Waverley Arms, Nunheadback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Just re-opened under new management, and the vibe there has improved immeasurably. Now has a warm and welcoming feel about it, not to mention a great selection of beers. I tried the Dead Pony Club (delicious), Meantime Yakima Red (excellent) and Meantime London Pale Ale (as good as expected) and wasn't disappointed at all. The cheeseburger and chips (only £6!) cooked for me on the BBQ in the back garden were top notch as well, although I understand that the longer-term plan is to have a proper kitchen and a fuller menu in the near future.
Would highly recommend giving this place another try if you live or find yourself in the vicinity.
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They have only just opened but I can already see that I am going to be spending a lot of time in #SE15 at The Waverley Arms. Johnny and Katie have lovingly restored this local community pub into a lovely modern and relaxed boozer which should serve the local community well!
Its need a few finishing touches but the beer is cold and they have a great BBQ in the garden until the Kitchen is finished in September. The beers include Kraft beers from The Meantime Brewery including Yakima Red and London Lager which is chilled and goes down a treat on a hot summers day, they also have the expected Lagers and Ales along with a great but not exhaustive wine list.
My family and I (kids welcome of course) had the organic burger with cheese and fries and the hotdog with fries, at £6 each that's pretty good value and keeps the kids quiet!
The food also has a veggie and lamb option before the kitchen opens in September.
Planning on heading back and supporting the launch of this great new boozer later in the week, don't be shy.
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how nice dose this pub look now its even got a live singer on evry sunday !!!
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the pub is goin to see sum big changes i fink ...by the way the tvs look good showing full sky tv .my rating for this pub is 5 at the mo but iam sure give it a year it will be a 10 keep up the good work tom and mandy and the bar food on a sunday is the nuts. did i hear the function room is free?????????????
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As I predicted:
Beer / Lager / Cider choice almost identical to before.
Clientele identical to before.
Nothing worth rushing back to from my point of view.
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great looking pub now doing well folks keep it up
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ittakes2269er , what was the name of your local and where was it.
Is the Waverley gonna dim the lights a little at some point? I find it very bright in there.
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came to this pub a month ago (very drab) my mate has now taken it over last week and has cleaned the place from head to toe,and has already put two real ales on, also has 3 new flat screen tvs soon to be showing all sky sports, already started putting bits and peices in to make it more homely such as a grandfather clock, and huge mirror, dart board back up. he took over my local (wich was very boring) 3 years ago and it is now a thriving good old fasioned pub, see ya in there soon!!!!!!!!!!!
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The latest news I know is that the current landlord (if you can call him that) was up in court at the end of September. Some sort of notice will have to be served, hopefully not to long and then the new people can take over. Having said that there has been so many rumours about what's going to happen and so much turmoil over the last few years, that I won't believe it till I see it.
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Locals1,
I don't understand this. The guy who is in there just now, is simply a manager working for Punch Taverns.
If your contacts wanted to take on the lease, that guy would be removed pretty quickly and your people would take over.
I can therefore only assume that your contact is going to be yet another brewery manager.
That being the case, I can't really foresee any major changes taking place.
It's gonna be the same old faces in the same tired pub.
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Hi,
theres been diffcultie with sorting out the date of the pervious 'manger' leaving and new people going in. so any changes talked about are on hold at the moment, but will still be going ahead once the new mangers are in.
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Any news on when this pub changes hands? popped in last week to view the promised changes and it appears to be the same, really needs a good clean. There is a bigger television though, but a local told me it keeps freezing not too good for the football then England need to be speeded up not slowed down.
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Hello,
Just to let you know, the date has been put back. Should be another week or two.
I am not the one taken it over. i also have to state... i am i women. From some things that been written, i think you assume i am male. i dont enjoy football but ppl do enjoy to watch it in the pub with friends and on some sort of a desent TV.
I think the TVs are being planned to be spread around enough so its not over done. say one in the now pool room and one each side of the bar.
The snug idea has been taken into account and the person taken over knows that they can be nice as you can then previde your own entertainment. and the with the small bar in the pool room this would maybe be a good place.
But please do give ideas, we want ppl to enjoy the waverly.
The drinks will be better (more then just 'wrongbow') and when you ask for a drink, it'll actually be there!
and if ya want a bag of mini chedders, like i did, them to (i had to do with out!)
And i can also answer why the pub was shut, the cunnent person fonud out someone else was taking over and he was gonna be out and kicked up a fuss!!!
Hope to heaar from you all soon,
Locals1
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Will there be any decent Cider?
I can't stand Wrongbow.
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locals1, by your post you lead me to believe that you will be running the Waverley, am i correct? You know that things will change from the 17th of May, so i expect it is you.
Are you asking whether we would be happy with... 3 big screens before world cup, sky sports, at the races, darts team, barbilards table, friendly mangement, curry nights (pint and a curry �4.99), happy hour 12-6 (discounted drinks) and food on the bar every sunday, because this is what you want to introduce?
Sounds ok, for a quick drop in pint or 2 occasionally, but not sure the Waverley could confortably accomodate 3 big screens without blowing your head off. Remember, some people still enjoy a quiet drink too. ( Perhaps you could introduce a snug.)
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Locals1
I so hope you are right about the up and coming changes, I attended the Nunhead Cemetery open day on Saturday and decided to stop for a drink in the Waverley, a pub I used to use all the time, but it was closed ?. This is the only pub in the area since the Ivyhouse closed and the locals are now having to bus it down to Nunhead Lane.
It would be lovely if someone could return the Pub to the happy no nonsence local that it was until recently.
I will carry on trying the door as I pass in the hope that it is open.
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20yrs ago i was only a young child and my mum and dad drunk in there and they still drink in there now, and it is for this reason i say the locals have not given up. there are also many more faces i saw while growing up, going in and out of there, that are still going in there, the pub is not the problem, its some of the mangement.
from March 17th, things will change and improve.
20yrs ago its was just a pub with things you'd expect. not a rough pub with trouble, but a pub where you could bring the whiole family, and you knew there'd always be someone you know plus music and a laugh.
What would you think if there was 3 big screens before world cup, sky sports, at the races, darts team, barbilards table, friendly mangement, curry nights (pint and a curry �4.99), happy hour 12-6 (discounted drinks) and food on the bar every sunday just like a good old pub???
Also what if there was a small stage, where one use to be for a singer/dj?
i perfere not to give my name.
Look forward to your response.
Locals1
(anyone else fell free to comment)
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What was it like 20 years ago?
You didn't tell me your real name?
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Right,
the waverly is gonna become just how it was 20yrs ago. i say give it 3-6months! I don't have much to say or boost about, but i know all i need to. and people take my advise start popping in to have, even one drink and see if you can see the difference in this time period. i promise it won't be one drink you'll be for in the end.
And to answer your Question 'pat', Alan had it for years upon years and already had another pub as well as the waverly the other as far as i hear is going well but he just had his time in the waverly as sad as people were about it.
Give it a month and watch this space for differnce in reveiws!
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locals1
I have to disagree with you on a few points.
Firstly I would have to agree with Mario and say that a lot of the locals have given up on it. Many of them left to start drinking in The Ivyhouse and have not returned. On my last 3 visits to The Waverley, I have been the only customer in the pub.
Also I don't see what's wrong with taking down a dart board in a pub, if you are attempting to take the pub in a different direction. I think he was attempting to tap into the East Dulwich overspill crowd who have moved into Ivydale road. I don't blame him for trying this, as they probably all have cash to burn. Sadly for him, they'd still probably rather drink at the kids club in The Herne or The Rye or somewhere.
You say:
"People like darts, pool, to watch a match"
Just because you enjoy these things, does not mean that everyone does.
Lastly, I think Punch Taverns should realise they DO need someone to change it. After all, the original lease owner (Alan was it?) gave the pub up for a reason. That could only be that the pub wasn't making any money.
Hope this doesn't sound like me having a personal go at you. Good to see the Waverley is still capable of generating a good debate.
ps
Do you still drink there? What's your real name?
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As to MARIO2, The locals have NOT given up. it's those peope who have kept this pub going, they still go in there and are waiting for managers you have enough passion to bring this pub back to the way it was, pool comps, a good old sing along on a friday night, and to keep it a locals pub, NOT as the 1st bloke wanted, he tired to make it for people of what he thought, 'higher class' and just them. I mean come on, he took a dart board down IN A PUB!
People like a pub where they can just go for a nice friendly drink and this is what this pub provides. People like darts, pool, to watch a match and sit next to a stranger and be able to have a friendly coverstion, which all the locals provide, Their was nothing wrong with the old bar staff 'grumpy scottish man' as 'thebeeRchick' so nicely said and hasn't thought about how all the barmen and women lost their jobs!
They may be lacking a little at the moment but as i've pointed out it still provides the min' you expect, a good dink, friendly faces and a great place to unwine after a day or week at work.
When punch tavens finally see's it needs someone to bring it back to life and not change it, THATS when things pick up.
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Such a shame it didn't work out for the first guy that took it over. His ideas were great. It seems a pity that a local pub has now been given up on by the locals themselves.
There really isn't much happening in the Waverley now. It's open, yeah, but missing customers.
The dart board is back, the T.V is back, but the pool room has been closed. Quiz night is a thing of the past, and i haven't seen a sausage or roast potato.
So, although it has gone back to a locals pub, with most of what was there before, it has lost the locals support.
Would be sad to see another pub close, but someone really needs to get their thinking cap on with this one.
Good luck old Wavereley one, may the locals support you!
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Things have change so fast and drastically since I wrote my previous review on 3 July 2009.
Sadly the staff I listed below have now given up the lease and left, due to the fact that the pub just wasn't making enough money.
About 2 weeks later, the pub was re-opened by the people who own The Rye. Quite unbelievably, they gave up the pub after just THREE DAYS, due to some disputes with Punch Taverns.
So, even more sadly, at the moment the pub is closed and has been now for about 10 days. Hopefully it will re-open soon. :-(
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Under new Management and this pub has definitley changed for the better ... it's even been totally cleaned and painted inside.
Good and varied music.
Huge range of booze. Not many South London pubs have Becks, Staropramen, Stella, Hogarden and Leffe on draught. Oh, and Addlestones cider.
All the staff (Ben, Zoltan and Becky) are very friendly and accomodating.
I live locally and am certainly spending a lot more time in this pub than I did previously.
Highly recommend it ... well worth a few visits.
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Don't panic! Replacement landlord in situ and the airline type wine bottles have gone - along with the racing channel. The grumpy Scottish barman has morphed into a friendly Aussie and the place looks (and smells) so much cleaner. It's definitely an improvement.
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Sadly, the current landlord is leaving 2nd May. If no replacement can be found it means another boarded up pub.
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I have lived a few hundred yards from this pub for several years and was put off by its cliquey-ness until
shortly after my wife died. The friendship I received from the regulars was heartwarming. Its just a basic, no-frills local but with a warm heart. The continuous TV for racing and football(and -YUK- "Deal or No Deal") in the afternoons is grating but unavoidable in any pub round here unless its gone gastro. Very poorly heated in winter.
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Visited this pub as it is the closest to my house with a dart board. The pub is a quiet 'locals' bar, and as this was my first visit I would agree that it did seem to be a bit cliquey. Having said that there was some interaction with the regulars and most seemed pleasant enough.
The drinks are a reasonable price - although ask for a glass of wine and you are given an airline-type bottle and glass.
The darts and Pool tables are a real bonus to this place. Next time i am in the area it will definitely be an option
JDBoy - 31 Jan 2007 12:33 |
I live 300 yards from this pub, and have drank there for the past 3 years. It's a bit cliquey at first, but the locals are really friendly after a few visits.
Cosey winter pub with a decent pool table and a friendly staffordshire bull terrier.
Pub quiz on a Tuesday is a good laugh.
This pub has no pretentions ... what you see is what you get.
The free roast potatoes and sausages are delicious on a Sunday afternoon ... even if they are served up by a grumpy Scottish barman.
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I used to drink here in 1986 to 1989, and hadn�t been back for 17 years. It hasn�t changed much, although the dividing wall between public bar and saloon has gone, so that the drinking area is now a large U-shape around the central bar, and therefore less cosy. It�s still a quiet locals� boozer, and it�s always warming to find a pub with no pretensions of trying to serve meals or anything other than packets of crisps. One real available � Greene King IPA � in OK condition. The pub is now owned by Punch Taverns.
The outside of this pub, probably built around 1870, is worth taking a look at: a classic example of a solid, imposing mid-Victorian boozer.
It�s nothing special, just a good old-fashioned pub � get down there quick before it�s gone forever.
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working mans pub by 4.30 full of painters/builders. sells ipa, quiz night wensday pool room to the rear of the pub which could do with a face life,but quite cosey in the main bar 6/10
eddie lee - 12 Nov 2004 16:32 |
The Waverley is a great, local boozer. It has a friendly atmosphere and is often quite quiet. Perfect for that 'on the way home' pint. Or any other pint you might like to have.
By far the best pub in the area.
Chris May - 17 Nov 2003 14:58 |
Definately a locals boozer, decent beer, reasonably priced, family run, friendly staff, decent pool table, darts, background music, better than a lot of pubs in the area.
Paul - 3 Oct 2003 02:38 |
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