The Grapes in Tower Hamlets

Quaint English pub, very good food, nice atmosphere.

If we look at this place purely on the quality of food, selection of drinks, it is nothing special then. However, add the atmosphere, the location and how cozy it is, when not over crowded, you will get my favourite pub experience in London. For me the grapes oddly feels like a second home away from home, especially upstairs, it is a perfect place for a conversation with the view of the Thames in the background. If you want a real pub experience, this is a very good place to go to!

Character pub on the Thames with an ok selection of beers and plenty for the lotr enthusiasts.

Lovely pub, very busy. But the staff are kind professional, welcoming and accommodate you nevertheless.

The great staff of gandalf the grey from Lord of the Rings is here!!!!! The staff was amazing great place for fish and chips 💕

Lovely pub great atmosphere and friendly staff.. good, hearty meals

We wanted to come with a baby and they turned us down, stating they could only allow children over 18. I can understand that they would be worried about the potential nuisance of a baby crying to other customers but turning down a 3 month old baby on these grounds is taking the law a bit too literally. I won't go back.

I found it somewhat surprising to see the state of this "renown" pub, especially given the connection to its famed co-owner, Sir Ian McKellan. I went there with 5 others, after waiting for over a year to get there to see this well regarded spot and enjoy dinner and drinks with friends between Xmas and NY's. We spent quite a bit, so I feel I can leave a honest review having sampled most of what was on offer. As for the place itself, I expected something smart, yet special, different and charming. even fru-fru, glam, posh, elegant - you know, aspects of style that one associates with gay men with talent, education and good taste. The Grapes has little of that, but I gave it a chance to charm me with it's quirkiness. In the end it did not. The impression I had was run down, daggy, dim, grim, dirty and old, in need of a desperate overhall, or at the least a damn good clean. (Do NOT go into the male loo if you don't want a shock of the sensory type; disgusting in every manner and that wasn't just a temporary issue I am sure - it's the way they keep it.) The food was complimented by us all. The risotto was very tasteful - of the 6 of us, we ordered 4 portions of risotto and the 4th came out served flat and sloppy on the plate whereas the other 3 were heaped high and not soggy looking. It did taste good however. Bottom of the pot perchance ? As for the staff - not much nice to be said there - what with one very sarcastic and quite unpleasant large bartender person of female gender, who could only just be a little more pleasant than one particular smart-alec female patron (friend of said barwoman?) sitting on a stool with a few other patrons; she seemed to enjoy repeating whatever someone ordered in a snarky manner - for no apparent reason. Being gay, there's no way I'd present my own pub like the Grapes is presented. I was sad and questioned how can it be that Sir Ian, who has a good rep and fama, allows this. He lives just two doors down, so it can't be like he can't pop in and see for himself. I think it not worthy of a return visit. There are other equally historic and far more charming original non-chain pubs in Wapping. Hit them instead. Sorry Sir Ian, but you've taken your eye of the ball with this one and it's quite sad to say so.

Did the pub quiz which was fun but unless you’re sat very near the quizmaster you can’t hear the questions - perhaps they could get speakers around the pub as this did ruin it. A couple of the staff are quite rude and moody. The pub itself is nice though.

It was a really nice restaurant. I think it was a little expensive for a shepherd's pie

Got t The Sir Ian's shepherd pie and it was delicious, but the real reason was the pub and Gandalfs staff. Great atmosphere 👍

Disappointing first visit to this pub after reading such good reviews. Ordered the three meat pie and chips which was actually very tasty but so dry. Asked if they serve any jugs of gravy but the person serving was quite dismissive. Very overpriced at nearly £18 a portion. This pub either needs to serve better quality food or reduce portion prices.

Food was terrible, I had the Lamb Roast. Roast potatoes were hard, the vegetable dish of carrots, cauliflower and broccoli was not cooked. Overpriced and not worth it. The gents toilets were in the a disgusting state. Needs more attention to detail on all fronts.

Such a remarkable place, with history, a terrace overlooking London and its sunsets! There is also upstairs space with books and a chill-out space ✨️

I have been few times in this pub and I think it is a fantastic place for a pint with beautiful views from the terrace. However yesterday me and another customers noticed a very foul smell inside the pub that had us having to go straight outside. Whatever Is going on I think management needs to take care of it as this is a very nice pub and especially a mecca for fanatics of The Middle Earth.

Great pub. Friendly service, decent selection of cask ales, and nice toastie. One star dropped due to wonky toilet in the Gents. Mind the steep staircase!

Fantastic place to have a few beers and a good meal. Nothing fancy, just fine with a great atmosphere. And of course a must have been for LOTR-fans :)

Very comfortably furnished pub with a particularly chilled atmosphere. The guests and staff are open and helpful. Alex 🇩🇪🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️😎,,🏴rechner

Best pub in UK. And if you win the lottery and get to meet Sir Ian McKellen, you get the time of your life.

Best mussels I’ve had all year. Our meal last night was delicious. Shared our table with lovely students from Munich who tried our food and have been sending pics of their day in London. Really happy evening shared with lovely people.

Unrushed decent food. Would recommend

Lovely old fashioned London pub on the Thames. Off the beaten track

Unfortunately, they do not respect dietary requirements. Although i asked them several times if they could prepare my food without any pork products, they served me a soup with pancetta and accepted it only after I showed them the meat pieces.

Fantástico lugar con un gran ambiente en una tarde húmeda y fría. Personal muy amable y pub muy acogedor, sin duda volveremos.

Sir Ian Murray McKellen CH, CBE (born 25 May 1939 He Owns this pub on the Thames in London UK what a small beautiful pub it is over the Thames in London

Very good quizmaster at Monday’s pubquiz! A delight to experience that, even as a foreigner good to follow and to compete in such a pleasant environment. Good and friendly service.

Old small pub, no frills. Cash only! Great meat and onions pie as daily special when I went. Fries perfect. Friendly neighborhood clientele. If you're in Limehouse or Canary Wharf, that's what I would call "the pub".

Humble pub with good fish & chips.

The bar staff are great. The pub has a lovely atmosphere. But it's a shame it keeps running out of beer. You never know if you are going to get a beer or not from one week to the next. SHAME.

Super pub. Very friendly. Great view of Thames. We were going to go to the Gordon Ramsay place further along, but this is actually much nicer.

Extremely kind personnel and a beautiful atmosphere.

Hospitality professional 15 years going on, here. Been to quite a few places and then some. This is single-handedly the best pub I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. Cosy, welcoming, a true hearth in a city I despise. I'm kinda on the femce about posting this review because I don't want it to be ruined xD

Food is quite good here!! And the drinks options change a lot but are good as well. The staff are super lovely. I you want to go to the quiz you need to get there hours early because it's very popular.

It’s been a while since I have been to the city and I can honestly say The Grapes isn’t going draw me back again. The barman could only be described, at the very best, as lack lustre. In his defence, whoever interviewed him and subsequently trained him, needs a swift and succinct talking to. The difficulty ordering a “Chardonnay”, a little known grape based beverage, should have given the game away. Trying to order the food proved to be a bridge too far and we had to leave for a hostel with staff that are better trained, not lounging with earbuds and where menu items were, available. The location, decor and beer aside, someone needs to get a grip of their Saturday service. The local Wetherspoons proved a much tastier and easier challenge and, it speaks volume that this much maligned chain outperformed The Grapes in every aspect of of this particular area of the hospitality industry🤷‍♂️

We wanted to take a look at the wand but the pub isn't good. Pretty run down and the food wasn't good either.

Visited on 11/20/2024. I've always wanted to visit this pub, I just didn't have the time. Very cozy, authentic place. Thank God, efforts have been made to preserve the spirit and history of the inn. We tasted snacks. Drinks include beer and wine. Chicken with a crispy crust, not overcooked. Meat dumplings are delicious. I won't comment on the donuts because I'm not a big fan of goat cheese, so the assessment would be subjective. After tasting, the taste of the cheese is very intense. Paired well with wine. I will definitely stop by again when I'm in London.

God mat och dryck vid Themsen. Trevlig PUB miljö, men lite trångt. Vid provade Fish and Chips, Hamburgare och ett gott glas med cider.

Very tiny pub with an amazing view and it is said that it is owned by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. Super cool place to visit.

Didn't eat here, but visited to see "The Staff". Great atmosphere, very friendly and great pint too

Nice east london neighbourhood pub. Famous for people. Queuing outside the door for Sunday lunch in the summer, for the unmissable river views of the Thames and Canary Wharf and also for its owner Sir Ian McKellen. We popped in for a quick drink at the weekend.

Great pub! Went on Monday night which is Quiz Nights and very popular. Ian McKellen's Gandalf staff hangs behind the bar, but he wasn't there when I went. Very friendly staff!

Neat spot along the Thames for a pint.

Gandalf's staff is here! But they don't allow babies in (because they're under 18 FFS!!)

Me and my friends went for a day out on the Thames. It was so exciting we went to the grapes pub for a nice Guinness. we got on an Uber boat from Westminster to the Limehouse walked for a short period of time around 10 minutes.

A local pub with celebrity features. This pub feels like a real English pub, locals at the bar and a wide range of real ales. Although there were clearly many visitors (some international) this pub does not feel like a theme park and maintains its own culture. A must visit. Walk here, the Prospect of Whitby and The Town of Ramsgate. Note Gandalfs Staff behind the bar

Wow ! I was so excited to be there, to see the real Gandalf staff! I was not disappointed, the food was really good, especially the fish and chips, and the apple crumble was fantastic. And the beer, wow, I don't really like beer and I was in love ! There are lots of people that come there, but the wait is worth it. I 100% recommend it!

My friend was there this very morning literally to look at the staff of Gandalf and was to shy to ask if he could touch it and take a picture. This man, due to be married soon, who teaches the next generation could not ask the staff for this gift so i called from ireland, spoke with a lovely lady on the phone who confirmed she could see my friend staring longingly and said he could in fact, touch the staff. 10/10, great service from another country no less.

Tasty food and great atmosphere. Can't get much older than this pub!

A small gem of a pub, on the Wapping walk. Great historic features. Has a small outside area, which is on the water. Can get very busy, but we'll worth a visit.

Six of us decided to go for the Monday night quiz. Being a tiny pub, one of us had to go there at 4 o’clock in order to make sure we had a table. Otherwise by 8 o’clock when the quiz starts is standing room only. The food was good and so was the beer. Being a small place the noise was at an extreme high level. Still it was fun - even though some people thought it was appropriate to cheat by using their phones to get the right answers for the quiz. Given the amount of misinformation going on on line, however, I don’t think it was much help.

For information, it is a pub prohibited to under 18s, so unfortunately impossible to enjoy it with family even if it looked very nice

We had lamb curry Shepard's pie and fish and chips Hardy and Hanson's bitters all excellent . Had to squeeze in but opened up a little while we were there. Food came up before we finished our first beer.

Nice pub with deliciouse food and beer.

We just dropped in for a few drinks and to enjoy the view of the Thames River from the small balcony out the back. The beer was great, service was quick and the views were fantastic. It's an old, small pub with character and it was quite busy but we still managed to get a seat on the balcony, which could probably seat around 12 people. The view of the sun setting over the city was a great way to enjoy a drink on a pleasant evening. Worth a visit.

Came on a day the Thames was getting over friendly… What a history and it’s all in the atmosphere of the place.

A lovely pub, but ruined by the rude staff behind the bar. When I asked if the Gandalf staff was one used in the films, I was given a sarcastic, vague answer. When I didn’t know what to say in response and tried to clarify what I was asking, she continued to be rude and sarcastic

A lovely great local pub owned by the great Sir Ian McKellen… what more could one ask for!?

Great atmosphere and made more atmospheric by waves lapping the outdoor seating !

Proper pub, with great food and an amazing view of the Thames. Friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere.

Interesting vibes, obviously went there since it’s more Lord of the Rings lore. They had an okay drink selection. Extremely small and cheap food. The extremely boisterous bartender was doing shots with locals at 7pm so that was something to behold.

Food and drinks were incredible. Serivce was lovely and the whole bar had an amazing classic pub-vibe to it. A must-visit if you're in the area

Superb historic pub, a great view on the terrace and very good beer, you can even see Gandalf's staff in Lord of the Rings because the bar belongs to the actor.

Nice quaint little pub. Decent beers on offer. Food looked good but we didn't eat as booked elsewhere.

I popped in for a drink with a colleague and friend and I just had to leave a review because the staff and atmosphere was so warm and friendly. The bar staff are such kind and friendly people I really felt welcome. It was just a lovely experience and I just wanted the management to be aware what a wonderful team you have. Bars now are quite indifferent but you have magic at the grapes.

I popped in for a quick drink because I had a long journey ahead of me but as soon as I set one foot in the door I wanted to stay I felt so comfortable there im going back soon with some very ol friends

Quaint pub, probably very popular with locals, unfortunately no reservations possible. That's why we were there at 5:30 p.m. Eating possible from 6 p.m. Self service at the counter.

Just bloody good, simple pub food and drink. Great atmosphere.

Such a lucky break to be able to hop a few trains and hit a pub where JRR Tolkein would spend time. The atmosphere is great and the wood paneling and decor is warm. The calamari was the best I've had in a while.

Beautiful pub! Like a trip back to the Dickensian era. Good service too these people know what they’re doing clashing 500 year old history with modern life 👏👏👏

A small pub with a huge history! Centuries of operation! Charming, cozy and small atmosphere, a classic London pub. Petit entries are a great option! It's worth going to the pub quiz nights that take place on Mondays, great fun!

Perfect little hang out spot for a pint and some excellent fish and chips

The people who work in the pub are very cool, very friendly, in the back you can enjoy the view of the river, the food and snacks are very good, the cold beer is the best (and I hardly drink beer) excellent service! I love the Lord of the Rings and there they have some collectible pieces from Sir Ian McKellen, Charles Dickens and Gandalf!

A quiet, friendly and warm neighborhood pub, small but very nice. He saw people pass by, including Dickens and Oscar Wilde. It belongs to Ian Mc Kellen, hence the Lord of the Rings statue at the back of the room. The small terrace offers views of the Thames. The fish and chips and mash sausage are great.

I didn’t try the food so cannot comment but what came out to other customers looked good. The pub itself is very cool with a ground floor and first floor view of the Thames. The two ladies serving were very welcoming and friendly and I chatted with some really nice patrons too. A really lovely little pub in a special setting.

It was wonderful to see that place, it had a very good atmosphere. A place with beautiful views.

A cozy, rustic pub with a small terrace directly above the Thames. A good selection of drinks, combined with delicious food and a great price-performance ratio. Plus, Ellinor, the best bartender in London. Absolute recommendation! / Very cozy, rustic pub with a little terrace above the Thames. Good variety of drinks combined with tasty food and a very good price-performance ratio. And with Ellinor the best bartender/barmaid in London! Highly recommended!

Loved the Grapes even though we only went in for a swift Guinness. It is a small venue so don’t expect a seat as it is very popular and for good reason. The atmosphere was great and the staff were friendly.

Went to this pub as had seen it on Facebook as owned by Sir Ian McKellen and had the staff used in his portrayal of Gandalf behind the bar. The pub is full of character going back to Dickens time and yes the staff of Gandalf is indeed behind the bar. We didn't have anything to eat but looked like a popular menu was being enjoyed by customers. We had a couple of drinks and left but I would recommend this pub for Lotr fans and indeed anyone who likes a small old world atmospheric watering hole. It comes in pints? I'm getting one! (the lord of rings fans will get this)

A truly lovely pub great cosy atmosphere great food great drinks especially the hot toddy 😉 Rounded off with the friendliest staff in London Will absolutely return when next passing through. Thank you guys

Simply fantastic, we had a really good time, the environment is small and welcoming, the staff is smiling and available to help you, the food is amazing and the beers too! If you happen to be in London or are nearby, try it!

Today I went inside the pub I asked for a Coke and a Guinness the lady who was quite friendly gave me the Coke but forgot to give me my Guinness because she was too busy talking to her friend and that’s unprofessional

Amazing riverside location. Amazing light. Food was wonderful. The staff and the staff were wonderful (in joke you have to be there)

Known the Grapes for years. Used to whizz past in the day using Narrow Street as a back double to the Isle of Dogs. A delightful Thames side boozer. Nicely faded. Go upstairs for a pint and a view.

Very cozy pub with a terrace right on the Thames. Nice atmosphere and the food is very tasty. There were also mostly locals there / Very cozy pub with a terrace directly on the Thames. Nice atmosphere and the food is delicious. We are also mainly locals on site.

An incredible place to visit, whether you like Lord of the Rings or not. The atmosphere is wonderful and rustic, it has two floors and a terracotta that overlooks the river. We ate fish & chips and some wonderful sausages in sauce with mash, they are very filling. The beers were well served and the waiters were very friendly despite seeing us as pure tourists. Highly recommended, we will go again.

Great traditional pub in fantastic location by the river. Staff were friendly and helpful. Had Whitebait and Chips which were very good and reasonably priced. Pub had good atmosphere and beautifully 'unrestored'.

Friendly staff. Good atmosphere for a quiet beer.

Cracking old pub with a unique charm. Good beer served by friendly staff.

Popped in for a pint as the weather was bad, very cosy. Great view of the river, great 👍didn't eat, bit early but menu looks ok, look out for gandalfs starff behind the bar

The staff are very rude and lazy and have absolutely no tolerance for people who are not from around. Don't go if you don't want to have a bad time. Also, the food isn't any better than the appalling service, I ordered a steak and I might as well have eaten the sole of my shoe and it would've been a more pleasant experience, another person ordered a beef mushroom pie and it was literally burnt. The place was dirty and even the tables were sticky, the waitress gave me cutlery which had pieces of food stuck to the fork and knife and the napkin had a brown stain. There's nothing else around the area so if you're going just for this pub, you're kind of stuck in there if you don't like it. In short, they gave me no reason to go back or even recommend anyone to visit.

Magic wand of Gandalf on the wall…

A beautiful pub with an amazing atmosphere and a very welcoming staff. The food was very delicious and very well portioned. Don't forget to check upstairs for a wonderful view of the Thames.

Stopped by for a couple pints. Quaint and cozy pub, cool backstory.

Great site right beside the Thames. Upstairs is a lovely area. Real old world pub. Did not have food but drinks were served promptly and were of a good quality. Gandalf's staff has pride of place behind the bar because it is rumoured the pub has Wizardly connections. Orcs or Balrogs will not served, can't hold their liquor.

Beautiful old pub, staff were friendly.. atmosphere is great. Gandalf’s movie staff was quite epic

Great atmosphere and a must visit for LOTR fans! The balcony is pure vibes on a sunny afternoon.

Came here after having dinner in a close restaurant. My friends have been called out while smoking outside, even without any signs of no smoking allowed. Another friend faced a bar-lady? Manager maybe? Refusing her an order because she looking “swaying” and even if is she was, there was another way to saying that instead of saying in out loud, making her ashamed even if she wasn’t “swaying”. Also saw a mouse upstairs close to the toilets. Even if my friend was “swaying”, that’s not the way to manage it.

Although we couldn't stay, since it was full, just by entering we could appreciate how authentic it is. I hope I can go when we return to London.

Splendid evening! Amazing pub Amazing first class staff Amazing first class pub food Excellent reasonable priced beer And we had a magical being that blesses us with there humble presence

My daughter and I had so much fun here. Joanne was the best barmaid, attentive, funny with lovely stories! I loved the fish and chips with the mushy peas. Being an American, I got advice on what I should eat while in London! I promise to try the Victorian Sponge! Quiz night was a blast!