The Gun Overview
Once a regular haunt of Lord Horatio Nelson, The Gun has been around for eons. Since the 18th Century drinkers have been swilling back brews and noshing on good ‘ol English grub in this Grade II listed pub. It was painstakingly renovated after a fire destroyed much of the interior about 4 years ago and the Time Out Best Gastro Pub 2005/06 award it won would have us believe all the hard work paid off. It is run by Tom and Ed Martin who also manage The White Swan (Fetter Lane) and The Well (Clerkenwell). Chef, Micky O’Connor heads the kitchen while Bridget Croft is general manager. I mention all of this with good reason. With all this expertise in place one would expect to have a grand old time. But even with all this ammunition, for us there was no fire.
Tucked away in the corner of a residential area on the banks of The River Thames, the nostalgic décor of The Gun does possess a certain charm to it. The staff, however, do not. From the moment we arrived and until we retreated to the Portuguese barbeque outside (I will return to this shortly) the service we received was frosty and offhand. Granted the pub was busy when we arrived but there appeared to be plenty staff to accommodate, and even if there wasn’t, a simple acknowledgement of our (and other waiting customers) presence would have helped. As a result the atmosphere was a tad bit chilly.
Putting aside our initial distaste we took in a tour and were surprised at the size of the premises. There are a number of different rooms in which to drink and dine in public or private. There is also a terrace and sun deck – clearly the pub’s main asset. We were informed that on most nights it is busy so it’s recommended to reserve a table for dinner in the dining room. The lunch, brunch, pub and dining room menus all encompass a range of British /European dishes including The Gun fish pie, potted duck, pint o’ prawns and oysters - the fish is selected daily from the local Billingsgate market. The menu is very meat orientated so vegetarians be warned. Also, as expected from an establishment located so close to Canary Wharf prices are fairly pricey. The average for starters is about £6.50+ and mains range from £15-£20.
So returning to the Portuguese barbeque and what a saving grace it was. Outside on the deck wafts of freshly barbecued shellfish and spicy sauce was overwhelmingly seductive and we chose to dine out on the deck while taking in views of the Dome. It was easy to think we were in an entirely different establishment. The staff was friendly, accommodating and helpful. The food was delicious and the atmosphere completely different. We tried the barbecued king prawns and chicken Piri Piri, (a secret recipe from the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique). Accompanied by a huge basket of fries and a crispy, piquant salad and we were truly satisfied.
Now that summer time is just around the corner The Gun, or more specifically the Portuguese barbeque at The Gun is a good choice if you want a venue with outside seating, a decent view and something a little to different to munch on. The pub itself, in our opinion, is not a barrel of laughs and if it’s a decent pub you want with receptive staff and a prize-winning atmosphere…shoot off elsewhere. (Updated 23/01/2007)
Additional Info: Food, Non-Smoking Area, Hire Available, Children Allowed, Disabled Access, Outside Drinking
Nearby Venues:
- Azura Bar & Restaurant, British (0.32km)
- Fino's Orangery, Mediterranean (0.61km)
- Tiffinbites (Canary Wharf), Indian (0.77km)
- Wagamama Restaurant (Canary Wharf), Japanese (0.77km)
- Caffe Nero, Cafe (0.77km)
- Mem Saheb, [Other/Unclassified] (0.77km)
- Lotus Chinese Floating Restaurant (The), [Other/Unclassified] (0.85km)
- Smollensky's Bar & Grill (Canary Wharf), Eclectic (0.85km)
- Big Chef (The), [Other/Unclassified] (0.86km)
- Bengal Quay, [Other/Unclassified] (0.91km)
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