Antico Restaurant & Lounge Bar

My friend recently showed me a NY Times article where Bermondsey Street restaurants, pubs and shops were featured, including the charming Antico. This lovely restaurant opened up kitty corner to the Bermondsey Square Hotel. It only opened up earlier this year -- in fact we remember peering in frosty windows during the New Year holidays to see a large family (presumably the owners) sharing dish after dish of steaming hot Italian food. They looked so happy, and the restaurant was so warm and inviting, we couldn't wait until it officially opened. Goodness knows why it took us half a year to finally go there, but it was worth the wait.

The ground floor -- which is the main restaurant -- is fully accessible. The lounge, however, is downstairs with no lift access that we could see. Wheeling in the restaurant is easy since there are no raised thresholds. We went for Saturday brunch, and there were only a few other tables when we first arrived. The hostess was lovely and gave us the option to sit anywhere we chose. She swiftly removed a chair to make space for the wheelchair with no fuss at all, which is always a good sign.

I had a goats cheese and spinach frittata, and Chazz had the eggs florentine. Both were splendid. I was expecting mine to be made with thinly sliced potatoes, but the error was mine as I must have been thinking of the Spanish-style dish. In any event, the ingredients were fresh and delicious, and the seasoning perfect. Chazz's hollandaise sauce was particularly good. The portion size looked average, but neither of us could finish our plates in the end. 

The service, though extremely friendly, was slow when it came to bringing the bill. A small complaint since we were seated so promptly and our meals came out quickly and the food was hot. By the time we left the restaurant was quite full, a good sign on an early Saturday. 

We loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. It was immaculately clean and bright, and the tables all had  crisp white linens. The exposed brickwork and cool music created a youthful atmosphere. Hats off to the NY Times for highlighting such a great restaurant right on our doorstep. Photos will follow, but as it has not stopped raining for three months we haven't had the right lighting for a while.

The Dickens Inn

The Dickens Inn

The Dickens Inn is an impressive pub located in the idyllic setting of St. Katherine's docks, a marina in the heart of London. It is so lovely to escape the masses of people at the Tower of London, cross Tower Bridge Road, and then wind your way through the twists and turns of St. Katherine's docks to find, over a little foot bridge, this massive timber pub set on three full floors.

The building dates back to at least the 1800s, and may originally have been a tea warehouse. During a 1970s redevelopment project the building's timber frame was restored. Charles Dicken's grandson, Charles Cedric Dickens, formally opened the Inn in 1976.

The beer garden is a little on the small side, but can be accessed by an iron gate which looks easily accessible to wheelchair users. The Tavern Bar is the "pub" portion, and is about the size of three pubs put together. There is a very nice long ramp (also serving a nice looking Indian restaurant called Mala which we'll have to go to next) that provides easy access to the pub entrance on the "ground" floor. 

The ramp going past Mala and leading to the Inn

The interior is dark with rich wood and leather chairs -- quite a juxtaposition to the outside views of gleaming white yachts and sparkling water. The prices are quite dear (10 pounds for two beers) but the atmosphere is worth the high price. The Tavern Bar only has a limited pub grub menu, so we're interested to see if The Grill on the first floor is accessible since it does Sunday lunches and has even better views of the docks. Check this space for further information!

This is definitely a place that we'll come back to time and time again because just being in the docks makes you feel like you're on holiday, and catching sight of the majestic pub makes everyone  smile.

Details:

Marble Quay

St Katharines Way
London
E1W 1UH
Tel 0207 488 2208

Bea's Diner

We've been itching to try Bea's Diner ever since we passed by the other week when visiting Maltby Street Market for the first time. Today we seized our chance and were not disappointed. 

Bea's Diner

This is not a typical restaurant -- it is really just four long picnic tables assembled near an open kitchen and plonked in the middle of a huge cavernous space under the railway arches. That said, it's magical and if you even have a hint of any arty side then you will appreciate the funky vibe of this place which is kind of Iowa meets London (pitchfork on wall, painting of red pickup truck, Tom Petty in the background and yet packed with yummy mummies and flat-capped wearing hipsters). 

For wheelchair users, the space is a godsend. There is absolutely no lip between the pavement and the inside and there are no doors -- you can just wheel right in. The tables, as mentioned, are picnic-style but wheelchair users can just pull up on the ends without a problem. We shared our table with a couple and two children and there was plenty of room. 

Pancakes packed with blueberry goodness

Now...the food. I had the blueberry pancakes, and Chazz had the plain buttermilk. These were the best pancakes that we've had since leaving the States. Thick, fluffy and full of flavour. Being greedy, we also slathered real butter in between each pancake, and topped with Canadian maple syrup. I don't remember eating every last bite, but that's what happened in a pancake haze.  The blueberries were bursting with freshness, and amazingly did not make the pancake soggy which can often happen. They were served piping hot, and quickly. 

I had freshly squeezed orange juice which was very good, and I appreciate the homey touch of drinking it out of a mason jar. Chazz had tea which was good but too fancy for his taste -- he prefers just the ordinary plain tea (as do I). 

Next time we'll try the poached eggs with hollandaise sauce on a "flour station muffin" which looked amazing (we saw two people order it when we were there). Also, I might try the bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Heck, we'll probably just try their whole menu which, being admittedly small, is probably all done very well. 

An amazing place that's already a favorite. I only wish I would have thought of opening a diner like this first.

Details:

Hours: Saturdays only from 9 am "until we run out"

Tel: 020 7242 8330 

www.beasofbloomsbury.com

Black and Blue

Black and Blue is an upscale restaurant specializing in steaks and fine wines. We visited the location in Borough Market, but other restaurants in this chain are located in equally trendy spots throughout London (e.g. King's Road and Notting Hill).

We had already stuffed ourselves in the food stalls of Borough Market, so regrettably we cannot review the food at Black and Blue yet.* However, we can comment on its accessibility, having spent a lovely afternoon sipping wine there one recent sunny afternoon.

We'd like to shake the hand of the architect who designed this restaurant. He or she managed to meld functionality with design. To enter the restaurant you walk (or roll) up a gentle sloping ramp -- so subtle that most able-bodied people do not even notice this unique and accessible entrance. The front patio is roomy enough for wheelchairs, and has the added bonus of heat lamps which we understand are probably for smokers, but still are heaven for the rest of us on chilly days.

Inside, there are two large communal tables on either side of the large bar. These tables would be ideal for certain power chairs users who need higher tables, and are large enough for a group of 6 or 7 (or more) people. The large dining area is in a separate adjoining room having a stairwell and a LIFT in the middle of the restaurant that go up to bathrooms, including a separate disabled bathroom. It's a bit unusual to see a lift in the middle of a dining floor, but for some reason it works at Black and Blue. The only slightly odd thing about the restaurant itself is that some of the decor seems a bit 1980s.

Perhaps it's the proximity to Vinopolis, but Black and Blue has an outstanding wine list with plenty of excellent choices by the glass. The beer list was notably smaller, although we did see a couple of people having beer with their burgers.  The service was slow bordering on inattentive, but not intentionally so (which always makes it more tolerable). While the prices are reasonable considering the quality and location, be forewarned that a large service charge is included in the bill regardless of how many people are in your party.

Details:

Black & Blue

1-2 Rochester Walk

Borough Market

London SE1 9AF

http://www.blackandbluerestaurants.com

*Since our original post Chazz and I did go back and tried the dinner menu with friends. We had several starters and burgers. The food was almost as good as average bar food in the States and at least twice as expensive. Again, the service was absent-minded bordering on non-existent. The wine was again excellent, however, and quality of beef was good. Because we were with two of our most charming friends we had a wonderful evening notwithstanding the food. We'll definitely only return here for drinks, however.

The Bridge Lounge and Dining Room

The Bridge Lounge is a nice pub on Tooley Street, just opposite City Hall (the building that looks like a giant brussel sprout) and very near Tower Bridge. Both of the entrances to the pub are accessible, and there is plenty of room inside since the bar is in the center of the pub, with tables and chairs all around and a nice, wooden floor. There is also a fireplace which we imagine is quite cosy but have not experienced (despite it being quite cold both times we went), and a separate, disabled bathroom. 

The pub might be too busy to be enjoyable on weekdays since there are a lot of office buildings around the area, and quite a few businessmen about that seem like they need a lunchtime tipple. But weekends are lovely. There are no t.v.s, so don't come here if you expect to watch the footie. But, if a quiet conversation is all you're after, then this place fits the bill. 

On the plus side, the pub is very clean, and the staff are welcoming. However, service can be slow, and the appetizers were not at all special (lukewarm chicken wings and onion rings). Still, we'd be willing to give the food another chance and sample the lunch or dinner menu sometime (perhaps the sausage and mash, which sounded quite good).*

The only downside about The Bridge Lounge is that the upstairs area, with lovely views of Tower Bridge, is not accessible. Still, the accessibility on the ground floor and the bright and pleasant atmosphere makes for a great pub experience. 

Details:
186 Tooley Street
London SE1 2TZ
T: 020 7403 4112
http://www.thebridgelounge.co.uk/contact.html

*Sadly, we went back to try the lunch menu. We won't be eating here again. The sausage and mash, which is advertised as the house speciality, looked and tasted small and sad in the cold, watery mash. My fish finger sandwich was dry and and lukewarm. These are not difficult dishes to get right. It's a shame, because the pub is so cheerful and the table is very accessible. We'd like to like this place, but will keep it as a back-up drinks place only.

The Bunch of Grapes

This pub has been described as a "proper pub" by those in the know, and you will be pleasantly surprised to open the door and find a traditional, cozy pub with a great selection of beer and ale (including Young's). It has a very small lip of a threshold, but can still easily be accessed by chairs, even power chairs. The bar staff is friendly, and will come and open the second door so that chairs can get in more easily.

Inside, the pub is rather dimly lit, but not in a way that's trying to hide dirt, bad carpet, etc. Instead, the pub is a little dark in an "old world" sense, and the dark wood floor and dark tables add to the atmosphere.  Sadly, the lovely beer garden is not accessible which is a shame since it is open year round and has lots of nice touches (e.g. cushions and blankets on benches, etc.).

This is our number one meeting place near Borough Market since it is conveniently located near the London Bridge tube station and across the street from the Market.

Details:

2 St. Thomas Street
Borough, London SE1 9RS
T: 020 7403 2070
http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=367

Hay's Galleria

Hay's Galleria is a great spot for wheelchair users.  It's difficult to describe what Hay's Galleria is exactly.  The atrium reminds us of a large, old fashioned train station but it houses a mixture of of corporate offices, restaurants, shops, and a pub.  Evidently, the building was used as a wharf during the early 1900s, primarily in the tea trade.  The wharf was damaged during the Southwark Fire, and also was bombed during the Second World War.  Surprising, the primary focal point of Hay's, the impressive glass ceiling, was not built until the 1980s are part of an urban regeneration scheme.

Hay's Galleria (facing South)

It's a trick of the mind that a glass ceiling can make a space feel larger than the outdoors, but to us that's  the "wow" factor for this building.  No matter how many people are around, there always seems to be plenty of wheeling space and one never feels claustrophobic, whether due to the sheer height of the roof, the light streaming in from above or the constant fresh air from the north and sought open entrances.

There are a few good eating options here.  We always enjoyed Cafe Rouge pre-wheelchair days, but were a bit leery of going back since so many of this chain's interiors, though cozy, are very cramped.  The Cafe Rouge at Hay's, however, is very accessible since the "outdoor" seating is in the atrium itself with oodles of space. http://www.caferouge.co.uk/french-restaurant/hays-galleria

Cafe Rouge: Note the accessible 

"outdoor" seating

If you take the wide, side ramp up to the Thames Walk side of the Galleria, there is also a nice restaurant called "Cote."  I was disappointed to see a number of steps down into the dining area, but when I spoke with a manager I learned that there is an accessible back entrance.  The manager seemed genuinely interested in telling me about the accessible entrance, and even offered to personally show the entrance to me despite being in the midst of a busy Sunday lunch service.  I didn't take him up on the offer, but plan to go back for a trial lunch not least because I'd like to support a business that's so welcoming. Top marks for effort. http://www.cote-restaurants.co.uk/Cote_LondonBridge.html

Ramp to North entrance, & 

Horniman's at Hay's pub on right.

There is also a pub called "The Horniman at Hays" that I quite wrongly (and embarrassingly) thought was named for something entirely other than tea (Frederick Horniman, an English tea trader).  We haven't been in this pub yet since the very few accessible tables (on the upper level) are always taken.  It's a shame, since the glistening chandeliers and rich wood bar are enticing.  The outdoor seating always seems similarly packed, but one can hardly blame the punters since the panoramic view of the City, as well as the HMS Belfast (battleship) almost at your fingertips, are big draws.
http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thehornimanathayslondonbridge/

HMS Belfast (facing Tower Bridge)

You can easily wheel directly East to Tower Bridge on the very accessible Thames Walk which, during the summer, is also excellent for people watching.

Details:  

Address:  

Tel: 

Web:

Transportation: London Bridge tube station* and London Bridge overground.

*Please note that although London Bridge is designated as a wheelchair accessible station, in our experience some power chair users may not be able to use the tube (gap between platform and tube).

The Old Thameside Inn -- Pub near London Bridge

The Old Thameside Inn is about as wheelchair-friendly as you get.  It can be a bit tricky to get to since you'll be fighting the Borough Market crowd on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but if you ask where the Golden Hinde is (replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship, a must see in itself) then you can't miss it.

The Golden Hinde

This pub may not be everyone's cup of tea since it is often mobbed with tourists, and you'll find flocks of jet-lagged people eating fish and chips and complaining loudly about prices, weather, etc.  Notwithstanding, this is a good choice as a meeting place since it's conveniently located near London Bridge station and is situated directly on the Thames with great, unobstructed views of the city.  

There is a wide, permanent ramp leading to the pub's entrance, and a further ramp leading to the upper level for outdoor seating by the Thames.

Old Thameside Inn - notice wide ramps

Inside, the doors are wide and you can roll straight into to the spacious bar.  There is a separate dining area in the second back room that is not accessible (steps), and further dining downstairs which is also not accessible.  However, the first room is fully accessible, with both high and low tables.

The service was fine, and the beer selection good.  This is not a gastro pub, and you should only expect to  order typical pub grub (although some of the starters seemed alarmingly adventurous -- e.g. prawn and chorizo?).  Even so, I give this pub high marks for being so disability-friendly, particularly because it had a separate (drumroll, please) disabled bathroom!  

Details:  

Address:  Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, London, SE1 9DG

Tel: 020 7403 4243

Web: http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theoldthamesideinnlondonbridge/

Transportation: London Bridge tube station* and London Bridge overground.

*Please note that although London Bridge is designated as a wheelchair accessible station, in our experience some power chair users may not be able to use the tube (gap between platform and tube).

  

The Bridge House - Pub near Tower Bridge

Whether you're tired from a day out at the Tower of London, or just cold after crossing Tower Bridge in the rain, a good port of call is The Bridge House.  This is the first pub that you will come to after crossing Tower Bridge (going South).  Although on the small side, it still functions well for wheelchair users since it has very wide doors and no-step thresholds, as well as wood floors throughout.  However, on the downside the bathrooms are located on the lower level, and so be warned that this is not a fully accessible pub.

Immediately when you walk (or roll) in there are two tables on your left.  One is a small, high table, and the other is a regular small table by a fireplace.  For wheelchair users that use a power chair with the ability to raise/lower, the high table is convenient for eating.  For regular wheelchairs, the small table is a nice option, and it's great to be able to warm up near the fire.  Either way, you will be made to feel very welcome at this pub -- the service is great.  Reservations can be taken, which is particularly convenient if you have a large group.

Lesser known lagers and ales are served which are all very nice (I liked the Adnams pale ale), and my father-in-law was particularly pleased to see a fish finger sandwich on the menu.  This is a clean, bright and up-scale choice for lunch or a quick pint. We've been back several times and the menu keeps getting better and better. The food is freshly made, hot and always delicious. 

Details:

Address: 218 Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP

Transportation:

Tower Hill tube is the closest tube, but it is not accessible.  We believe that the buses that run on Tower Bridge Road are all accessible (e.g. 188, 45).

If you come via London Bridge,* you should be able to get to this pub easily via the accessible walkway along the Thames but will have to cross the crosswalk at Tooley Street.

Transportation: London Bridge tube station* and London Bridge overground.

*Please note that although London Bridge is designated as a wheelchair accessible tube station, in our experience some power chair users may not be able to use the tube (gap between platform and tube).