From the outside, the traditional facade of The Gregorian draws you in from a sea of bleak grey buildings with no character. However, expectations are not met once inside.

The Venue
Extremely close to Bermondsey tube station and opposite a rather dodgy looking row of shops sits The Gregorian. Blackboards outside advertise friendly staff, fun theme nights, and real ale to quench your thirst. It certainly ticks most of the boxes, but once inside the confusion of character brings this pub harshly into reality.

With such a large space, the possibility for interesting decor was there; however, the owners have opted for seating around the edge of the pub with lots of empty space in the middle, supposedly for punters to stand and chat, but instead it tends to be completely vapid. The nooks of seating in and around the pub are cosy and secluded, with warm tones like gold, red and cream to create a comfortable atmosphere. Although the palette is nice, the prints they’ve used are atrocious and present on almost every single piece of furniture - from curtains to chairs - with no cohesion.

The Atmosphere
The locals of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe frequent this particular pub, and the bulk of them are the typical well ‘ard blokes who like their pubs simple with beer at cheap prices, which The Gregorian certainly does.

During the afternoon, the atmosphere is very quiet and dull, with only the widescreen televisions showing the sports news to add excitement. However, in the evenings, the regulars slowly trudge in, tired from a long day and wanting to relax with their mates. The chatter and laughter finally creates a warm atmosphere, and although The Gregorian is rarely filled, the place is ideal for a simple drink with a laid back ambience. That said, if you’re an outsider, prepare to be eyeballed every now and then.

The Drink
The drinks are all very affordable, although the choice is sparse. There are the usual lagers on tap that you’d expect, but only a couple of ales and a limited choice of bottled beers. Wine is not heavily promoted, so avoid unless you particularly enjoy cheap wine. Food is also served, so if you fancy some pub grub then The Gregorian can settle your stomach.

The Last Word
There’s none of the stereotypical depressing atmosphere you might expect from this type of pub, but The Gregorian won’t exactly rock your world. Unless you particularly like tacky prints and drunken laddish banter.

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