The Raven, pool in Bermondsey / Tower Bridge

Photo: The Raven Tower Bridge

The Raven: Pool & Snooker in Bermondsey, London

FreeWalk-in5 tablesDartsGroups

218 Tower Bridge Road · SE1 2UP · Mo-Tu 12:00-23:00; We-Th 12:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:00

The Raven is an independently run pub on Tower Bridge Road in Bermondsey, with a proper pool room upstairs. It suits anyone who wants a relaxed game without paying table fees, since the pool here is free. Head up to the first floor and you will find five tables plus a darts board, so a group can spread out rather than queue for the one table.

It is a classic, beer-led boozer rather than a polished sports bar. Downstairs there are loads of taps, real ale and rotisserie chicken if you want food, and a lower-ground room hosts live events. You walk in and play, no booking app, no time slots. Get there early on a weekend evening if you want a table to yourself.

The pool setup

The pool lives on the first floor, away from the main bar, in a dedicated room with five tables. That is a lot for a London pub, where one or two tables is the norm, so you rarely face a long wait for a frame. There is a darts board up here too. Play is free, which is unusual since most London pubs charge per game or per hour, so you can settle in for a long session without feeding coins into a slot. Tables are American pool style. With five going at once, it works well for a group who want to rotate winners and keep playing.

Good to know

This is an independent pub rather than a chain, beer-focused with a long list of taps, real ales and cask lines. The kitchen does rotisserie chicken for lunch and dinner if you want to eat between frames. There is no booking for pool, you just turn up and grab a free table, so weekend evenings can fill the upstairs room. A lower-ground room hosts live events and music. It sits on Tower Bridge Road in Bermondsey, a short walk from Tower Bridge itself.

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Common questions

What is The Raven?
The Raven is an independent, beer-focused pub at 218 Tower Bridge Road in Bermondsey, with a first-floor pool room and darts.
Is pool free at The Raven?
Yes. The Raven advertises free pool and free darts, which is unusual for a London pub.
Do you need to book a pool table?
No. There is no booking system. You walk in and grab a free table, so arrive early on busy weekend evenings.
How many pool tables does The Raven have?
Five tables in the dedicated pool room on the first floor, plus a darts board.
What are the opening hours?
Roughly noon to 11pm Monday and Tuesday, to 11:30pm Wednesday and Thursday, to midnight Friday and Saturday, and to 10pm on Sunday.
Where is The Raven and what is the nearest station?
It is at 218 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP, in Bermondsey, a short walk from Tower Bridge. London Bridge and Bermondsey are the nearest stations.

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