Buried in the back streets of Borough - an area well known for its culinary delights - The Libertine may not be the best choice when in search of a big night out, but for Pizza fans, it’s a hidden treasure.

The Venue
The Libertine can be found at the end of Borough High Street, a handy 10 minute walk from London Bridge and Southwark - a mere hop from Borough station. Make sure you keep your eye out for the rather unassuming black exterior with a simple sign.

From the moment you enter, it becomes obvious what this pub is trying to achieve. Transformed from a local boozer, it’s clear it’s trying to establish itself alongside the many gastro pubs and cool watering holes in the surrounding area. Light, pastel coloured walls with high ceilings and chic lighting from the chandeliers and lampshades give it the charm of a more modern boozer, yet sparse seating, a basic floor plan and lack of cubby-holes take away any intimacy that could so easily be achieved. A dartboard on the wall and a lonely disco ball hang from the centre of the room.

Past the bar, towards the back of the pub, the eclectic furnishings become more apparent with a crowded cluster of comfortable sofas and armchairs, giving a cosier feel to the venue. The pictures of Elvis and arty photographs on the wall mix with more classical portraits hanging around the bar and the out of place, yet simultaneously awesome, Double Dragon retro arcade machine in the corner is a welcome surprise.

The Atmosphere
As with many venues in this office-filled area, weekends tend to be quiet, not helped by its out-of-the-way location. A few chairs face a small flat screen telly for the football crowd to enjoy. The clientele mostly consists of friendly locals who used to frequent the pub before the refurbishment and punters who like a game of darts with their pint. It also attracts a large work crowd at lunchtimes and most weekday evenings so visit at these times for the best atmosphere.

The staff are friendly and quick behind the taps, and if it’s food you’re after then you wont have to wait long to be served.

The Food
The food is certainly a big selling point of The Libertine. The Italian menu is concise, but the nice selection of pizzas and snacks will be more than enough to complement your pint when in need of some nourishment.

Smaller dishes like the tomato mozzarella salad for £3.90 and the hummus and olives for £4.90 are perfect for a lunchtime snack. The hummus is especially good - homemade and creamy, it comes served with delicious, soft, warm garlic flatbread, perfect for dipping. The olives offer a nice accompaniment to the sweet flavours of the hummus and garlic.

The main focus of the menu is the freshly made pizza. All pizzas are priced around £7.50, and the best of the bunch is The Libertini - a four-cheese pizza, piled high with fresh Parma ham and rocket leaves. The dough is fluffy and light with a thin crust, and the cheese flavours blend excellently with the meat and rocket. Just be wary - the Stilton topping is a strong one, so remember to have a mint afterwards otherwise you may end up sitting on your own.

Another good choice is the Caprina for vegetarians. A thick topping of gooey goat’s cheese with pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella is a more subtle choice compared to The Libertini. The chalky goat’s cheese flavour blends wonderfully with the slightly sour sun-dried tomatoes, whilst the pine nuts give it a surprise sweetness. If pizza is not your thing, on the weekend between 1pm-5pm you can grab a Sunday Roast for £9 with a selection of three meats to choose from. For punters with a sweet tooth, your choices are limited to an unremarkable chocolate brownie served with ice cream or the New York cheesecake for £4.50.

The Drink
The bar offers all the usual suspects when in need of a pint. IPA, Spitfire and Scrumpy Jack cider can be found on tap for £3. An adequate wine list offers a range of vino that will set you back £3.50 a glass and £12-£24 a bottle. The Beaujolais La Martiniere is a good choice - a light, fruity red wine with strawberry flavours that goes very well with the pizzas on offer. There is also a limited cocktail menu, offering the classics. Cosmopolitans, Margaritas and Long Island Iced Teas will set you back £6.50, except between 5pm-7pm every day when happy hour offers them at two for the price of one.

The Last Word
The Libertine is a good pub to stop by and enjoy a pint and pizza in. There’s a lot of potential here as it spans the gap between old man pub and funky watering hole.

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