The Union Jack - Southwark

Used to love this warm and friendly, welcoming, lively pub. Tonight it was empty, sad, with nonchalant almost rude staff. But most of all it was COLD at one point I could see my breath indoors…and then they turned half the lights off. When I asked the manager if there was any heating because I was freezing, he said ‘sorry I don’t know’. I totally understand pubs’ difficulties at the moment, and yet the next pub along the road had a roaring fire and a welcome smile… Won’t return for a while, you’ve lost a long standing customer.

Waited patiently for a table outside with a few work colleagues. We were confronted by a very rude member of staff curly black hair wearing a Guinness top) Once we were sat down we realized that he wasn't just rude with us,other customers were experiencing the same level of service and shaking their heads like they had been made to believe that they had done something wrong. You would think that pub staff would be more welcoming, giving the times in which we are living. Why pay over £100 for drinks to recieve this level of service sat in the cold! Shame really as all the other staff were very friendly.

Nipped in for what was supposed to be a quick lunch. We only ordered paninis because we were in a hurry. They didn't arrive until 45 minutes later, and then weren't up to much. The staff were a bit stand-offish and the chairs were just plain dirty. Won't be going again.

Ordered some drinks and some food and then sat at the table, as instructed and waited. Five minutes later, the Grim Reaper who had served us, had left the drinks on the bar and was in a world of his own. Much the same when the food arrived, we had to go up and collect it ourselves,though food was brought to the tables of some customers.We ordered the chicken burgers, which were not so much burnt, as cremated and could have been used as pucks in a game of hockey. The chips, what there were of them, had the uniqueness of having different tastes. Mainly cooked and uncooked. Terrible service, awful food and staff that took no pride in their work. DONT BOTHER.

I stay in London a lot for work, and a lot of the pubs are too touristy and/ or too full and loud. This was a haven compared to them. Busy but not so much that you couldn't get served and find a perch, the range of beer was good too. Having ordered an ale, it was off but when I went to the bar to point this out, the black fella serving was the epitome of friendliness. No quibble, no fuss, he subsituted the beer for another pint and didn't charge me the difference. I enjoyed two pints here, happy to sit with my phone or people watching. It's not a touristy place, so if that's what you want go elsewhere, but it was a little haven in a busy world and I hope this place thrives. Will definitely return.