The Grapes in Tower Hamlets - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Popped in for a pint as the weather was bad, very cosy. Great view of the river, great 👍didn't eat, bit early but menu looks ok, look out for gandalfs starff behind the bar

Cracking old pub with a unique charm. Good beer served by friendly staff.

Friendly staff. Good atmosphere for a quiet beer.

The staff are very rude and lazy and have absolutely no tolerance for people who are not from around. Don't go if you don't want to have a bad time. Also, the food isn't any better than the appalling service, I ordered a steak and I might as well have eaten the sole of my shoe and it would've been a more pleasant experience, another person ordered a beef mushroom pie and it was literally burnt. The place was dirty and even the tables were sticky, the waitress gave me cutlery which had pieces of food stuck to the fork and knife and the napkin had a brown stain. There's nothing else around the area so if you're going just for this pub, you're kind of stuck in there if you don't like it. In short, they gave me no reason to go back or even recommend anyone to visit.

Magic wand of Gandalf on the wall…

A beautiful pub with an amazing atmosphere and a very welcoming staff. The food was very delicious and very well portioned. Don't forget to check upstairs for a wonderful view of the Thames.

Stopped by for a couple pints. Quaint and cozy pub, cool backstory.

Great site right beside the Thames. Upstairs is a lovely area. Real old world pub. Did not have food but drinks were served promptly and were of a good quality. Gandalf's staff has pride of place behind the bar because it is rumoured the pub has Wizardly connections. Orcs or Balrogs will not served, can't hold their liquor.

Beautiful old pub, staff were friendly.. atmosphere is great. Gandalf’s movie staff was quite epic

Great atmosphere and a must visit for LOTR fans! The balcony is pure vibes on a sunny afternoon.

Came here after having dinner in a close restaurant. My friends have been called out while smoking outside, even without any signs of no smoking allowed. Another friend faced a bar-lady? Manager maybe? Refusing her an order because she looking “swaying” and even if is she was, there was another way to saying that instead of saying in out loud, making her ashamed even if she wasn’t “swaying”. Also saw a mouse upstairs close to the toilets. Even if my friend was “swaying”, that’s not the way to manage it.

Although we couldn't stay, since it was full, just by entering we could appreciate how authentic it is. I hope I can go when we return to London.

My daughter and I had so much fun here. Joanne was the best barmaid, attentive, funny with lovely stories! I loved the fish and chips with the mushy peas. Being an American, I got advice on what I should eat while in London! I promise to try the Victorian Sponge! Quiz night was a blast!

Splendid evening! Amazing pub Amazing first class staff Amazing first class pub food Excellent reasonable priced beer And we had a magical being that blesses us with there humble presence

Not many spots to get some food around here - so a very welcome spot to have a break. Pint and a bowl of chips. Upstairs, steaming hot day so welcome shade and a breeze off the Thames. Place to myself mid afternoon. Superb views of the river. Gorgeous old boozer. Staff were friendly. Perfect.

Friendly atmosphere and cosy. Nice views out back. Great pint of guiness

I really like this place, full of character and set in a great location. Highly recommended.

Ian Mckellen, Charles Dickens, and the river side.

Fantastic historic pub on the river. Good friendly atmosphere and beer selection. Oh, and Gandalf's staff behind the bar....

Great pub right on the water in London. Over 400 years old and steeped in history. Really friendly staff too

What a gem! A magical little pub that is a bit of a TARDIS. A very comfortable place to let your mind wander. Well kept cask beers too.

Such a brilliant pub. Quite apart from being a must-visit for any Lord of the Rings fan, just to see Gandalf's staff behind the bar, it's an excellent pub serving great food and real ales with a cosy interior and the a wonderful riverside setting. Had a lovely meal and drinks here and I'm looking forward to my next visit. Highly recommended.

Idris knee heard that Ian McKenna owned this pub so we got an Uber on the Thames got off of the Limehouse and walked for around six minutes

Shame, nice pub Was there for years …till manager ‘Jo’ doesn’t like me …why? Staff was happy, so was my bday friend, and, the crew from CW … But then. All of sudden.. we were barred and have to leave 😳😳 oh, why? Because two years ago Jo was ‘too high’ to tell her off? 8 guests, confused had to leave the place without explanation… Why? Q Perhaps, I was in ‘ orange’ outfit?

Popped in for a few pints yesterday. The staff were very friendly and quick service. Loved the staff behind the bar, was cool to see in person! Lots of nice snugs to sit in, and lovely views onto the river.

A lovely olde worlde pub on the river Thames. Extremely narrow with a long history. Conversation encouraged as no WiFi. Enjoy life here as it should be enjoyed with good ale & food also available.

Nice old pub, very small, drinks were good and a nice lil chalk board in the gents toilets

Called in one afternoon for a pint after walking canal walk . Very friendly staff and nice ale

Beautiful place, good value beer, good upstairs space too if you can get up the narrow staircase! Do mind your head on the way down...

Well worth a visit. Beautiful ancient pub.

Nice Pub, fair prices with a good selection of local beers. It belongs to Ian McKellen. The terrace directly at the Themse ist very nice to sit and enjoy a drink.

It's a lovely place, nice staff, and amazing view

Amazing location and atmosphere. Cannot recommend the 1983 edition of Trivial Pursuit enough. Lovely food, great service, great access of the river!

Cozy, the girls serving are super cool and ofc Gandalf's Stuff!

Smart little pub in a great setting with balcony's over the Thames.

Great pub with a rustic atmosphere, delicious food and great beers.

Nous avons été déçus de voir l'état du restaurant. Mur dépeinturés, toilettes trop petites avec du vieux matériel, mobilier inconfortable. Seule la dame qui nous offrait tout le service à elle seule a été à la hauteur. De surcroît, le menu offert est trop cher pour ce qui est servi. Passez pour le bâton de Gandalf, mais n'espérez pas trop du repas.

Lovely atmosphere, wonderful staff. Small balcony with room for a few people to enjoy the close proximity of the river.

If you're looking for an English Pub type, this is it! On the banks of the Thames it creates a surreal atmosphere just a stone's throw from the center of London. Here tradition, historicity, typical pub cuisine and the tranquility of the river come together to offer relaxing and fun moments in which the frenetic pace of London seems to stop. Highly recommended! unfortunately it does not accept reservations and is always very full, so it is better to avoid peak times or arrive well in advance.

Great place to have drink looking onto the Thames watching the sun setting.

Fantastic traditional pub on the Thames, staff are brilliant definitely worth a visit

Lovely view. Amazing vibe and perfect selection of beer and pub food. Perfect weekend reset!

LOTR fans will love this spot, check out Gandalf's staff behind the bar! Love the small back patio that has incredible river views, or head upstairs if the patio is full. Super cool spot, highly recommend!

Great traditional pub with a lovely deck overlooking the Thames. I did not have any food but from what I saw the fish and chips looked great!

Best bar we visited in London. Lovely seating area out the back watching boats go up and down. Great selection of drinks and the staff wer lovely, loads of laughter with some locals also

Just popped in for a couple of beers. Nice old Docklands pub backing onto the river. Didn't order food but other customers had a Sunday lunch which looked very tasty. Sunday afternoon visit and was quite quiet

Far and away the best Snakebite/Crown Float (Guinness and cider) - thank you Joann (bartender) for the recommendation. Great history around this tasty beverage; attention LOTR fans: it’s the Hobbit’s best friend; she’ll fill you in. Arrive early to get seating on the deck that overlooks the water.

Nice little pub, no kids which is always a bonus. Missing out on a trick with all the lotrs stuff they could do but a decent pun nonetheless

Lovely old historic traditional pub right on the bank of the Thames

Continues to have the best fish and chips in town

Excellent local pub. Perfect vibe to chat with locals and enjoy a variety of ale & beer. Go for the Sunday roast if you able. The garden in the back is lovely and dogs are welcome. 💙

Old pub from 1500's now owned by Ian Mckellan (Gandalf from lord of the rings movies, his staff is displayed behind the bar). Frequented by Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle in their day.

Always enjoy visiting The Grapes for its cosy charm and stunning views from the riverside veranda. The highlight was Gandalf's staff behind the bar, a whimsical nod to Sir Ian McKellen's ownership. I've added it to my barguide.london site too!

Excellent pub at Limehouse with centuries of history. A no frills, traditional workers venue with great food, friendly, helpful staff. Sit out on the balcony for a river view.

Great authentic pub with delicious food.

This place is filthy Dirty , the Aussie owner always drunk and rude and things go on in there , she should be allowed to run a pub “ get her out “!!

Great small pub. Perfect for a pint or two.

Nice place to grab a drink. Service was excellent.

Pub is lovely for drinks, we had the Sunday roast though and I wouldn't get it again. The veg was really nice but couldn't really tell what meat was and the yorkshire puddings were stodgy and heavy. Apple crumble for dessert was nice

Nice old school pub with friendly staff & reasonable priced beer (for London) & added bonus of seeing movie used Gandalfs staff (as pub is owned by Ian Mckellan).

My local. Wonderful that it’s not been overly messed about with. Interior downstairs is much a it was 15 years’ ago. Upstairs has been radically changed from the good fish restaurant into a sort of bar. I never go up there now. Nice beer, often Timmy Taylors plus one other real ale. Historic building. Atmospheric during quieter times. Riverside location with direct river views from small balcony. Two slightly perverse regrets: 1. that it never feels like a local, the bar staff are nice but are ‘generic bar staff’. I suppose this is perverse because at least the bar staff are nice, even if they don’t play ‘mine host’. 2. so incredibly popular that it’s often impossible to get in. I suppose this is perverse (or selfish!) because at a time when pubs are closing, the Grapes seems to be doing so well.

Really cozy pub with a view of the Thames. Really good service

I found the pub full of character friendly good service Good food and great views of canary wharf at the back it was a good few hours eating and drinking Pims Punch cocktails

If I'd just had a pint on the waterside it'd been a good time but 4.50 for 3 tiny spring rolls is ridiculous and the upstairs area is fairly bland. Staff are sound tho no qualms with them

A lovely pub located on the way from Canary wharf to Wapping with a nice view on the river Thames. Also a good spot for all the lord of the rings fans as the pub is owned by Ian Mckellen and you can see a lot of lor there.

You come for the view. It is amazing. Beer is great. Food is decent. But would always visit when in the area. So much character.

Great time, food arrived promptly and staff was attentive and friendly. Fish and chips was good.

Very good and quaint pub! Good selection of beer (Level Head is really recommended!). The fish & chips are absolutely recommended! Great views of the Thames from the rear terrace.

Interesting old boozer right by the Thames, in fact water started lapping on the patio area. Upstairs area also and toilets reached by steep and narrow stairs. Did not have food but the menu looked good.

Came in because we were LOTR fans in London for a stag do. It was supposed to be a a quick stop on the pub crawl.... But we ended up staying here for like 4/5 hours and abandoning the 'crawl' part because: 1) the staff here have great banter 2) the outdoor bit right on the river is stunning, especially on a nice day, and 3) The drinks and pub-grub are all top notch (and good value). It is a tiny pub, and can feel busy... but it is well-worth a visit (there were 11 of us, most of us big lads, and we all managed to walk about, get seats and get served very quick).

Well staffed. Lol. Jokes aside, fantastic ambiance, great old pub, regarding who owns it.

Fantastic in every way 👏 Lovely views, friendly staff, excellent food. Can't recommend it enough. If you're visiting the UK and want to try fish and chips, you must try it here. This is my now go to pub in London.

The best fish and chips I’ve had ever. Mushy peas were buttery and to die for. Thick cut chips were perfectly seasoned and went well with the tartare sauce. Slaw was creamy and had the perfect amount of dressing. Pairs brilliantly with an IPA.

Nice old skool boozer. With added Middle Earth interest... Gandalfs staff hangs proudly behind the bar, ready to smite unruly orcs.

This was only a pit stop break as doing a walk along the Thames Path. The lady who served me was very friendly and I thanked her for the drink.

Only had a beer in there but wasn't feeling it. 2 of the largers were off and the place was small and a bit run down.

Really quaint with great drinks.

Only had a pint this time. Well kept pint of Bkack Sheep. Almost all original. River View if you want it. Friendly staff.

A very old pub near the Canary Wharf area, mostly a place where local people hang out. It has 2 floors and is especially enjoyable with its balcony side river view. It was once a pub where Charles Dickens loved and hung out.

Great little pub with a small traditional appeal. The mens loos were a bit stinky though 🤷🏼‍♂️

One of the best pubs I've visited. Very old traditional pub which backs on to the Thames. Very long history. Recommended.

The history of the place is astonishing and well worth a visit and extra stars. The atmosphere is great. However, the only place to sit was upstairs, with signs saying restaurant upstairs, so imagine our surprise when we saw old wooden casks to eat our meals and balance our drinks. Charlie's fish and chips was decent, he felt, but my hamburger was strange, with a spongy texture. I couldn't finish it. I'd go back for a beer, but I wouldn't order food again.

Great riverside pub off the beaten track.

What an experience. What a staple pub of London. The Gandalf Staph. The cheap pints. The slight smell of dew from the Thames. It is a no fuss pub to go and get an authentic no frills experience of what London pub culture should be-chill, opulent, good conversation, and a crisp pint. Favourite of locals and not too busy, grab a seat on the waterfront or inside. A must if you are a LOLR stan or just like good vibes x

We were there during our London trip and discovered The Grapes on a short walk. There was already a good crowd and we sat down at the bar to have something to eat and definitely a beer. Both were very tasty but the portion of fish and chips was a bit small. That was a little Joke. Joanna was in our opinion the best and very very entertaining thank you for this wonderful evening.

Very decent pub, of which I am a big fan. Came for the pub quiz, would come back for the food and the views out of the back!

Dog friendly Downstairs bar and food Upstairs sit down restaurant Veranda outdoor smoking, river views

Great location great beer staffed with great characters

Found by chance, this Pub is worth the detour!! In its original form, typical, very pleasant staff.

Great pub on the river! Friendly service, good food and a decent pint. 🍻

Good food, atmosphere and views - wish it was my local!

We are new to London. We went to pub which we stumbled upon when we took our dog for play to a nearby garden. We saw that the pub was established in 1583. It totally has the old world charm of a typical English Pub. Such a lively atmosphere and we felt very welcome. The decor is old style. The house recommended beers were great. We also had some fish and chips. The fish was good, the chips were great. It was filled with the locals and people were generally happy. A very interesting fact is that they hold a quiz every Monday at 8 pm which is well attended I am told. So if you visit the lime house area then The Grapes is definitely worth a visit.

Great traditional pub. Lovely atmosphere

A delightful pub outing in London! The cozy ambiance enveloped with warm hues and lively chatter. Each sip of ale infused with local flavors, accompanied by hearty pub fare. Engaging conversations with friendly locals, sharing stories and laughter, creating memories to cherish. A quintessential London experience!

Visited on a Monday evening. Greeted by friendly bar staff, made us feel like we were regulars. Great selection of drinks available. A traditional pub with a long history. The food menu was found to have a good selection, had the burger/chips/coleslaw and was very tasty. Had a group of five, many of first time visitors to the pub and took part in the regular Monday pub quiz. £2 per person to enter the quiz, was a good and fun evening. Look forward to returning when back in London.

Food was lovely. Very fast service considering it was marathon day. Good friendly staff and lovely people in the bar .

Fantastic place. Staff are very welcoming.

My daughter took me for pub quiz night. We were new to the pub and the area but we were welcomed by patrons and staff.

A perfect spot for a quiet drink... which turned into an even better place to sit at the bar, have a beautiful wild mushroom stroganoff with a tasty malbec. A buzzing atmosphere and friendly bar staff made for a very pleasant evening.

Bad Guinness, unfriendly bar staff, nice history and location