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Mayflower, Rotherhithe

Operator: Black Dog Pub Co
117 Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, SE16 4NF (View on Google Map)

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.

Information for this venue is provided by the South East London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Spread Eagle & Crown
Local Authority
Southwark
Last updated
14/07/2024
Last surveyed
28/02/2023
Pub ID
SEL/10711
Asset of Community Value

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.

General information about historic pub interiors

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.

General information about historic pub interiors
Seen some incorrect or missing details? let us know.
Opening
Food
Monday
Noon - 11:00pm
Noon - 10:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Noon - 10:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 11:00pm
Noon - 10:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 11:00pm
Noon - 10:00pm
Friday
Noon - 11:00pm
Noon - 10:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 11:00pm
Noon - 10:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 10:00pm
Noon - 9:00pm
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Current beers

This Pub serves 5 changing beers and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen

Mayflower, Rotherhithe

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Changing

Changing beers typically include: Kent (varies) , Park - Killcat Pale , Southwark - Bermondsey Best

Source: National

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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Garden Garden
Wooden jetty at the rear
Function Room Function Room
Restaurant Restaurant
Smoking Smoking
Covered area at rear, open sided
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Transport
Close to bus routes (200m)
London Buses: 381, C10
Close to London Underground/Overground/DLR (200m)
Rotherhithe
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