please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Still a beautifully unspoiled example of an old-fashioned corner pub. They've put a marquee in the garden (a legacy of the reopening rules after lockdown) and have a pizza van outside for food making better use of the previously under-utilised car park area. Inside has been given a touch up, but without in any way detracting from its cosy, welcoming vibe. Service and beers are excellent and prices reasonable. It's a McMullen's pub, so no guest ales unless you count McMullen's own Rivertown brand of slightly more contemporary beer styles. There's a nice small fire, it's dog friendly and they still put on live music including the pianist and spoon player duo. Timeless and should appeal to any civilised drinkers particularly those of a slightly nostalgic bent who can remember when all pubs were like this (spoiler alert - they never really were but this is how your idealised imagination has chosen to remember them).
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After another lengthy walk across a golf course from the King & Tinker, I came across this backstreet McMullens house. I thought there was a karaoke going on initially. But I walked into a packed bar to find loads of old folk all having a sing-song on the piano. Feeling a little out of place there, I left them to "We'll Meet Again" and retreated to the lounge. McMullen's Cask Ale, Country Bitter & AK were on, as well as their new Rivertown Brewery's Citra. My AK was well priced. I seem to recall it was £3.20 for a pint. A good example of a thriving community local.
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Now firmly ensconced in my list of favourite pubs to visit. The kind of pub where you might drop in for a quiet pint of a Tuesday night to find an entire table of middle-aged ukelele players practicing some classic pop songs (true story). The lounge bar is still as cozy and lovely as it ever was, but I find myself growing equally fond of the saloon bar. They seem to have added another draft lager and some more bottles to their range of top notch McMullen's ales too.
The thing that has struck me about this place on my more recent visits is how timeless and traditional a pub this is. When the weather was a little better about two months ago, I sat outside enjoying a pint or two and a chat with some mates as a couple of musicians played a set of folky/music hall type songs inside and I commented to my friends that part of the appeal of this place is the thought that the way we were spending our evening would have been roughly the same as a group of friends drinking here at any point in the last 70-odd years. Some things were never broken and didn't need fixing, and traditional local pubs like this are one of those things.
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Popped in for a quick pint and ended up staying for a few more! Made to feel at home as soon as I came in and well kept ale. Utterly charming barmaid who was a student but who obviously knew all who came in or made time to get to know people.
This is quite an overlooked pub but beats the local Witherspoons hands down in terms of clientele and customer service - one to revisit in the very near future I think......
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Old school boozer, set slightly back off the main road.
Popped in for a quick pint this afternoon. Sadly the guest 'Movember' ale was off so had a pint of Country Bitter (£3.20) which was one of three McMullen's offerings. Perfectly respectable pint.
No TVs, just the radio playing in the background, roaring fire at one end and the joanna sat quietly along one wall.
Pies and pasties advertised for between £1.50-£1.80 if you wanted food.
Decent alternative to the Jolly Butchers if you're in the area and want a pint of ale in a pub that feels like a pub.
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I like to visit here at least once a week. Good news is that they have added a 5% lager (Kronenburg) to their range. Other good news is that they open until 12am.
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The new landlord and landlady have maintained the standards of this pub; the best in the Enfield area by miles
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Wonderfully old fashioned pub with a dart board, joanna and very well kept McMullen real ales. New landlady has taken over recently and changed nothing which is exactly what all the customers wanted (Ok the tatty Xmas decs were taken down). Come here on sundays for an old fashioned cockney sing-a-long and experience the joys of London past.
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A wonderful pub- recently started serving non Mcmullens guest ales although the McMullens brews are well kept.
As the good beer guide says- a gem
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The Wonder is what it is...a 50s timewarp. Unique little place with the piano and seperate bars.
apparently the landlord is retiring soon, hopefully McMullen's won't ruin it. For a local brewery they produce some mediocre beers and some truly crap pubs.
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Like finding a diamond nestled in a bathtub full of pigs vomit, the Wonder is a hidden gem of a pub.
Back to a forgotten time, beyond jumpers for goalposts and being able to leave your front door unlocked over night, back to a time when the dustmen would not only pop in to empty your bins but would polish the heath while they were at it. Such is the nostalgia brought up by this lovely pub. No televisions tarnish this place, Simon Cowell�s vice like grip on the nations Saturday night attention cannot penetrate these mere walls, grandiose exhibitions of sporting prowess are not welcome here.
No, the entertainment here is provided through the medium of live music. Perhaps a honky-tonk session on the pub piano accompanied by Mickey Spoons, the resident washboard player, or a traditional sing-along with music provided by whatever wandering minstrel happens to be passing.
Pleasant bar staff and a good selection of ales round off this lovely place. Very recommended.
DrewB - 29 Sep 2010 16:22 |
We found this pub purely by chance having left the local Wetherspoons just along the way.
The landlord and his wife were very friendly and struck up conversation with us very easily.
Yes, the beers on offer are somewhat limited, and perhaps the bars could do with a little refurbishment, but this is just the sort of pub that makes you feel very welcome.
Will definately revisit when next in the area.
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Step back in time it need to be experenced
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From outside this pub looks massive, but once inside you'll find what is actually a very small cosy pub divided into two bars. The public bar is a lino-floored area that oddly seems quiter than the lounge around the other side, although there is a piano in there which suggests that there is some entertainment from time to time.
The lounge is much nicer, classic pub decor, very friendly atmosphere and the whole place gets its atmosphere primarily from conversation. Don't worry if you are a stranger (this being myself and my friends' first visit, we certainly were), you'll soon find yourself engaged in chat with the regulars who seem like a jolly nice bunch.
The service is quick, friendly and accommodating. The prices are reasonable and the beer is absolutely fantastic. The selection of beers may not be to all tastes (exclusively McMullen's ales, only one draft lager and that's Foster's!, hardly any bottles) but this is a place that clearly concentrates on doing one or two things very well rather than spreading itself too thin in an attempt to please everyone. The Country Bitter that I was drinking was absolutely top notch and even had the environment and company not been so pleasant and enjoyable, I'd have returned here anyway just for the beer.
The only drawbacks to the place are that whilst the toilets are nice and spacious, they take up too much room and seem to work on the basis of one urinal per customer. If somewhow they could rejig the place so that there was a little more room in the lounge in exchange for a smaller loo that would be ideal as at present seats are at somewhat of a premium. The public bar could also use a lick of paint and needs to have something on in there at all times as unlike the lounge, it doesn't have a prticularly good atmosphere in itself on quiter nights.
Thoroughly recommended for anyone that lives nearby and enjoys civilised and adult company with very good beer in a nice environment. Worth a longer trip just for the beer if you are a McMullen's fan.
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How does this place win the CAMRA awards? The beer is fine, but it is only McMullens, no guest.
The welcome is not great, but then I am not retired yet.
Its clean and tidy, worth a one of visit just for the experience
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A brilliant little neighbourhood pub, nice to see it still has separate lounge bar and public bar. Very nice well kept ales from McMullen (Country Bitter, AK, Midsummer Madness). Occupied mainly by locals but who can blame them?
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Serious old world vibe - but if you talk to the regulars they're great. Sunday sing-a-long round the piano like a good east end pub rather than Enfield pub. Very Chas and Dave!! Good value drinks.
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I can totally understand why she said it, but the previous poster (Yvette) is wrong - this place is the opposite of scary.
Yep its full of older regulars, but everyone is friendly (really!) and the landlord a quality bloke. People do know each other there, but not to the detriment of others. Cosy and relaxing place but perhaps not the place for a Saturday night (or for 18 year old girls - some of the older gents probably had a heart attack).
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This pub is scary, i agree with most of the other reviews here, it is like going into a time warp. I assume the only people who drink there are regulars and AT LEAST 60 because when we walked into that pub, everyone in there stopped and stared.
I haven't been back since and don't intend to!
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The Wonder is as good a reason to live in Gordon Hill as any. Warm, cosy and a great way to lose a rainy winter evening. Friendly locals and great, well kept beer. It's my local and I'm proud to say so.
Nevermind BigusRickus, you can have your pints of Stella down the road at the Weatherspoons.
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When I saw the poster outside saying' this is a free from Sky Sports' I can only presume the manager wants a quiet life rather then make Money. This is why it is stuck in a time warp, they wont splash out. I had a quick look in and though I believe in Horses for courses, I do Wonder how it makes money
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Rubbish. The fact that at least 3 other people who can use the internet have been there is incredible.
It's literally like "Goodnight Sweetheart", you have to be at leat 75 to drink there, there ws even an old dude playing the piano with old timers singing along.
Crappola
anonymous - 31 Mar 2005 16:33 |
Aptly named, it is a wonder.Like going back thirty years. Very friendly and well kept beer. The pub raises a lot of money for charity. Go on a weekend evening when one of several regular pianists play, you will soon be enjoying yourself. An absolute GEM of a pub.Dont tell too many about it as it is usually busy. A really pleasant experience. I wish I lived a bit nearer to it. It would be hard to find better.
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Go in here with my mates occaisionally. We've been told that it's nice to see some youngsters in here but we're all well into our 30s. Fantastic, Stuck in a time warp. Every thing a chain pub could never be. The best pub in Enfield. I just hope nobody else realises
Nigel - 20 Apr 2004 18:39 |
what a wonder. i'll use a cliche, this pub is a gem . a true classic, looks exactly as it must have done in the 60's, but in the best possibly way . a separate lounge bar and public bar, the beers are cheaper in the public bar ( now that is old school ) a great place to just sit and lose yourself for hours . A McMullens tied house that well worth seeking out . excellently-kept beers, and in these days of transient managers, the manager has been there for 11 years, and is more of a landlord, and really cares about the pub .
dan - 31 Mar 2004 16:15 |
