only bright spot: the beer was tasty. 6 pounds for a pint... well normal here. In the end, the location on the Thames couldn't be pulled out. No recommendation... Unfortunately!

Good old east end pub on the river, food looked good but we didn't have any. Beer was good and the landlord and barmaid were typical east end character's

Nice Pub, nice environment, reasonable prices, good location. A place to scape and have a drink.

Great spot for a pint right across the thames from some wonderful sights

Great place, unique atmosphere and great beer. The food was nice as well.

They have more outdoor benches which is great. And a really nice cheap lager. The staff is always nice. It's a great place for a Sunday pint.

Nice place in excellent location.......sadly no cask ales on handpull, but the mild was perfectly drinkable and service was good.

Great spot for drinks on the Thames. Just don't come hungry.

Beautiful pub, come here with my family for a roast dinner last minute, was seated upstairs in the restaurant - what beautiful views of London and lovely decorated restaurant. Roast dinner is 5 stars!!!!!!!!!! SUNDAY ROAST TO DIE FOR orders the 3 meats of beef ,lamb and chicken - best roast dinner, highly recommend, mix of veg parsnips, swede, broccoli, cauliflower cheese, carrots - was absolutely to die for! The meats was beautiful I really would recommend this pub and roast dinner and staff was lovely and enjoyed speaking to them learning history of pub. Nicky, Stacey and Tim was so accommodating- must visit!!!!!!!!!! Will be returning

Phantastic views onto the river Thames and very nice atmosphere plus delicious food and perfect service!!

Terrible food service. Ordered fish and chips. Staff will tell you that it’s abit of a wait. Despite nobody else in the pub ordering food we have been waiting for slightly over an hour now. Recommend picking up a meal deal at Tesco instead and bringing it here to eat. Views are lovely but the service here is downright horrible.

Lovely place for hanging out with friends!

Great location but absolutely terrible service- the bar staff super rude, dismissive and unpleasant to the customers (unless they're serving friends!)

Has to be one of the best places in london to get a proper beer (from Yorkshire) and enjoy a sunset looking towards tower bridge! So beautiful.

Great place when the suns out for beers by the river

Nice View , friendly Staff and good Real Ales

Great pub, good beer and fantastic views !

Landlords / bar manager was so miserable he was just inslulting everyone through the door. Sorry pal but you didn’t need to take it out on us 😬

The staff and management were welcoming, polite and professional. The food was superb. We were so well looked after. Thank you so much for making our charity event on the 2nd of May such a success. We will be coming back. Dave

Fabulous traditional pub, overlooking Thanes, amazing views, nice food and the warmest of welcomes. Thank you to Nicky and their team for looking after our group so well.

Friendly service and best fish & chips I've had for ages - very welcome after a sponsored Thames Walk yesterday! Thanks Angel team.

Great location and views, a fire in the hearth and excellent service.

Your typical Sam Smiths but with a fantastic view of the river

On a pre planned drinking walk,walked in loved the place ,some pubs have it ,will Be going back .

Amazing place for a pint and a view, i’m sure it’s been said 1000 times but what a spot aye! I was tempted to go down tut river for mudlarking… but didn’t wanna lose my seat!

Atmospheric... perfect after a walk along the river...!

Don’t go near this place❗️ We visited for a Sunday roast and were initially told it would take 20 minutes. However, the wait extended to an hour + amid a noisy atmosphere, largely due to the landlord shouting, which made conversation difficult. The staff were unhelpful and dismissive when we enquired about the delay. When our meals finally arrived, they were awful - the worst and saddest Sunday roasts ever. The food was cold, portion sizes were small not justifying the £18 price tag, and the meat was predominantly fat.

Just passing by...nice to see a bit of history . Tells a story...well worth a visit in the area

Not the place it used to be. Queues and rules. The veranda was closed off and the staff meet the patrons with disdain. A thoroughly modern experience where you're treated like Cattle

Love this pub by the river, feels authentic and local, staff is welcoming and helpful, plus they have my favourite wheatbeer.

Over priced watered down drinks, lovely view and great location but wouldn’t come back here for a drink loads of options on the river where you can actually get your £ worth and be able to finish your drink.

Poor choice of drinks, poor attitude to service, the coke taste of water and even the spirits are disgusting in their plastic cups... cannot believe I've spent 15quid on two singles with essentially water and no where to sit as it's so small

Didn't eat this time, but really enjoyed the Cider and atmosphere of this beautiful pub on the south bank of the Thames.

Great beer at decent prices. Lovely views and friendly staff

A quiet pub, no music (I really love this) as there are music and noise everywhere in this world. Great fish and chips!

Nice pub in great position though landlady a little abrupt and not concentrating on what I ordered, had to repeat myself twice as she was busy talking to staff and other customers also quite abruptly, think she was having a bad day though it wasnt busy as early.

Very lovely pub and affordable. The staff are great and the food was delicious 😋

Location:10! Service: 8 ( the young folks could be a little presumptuous at times) Drinks range: cocktails are great beer range poor! Food: just had a burger and a Sunday roast once… honestly… it was miserable both times. They could invest in food and service to become one of the most favourite pubs in london. The place itself is magical! Over all, it’s worth the experience having a pint with great view! (Specially in the lovely balcony )

Typical English pub where they are not very friendly, but the beer is fairly cheap. The best thing about the pub is that you can drink the beers outside the pub with one of the best views of the city.

Last stop..always enjoy popping in ..the stout is always good!

One of the best spot in the Southeast of London to enjoy the view with an amazing and cold beer. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere.

Yummy steak and ale pie, beautiful, cozy atmosphere with nice interiors including real fire!