Founders Arms

The Founders Arms enjoys a Southbank riverside location close to Blackfriars Bridge. Behind the pub is the converted power station that is the Tate Modern, and a few yards along the river is the famous Millenium Bridge.
Inside, The Founders is nothing special at all, and always seems to be crowded. However, decent food is served here. The beauty of the pub is in it’s location on the riverbank. This is an outstanding summer pub for sitting or standing outside in order to soak up the memorable views along and across the Thames. The stand out view is of course of St Pauls Cathedral lit up in all it’s glory on the other side of the river.
The Founders is the ideal starting point for a Southbank crawl along to London Bridge featuring The Anchor, The Old Thameside and The George.

Nice little spot, south of the river, serving a good selection of beers and ales, and hearty pub grub.
A friend of mine, from Saint Albans, is on a training course in Tower Bridge this week. As I work near London Bridge, we decided we’d meet one day after work for a few drinks and a bite to eat. We met at a halfway point (The Tate Modern) and, as it was cold, settled for this place as it was a short walk away from Blackfriars Station.
It was busy, but thankfully we had no trouble finding a seat. I was immediately impressed with the selection of Meantime Brewery beers, and we ordered a couple of their pilsners to start us off. I was a bit shocked at the price — £10.90 for two pints of lager! And that was the cheapest round of the entire evening; a pint of London stout and a Meantime (bottled) wheat beer came to almost £13. This place is incredibly expensive.
Despite the prices, we didn’t want to head back out into the chilly night air to seek out food, so we stayed here. The menu is certainly impressive, with lots of choice. I went for the root vegetable hot pot which was topped with melted cheddar and served with toasted sour dough bread. It was warming and flavoursome, real comfort food. I loved mopping up the juices with the toast. My friend had the steak and kidney pudding, which was served with mash and a rich gravy. I was really won over by the quality of the food and the speed with which it was served to us after ordering.
The toilets here are unisex — there are male and female stickers on each respective cubicle door to try and enforce some separation, but most people seemed to be ignoring these and using whichever cubicle was free first, as a result they were mostly quite unclean and lots of the toilet seats were broken. At one point, someone came into the toilets and started smoking a joint — I was pretty surprised, considering this place is mostly full of city workers.
The food here is lovely and the views of the river/​skyline from the panoramic style windows are beautiful, so I’d definitely recommend coming here for some pub grub and people watching. Maybe watch your wallet when it comes to drinks, however, as they’re extortionate.

Spent an evening here for 30^th birthday drinks with friends.
We’d reserved an area for 20 people and were given a table with benches. Could have probably seated around 10 at a squeeze so a little smaller than expected which wasn’t a great start. That said the venue as a whole was a lot classier than some of the pubs in London and views of the Thames were stunning. It was a cold January evening so didn’t get much use out of the terrace but imagine it would be a great spot for an alfresco pint or two on a hot summer afternoon. Our table was right next to the window which meant unobstructed views of the river which was great, and a little later on we were able to spread our party across the neighbouring table too.
Staff generally polite, but be warned that the higher end target market for this establishment comes with a price at the bar — £20.20 for two drinks which even for London prices is a little on the «Ouch» side when you hand over a £20 and get told it’s not enough.
Only negative for me was the unisex toilets. Granted there was a note on the door saying it was a temporary measure during refurbishment but it was quite awkward sharing facilities.
Closed for refurbishment shortly but after that well worth a visit if you’re taking a stroll along the South Bank.

Stopped by here after a day of sightseeing. It has great views of London and the river and has a decent beer selection.

Pretty much the Tate Modern’s riverside local, this relaxed, modern and lively bar surrounded by glass walls and with an outside terrace gives great views of the Thames from Blackfriars Bridge eastwards down the river taking in St Pauls and its environs. Spectacular at night

The Founders Arms is nicer than your usual spoons. I liked its glass walls on the tames side and the cute fairy lights decorating the place. It is ideally located by the tames just just down the Tate Modern.
It also wins an extra star for the view.
As we entered the pub to order i was suddenly attacked by the noise level that suddenly brutally ascended. So first of all, it is duly noted their windows contractor is a good one, the sound level is not heard from the outside, second of all, there are little chances i would ever sit inside.
Placing our orders was quite tricky because it was incredibly busy and the bar is really long, so you never know where to catch the barmen. Other from that our barman was sympathetic and took time to review the different juices and lemonades they had for us.
We sat outside because the place was packed. It was kind of an adventure to find a spot around 5 on a Friday night.
We ordered drinks and snacks in the form of sweet potato wedges and a bread platter (??). I was happy with my cucumber lemonade but disappointed with my sweet potato thingy. They were cut in enormous bits, uneasy to eat and i expected them in kind of a wedgy shape and crusty. The softness made it taste like mashed sweet potato. Mary G. had the bread platter which literally consisted in grilled breads and oil to dip it in… I was surprised. This dish is completely uninteresting.
Have i mentioned the view? Yeah, but i’ll mention it again. It is worth it. Especially at night when all the lights turn on and you can admire all of London’s beauty.

A great pub on the river, absolutely perfect for a summer evening drink. The food is average pub grub, so just enjoy a drink of flavory PIMM’s or two in the sunshine and go somewhere else afterwards.

Easy enough place to stop for a drink on the bank of the Thames, I’ve been here a couple of times, the most recent being after a performance at the Globe. It being late in the evening on a weekday, it was still warm but hardly anyone was about.
A couple glasses of wine went down nicely while enjoying the view before the staff nicely asked us to finish up as they were closing.
Prices were decent and it was a nice place to finish up. I’ve been before on the weekend and it can be rammed though, just plan your visit and you’ll have a good enough time.

Founders Arms has the best view. I’ve never eaten there, but I make sure to visit whenever I am in town. Since it’s right on the Thames, you have access to all of the exciting tourist attractions.
The setting is more on the modern side of things, but with big windows and fantastic outdoor seating, this is a top pub in my books.

I’m not quite sure how to rate this place.
It has an amazing view! Right on the river. And friendly staff to go with it. My wife and I ordered a couple beers which were great.
Of course that was the highlight. The food? Not so much. It was fairly bland and expensive for what it was (although maybe that shouldn’t be a surprise given the location? Or maybe I’m just used to Canadian prices?).
We’d go back… But just for a drink. We will skip the food next time.

This is a really nice pub with a large outside terrace that commands fantastic views of Saint Paul’s Cathedral just across the Thames. Due to its location close to several major attractions I imagine it’s inherently a popular place and always busy as a result, but despite that with so much seating it still did not prove too difficult to find somewhere to sit on our visit.
The view alone makes this a great place to relax after taking in some of the many tourist attractions around here. If you’re visiting Saint Paul’s this is a pleasant stroll away over the Millennium Bridge. After the scary climb up Saint Paul’s dome we needed to chill for a few, this was the perfect place!!!
They have a good selection of beers and the service was really fast and friendly. We did not try food here so can’t speak to its quality, though what we saw others eating looked good so I have no doubt it is.
We would definitely come back here next time we find ourselves in London.

Ok trying the founders arms post work on a sunny Thursday was not the best way to ensure tranquility. The buzz of the place is awesome, the queue at be bar a at less: D the terrace is really cool and allows space for smokers (Erm). Fish and chips after a bottle of wine was just delicious. But my opinion may or may not be biased!

Direkt an der Themse gelegen mit einem tollen Blick auf die Stadt.
Die große Terasse lädt geradezu ein, hier mit Freunden einen Drink nach Feierabend zu nehmen, abseits der Hektik…
Wir hatten etwas Pech mit dem Wetter und mussten nach dem ersten Bier nach drinnen umziehen, da der Wettergott uns einen fetten Sturzregen vorbeischickte. Er hat später versucht, das mit einem gigantischen Regenbogen wieder gut zu machen (fast ein doppelter, der Äußere jedoch nur halb).
Auch der Schankraum selbst ist mit viel Liebe zum Detail eingerichtet, wir haben uns hier wirklich wohl gefühlt. Wenn man etwas essen möchte, bestellt man’s direkt am Tresen, bezahlt auch gleich dort und bekommt eine Nummer zum auf den Tisch stellen mit…
Bestellt einmal Burger und einmal Fish & Chips, beides recht lecker und preislich auch noch im Rahmen.
Diese Location ist auf jeden Fall notiert (oder vielmehr ‘geeselsohrt’) und ist bei einem der nächsten Aufenthalte in London auf jeden Fall wieder mit im Programm.

On our last night in London, we decided to take a stroll by the Thames and dine al fresco at Founder’s Arms. It seemed to be a popular spot for the local crowd, with food, drinks, and conversation enjoyed by all.
It was pirate night, so a free pint was had by those dressed up appropriately! Both food and drink is ordered at the bar. Drink in hand, you take your flagged number to your table to wait for food to be brought along. It was a gorgeous night by the Thames, with heat lamps providing some ambiance and warmth amidst the cool fall breeze.
Pimm’s Cup
The GF and I decided to try the traditional Pimm’s. Refreshing and not cloyingly sweet, this was easily quaffable and the perfect drink to enjoy our night.
The Best of British [16 Pounds = $ 26.22]
Pork & caramelized onion Scotch egg, pork pie, Denhay cheddar, Gammon ham, sausage roll, Branston pickle, gherkins, freshly baked bread
Go big or go home right? I went with the Best of British, which was a huge slab of pretty much everything. Plenty of scotch eggs filled with hard-​boiled egg and sausage, Gammon ham, pork pies, sharp Denhay cheddar, and freshly baked bread. The Branston pickles and gherkins really made the dish though, providing much needed acidity to break up the heft. The accompanying strong British mustard provided a countervailing element to all the meats. Still, there was no way I could finish this feast.
Young’s Battered Haddock Fillet [12 Pounds = $ 19.67]
Fries, mushy peas, tartare sauce
The GF enjoyed the fish and chips, which were crisp, flaky, moist, and thankfully, without bones. The chips were nicely crisp. The mushy peas were well-​seasoned and rounded out this ubiquitous dish.
Garlic & Thyme Sweet Potato Wedges [3.50 Pounds = $ 5.74]
Do get the sweet potato wedges. Not overly done with garlic, the wedges were perfectly crisp on the outside and lusciously creamy within. Delicious.
Overall, Founder’s Arms really hit the spot. It seems like the perfect venue to grab a pint with some friends while enjoying the beauty of London across the Thames.

I’ve been living in London for two weeks and already been here multiple times– it’s definitely a great go-​to pub! The location and views are lovely and perfectly suited for enjoying a pint outside in the sunshine. The food is pretty good too– I had the pulled pork sandwich last night and it was tasty! My friends tried the mac and cheese, burger, and chicken caesar, and all looked great and got thumbs up. I’ll be back!

I’ve only been here for breakfast/​brunch and a beer one evening.
As a vegetarian I find the breakfast options quite satisfying, particularly the veggie full English breakfast.
A good selection of beers in a great atmosphere, both inside and outside on the patio, along the river, with a gorgeous view over St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The staff is always very attentive and friendly, and the service is very good.
Nice coffee, too!
I would definitely recommend a visit and will go and try their cuisine at dinner time as soon as possible.

Southbank has a lot of hidden gems, but this one is as obvious as can me. Right outside Tate Modern and next to the Thames, this is one of the best places to grab some lunch or some drinks after work and enjoy a great view of the river. The food is not as cheap as pubs usually are but you are definitely paying for the view, which is amazing! You can see St Paul’s Cathedral right across you and the rest of the buildings all the way to the City and Bank. The food is quite good, nice juicy burgers, mouth watering salmon and heart warming pie. Enjoy your meal with a pint of your favourite tipple, or try one of their special ones (toffee or banana ale anyone?) and you won’t regret it. Make sure you take lots of photos with the city behind you to make all your friends jealous.

Very handy for the Tate Modern and it has a great view over the river. I’m pretty sure however that if you picked this pub up and moved the location it wouldn’t prove to be anywhere near as popular.
Not a great food selection and what I saw brought out from the kitchen didn’t look too appetising. A pretty average beer selection and a bit of a lack of seating outside. If you can get there early enough to grab a spot and the sun is out you can almost forgive the bad points

Good food, great location. Right on the Themes and just south of the Tate Modern.
I sat outside, even though it was very windy. It is a very busy place and it is a little unclear how to order or get a table. I had to ask around.
The hamburger i had was good – nothing to be excited about. The pint I enjoyed while eating and soaking in the view was good, but not exceptional. I was in and out quickly.
The waiter was very nice, but not especially memorable.
Great place for a quick bite after seeing the Rothko room, before a nice walk along the river.

Delish. Modernized «pub». Good selection of ciders. Had the strawberry like cider it was phenomenal. Atmospher was great with good views of the river. We easily got a table right by the window.
Food: fiancé had the fish and chips and thought it was very good. I had the steak and ale pie which was very tasty, great flavors! Good portions I could barely finish mine.
Staff was friendly.

I discovered the Founders Arms whilst walking to Waterloo from the City in the recent Tube strikes. This place is all about the views, perched on the South Bank, the patio area is a great place to look at London’s ever changing skyline with the luxury of a pint in your hand.
It is conveniently located for the Tate Modern so when pretentious modern art gets to much it is worth popping in here. The beer costs around £4.50 a pint which is a price I have become used to paying in London.