New Wheatsheaf
Address: 24 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TY
Telephone: 020 7407 9934
The New Wheatsheaf, Southwark
Large and extremely popular basement bar in the Borough Market area. The pub is situated beneath the old Hop Exchange – I suppose an apt location for a real ale pub.
The pub is operated by the Red Car Pub Company and it is called the New Wheatsheaf as a reference to the original Wheatsheaf pub that was round the corner in Stoney Street. The older pub is now closed for some years whilst the Thameslink rail extension is built above it and through Borough Market.
The similarity with the older Wheatsheaf ends with the name however. Whereas the the older pub was a small, cosy traditional pub, the New Wheatsheaf is none of those things. Once you descend the stairs into the New Wheatsheaf you’re faced with an enormous space filled with tables and various partitioned areas.
Having had a few dodgy pints at the original Wheatsheaf before it closed I’d say the beer quality is significantly better and more consistent. I haven’t counted the number of hand pumps but there must be at least 8 – the selection appears to change regularly apart from a couple of constants.
Getting served at the new Wheatsheaf in Southwark
Food is available too, but I’ve never eaten here. It looks good though.
For me the pub would be great except that the low arched ceilings and brick walls mean that the New Wheatsheaf can get extremely noisy. It can be really hard to follow conversations unless you shout – something that only contributes further to the noise. The pub is always really busy though so people obviously really like it.
Last visited: June 2013
Good Beer, Good Pubs rating: 
Other Pubs in the London Bridge and Southwark Area
- Bunch of Grapes
- Charles Dickens
- Founders Arms
- George Inn
- Horniman at Hays
- Horseshoe Inn
- Market Porter
- Old Kings Head
- Old Thameside Inn
- Rake
- Southwark Tavern
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