The Roebuck, Great Dover Street
I visited The Roebuck on the 20th of December, heading down the road that leads towards Borough. It is one of those pubs you notice immediately. Sitting proudly on the corner, it feels large, confident, and very much part of the area.
From the outside it already looks impressive, but stepping inside really confirms it.
First impressions
As you walk in, the horseshoe bar wraps around in front of you. You can walk the entire way around it, which instantly makes the space feel open and easy to move through. It is a layout that encourages wandering, finding a spot, and settling in wherever feels right.
The pub is flooded with natural light thanks to windows on all sides. It gives the place a relaxed daytime feel even when it is busy, and it makes the greenery above the bar stand out. The plants look genuinely healthy, which says a lot about how bright the space is.
Drinks
Seeing both Guinness and Murphy’s on tap was an immediate win. It always feels like a good sign when a pub commits properly to stout rather than treating it as an afterthought.
I went for a Guinness, which was well poured and easy to drink. It suited the pub perfectly and felt like the obvious choice in that setting.
Upstairs and space
The Roebuck is bigger than it first appears. There is an upstairs function room, which explains how the pub manages to feel spacious without losing its atmosphere downstairs. It feels like the kind of place that can handle a crowd without becoming uncomfortable.
Verdict
The Roebuck strikes a great balance between being impressive and welcoming. It is big, bright, and well laid out, but it still feels like a proper local pub rather than a cavernous hall.
Rating: 4 out of 5
A handsome corner pub with space, light, and a strong pint selection.
I log every pub I visit in Publy, my pub journalling app. It lets me track the pubs I’ve been to, see them on a map, check how friends rated them, and store memories of what happened at each visit. This makes writing posts like this much easier and keeps a personal record of my pub adventures. Learn more at https://publyapp.co.uk/
