Exterior of The Grapes public house. © NMM

Charles Dickens knew this pub well. As a child, he was made to stand on a table and sing to the customers. As an adult, he based 'The Six Jolly Fellowship Porters' riverside tavern from 'Our Mutual Friend' on the pub interior.

There is a Dickens Room with a balcony giving a very pleasant view of the river.

There are unsavoury stories of watermen taking drunks from the pub to drown them in the river. They were alleged to have sold the bodies for medical dissection.

There has been a pub on the site since the 16th century.

Dickens speaks of certain drinks for which the Grapes has long been famous:

• Purl: a mixture of beer and ale and hot spilled gin
• Dog’s nose: potent mixture of beer and gin
• Flip: warmed ale, lemon, cinnamon, eggs and grated nutmeg