The Rockingham Arms

🚇 Elephant & Castle 🍺 £3.33 Carlsberg ❤️ A basic Spoons that serves the local community well. . The Rockingham Arms is located in Elephant & Castle at the bottom of the Metro Central Heights building, the former headquarters of the DHSS. The nearest Tube is Elephant & Castle which is just across the road. . The original Rockingham Arms which stood on this site was built in 1888 (see last picture). It was demolished in the early 1960’s when the Elephant & Castle was being redeveloped, what a travesty! Most of what was built then is now being redeveloped again, I’m all for progress but London’s 1960’s planners have got a lot to answer for. . The decor here is quintessential basic spoons, this place looks very sparse and almost barren. This is a sizeable boozer with a a long sweeping servery that has a open plan area to the left and a carpeted more secluded area to the right. . The beer range is broad and includes five cask ales. I decided on a pint of Carlsberg, my pint was decent enough and cost just over three quid, when did you last buy a pint that started with a three. The food menu was the familiar Wetherspoons offering, Fish & Chips costs £9.78. . I arrived just after midday on a Saturday lunchtime and the atmosphere was low key. The pub was fairly busy with a predominantly senior crowd and a few waifs and strays. The local community are well represented here, you can see how important this pub is to its daytime punters who meet to catch up and share how life is going. One observation I made was how many solo punters there were, many were gazing out the window, you could almost see life’s regrets in their eyes, a penny for your thoughts Sir. . The Rockingham Arms isn’t going to tick many boxes for most people apart from the price point. But, if you are a local, it will probably tick almost every box because everything you need is right here, friendship, familiarity and respect from your peers. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. . ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 11.03.23

A popular boozer Wetherspoons in a (probably) 1960s office building near the busy Elephant & Castle. I had a pint of Doom Bar for £2.29, and my mate had a Guinness at £2.95. With the old shopping centre having been demolished, and huge numbers of high blocks of flats being built, I wonder whether this 'Spoons will still be there in the near future.

I generally avoided Wetherspoons in the past. However during Covid they had an app to order food & drinks to the table, making it contactless and safer. They also have Outside seating. Food is really good and decent selection of beers. The blue lagoon drink is very nice! Toilets could be cleaner but overall I have to say what more would you need from a good pub?

It's Spoons so what can I say? Food wise If you want a cheapish lunch and cba to bring lunch to work then whereelse. Loads of food selection (I wouldn't try the fake nandos though - chicken was bland and burnt on the outside the skin was crisped!) Always see the locals having a beer and that but I don't think I'll come to have a drink on a Friday Evening (never had done after working in E&C for many years) Best snacks are the chicken wings!