The Cutty Sark

Still not been to adventurous, this pub tour is looking a bit stuck in the South East.  But what am I supposed to do if a friend (Ed Stott) who, for the purpose of this blog shall remain nameless or go via the pseudonym of ‘the Stoat’ wants to meet up for a pint in Greenwich?  

The Stoat and I decide to take lunch at the Cutty Sark.  We arrived at 1.30 and the place was almost empty.  No problem finding a table then.  The place seemed a bit drab and bare.  Two of the ales were off but there were three still left the regulars of Pride, Seafarers and Butcombe. We covered all three ales on tap and they were all well kept so I won’t quibble over the quality of the beer.  The Stoat went up to peruse the selection of English Tapas (bar snacks) and came back empty handed.  I was just about to berate him for this major oversight in pub etiquette when he raised a hand and gave me a knowing look and told me to "just wait".  A few minutes later a big plate of white bait arrived!  Good call that man.  The food was good and we followed up that snack with a proper lunch.  I had fish and chips that was well worth the money.  The fish was succulent, the peas were just right and the batter was crispy and golden.  

So the Cutty Sark has good food a few well kept ales and a decent view if you get a table upstairs in the window.   But I do have to wonder how that pub got in the Good Pub Guide!  Where has it fallen short?  There is no real character to the place, the bar looked under stocked and cheaply built at the back. It may have been built in Georgian times but it certainly is not all that old.  The piped music is what initially put us off the place.  Sitting in a half empty pub, you would like to be able to hear your mate easily enough but the music was right above us pumping out the Black Eyed Peas song about Lady Lumps.  My biggest issue with the Cutty Sark is that being from Greenwich and having been to this pub before I know there is nothing about it to give it that certain je ne sais quoi that most Good Pub Guide Pubs have.  I had raised my expectations this year seeing it make it into the GPG and was looking forward to this visit.  So after the long walk along the river I was bitterly disappointed to find not much had changed.  The outside sign looked weathered and unassuming and that would sum up the visit really, unassuming.  So if you are in Greenwich I wouldn’t bother wandering down past the powerstation just for this pub there are better pubs in Greenwich its self.