Doggetts Coat & Badge, South Bank, London

DO NOT EAT AT THIS PUB! We booked a table a month in advance for twelve of us to celebrate my sister’s birthday with Sunday lunch. After ordering our food, the waiter told us that because there was a party of 50 in the upstairs restaurant, we would have to wait for about 50 minutes for our starters! We did question why they had taken our booking if they thought they would not be able to cope. Although the waiter was apologetic, no offer of free drinks was made for while we were waiting, or even any bread brought over. As we sat starving, the waiter said he was going into the kitchen to make the starters himself! They eventually arrived and were fine. Then we sat again for ages, with empty plates at the table, watching as other people around us sent back their meals for being cold – it didn’t bode well. Sure enough, our mains arrived and were all – that is 12 meals – cold, in some cases uncooked, and largely inedible. A few of us struggled through the cold food (we had been in this restaurant for around two hours by now and were hungry!) while the rest asked for completely different meals – the worry of food poisoning from the slightly warm chicken dishes was an issue. A request for some bread was met with surprise and the waiter made it feel like he was doing a big favour to bring some. Meanwhile, the food that we had sent back sat stacked up on another table at the end of the restaurant – lovely! Eventually, we called for the manager and she agreed that our whole experience had been unacceptable and knocked the mains off our bill. This place is absolutely terrible and there is no excuse for this kind of service and standard of food. We couldn’t wait to leave. My recommendation? Do not go near the Doggetts Coat and Badge.

Me and my friends used to come to Doggetts on a weekly basis for a drink, as the price was good, and the menu nice. I recently went back for the first time in a year, to find the menu had changed slightly.

Like others have said, it does not have a true pub atmosphere. There are no obvious locals or regulars, just tourists and the afterwork crowd. However, the prices for drinks are not ridiculous, and there's a lot of space to hang out in. I remember it as being really busy, but we went on a Tuesday night and it was really quiet.

Now the menu has changed it's not really value for money. I ordered the chicken & chorizo skewers to start, which are nice enough, but £4 for 2 tiny little skewers is a rip off. The chicken burger was nice, and a large portion, and the chips, onion rings and garlic bread were all fine, but not outstanding.

I would go back if I was in the area and hungary, but it's gone down alot in my estimation.

This is a bit of a concrete pub lacking in atmosphere. However, the outside terrace can be a nice place to spend a couple of hours in the early evening. There are good views over the Thames and as the sun sets it can be very pleasant. There is a good choice of real ales (London Pride etc) all priced reasonably. An ugly pub, but sadly (and this probably says more about me) I like it!

Very middle of the road pub, although offering interesting views of the Thames, and a convenient pit-stop if you're walking along the south bank. Lack of discernable character may well be related to the very transient clientele - lots of tourists/day trippers. One minor point of note is the origin of the name - Doggett's Coat and Badge is the world's oldest rowing race, started for apprentice watermen on the Thames in 1715.

We stopped in here after a long walk along embankment especially for a pie. There are seasonal varieties which are rotated on different days. I had the cauliflower cheese pie which was huge and very tasty, my boyfriend opted for an open chicken pie which was just as yummy.

The vegetables were a bit dried up, and the clientele were hardly an interesting bunch. I'd say it's good for a cheap lunch if you need a winter warmer, but I wouldn't venture there for drinks in the evening. There are far nicer places to go.

average pub that only gets a mention for having wicked views over the thames. different floors all fairly dull,one is a sport bar with tvs an a pool table,which probaly has the best view. ok if your passing or like looking out of windows

I have spent far too much time in this pub, surrounded by braying sorts in suits while I waited for my boyfriend who worked over the road. It isn’t the sort of place that I would choose to frequent as it has a sterile, boring atmosphere and not much in the way of character. Still, the drink is average and the situation superb with views across the Thames as it is located at one end of Blackfriars Bridge. There is also outside seating, which is pleasant during the Summer.

I believe that they have meeting rooms upstairs, which says it all really.

Not the best place I’ve ever been to, but certainly not the worst. You can always be sure there’ll be people in here due to its prominent location, however, that isn’t always a good thing.

Distinctly average with nothing unique to offer from what I found. Had one drink and moved on to the better side of the river bank.

2.5 stars, but not in a generous mood, so 2. Wouldn’t make plans to go here again.

Doggetts is on the side of the thames, with plenty of drinking perches on the south bank right next to the river. They’ve normally got a good range of continental beers as well as a few ales. The pub is split over several different levels, with the odd telly for watching sport.
I’ve started several London drinking sessions here, particularly in the summer, when drinking next to the river is arguably the highlight of central London.
The menu looks good, though I’ve not eaten here. I think they do barbeques in the pub garden out the back.

yes, its a carbuncle. But steel yourself and give it a try - just for the sheer postmoderness of it all. Maybe think of it as a small Trellick tower for drinkers. its close to the river too! it gets an extra star (should really be a 3) for me due to some fun memories to drinking too much with attractive young KPMG colleagues back in the day, particularly Amanda. Ah, Amanda, where are you now…(In the home counties running a wellness studio I suspect).

Doggetts is big, with quite a few bars and it’s always busy, probably because it’s in a prime spot for attracting tourists. But there’s nothing that really stands out about it - the building is ugly, the drinks aren’t cheap, the food menu is nondescript and you have to wait a while to be served. Distinctly average.

I truly do not understand why Doggetts is so popular - I don’t think it’s any cheaper and the venue certainly isn’t any nicer than any other in this part of London and yet it’s always packed full of people.

I try not to go there unless I have no choice - i.e. I wouldn’t choose to go there.

It’s dirty, it’s dark and it looks run down - and yet it’s very popular. Go figure!

God it’s ugly isn’t it?

Unfortunately, the eyesore that is Doggett’s doesn’t seem to bother any one. I’ve been here for London events twice in a the last month. In fairness, it’s not such a bad pub if you’re with the right crowd. I wouldn’t make a point of going here - not with the Blackfriars pub over the other side of bridge.

It’s UGLY! Really really UGLY!

Colleagues at work were trying to make me feel more at home during my first 4th of July living outside the U.S. So they figured grabbing a burger from the rear patio grill would be a good first step.

The burger was tasty and had that grill flavor, but the bun was like pita bread and it was a bit odd to have grated cheese. I would have really liked to have a pickle on it, but that is a bit of a rarety here. From inside I ordered a side of the cheesy fries which turned out to be just right.

Combined with a beautiful day, take the opportunity to walk along the river after eating to take in the city views.

I do believe this pub is riding on its very lucky location’s laurels. I sat in the downstairs pub with a river view and the outdoor garden out the back, while the upper floor’s garden with river views was unused. Twas a gorgeous, sunny day, but I could not have a view and a bit of sun at the same time. For this reason, the pub gets knocked down several points.

They have a very good selection of bitters, so they got some points back for that. There was a green lager and soon to come a golden newt bitter.

The bar staff was cordial and seating wasn’t too hard to come by, considering all the traffic along the embankment below us. They also hadn’t run out of pimm’s, unlike another bar further down the river. So kudos to them for stocking up on that.

A lumpen concrete turd on the side of the Thames. I have never set foot in the place and I have no plans to. I see it every morning just before I get off the bus and it turns my stomach on every viewing.

Can someone please bomb the place into oblivion, as soon as is possible?

This food is pretty average. The building is very 70s and the inside has a traditional English feel. There is an outdoor area which gets packed in the summer, most of the people coming here are for after work drinks or lunch and often in big parties.
The food is around £6-10 and has all you would expect- sausage and mash, fish and chips etc.

Be warned there is often a long wait for food.

Doggetts Coat & Badge is situated just off Blackfriars Bridge, affording it one of the best views you'll get over the Thames in London. It's a four floor sports bar but in reality, it's only two floors for most of the time, the upper parts usually reserved for functions. The bottom two bars however are well laid out, with TV's all over the place, always tuned in to the best live sports. It was my pub of choice for the recent Rugby World Cup, where it was absolutely rammed for the final but had a fantastic atmosphere. The prices are excellent for a central pub, £2.40 for a pint of london pride and the food, available until 10 o'clock is very good, with decent prices too. All in all, for the big sporting events I would thoroughly recommend it, you get a great atmosphere with a knowledgeable crowd. Fantastic.