The Rake

Pub in Southwark

9 / 10 from 2 reviews

Address
14 Winchester Walk
Southwark
London
SE1 9AG

Map

History

Telephone
020 7407 0557

Region
Southwark

Nearest Station
London Bridge
0.20 miles

Category
Pubs

Opening Summary
Monday - Friday: 12:00 - 23:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 23:00
Sunday: 12:00 - 22:00

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From humble origins back in 2006 when 14 Winchester Walk was a mere greasy caff, the site has come a long way! Specialist beer brewers UtoBeer began by using the premises on the edge of Borough market to sell their tasty wares to the wholesale market. However, more and more wholesale customers were stopping for longer and longer to extend their sampling, such that the shop became more and more akin to a bar. Finally the Utobeer bowed to their will, and The Rake became a standalone bar selling over 130 different beers to a more than willing public :-)

The Rake Picture Gallery

All In London Review

A Tiny - and we mean tiny - palace of specialty beers.

Regularly featured on lists of London’s smallest pubs, The Rake is a strange kind of place. It is tiny without being particularly cosy and yet it does have a basic clubhouse appeal to it. Having visited on a balmy evening in late May, when the Borough Market car park joined the Rake’s garden (a garden that is bigger than the pub) in becoming an acceptable place to take your exotic beer, it is easy for us to say that this is a summer pub. The open air space almost renders the pub redundant for all but filling up purposes as the lively garden backs onto the even more lively market. You don’t want to be stuck in a cramped one-room space when there is all that fun going on outside.

But… inside is where all the beer is kept, the amazing array of beer from the barrel, keg, can and bottle. The people behind Borough Market’s Utobeer, the stall that sells ales from all over the world, run the Rake and have filled it with an equally impressive selection. Belgian wheat, multiple pale ales and IPAs, light, dark, saisons and porters; there is a little something of everything here. The ramshackle interior – complete with wall resplendent with customer doodles – is secondary to what is on the taps. The Rake is all about the beer and if you’re interested in that kind of thing then you won’t mind the squeeze. If you’re not about the beer then chances are you’re in the wrong place.

Reviewed by T.A.O
Published on Jun 1, 2014

Best For

London's best craft beers and real ales

Who fancies a pint of Willie's Old Groyne?

Transformed from a greasy spoon into a specialty beer pub in 2006, The Rake is established as one of London’s best for unusual ale. There are seven keg pumps and three real ales on at all times and best of all, none are permanent so as well as the 130 beers in the fridges the draught will surprise you every time. Try: Brooklyn India Pale Ale.

London's best fonts of specialist beers

For when craft beers aren't crafty enough

It started with a market stall at Borough but Utobeer soon added a pub to their domination of the craft beer market in the area. That pub is The Rake, but the stall still runs every week. Great for Belgian beers with a difference.

User Reviews

Timothy W
from London

Sep 27, 2014

The Rake is a little gem on the River Thames! If you like beer then you will love this place. It has a lovely seating area outside and the most important - it has a fantastic range of beers.

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