The Gladstone Arms 64 Lant Street, London SE1 1QN

"What a lovely surprise this oub! Delicious food, unconventional Anglo - Indian Sunday roast and small plates, so tasty and original and prepared on request (I. E. You wait but it's worth it and also who wants to be rushed?!) . The athmosphere is homely and relaxed and the retro /singalong band was chef kiss! Perfect Sunday"

""The Glad" is one of the only Desi-Pubs I've had the fortune of visiting. The term, a categorisation of a British pub, where the owners/managers are from Indian origin, typically with a crossover of Punjabi food and British pub culture. I was first taken here by a friend, set free from Covid, we had hit a few pubs in the area but when he started dragging me down the backstreets of Southwark and Borough I had no idea what I was in for. The visit was fun. Shots, beers, chicken tikka pies, and despite our intentions to hit a few more places, we couldn't pull ourselves away. A revisit at the back end of 2022 then, and refreshingly it still gave me the same warm feeling as before. A tidy and refined range of craft beers on the bar, well kept ales, and an inviting seating setup for communal or solo pints, that on this dreary December afternoon was on the cusp of filling up with the Christmas crowd. I had a pint of Gipsy Hill Hepcat, regretted not ordering food but vowed to not leave it a year again between visits. So, I came back a week later, bringing another friend here, this time for food. Chicken Pao, Samosas, Gobi Manchurian, Cod Fingers and Chips. It didn't hang about for long, each dish inhaled quicker than the last, a comforting blend of pub grub and Indian specialities, some with more of a crossover than others. The roast dinner comes with Bombay potatoes and Yorkshire puddings for example. The Hepcat flew down again too. I'm yet to be here when it's thriving, as indicated by my "just opened" pictures (the best time to snap without invading privacy), but doubling as a music venue, and reading through the endless praise online, I'm going to need to return again. Also, rare that I manage to find a pub with its own Wikipedia article too, but as echoed in the aforementioned reviews, this pub once threatened by closure by the rampant redevelopment in the area, was saved by CAMRA and is now listed as an Asset of Community Value. Check out David Jesudasom reviews of this and other Desi Pubs (the Pellicle Magazine article is great), read up on The Glad, and pay a visit next time you're in town. Save room for food too. Sensational."

"One of my favourite pubs, always such a warm welcome. This pub has one of the most genuinely friendly atmospheres about! A true "IYKYK" pub, one of the greatest pubs in London in my opinion. Also great beer, fantastic food (go for the roast on Sunday, it will blow your world)."

"Lovely backstreet pub, excellent food, the Karaage Chicken is amazing. Great selection of beers, the staff are very friendly and helpful re the beers. Live music too. Has a real local feel."

"Lovely pub with a great vibe! Awesome live music - definitely recommend, we went on a Sunday and they had live music but they may also have it on other nights. They also had really nice Indian food, I had the vegetarian sliders and they were really good! There was also a lovely semi-outdoor area upstairs (see pic!) and a separate private room that I think you could book."