Founders Arms
52 Hopton Street, Bankside, SE1 9JH, London
Modern and nondescript at first glance, the Founder?s Arms has a secret weapon up its sleeve: a Thames-side terrace with a panoramic view of the London skyline.
This turns what would otherwise be a regular food led pub into a fantastic place for alfresco drinking, with outdoor heaters for back-up should the sun decide not to put his hat on.
The pub?s interior isn?t much to write home about, but the atmosphere is laid back and the menu is varied, including moule et frites, slow roast belly of pork and baked sweet potato, there?s also a good kids? menu. The drinks selection is decent; the real ale is well kept and is recommended; and for caffeine-deprived art-buffs on early morning visits to the nearby Tate Modern ? a separate coffee bar is tucked away in the corner.
The pub can get very crowded, especially around 6pm when it fills up with suited after-work types and tourists. It's not the most secluded or intimate of venues, but the view really is spectacular, possibly the best in London - especially at night.
If it?s a tad chilly you can grab a blanket from the box provided inside, and get nice and cosy whilst admiring the cosmopolitan crowds and the London vista - and with plenty of outdoor space, it's a safe bet for relaxed and friendly drinking.