The Gun in Docklands Review

Editor review : The Gun

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful


Overall rating		3.1
Pride		5.0
Gluttony		3.0
Sloth		2.0
Greed		1.0
Lust		2.0
Wrath		5.0
Envy		4.0

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The Gun is no-doubt different from any other pub I’ve found hidden away in a residential cul-de-sac. Firstly, the heritage that surrounds it. Without digging too far into the history books, I can tell you that some parts of the current pub are over 200 years old. The Grade II listed building has not only been a drinking haunt for contraband smugglers, but also Lord Nelson, who would arrange secret meetings here with Lady Emma Hamilton.

That’s all in the past now though, what we’re concerned with is the present. Since reopening a few years back following a fire, The Gun’s popularity continues on a steady high, and this could be due to a whole matter of factors. While not exactly the easiest-accessible place for a bar, the riverside location makes it worthwhile. With views over to North Greenwich and the O2 arena, the heated riverfront terrace is well worth drinking in, if you can find a seat. The inside of the building is made up of three main areas, there’s the restaurant area, a smaller bar towards the open terrace, and a lounge leading off that. The walls (mostly covered with guns), and the use of large barrels as tables in the back constantly remind you of where you are.

Building-aesthetics-wise, The Gun certainly can’t be sniffed at, and this is maybe the reason why so many Canary Wharf sophisticates can be found here on any given night of the week, using it as both a place to socialise, and continue with important business matters. Previously I’d been put off drinking in The Gun that often purely due to the quantity of cigar smokers that the place attracts. Gladly, now the smoking ban is in place, all the cigar smoking is confined to outside, though this does now make the front of the pub quite smelly (a smell with obviously seeps into the dining area and front bar).

The drink prices at The Gun aren’t cheap, in fact they’re some of the highest I’ve ever found in London. Their selection of traditional and continental beers and ales will set you back somewhere in the region of a pound more than at most other pubs in the area. This is okay though, as The Gun doesn’t try to be a place you go to get very drunk (the bars around the Canary Wharf complex itself serve that purpose), and still manages to draw in a large crowd without fail on pretty much every night of the week.

The Gun’s current focus seems to be in it’s food. I haven’t had first-hand experience with their menu, but from reports of friends, I’ve heard that most of their dishes are nice, if a little on the small side. One thing that puts me off sampling a meal myself is the price, though. A meal for two will come to somewhere in the region of £60-£80. Reports suggest that it is very good food, for a pub, but these prices mimic those you’d pay in top restaurants.

The bar staff are mostly competent, but sometimes head for the nearest/biggest person to serve rather than look around/enquire who’s next, leaving people waiting at the bar for a lot longer than they’d like. Like most bars these days, if you pay by card and intend for a second round, The Gun prefers for it’s punters to leave their card at the bar. Twice now friends of mine have had their card muddled up with that of a fellow Gun-goer on return. I think if the staff insist that the customers’ cards be kept behind the bar, better security measures should be put in place to stop a stranger walking away with it.

I don’t want to end this review on a negative, as my opinions on The Gun are in no way negative. The place is tidy, contains tons of history and atmosphere, has an unmatched river view, clean toilets, and pulls some of the best pints around. If you’re raking it in the city, and don’t mind trotting the extra distance, The Gun really can’t be beaten, and for this reason, it’s popularity will continue to march onwards. If however you’re a big drinker or maybe on a tighter budget, it’s probably best to enjoy one drink here then move on.

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