Maybe it's just in my "blood" to do this, but the night before I left the United Kingdom this time around, I decided to do what my "ancestors" did (they did not emigrate from this part of Europe) and go drinking in The Mayflower. And while I did not board a ship to go to America, I did have a time that will make it hard to forget my last night in England. Plus, if I had a cheese plate here before trying to leave in 1620, I would have just stayed and dealt with religious intolerance. Probably. The fancy and rich cheeses here are numerous and their cheese plate presentation is perfect. I had just enough crackers to match the star of the show. And the menu lets the diner know exactly how the cheese was made. I had no idea how many cheeses were not purely vegetarian but this information allowed me to have nothing made in a meat stock. Of course people can't survive on cheese alone so I also ordered one of the vegetarian platters (something the 17th century would not understand) with some delicious hummus and falafel to accompany my brewpub specific beer. Said beer was all ales, so not necessarily my cup of tea, but they were decent. The decor is fantastic (and eating and imbibing by the traditional candlelight of the pub is surprisingly fun) and so it feels like you're getting a history lesson while getting a bit tipsy. One thing I do have to say though is that when I tried to dine here on a Saturday, despite being off the main tourist path, the place was packed. I had to come back the next day to even find a table to get all of this delicious food. So it seems to be popular enough with the locals that I was shocked it even needed a Groupon for its delicious fare. The next time I'm south of the Thames in London, I'll definitely call on this pub again. read more

The Mayflower - An example of the kind of spread the Mayflower provides. Book not included. - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Waited an hour and a half for our entrees. Every other person in our room came in and ordered after us, and was served (and left) before us. No one apologized or offered any explanation. One waitress, who delivered food to the people next to us, said to my husband, I see you looking at me! I work upstairs! And she proceeded to serve food to other people near us. Another waiter, when cornered (and that took some effort), said, You ordered starters so now it takes time. We asked at the bar -- nothing. Finally, another waiter said, You're next. That was it. We exchanged words and left. If anyone had been polite, maybe we would have stayed. read more

My best mate told me its the 2nd oldest pub in London. That's fuckin old, brav. I came for pie night. No jokes please. They had a shit-ton of savory pies and I had the Steak N Ale pie, of course. It was heavenly and adding the ales was a bonus. If you come early, you get the pie AND ale for like 8 Quid. Dafukyousay. Yup. You come here for the crazy traditional decor, the food, the ale and the view of the river and Tower bridge. Win, fuckin, win. read more

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The Mayflower is listed as one of the oldest pubs on the Thames, and has been there in that same location since the 17th century! The atmosphere inside is quirky Dickensian with quotes from Shakespeare and other historical figures painted on the walls & ceiling, with a side of Simon & Garfunkel & The Beach Boys playing overhead. They have an appetizer menu, a full menu for meals, and an extensive chalkboard list of specials for the day. We followed the Jubilee Greenway as we walked from The Tower of London (about 1.7 miles) and arrived just in time for a pub lunch. It was a Tuesday in February and the place was deserted. Throughout our visit we were the only guests. I had a Roasted Vegetable and Goat Cheese Wellington with chips and a salad for £9.95. It was yummy but I couldn't taste any goat cheese. The barkeep suggested a local lager to accompany my meal and it was delicious and refreshing after our walk. This pub was out of our way but I'm so glad we made the trip. It was a terrific experience and we got to see some hidden London neighborhoods on the way. read more

The Mayflower - Specials Board - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Wanted to get some fish and chips and went to this bar a friend recommended! We ordered at the bar and went to find seats. If you can sit outside by the ledge. You will get a beautiful view of the Thames. As for food we ordered a large fish and chips, as well as a steak and ale pie. Both were wonderful. The pie had a nice gravy in it and solid flavor. My boyfriend kept wanting to steal it from me. The fish and chips were a pleasant surprise for me. They were nice and crisp on the outside, and came with two wonderful sauces. One was a slightly sugary mashed pea dip, the other a super lemony tartar sauce. It was a great balance with the crispy fish. Highly recommend. read more

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This place is amazing and gorgeous and the food is great. Sadly the service is really quite poor as is typical of tourist traps. Go once, but not again. read more

I really liked this place. We went here for Sunday roast and sat outside on the deck. The deck is above the water, so it's cool to see the Thames below your feet between the cracks. I ordered the beef roast which came complete with potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and vegetables. It was very good. The meat and potatoes had a nice gravy over them. Completed the meal with a pint of cider.... can't beat that! The staff was very friendly and it wasn't too crowded here, which is a nice change of pace from a lot of the tourist areas. read more

The Mayflower - Sunday roast - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This is where it all started, America! This is the pub where the Pilgrims boarded The Mayflower (ship!) and began their journey to Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's pretty hard to find if you don't know where to go, but for me it was as easy as getting to the south side of Tower Bridge, hopping in a cab, and getting a little tour from a highly knowledgeable cabbie as we wound our way through the tiny streets to get there. The pub itself is exactly as I imagined: Cozy (I guess people weren't so big/tall in those days) with lots of dark wood and alcoves to hide away. Walk all the way into the pub & out the back and you're out on a deck which overlooks the Thames. That's where I had a couple pints of the local brew as well as a delicious lunch of fish & chips. Getting back to the other side of the Thames was a lot easier than I thought, as I found a Tube stop only a few blocks away on my phone's map. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in London! read more

Really impressed with this place. Very cosy with history oozing out of its walls and even pamphlets lying about on the area's history. As a history geek and US expat, I also was very interested in the illustration on one wall of those who left for US on the Mayflower but also a stark illustration below that of the scant who survived the winter for the first unofficial Thanksgiving. The pub is also dog-friendly so a huge bonus. I got the butternut squash with puy lentils and a spicy tomato sauce. Very filing and tasty, with the lentils and sauce going well together. The squash was also soft enough to cut into chunks, so it all blended well together. I would definitely return here! read more

Love this little pub, stumbled across this as the evening we had planned didn't turn out as hoped but we were saved by the Mayflower. We sat in the outside area which is like a jetty in the summer but at Christmas it is covered by a marquee like a little grotto with heaters and decorations. The mulled cider was absolutely lovely, so lovely you could easily overindulge without realising. The other drinks were pretty standard apart from the house red which tasted very watery! Although we didn't try the food it looked really nice. If you do sit outside you are sitting over the Thames so don't take loose stuff that can fall through the gaps. It can feel a little disconcerting looking down and seeing water but it's very atmospheric and we ended up having a very nice evening and are looking forward to trying it out in the summer when we can take in the view. read more

The Mayflower - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

It has character but looks contrived. Geared to American tourists as it was full of them. Wine can be around £100 to 125 a bottle and a fish finger sandwiche (cheapest food in the world) is a fiver. Well overpriced. Do not walk through the Rotherhide tunnel to get there as we did. Half way through the thick blue smog make you sure you will die before you get to the end..heart racing and wobbly legs..feeling sick and dizzy read more

The Mayflower - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

Really fun place with terrific food. The service was great too, they really seem to care about the patrons. The history of the location was fascinating too. My father and I loved it. read more

Don't go on a friday service isn't great and servers don't care otherwise good food (2hours for food)

My 600th Review and my 100th First To Review, and I'm so glad it can be for one of my favourite London pubs and one with American connections too. The Mayflower is an ancient little riverside pub by the Thames at Rotherhithe. It's reason #6 for crossing to the South side, with a bagful of history, plenty of charm, a cracking pub food menu and a winner of a pub quiz. @ The charm front: glorious hanging baskets, ancient wooden furniture and walls, burning wood fires and a small drinking area jetty overhanging the wide brown river. @ The history front: This ancient inn was where The Mayflower docked in London on it's way to found New England all those years ago. The Founding Fathers drank, ate and stayed here and the old inn (The Shippe) later changed it's name to reflect it's small part in America's creation. @ The food front: Pub food classics like steak and chips, sausage and mash and cheeseburgers are well represented here but with a carnivorous twist - it's Springbok steak, Buffalo sausages and Kangaroo meat cheeseburgers. They even do Kobe beef and not at too high a price either. If you like some adventure with your beer and chips, Mayflower has you covered. @ The pub quiz: One of my favourites in London, and I'm always keen to make the Tuesday trek over here to try my luck. A group of 3 of us won £20 at the pub quiz here and split our winnings 3 ways - this means I still have one-third of a £20 note somewhere. Totally useless but at least I got the bit with Worcester Cathedral on it. Winner! read more

Oh wow, I loved this place! Such history and so adorable both inside the pub and out on the patio! The fish and chips ended up being the best we had during our trip to London! Started out with the Scurvy ale, their house specialty, followed by a really nice cheese platter with crackers, chutney and grapes. Ate out on the patio since it was a beautiful October day. Fish and chips were so good ..the tartar sauce had great flavor put into it, as did the mushy peas, which had a mint accent. Soooooo delicious! We will be back in June, when our daughter graduates from high school! One tip: Lay off the Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, haha! Let's hear some festive English pub music! ;) read more

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Our Airbnb host highly recommended this place when we visited in May 2017. So glad we walked there as we experienced so many lovely homes and sites along the river. Once inside this adorable 17th century pub the views didn't disappoint, the atmosphere was relaxed, and our waiter was from Rome, which was fun since we had just visited the area a few months prior. The place was packed with reserved seating but they found us a tiny table upstairs before that area would quickly fill in. I ordered the goat cheese shepherds pie off the chalkboard menu on the wall. It tasted like nothing I've ever had and I really enjoyed it. It's a great memory and I highly recommend it! read more

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As a student, many years ago (OK, change that to decades), I found this pub nestling amongst the old, delapidated, wharehouses of Rotherhithe, London. After a trip to see the poppies around The Tower of London, I decided to take my partner to one of my old haunts. The area has changed from dilapidated wharehouses to expensive apartments with rejuvenated housing BUT the 16thcentury pub hasn't changed. Still 'quirky' and homely. A nice decking outside to view Old Father Thames and its traffic. A canopy has been installed to combat the London weather. Inside no change from centuries past. The docking area of the Pilgrim Fathers ship, hence the name The Mayflower. A nice selection of 'normal' beer but, to my liking, a good selection of real ales. Supping my pint of Mayflower Scurvy Ale we perused the menu and decided to treat ourselves to Sunday Lunch. Well it saved cooking when we got home. My partner ordered Welsh lamb and I ordered Beef. Expecting a wait I went to the bar to order a second round of drinks. To my surprise, before I returned to the table, the meal was there. Succulent meat over real ROAST potatoes, vegetables perfectly 'al dente' with a massive Yorkshire pudding. How do they do it so quickly? It went down a treat. The staff are so friendly especially two very slim guys who went round the tables like 'whippets'. Perfect. The cheese board is 'something else'. All British cheeses. Now I am a cheese fanatic but some I had never heard of. Ally Pally??? Made in Tottenham???? Get there if you are in the area. You will not be disappointed. Finally, everyone on the staff, including the kitchen staff. THANK YOU for a great lunchtime. See you soon. read more

Discovered this place after living in the neighborhood for well over 3 years. And wow! Am I finally beginning to appreciate old rickety pubs or what! The pub is christened after the Mayflower, the vessel that transported the pilgrims from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Once you're in the pub, you'll learn more. There is plenty of history in the form of sketches, drawings and paintings that will give you an adequately graphic idea of the mayflower. The pub is located in a charming corner off the Thames Walk, which is a wonderful walkway in itself on the eastern south bank of the Thames. The outdoor seating is super gorgeous as it practically falls into the river. Because this is London and there's a good chance you'll be cold outside, the indoors is delectably cushy. And I'm making an almost objective comment here; you WILL love it! Regular pub food, nothing out of the ordinary here. The only annoying bit (-0.5 stars) is that the quantity of mash will be 4-5 times the amount of anything else you get. I just don't get that part. They love the 60's. So you'll hear a lot of that. Finally, if you're there, don't forget to check out the beautiful St. Mary the Virgin parish church adjacent to the pub. read more

Pilgrims be damned! The Mayflower is a pub, not a ship! (well, both really, considering they took off from here) My sister in law is always going on about how much of a poghole Bermondsey is and the Mayflower completely refutes that. I mean, it's nothing huge, but it's a cool place to have as your local, especially since you can sit out on the pier/terrace and have a drink and they'll give you a blanket if it's too chilly. Drinks were good at good prices and the atmosphere is cozy - all the dark wood and ancient furniture transports you back to the 1800s. I liked the community feel and will definitely be spending more time here. read more

Have you ever sat at home and wondered what it would be like to sit in a 17th century riverside inn, the same place that the pilgrim fathers sat, drinking the same beer that they did before setting off to found the United States. Wondered what emotions they would have felt, knowing they would probably never again see the land of their birth, moving from a city that was old when the romans arrived to a land that had never had a city, nor even a stone building. Wondered if they, sitting exactly where you are, would have thought like you do today, that Rah Rah Rasputin by Boney M playing through the pub sound system is a truly awful song that should never again curse a public space. Come here for the history, the beer, the ambience, to sit out on the terrace over the river and to listen to cheesey pap pop on looped tapes. read more

A genuine pub, not a tourist trap. Excellent food, much better than I expected. Took my American friend here - I'm a Londoner and have never here been before... I was a bit worried it might be a cheesy tourist trap with poor food but it was a real local pub and we had excellent lamp chops plus goat cheese & sweet potato pie. The gravy was the best-tasting I've ever had. Sitting to eat outside over the river was fun and the blankets were a nice touch. read more

Such a wonderful old little pub that you'll like immediately upon entering. A friend and I went here for lunch on a Sunday, not thinking it would be too crowded, and we were very wrong. However, the lovely staff upstairs found a place for us and were really welcoming and friendly. Everything on the menu looked delicious and was all pretty reasonably priced, the most expensive probably being the roasts which were £14. I had a large fish and chips, and I probably should have gone for a small but no regrets, I now have a nice bit of fish to eat for dinner :) My friend had a lamb roast and told me how much she loved it, and that it was possibly one of the best meals she's had since she came to England 7 weeks ago (though that might say more about the quality of the restaurants we stumble into?). The fish was really lovely and a really big portion, chips were great, and the mushy peas were very obviously not canned which is an awesome sign! We didn't sample any of the alcohol so I can't say anything about the drink, but the atmosphere is really great so if it's a little more expensive then it's probably worth it for the really cool pub, which doesn't even have that quintessential pub smell, which was strangely refreshing. Two awesome little plusses: They bring out your food bill in a little treasure chest which is absolutely adorable, and they have free tampons in the women's toilets, which I've never seen in my life and I greatly appreciate. read more

The Mayflower - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This is a great all year round pub. I went in the summer one day after work and sat outside on their lovely terrace over looking the Thames which was fab. Then went again yesterday on a rainy, cold, November evening and it was equally brilliant as the pub is very cosy and warm inside. The pub is ridiculously old and obviously has loads of history. It has querky nic nacs dotted all over the place and lots of original features from when the pub was built. They serve nice looking food, which I'm yet to try but will be going back soon to test it out. The pub has a pub quiz on a Tuesday night costing £1 per person which is very fun. I also read that they have lights out Sundays where they just have candles to light the pub which must be very atmospheric seen as the place is so old. The staff are very friendly and seem keen to chat. It's exactly what a proper pub should be like! read more

Great little place on the riverside a short walk from Rotherhithe station. Delicious food in a cool historic atmosphere with an outdoors area for the summer. The surrounding area is pretty cool and worth a look around once you've had your fill in the pub itself. It's usually pretty busy on a Sunday afternoon so definitely worth booking a table so you can just chill straight away rather than having to wait! read more

The Sunday roast is great! Service is very good too. The view and ambiance are also nice. It is pricey however; beware of the 12,5% service charge added to bills. read more

The Mayflower is a bit on the pricey side but the food was great! I give this restaurant a 4 star instead of a 5 because you have to go inside to the bar to order food and fetch drinks. We were lucky to get a table outside overlooking the Thames and we enjoyed watching the birds and boats go by. They have blankets to loan if you get cold outside. My family and I visited on a Sunday evening. They have a special menu for Sunday. I was pleasantly surprised that they had more than one vegetarian selection on their menu. I ended up having the Vegetable Wellington with roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy (vegetarian). I have been a vegetarian for over 30 years and I have never heard of vegetable Wellington. It was perfect in flavor and texture. My daughter got a squash dish that was excellent as well. I would suggest this restaurant if you like good food and a nice view of the river and skyline. read more

I really enjoyed the vibe, food and staff at this place. It's The the pub where the Pilgrims boarded The Mayflower (ship!) and began their journey to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Great place to take visitors, but it's not touristy! read more

Five stars to this charming locale, with great food and drinks. Especially love their spread of cheeses when I'm not in for a meal. I like to go on off times when the bar area isn't so rowdy, because the booth seating and deco creates a lovely ambiance when you can appreciate it without all the banter. Cosy and charming during the winter and great views with ideal patio seating during the summer. My top choice when I'm in the mood for traditional British fare done right without pomp. As good as a pub can get. read more

It feels good to be on a deck, in the sun, with the waves crashing below you (ok crashing may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is still pretty cool). Just watch you don't drop something that could slip though the gaps (like your phone) and also watch out at high tide apparently when the water can occasionally splash up. Besides the water sports the pub looks nice, serves a good pint of ale and according to a friend the food is pretty good too. Definitely a lovely riverside pub to visit. Nice significant historical name too. read more

After a particularly disappointing attempt at dinner over at The Old Salt Quay, my friends and I came to the nearby The Mayflower in Rotherhithe. Home of where the pilgrims gathered before heading down to Southampton to board the Mayflower ship to America. Being a Saturday night, the pub was busy but not cramped - we found a table in the tented outdoor area. I like the rustic, traditional feel that some of London's riverside pubs have maintained (fighting off that urge to become a modern, open feel gastropub). The Mayflower has a decent range of drinks and a good food menu, to boot. Make sure you look at the specials board too. I went for a steak with chips, which I've been enjoying far too much of late. The steak at the Mayflower was great quality, and cooked just how I like it, with a lovely Hollandaise sauce to accompany. Everyone in my party enjoyed their meals - my date who ordered a chicken burger, but without the bacon, had her meal arrive with rashers between the buns. But the second the plate was put down on the table, another lady turned up with her actual burger, and took away the pork-offending dish before my date could even complain - now that's service! The outdoor area was a little cold, but then I wasn't sat next to one of the cool looking flame-heaters. I can't fault The Mayflower for the cold British weather though.. this was a nice visit and good evening out! read more

In summary; a great building in a great location but horrifically overpriced food and poor service. I ordered a 'homemade' mushroom burger with thyme and goat's cheese. What I expected for £11 was something along the lines of Byron's (fresh mushroom, a decent amount of cheese, fresh brioche bread), after all Byron charge just £7.75 - nearly a third less. What I got was essentially a frozen Quorn burger in a less than impressive piece of bread with a single lettuce leaf and a dozen chips. Very poor and certainly not homemade. Where were the relishes you expect on a burger of this price? The goat's cheese was certainly nowhere to be seen or tasted and the bread might not have been stale but it certainly wasn't fresh. Friends ordered a large vegetarian platter (£14!) intended as a main course for one. Most Turkish restaurants in London will serve you something far fresher and better sized for well under £10. The deserts (£5.50 each) said to allow a 10min cooking time but took nearer to 30 to arrive. They didn't taste like they'd been freshly prepared. On top of this the service was very poor; surly staff when we asked for a napkin to go with our meal, food arriving at different times, having the word 'KETCHUP' barked at us by the waitress when 'please could you pass the ketchup back?' would be far more appropriate. The pub is great; I'll be coming back for drinks again for sure. Food wise, not a chance I'll eat here again. read more

Wow! BEST fish and chips I've EVER had. Great ambiance (as you'd expect from a 400 year old pub) and very friendly staff. LOVED it. read more

The Mayflower - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

A nice on cozy pub in Rotherhithe with a traditional pub downstairs and a seperate dining area upstairs. Their summer terrace has great views over the Thames and towards the City so a great option for a Guinness and some great photos! I've only been here on a Saturday evening (always around 6pm) and it's busy so if you want to ensure a table I would recommend a reservation. I've only eaten the traditional "sausage & mash" which was good, though it's dish that can hardly go wrong! :) read more

Very cool place. Old pub at the site where supposedly the Pilgrims set sail to America. The ale and cider choices were great. The food was awesome. I had an awesome steak and Ale pie with mash. The deck is cover but closes at high tide due to the fact it splashes onto the guests at around 3 read more

The Mayflower - Steak and Ale Pie with mash. - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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If you're on the south side of the river Thames and heading east you'll stumble upon this little restaurant and pub which has historic value. The pub downstairs is a lovely place to quench your thirst after all that walking and once you're done there you can venture upstairs for a decent meal. We were lucky enough to nab a table with wonderful views of the River and enjoyed a very lovely meal. I concur with one of the earlier reviews when I say that I found the owner (who seemed to take all the main orders) a little humorless and cold. Surprising really, as the staff he has working for him were superb. Still, the food and wine was good and plentiful, views superb and the decor cosy and old. Prices are highish so maybe save it for the time you take a tourist out? read more

Vegetable soup en croute for £2.50. A bloody miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

This is a great riverside pub, with a dark, wooden interior, and a covered, open-air deck at the back. The lunch menu is very reasonably priced and the sandwiches are tasty. The fish finger sandwich is a revelation - no frozen fish fingers covered in breadcrumbs here - just small, battered and freshly fried pieces of fish. read more

This is a hidden gem! I'm American but came here with my British husband and his sister. Loved the food and the quirky decor. It's off the beaten path so I'd definitely recommend stopping in. read more

This pub is steeped in the history. From the landing steps nearby The Pilgrim Fathers set forth to the New World and the pub is named after the ship they sailed on. This link allows it to be the only place in England licensed to sell American stamps. Inside it has a cosy feel to it with lots of nooks to feel comfy in with a good pint and an open fire. Upstairs there is a restaurant where they serve good but overpriced food and a great outside area over the river which is brilliant in summer. The biggest downside to this place is the Landlord, he's such a misery and just stands around glaring at people. We thought about hiring the restaurant once for a large family gathering but were instantly put off by him showing us around. We still go there as the staff are always welcoming and friendly, such a contrast read more

Great pub if tricky to find. Good selection of drinks and not too expensive for London. Food is great with generous portions. Great outside area overlooking the river too! read more