please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very much open last night. But as it was pub 7 of the crawl I've no recollection whether it was any good or not.
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Why's this place got two listing here? One of which says it's close? Far from it, it's a good pub,so tidy this listing please.
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This pub is not closed. I walked past it 10 minute ago and it was very much open. No idea what it's like though.
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Nice pub - comfortable place sympathetically updated, but still sufficiently pub-like. Aiming at people in their late 20s - early 30s. Pool table surrounded by music posters and articles, good jukebox and plus pub quiz. Friendly service, too.
If only every place in Vauxhall were this nice...
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Now been renamed the "Vauxhall Griffin" and finally refurbished. Looks a lot better now, especially from the outside, and there's a bit of decking where they used to have a lean-to or something which I'm sure smokers are grateful for.
Food is good (especially the burger), but is only available at lunch and Tuesday evenings (when the pub quiz is on). Beer selection is disappointing for us bitter drinkers, although they do have bottles of Abbot Ale. Quiz is quite good fun.
The best thing though is the music selection. A fun pub.
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A great 'local' for a quiet pint on a Sunday afternoon, but packed Fridays and Saturday nights so it offers something for everyone I suppose! After the recent refurb it's my favourite in the area, they just need to get the food sorted out. Super jukebox though too.
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Nice enough bar that serves a good pint.
Food is now available and the sandwiches are all around �3 and are recommended.
Seems quiet now but once the word gets around and the warmer weather starts I'm sure it'll kick off nicely.
No idea what it is like at night but might be tempted by the quiz night sometime.
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Having done a heavy shopping raid on Sainsbury's at Nine Elms on the Wandsworth Road on Monday night, I was passing by on my way home to South Lambeth Road and gasping for a drink, when I decided to drop in on the Wyvil and have gander; what a difference!
Congratulations to the new management on improving this place. First and fore most, it's clean in every respect; carpets, bar surfaces, glasses, toilets. It's well lit, warm and welcoming too. A pool table tucked away in the corner. A juke box, where one can actually select some decent music to listen to in this area. (You can just about take a few south american/Portugese tunes in other bars at night, but it really grates after awhile; no wonder local boy Ronnie Biggs came back from Brazil finally) The Wyvil is a hidden gemstone set between the Wandsworth Road and South Lambeth Road. And soon to have tv screens for football too. The beers that I had were well kept and well served. It used to be thought that this place was a seedy gay bar, it certainly isn't now, although the night I stopped off a few chaps were in; nothing wrong with that I must say, very pleasant they were to chat to. This is a welcoming and well run bar and deserves to do well. And is a god send for English locals looking for a proper English local; so very hard to find now with the Portugese/Brazillian bar wave flood in this part of time. So do your self a favour, seek it out chaps. I'm informed that it is due to be renamed as well: The Griffin after Vauxhall motor works which were based and founded a mere stagger away a century ago. Local history, local colour and a true London local that longs for locals. Rush on along! But leave a space for me at the bar please?
anonymous - 8 Mar 2007 21:37 |
I still haven't had a drink in here and I'm basing my comments from glances in the window as i pass by.
however it looks much busier with a more mixed crowd, it also looks cosier with a few sofas/armchairs. they seem to have taken all the gay paraphernalia (rainbow flags etc) out of the window and are running a few quiz nights etc.
glad to see the change, may even drop in for a drink myself.
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Good pub, picking up with lots of things on. Can't believe it's not busier.
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It's been dead on the two occasions I've been in recently, and from what I hear that's pretty much the norm.
Beer is ok and staff are reasonable (although what is that ridiculous hair all about?!), but it's a bit out of the way and doesn't quite seem to know if it wants to be a pub or a lounge bar. Made an effort with a quiz night, but I did feel like I was walking into somebody else's party where everybody else knew each other.
Possibly worth a visit, but I would recommend the Gladstone on overall service and quality.
With regards to the previous comment about being a gay bar... when I visited it seemed very much like one. Nothing wrong with that of course, but why pretend it's something it's not? Seems like an attempt to attract any trade it can.
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Let me also post a balanced view - hopefully one that's more accurate. I'm not a friend of the manager either, though I am a regular.
Wyvils was taken over by new management in December 2006 and is to be refurbished and renamed in early March 2007.
Wyvils is no longer a gay venue and makes no pretenses about being one. However, gay and straight people are equally welcomed.
The food kitchen is now open and there are some top entertainment nights being drafted in - currently Tuesday Quiz, Sunday's Games night and the weekends are the most popular nights, with several weekend club nights, competitions and entertainment nights advertised as coming in the next few weeks.
If you want a gay bar, by all means, there are many around. If you want a good bar that plays good music and serves good food, then check out this one. It's finally recovering from years of mismanagement
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Friendly bar staff and a new landlord who seems really keen to make a success of the place. Good range of spirits, and quick service, even when pretty busy. It's still a bit lacklustre decorwise, but if it's going to be refurbished, I imagine it'll get better. The space itself is really nice, and should lend itself well to something a bit more interesting. I look forward to seeing what happens.
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My pints of Guinness got better as the evening went on. New landlord nice friendly chap. Could do with some more interesting beers and a lick of paint but they're clearly still finding their feet. Nice, chilled and very promising.
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Only just started up again, but the landlord seems highly motivated, friendly, and from my conversations with him he seems to have some great plans for the place. In the meantime, the place is kept spotless, the staff are friendly, and the nights I've been in have been steady and atmospheric. The juke box is getting better every time I go there, too. I look forward to the refurb in Feb...
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Wyvils is now open again - dare I say it "Under New Management" :)
Was in there on the re-opening night, and it still looked the same, but bar staff were friendly, decent beers behind the bar - and have been told by the manager that a refurb is happening in February.
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is now shut.
anonymous - 28 Oct 2006 22:34 |
Apparently it's being taken over by a new publican soon. No doubt he's going to "turn it around" and make it a success. When I've finished laughing I might even drop by to see if anything's changed.
anonymous - 11 Aug 2006 14:55 |
still totally empty everytime i walk past. looks totally bland inside. seems to be aimed at the gay crowd; good luck to the management but i wonder how long until they have to close down/renovate.
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Bizarre place. I think it's supposed to be a gay pub now. Visited last night and it was "chubby chasers" night, but we popped in anyway to have a nose around. It looked like it was set up for a school disco, with an assortment of tired-looking characters sat around. My beer was flat as a pancake, and after 5 minutes we decided to head up the road. Could be a really nice pub, but the place has got no character.
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Never seems to be open
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Seduced by the 'under new management' sign, I visited for a swift pint early on a saturday evening. Unfortunately the only bitter, London Pride, was off. Deserted, expensive, no beer. Not good.
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If you're looking for a pub with a seat, this is the place for you. The barman told me on a dead friday night that this is normally busy during the week, but I know from walking past here on a daily basis that he is talking utter nonsense! The pub itself is fine - good selection of beers, friendly staff, but for some reason noone goes here. Probably partly due to the wheatsheaf around the corner, but that's hardly a kicking place. Very odd. Highly recommend the Fentiman Arms as an alternative.
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Big sign up saying that it was under new management when I walked past last night so look out for new developments...
Pub could certainly do with it - seems never to have more than four or five people in it at any time of the day and Wheatsheaf, Royal Albert and Canton seem infinitely more inviting
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Agree with Theo about the strange ambience. There's nothing particularly unpleasant about this place but nothing particularly inspiring either. The Wheatsheaf just a few yards up the road has bags more character.
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Not a bad little boozer, IMHO always going to be in the shadow of the Wheatsheaf round the corner. When the Wheaty is too busy, this pub is a good fall back.
John - 22 Jul 2004 09:33 |
Quiet when I went on a Monday evening. Nice enough and good selection of beers/wines. Ambience was slightly strange - seemed to be locals pub aspiring to be hip and trendy but still frequented by locals, maybe its different later in the week?
Theo - 16 Dec 2003 12:53 |
Nice pub, nice people, nice all round. Not bad for a pub
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Just around the corner from where I work so use it lunchtimes occasionally. Friendly staff and good cheap food but why do they have to play the music so loud at lunchtime?
Stevo - 16 Sep 2003 08:49 |
Large Sellection Of Ales Wines & Spirits,Good Music,Good Company,Smart Surroundings,Very Clean,Large Screen For All Sporting Events,2AM Licence Friday & Saturday,Resident DJ.
Steve McMillan - 21 Aug 2003 15:36 |
