Saved from property developers via an Asset of Community Value order from Southwark Council, The Gladstone was mentioned in The Pickwick Papers by Dickens. In early 2017 this compact tavern (rebuilt during the interwar years) was titivated and relaunched under rookie new owners. It now comprises a utilitarian blue-grey ground-floor public bar, upstairs lounge and roof terrace. Tap ales include St Austell Tribute, Bermondsey honey beer, Hiver, and three from Meantime. Inexpensive wine is provided by neighbours Lant Street Wine Co; try the floral-fresh Gewürtztraminer or plummy Kiwi Pinot Noir, to go with the likes of lamb meatballs with BBQ sauce, or mushroom pâté-stuffed vols-au-vent. Otherwise, sip a gin, hibiscus and summer-berry Bellini or Gladstone Cocktail (a whiskey and tonka-bean Old Fashioned) and enjoy live jazz and folk, and DJ sets. Music is in the DNA here; Ellie Goulding and Noah and the Whale are among those to have performed.