Dine and Drink at The Mayflower Pub; an Old English Pub with Astonishing Views of River Thames
For classic British dishes paired with diverse yet authentic traditional wines, craft beers and local gin, visit the Mayflower Pub in Rotherhithe. It sits on the southern bank of the River Thames and boasts stunning and unobstructed river vistas. Besides awesome views, The Mayflower Pub stands out for several distinctive features such as being one of the oldest pubs in London. Find out more outstanding details about it below
The Story Behind The Mayflower Pub
The Mayflower Pub is a riverside pub named after The Mayflower Ship, a historic pilgrimage ship which under the command of Captain Christoper Jones, would moore here to skip taxes.
Captain Jones died on the Mayflower shortly after his arrival at Rotherhithe in 1621 and was buried in St. Mary’s church Rotherhithe. The church is nearby meaning you can even check it out before or after your meal. A weather vane in the shape of the Mayflower is perched on the pub’s rooftop today. The pub itself is reportedly set on the original mooring point of the ship which explains its name.
Before it became The Mayflower, it was known as Shippe Inn. The Riverside pub was renamed Spread Eagle and Crown in the 19th century, but was refurbished again before the century was over due to significant war damage.
The Mayflower is today part of the Black Dog Pub Company, a firm committed to preserving London’s oldest and most unique pubs. It is also the only licensed pub for American and UK stamps.
The Restaurant Setting
Thanks to the Black Dog Pub Company, The Mayflower Pub retains much its original 16th century traditional English pub design. It has a rustic vibe going on thanks to the bare wooden floors, a low ceiling with dark timber beams, a large brick fireplace and a partly-carved bar counter. The atmosphere is casual and cozy with stunning views of Thames.
Even better, The Mayflower opens up to an old, decked jetty with open views of the river where diners are allowed to bring their pups. But while the river views are inarguably breathtaking, sitting too close to the edge will leave you soaking wet during the high tide. Upstairs, a restaurant with wooden pews and a cozy brick fireplace with an ambiance perfect for laidback dining awaits.
For an even unique dining experience, visit on Sunday after 6pm. The Mayflower hosts Blackout Sundays where the management switches to candlelight for diners to experience what it was like to be in the same pub four centuries ago.
On The Menu
The Mayflower offers a rich menu of classic British dishes made only from locally sourced ingredients. It offers daily changing specials like Pie and Pint Wednesdays and Fishy Fridays. Besides the changing specials the restaurant also boasts a rich sandwich menu, a mains menu and a Sunday menu. Carefully chosen fine wines, a variety of different craft beers and local gins are also available. Note, this riverside pub only offers a dine-in dining experience.
Visiting the Mayflower Pub
The Mayflower opens Monday through Saturday from 12 noon – 11 pm. It opens from 12 to 10pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 12 noon – 10 pm. The pub takes bookings for the ground floor pub area and upstairs restaurant while the deck area is only for walk-ins.
The Mayflower Pub Address: 117 Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 4NF
Website: https://www.mayflowerpub.co.uk/