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This nautical themed pub celebrates the Mayflower ship which set sail from the nearby landing steps for historic journey to New England carrying the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. The pub boasts six handpumps with five regularly changing ales plus a regular appropriately named house beer ‘Scurvy’. Good food is available lunchtimes and evening. At the rear is a fantastic wooden jetty above the Thames from where the Mayflower set sail.
A popular pub for the tourist trail and is the only pub licensed to sell US & UK postage stamps in the UK (not always available).
The interior is in the style of a 17th-century tavern and it is very easy to forget you are not in the age of sail, as the walls are adorned with various nautical objects and documents. However, the interior is in fact a more recent makeover which does unfortunately hide its genuinely old features. The upstairs restaurant has an ambience of fine dining. Operated by The Black Dog Pub Company, established 2013, whose other pubs are The Prince Of Wales, Kennington and Leadbelly's at nearby Canada Water. Originally ‘The Shippe’, when it opened in 1780, this charming riverside pub was renamed the Mayflower in 1958 after the ship which left from here for America carrying the Pilgrim Fathers.
Real cider may be sold sometimes in summer. Ale pints always served in jugs unless you specify otherwise.
Local CAMRA branch Lambeth/Southwark (not SE1) District Pub of the Year 2024.
Historic Interest
Originally the ‘Shippe Inn’ and dating back to 1780, the pub was rebuilt as the Spread Eagle and Crown in the 19th century. War damage to the roof and top floor led to a major refurbishment in 1957 which created a 16th century style interior and the pub was renamed the Mayflower after the ship which left from the nearby landing steps for America carrying the Pilgrim Fathers. Much of the 1957 work remains in the main bar and front snug.
Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
This popular and iconic riverside pub retains numerous fittings from a 1957 refurbishment.
Originally the ‘Shippe Inn’ dating back to 1780, and rebuilt as the Spread Eagle and Crown in the 19th century, war damage led to a major refurbishment in 1957 by architect H G Clinch which created a 16th century style interior, whereupon it was renamed the Mayflower after the ship which in 1620 carried the Pilgrim Fathers from the nearby landing steps to America.
The snug at the front has a bare wood floor, old high backed settle-style fixed seating line the walls and it retains its disused exterior door on the front right hand side. The bar counter is of lapped black-painted wood panels, no doubt from the 1957 refit. The main bar has a raised area at the back and also has a bare wood floor, as well as seating bays that date from 1957. The bar counter is of the same 1950 style as that in the snug; however, the bar back and bar top look modern. There is a large brick fireplace which also looks to be from 1957. At the rear a wooden deck has been built on stilts which offers splendid views of the River Thames. On the first floor is a dining room with windows overlooking the River Thames, where there are a couple of high backed settles, some carved panelling at the top of the stairs but no other old fittings.
The Mayflower claims to be the only place licensed to sell USA stamps in the UK – look for the tiny grate, a postal hatch, on the left of the bar near the ladies toilet door, but is clearly no longer used for that purpose.
Originally the ‘Shippe Inn’ and dating back to 1780, it was rebuilt as the Spread Eagle and Crown in the 19th century. War damage to the roof and top floor led to a major refurbishment in 1957 which created a 16th century style interior and this riverside pub was renamed the Mayflower after the ship which left from the nearby landing steps for America carrying the Pilgrim Fathers. Much of the 1957 work remains in the main bar and front snug; there is also a dining room upstairs.
The snug at the front has a bare wood floor, old high backed settle-style fixed seating line the walls and it retains (disused) its exterior door on the front right hand side. The bar counter is of lapped wood panels painted black and assumed to be the 1957 one.
The main bar is on two levels and also with a bare wood floor and seating bays that date to 1957. The bar counter is of the same style as that in the snug and is curved on the left hand side; however, the bar back and bar top look modern. There is a large brick fireplace which looks like it too could date from 1957. At the rear a wooden deck has been built on stilts which offers splendid views of the River Thames.
On the first floor is a dining room on two levels with bare wood floors and windows overlooking the R. Thames. There are a couple of high backed settles, piece of carved panelling at the top of the stairs but no other old fittings.
The Mayflower claims to be the only place licensed to sell American stamps in the UK – look for the tiny grate, a postal hatch, on the left of the bar near the ladies toilet door.
This Pub serves 5 changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Mayflower, Rotherhithe
Changing beers typically include: Gun (varies) , Kent (varies) , Southwark (varies)
Source: National
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Garden
Function Room
Restaurant
Smoking
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
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