The George is notorious for attracting large groups of foreign visitors, but if it is a nice day, the open courtyard is a very handy space if you have a large group of of students with you.
The new Wheatsheaf is fairly large too, as is the Barrowboy and Banker (a lot of the other pubs could get a bit cramped with such a large group)
I work near LB and the main problem I find with the George is that it always seems to take a minimum of 20 minutes to get served because of the tiny bar area - even longer if the sun's out. And with 15 foreign students you can probably double that. Mudlark is a good shout for reasons outlined above - and also when you fall out of it you're practically already on platform 4 and ready to roll. Little bit further away (5 min walk), but I would also recommend The Woolpack on Bermondsey Street. Nice big leafy garden, good range, space for large groups upstairs etc, etc.
ahh the bunch of grapes...or as I like to call it the “grapple of grapes”...just so then I can pretend to clutch/grasp something with my hand when I say grapple in a slightly perverted way.
I'd steer clear of Borough Market pubs on a Saturday, it'll be a pain in the neck. Any other time I'd have said The Rake. The Cooperage near the underground exit does a great pint and might be a bit less packed.
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Thanks for the help
The new Wheatsheaf is fairly large too, as is the Barrowboy and Banker (a lot of the other pubs could get a bit cramped with such a large group)