please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Stayed here for a couple of nights. Fullers house but could only see Pride on the hand pull. A few others on keg. A once off 10% off food and drink voucher if a resident. Packed out for the play offs on T.V. ( Seemed to be a lot of Baggies fans).
But was served quickly. Very handy for the station, so expect lots of customers having one before the commute home, as quieter later.
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Time to kill before the train, not sure why door staff needed at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon. Football fans safely at games or would the marathon runners have the energy to play up. Pride was average, service was reasonable.
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Not sure what this pub is trying to be. It's actually a nice looking traditional boozer, nicely decked out and has lots of promise but then they've stuck in large screens and quiz machines which give it a confused feel.
We tried the Malbec in there and I think it has to be the worst wine I've ever tasted, I don't think it was off as it wasn't sour - just revolting.
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Went here as it was near the station. Didn't seem very interesting, your usual kind of interior these days, but its clean and acceptable with reasonable ales.
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Handy for the station and for watching sport on TV but that's about all it has going for it in my view. Bland huge pub, indifferent beer quality; not absolutely awful but certainly one of the worst Fullers pubs I can think of.
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Awful. £10 for a basic tasteless burger with a few chips in a tarty container. Bland & tasteless pint of Pride. Piped music blaring across the pub. Avoid like the plague
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First visit and a little disappointing. Proper pub, but do they really need all those flashing machines (I didn't see anyone using them) likewise tacky music which rings around parts of the pub making it difficult to have a conversation. I didn't notice anyone looking at the plethora of TV screens either.
It was lunchtime and we ordered five dishes between us: the Pie of the day was OK, Chargrilled steak sandwich terrible, Cod and chips poor, Linguine ghastly. So overall verdict on food: less than mediocre ! I know the food is supposed to be standard throughout Fullers' pubs, but this seemed definitely sub-standard.
BUT, the staff were efficient and friendly, the beers were good and it's a more pleasant place to spend an hour or two than the in-station pubs.
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Beer is good - london pride, but dont be tempted to stay the night. The room I was in, unlike the beer , was needing refurbishment and also v.noisy, especially having been reasurred in was "v.quiet"
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large boozer opposite Waterloo station, and as such was expecting very little. Suprised by the quality of the Seafarer and how pleasant pub was.
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I was pleasantly surprised by how pleasant this pub can be when it's not too crowded (like after 4pm on a weekday!). Enjoyed 2 lovely pints of Seafarer's Ale at about �3.60 a pint.
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Dropped in to watch the Grand National, pub was busy but I was served quickly, good pint of London Pride
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Now a Fullers and so the usual stuff....very busy Saturday afternoon with the rugby on...food was really good and reasonable...good old fashioned pub grub...
word of warning though...dippers operate in the pub, so keep an eye on your belongings...there are notices and staff are aware...
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Dropped in for a couple of pints last night. The Pride was in good nick and this pub always seems to have a pretty good buzz about it. Good for sports viewing and watched the end of the cricket followed by some football. Badly located (and unnecessary?) fruit machines caused a bit of a blockage between bars but a generally reliable boozer. Better with the switch from Marston's to Fuller's.
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Solid pub with the Fullers range of beers (why couldn't the Black Cab stout be on all the time and not be just seasonal?) within staggering distance of Waterloo station. My usual final stopping point on a central London pub crawl.
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Used to really like this pub but just recently the quality of ales has gone down. Took a pint back on Friday as it didn't fast right. Was told by the manager there was nothing wrong with it and he wouldn,'t change it. After complaining he changed it for a very short measure and reluctantlyfilled it up only after further argument. Won't be rushing back in a hurry despite the fact that I used the pub regularly before.
tanky - 12 Feb 2012 02:04 |
Good pub, often crowded. Always pop in here when passing through Waterloo station.
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Went here last week for the first time in 15 years; changed greatly; but enjoyed the food and got a good table to catch up with a mate.. will go again on the commute home from Waterloo.
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This pub has just been acquired by Fuller's.
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Nice selection of ales!
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I drop in here on occassion's as I'm commuting thru Waterloo station. The Brakspear and the ELA are ok and quite acceptable but please tell the management to keeop off the Cumbrian import Jennings Cumberland ale. If you're in Cockermouth at the Jennings brewery bar of the Bush pub on the High Street then there isn't a better tasting pint in the world. The world could end, Fu Man Chu could gain world dominance, women could take over the whole of world politics and Britney could pull out of the video world and i wouldn't care a stuff but west Cumbria and local to there is where Jennings is best and not some plausibly stagnant city bar for tourists and suitists alike, created out of good old London taverns that now represents the none genuine world of what the marketeers insist that we like. Leave it well alone me old mucker and thrice I say this. Stick to patchy old tripe and common or garden, middle of the road mixed option larup that the the fun loving averagers foolthemselves into thinking that this is the real thing. A mother and daughter combo provided the last entertainment when I was there. Her fella had ran off with her best mate and naffed the money bag too. The mother had never rated him anyway as he';d never worked and was idle - you see, exactky what I'm talking about as they devoured pint after pint of PREMIUM Pixx lager. On the other hand, the leggy African in the yellow shorts, big blouse and long braided hair was made the mead go down splendid as Djorkvic panned Nadal mid Sunday afternoon.
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Went in here on Saturday to watch the sport. The place had good coverage with plenty of TVs about. That said if you didn't want to watch sport you were out of luck. No where to get away from it.
A bit worrying to see a doorman on at 5 in the afternoon doing the standard 'how you doing?' line to see if you're drunk but I can't say once i was inside I felt like I was in any danger.
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Been in here a couple of times before and after theatre at the Old Vic, just down the road. Very lively, lots going on and good for sports with lots of screens. Never tried the food so can't comment but the beer is good with EPA & Cross Buttock available when I last went in. Didn't understand the comments about feeling initimidated - didn't get any of that on my visits.
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Really is quite a good pub. The ELA was in top form. I really don't understand how anybody could feel intimidated in here, it's a friendly bar. Certainly handy for Waterloo.
tanky - 26 Feb 2011 01:11 |
Excellent Brakspeare's Bitter served well - reasonably busy as around tea time and most people interested in the transfer deadline frenzy (zzzz). Was closed last time I tried, so nice to see it open again
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Called here one afternoon and drank some good EPA ,
however this is large and mostly soulless place when quiet and really requires to be busy to feel ok
Eventually driven out by multiple TV screens which were impossible to get away from.
Good for sports fans.
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I thought I would try this pub as I was staying next to it. The beer was very drinkable but I was aware that certain 'clients' were considering my vunerability. Luckily for them they did not overestimate it. I was glad to get over the road to the Union Jack Club for a relaxing drink away from the scroats attention - knowing that my security was in the hands of ex-Gurkas.
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Thursday night was my second visit to the Wellington. It's very handy for Waterloo station and unlike the Kings Arms around the corner, the Wellington will serve you after 10:55 in the evening. The interior is large and features a painted mural on the ceiling. Although the atmosphere can be a little sterile and all too similar to a Wetherspoons (or Yates as somebody said previously). As Matthew_of_Ham states, Brakspear bears are served - Bitter and Hooray Henley. Although this was the second time I had seen these two beers in the same evening. The Horseshoe near London Bridge was the first place. In addition, the Wellington also had Jennings Bitter and Marstons Pedigree. Certainly a handy pub. But I prefer the Hole in the Wall.
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A good football pub, except sometimes they inexplicably will leave the sound off. When there's not a game on, it's pretty standard really. Has beer and decent food and places to sit - will never surprise which is both a good and a bad thing.
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A bustling pub that attracts locals, tourists and commuters who combine to generate a buzz that is very much London. The place is large and hollow, as city pubs are these days, which makes it ok for meeting mates after work but not so good for a quiet date. Good to see that it has the hard-to-find Brakspear on tap.
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me and my husband stayed at the wellington in august 09. it was the first leg of our honey moon and were greeted by the owner mark who was very helpful in helping us get to the airport in the early hours of the morning, the breakfast was good and the rooms were fab, very clean and comfortable, we knew it would be noisy as it is in London and right next to the train station but ear plugs were supplied!!! but not needed and intend on staying again as it was central for everything that we were doing.
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Completely agree with Benja. Was threatened with physical violence last night by a baldy midget with scars on face for sitting in a sit that was apparently "his".
Also, as usual, poor bar service - three deep along the entire length of both bars - with only two people serving at 6pm!
I've given this place it's last visit.
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In my opinion this deserves it's monika of worst pub in the world.
As friendly as a kick in the head.
Last time I was there my mobile was stolen.
Atmosphere is excellent, if you enjoy places like Iraq.
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Big Marstons pub opposite Waterloo station. Like most boozers in the vicinity, gets very busy with a mixture of the office crowd and students/others before and after train journeys. As a result has something of a transient, anaemic atmosphere to it; This is hardly a pub you could call your local (in comparison, say, to the Kings Arms around the corner). Fought to get a seat at 5:45 only to be told a University Lacrosse Social had booked it from 6:15 and we'd have to vacate. Although this was irritating at first it actually proved a convenient excuse to move on as the beer (Brakspears) was in pretty poor condition. I'd be willing to give this place another shot but its not one I could imagine spending any great length of time in.
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Love this place for footie. Plenty of room, loads of atmosphere. Food not too bad but avoid the curry.
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Pubs within 500 yards of railway stations tend generally to be a bit naff so it was a surprise to find quite a decent one across the road from Waterloo. The interior is quite smart but the most impressive thing about this place are the Napoleonic War theme muriels on the walls and ceilings. There were only two ales on tap and the other usual lagers etc. It felt more like being in a Yates to be honest. It took a while to get served even though it was a Monday night and they weren't exactly being over run.
This pub is good if you want a swift pint or bite to eat or even to watch the sport on the large screen TVs but I felt there are better places nearby if you want to meet up with mates for a night out. Having said that I do recommend a visit if only to look at the impressive interior...
7/10.
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Fairly reasonable pub, owned by Marstons pub chain. Decent beers, reasonable prices, service isn't too shabby. It's a good place for a little refreshment before or after a train journey or to meet friends to watch a sporting event due to the large number of screens.
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I love this bar,when my wife and I stay in the Union Jack club in Sandell St we class this bar as our 'local', I like the atmosphere and the beer, and the craic of the customers, and we both like
to sit and have a drink in here before we head back to the club after a day touring around London.
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This pub is awful! We were served by an arrogant youngish lad who was unpleasant and rude to all who dared ask for service at the bar, and delighted in telling his friend about how he'd deliberately given wrong directions to a tourist who'd called in earlier.
Food was incredibly slow to arrive, was tepid when it finally did, and it was of pretty poor quality. The toilets were disgusting, the gents was flooded, the ladies can't have been cleaned in some time and the locks to all cubicles were broken.
There's a good selection of ales but that's about all it has going for it.
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This is the sort of place I wouldn�t mind going if I fancied a quick pint before jumping on the train, but I wouldn�t want to stay all evening. The staff were not the friendliest bunch and the pub lacked some atmosphere, which maybe due to its size. They show Sky Sports and Setanta on the many plasma screens dotted around the pub so maybe it is better when a match is on.
During my visit Burton Bitter, Old Empire, Pedigree, Oxford Gold and Brakspear were all available. There is also a large selection of standard lagers along with Hoegarden and Staropramen. The Oxford Gold was on good form.
Unsurprisingly there is a Napoleonic theme running through the pub with a large mural on the arched ceiling at the rear of the pub which is worth a quick look.
As I said before, ok for a quick pint or two.
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Good location to go if you are waitning for a train at Waterloo station since it's right out the back of the station. Good beer although interestingly shuts at 11pm; I say interestingly because they have a sign suggesting to speak to the bar staff if you missed the last train since there is accomodation here - surley if the last train is 1.05am, this pub is long shut, and the bar staff we have long gone.
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visited yesterday. pretty good place. Hoegaarden available but not, sadly, in the special glass - just not the same drinking it in a straight pint mug!
lively atmos and a decent mix of clientelle. clean and functional toilets (believe me this can be a rarity in London!). one sour note - the bandana wearing 'gangster' character lurking by the door for most of the evening. As nice as his facial tattoo was, it didn't add anything my visit by having him there, scowling at me and muttering/growling away to himself. A 'NO MENACING GANGSTERS' policy would not go amiss at this venue!
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Nice enough boozer, good selection of drinks and very spacious. Nothing to write home about but better than most pubs in the area.
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Nice enough boozer, good selection of drinks and very spacious. Nothing to write home about but better than most pubs in the area.
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Popped in tonight for a quick one while waiting for a train. Pedigree, Burton Bitter and Jennings Fish King were on, one handpump turned around. Had the Fish King which was well served. Also Hoegaarden and Star and bottles of Old Empire, Sneck Lifter, Cumberland Ale, Pedigree and Leffe. Large pub showing sport, broken down into three areas. Lots of excited chatter, people either going home or meeting up for the evening. Not worth spending the night here but ok for one.
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Quite a large bar which manages to always show sports, although, on the occasions I've been this is without sound. Expensive are fairly indifferent staff on most occasions.
It's an obvious choice for a meeting place because it's so easy to find and close to Waterloo station but to guarantee a seat and to save a small fortune I use the nearby Hole in the Wall for this function. Cheaper, less busy and better staff in my experience.
However, if you like your bars busy and don't mind spending the extra cash the Wellington or it's near neighbour the Fire Station are easy to find meeting points if you are arranging a night out with friends who are not familiar with the area.
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Went there last night with a few friends. Hand pulled beer selection good, although nothing special - Pedi, Marston Bitter, Cumberland. One of our number decided to go for a bottle of Leffe and - bearing in mind this is a small sized bottle of the Belgian beer - had a most unpleasant experience when he was asked for �3.90!
�4 for a small bottle of beer? Is this what London prices have got to, or was there a bit of profiteering going on here?
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Not great, but just a short distance away from the station concourse, and selling a reasonable pint of Marston's Burton Bitter (profferred as an alternative to perhaps the cloudiest pint of Pedigree that I have ever seen...).
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This pub is very nice. I can get a pint before I get the train home to the provinces
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Double booked my wifes room and then said we hadn't booked it!! Assistant Deputy Manager very smug and arrogant 'his word against ours and his manager would take his side'. Left my wife stranded in London at night - very unhelpful and the staff were extremely rude.
Will make a formal complaint to whatever watchdog I need to.
anonymous - 6 Nov 2007 20:08 |
Pleasantly surprised, as not been here for a few years. Marstons' Burton Bitter was very fresh. Place was Sunday-evening-slow but the Al Murray landlord ("The shandy must be for the lady, don't let him get you drunk now...") was discretely charming and concerned about our bags and general wellbeing. Not yet a rival for the hole in the wall but still well worth a pint.
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the Youngs Bitter was good. And I saw the football game which works well on the big television screens. But I was a bit upset with the man on the bar who was rude when I siad can you top my beer up. That is NOT ghood customre service and brakes the trading standards describptions act
anonymous - 22 Jan 2007 15:22 |
Didn't come with a particularly good rep, but I was quite pleased by the place.
Only three beers on (Youngs Ordinary, Marstons Poodigree and the rather more palatable Adnams Broadside). Very busy and a pretty raucous atmosphere with 70% of the pub watching the boxing...
It's no world-beater, but I'll pop in again if I'm waiting for a train.
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Spent a few hours in this pub tonight meeting a friend after work before going home
Had the Youngs Bitter which was fine, service was friendly and prompt enough despite being busy, found time flew by.
its a standard large railway pub, clean and cheerful enough, nice place for a few beers and a chat but probably not the first choice for a night out.
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Been in once or twice for friends partys.
Average - no atmosphere at all.
Probably will never go again.
I saw people pissing in the urinal.
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I found this pub to be pleasant but vey noisy. Not sure if thats just because it was a friday night.
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Why would anyone come here by choice when there are so many good pubs nearby? If you want close to the station try the Firestation / Auberge both infinitely prefereable. This pub really has very little going for it.
anonymous - 22 Feb 2006 15:20 |
Commuter pub, but worth going to if you can get a seat!
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A pretty soulless venue which is functional but little more. Above average prices are no doubt in place to take advantage of the captive market of commuters popping in for a quick pint on their way home - I would suggest that if you're only after a quick snifter the 'Hole in the Wall' around the corner will cover that job perfectly adequately. If you're not a rugby fan, avoid like the plague before, during & after Twickenham internationals. Braying Ruperts take the place over and there are pints getting knocked over left, right and centre.....
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Not understanding where these glowing comments have come from, this place is just another shining example of how large pubs in the proximity of transport hubs can all too easily fall into the realms of the insipid.
Picture the scene: walk up to the bar, wait ten minutes to be served average beer from moody staff, and trip over Polish luggage as you make your way to the only free table, which boasts some dirty plates, half finished pints, fag ash and sellophane.
If you're in Waterloo for a quickee while you wait for a train, go to the bar on the concourse and at least watch people go by.
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Always use this pub as a convenient meeting place after work. Good atmosphere, decent beer and no hassle. Gets busy in the evenings but soon quietens down as the suits and general masses disappear home.
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Lots of screens put up for football. Busy pub, but with lots of space. Staff were attentive and didn't have to wait to be served. Ordered a pint of Pedigree which was disgusting, left half of it. Personally I would go to the 'Fire Station' or 'The Hole In The Wall' both up the road if I could choose.
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This pub has really changed in the last 2 years, not only has the music quietened down abit but also theres a good range of music. Tends to play alot of 80's classics thurs/fri. Real ales are almost always on although there are still only 4 to choose from one being a guest ale which changes every month. Food is great portion size is good too. The managers are always willing to listen to the customers and i think try and push the staff into having a laugh behind the bar which you dont find nowadays. Plasma tv for football/rugby - they even change the channel for you if you ask, we watched jackass at 10.30pm!!! what more could you ask for. Starting to be more female friendly with more female staff than any other bar that i have ever been in around waterloo. Good promotions too wine �8.00 a bottle - Quality.
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Fairly good pub, although it is a weird mix of office and building site workers, feels slightly edgy in there. Huge inside, with nice barstaff. The food is v. good value, and tastes fairly fresh.
anonymous - 9 May 2005 22:01 |
Around Waterloo Station this is by far the best pub for a drink. Although it can really busy around 6.30 pm; it has agood atmsophere; a reasonable selection of beers and the food is good.
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Not a bad place. Food good beer OK though not the best selection. Nice and bright, good place to watch football/rugby.
Worth going to to see the big ceiling paintings of waterloo
Brian - 25 Oct 2004 17:55 |
I thought this pub was great. Good mix of after-worker types and students. Lots of choice for drinks and friendly staff too - they seem to like to have a chat with the customers. Music can be loud on Thurdays and Fridays, but then again - it's a Thursday or Friday!!
Richie - 22 Sep 2004 12:19 |
this has that 'train station pub' vibe to it - full of backpacks and luggage.
simon - 3 Sep 2004 12:21 |
Graet big barn of a place.. lots of after school teachers setting a good example and getting pissed. Awful beer, music so loud your ears bleed, and slightly menacing atmosphere. Shite.
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Have been using this pub for meetings, and agree with the 'turn the music down' policy - apart from that and the giant football screen. possibly might try the one next door in the future.
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Have basically stopped going there over the years (despite working across the road) except when people force you to go there for birthday drinks, etc.
What *is* the point in having all those real ales on the counter when 3 out of 4 are usually off or plain undrinkable? They should either stop pretending and serve fizzy stuff, or get their act together and look after the beer properly.
You can nip round the corner to Auberge and get superb Belgian beers out the tap or bottle, without all the racket - no contest.
As somebody else says, the Wellie should still turn the music down.
Ann Oldgit. - 26 Feb 2004 09:24 |
Definitely not a nice place. Is the big screen still near the bogs so (a) all girls get stared at and we know exaactly what they've left behind (or inserted) when they come out and (b) it stinks of piss if you're watching teh football?
Stephen - 25 Nov 2003 17:36 |
When I go out with my mated I like to be able to talk to them without losing my voice. And we got a table at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. So good all round. Apart from we were too late for food. But the chippie up the road was very good.
laura - 1 Oct 2003 16:47 |
Dont know about this bag nicking lark - been going there 15years and no one ever took my wife ;-)
This pub has certainly improved since it changed back from being half wine bar in the early '90s.
Missing very important barmaid called Danielle. Not the same since she left.....
anonymous - 26 Jun 2003 22:38 |
Have been here a couple of times for lunch - not had my bag stolen yet!! Both times the food was good. I like the mural on the celling.
Mike - 25 Mar 2003 14:37 |
Got my bag stolen in there.
NOT a nice place
anonymous - 24 Jan 2003 16:13 |
This is a really nice refurbished pub and there's a good deal on white wine where you buy 2 glasses and get rest of bottle free. Hold on to your bags though - literally - I work near there and have had so many colleagues that have had their bag stolen. They are very cunning.
Jess - 19 Dec 2002 14:50 |
anyone know anything about the history of this pub . keen to find out as much as possible
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Had my bag nicked from right under my feet on 21/08/02. Professional bag theives operating in this pub as another girl had her bag nicked on 17/08/02
Carly Hawkes - 23 Aug 2002 12:57 |
There's authentic and then there's plain run down, still it's not offensive and on a plus side it's only 30 seconds from Auberge where they do great beer.
Dan - 20 May 2002 14:59 |
