please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I've known this pub a few years now, and it has gone from very good to exceptional in that time in my opinion - Always had 6 regularly changing real ales on hand pump, and where they have a beer I've tried elsewhere, hands down it tastes best at the old mill!
In the last couple of years, a sensible refurb has improved general ambiance, though I accept as a drinking/traditional down to earth boozer it will never be for everyone. The addition of frankly superb food for the money (simple but ample and well cooked, £3.90 specials!), excellent roasts and pipular, varied live music make this a winner. Welcoming and friendly landlord, staff and regulars too.
Only misses a ten due to Unfinished/slightly underwhelming beer garden.
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hi, I recently paid a visit to the mill and couldn't believe the change thanks to the new owners who really didn't spare on expense!!!
The outside is all freshly painted as well as the inside ... both men's and woman's toilets are freshly tiled with new fixtures and fittings...the beer garden has been cleared and will be landscaped in the spring as well as new carpet to be laid and the furniture to be updated.
Well worth a visit!!!
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Major refurb in progress inside and out hence the £3.80 for a pint of Doombar?
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Seems that The Old Mill will now become a Fullers pub in August!
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A rather tatty pub with an older slightly ramshackle clientèle matching the landlord and landlady. Pub and people are all rough and ready, very homely and friendly and real, and full of charm and character. Pub is in the remains of an old windmill, and the windmill tower can still be seen rising out from the pub. Best view is from the (overgrown and largely abandoned) beer garden.
The pub's slightly isolated position on Plumstead Common means there's insufficient passing traffic, so trade is mostly locals, and there's few enough of those.
Big draw, apart from the quirky charm, and the chance of drinking beer in an old windmill, is the selection of beers. Five guest ales in decent condition. No food on our visit, and snacks were limited to a few bags of crisps.
Overall, a pub that has limited appeal due to position, condition, cleanliness, and lack of food, but will be liked by those who like quirky, friendly pubs that sell a a range of beers.
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This is a pub that enjoys a lovely location overlooking the common. A few of the locals were enjoying the bank holiday sunshine outside yesterday. Indoors, there seemed to be a few characters. I particularly enjoying watching the two guys attempting to play pool and continually arguing about the rules. This is a pub that is really rough around the edges. It is in serious need of a refurbishment, which paint chipped off the walls and all the wear and tear of a community local. Nevertheless, it has a kind of faded charm and the locals clearly enjoy a good selection of real ales. On our visit, they had Marstons Five Hop, Skinners Betty Stogs, Batemans Summer Swallow, Everards Sunchaser & Brains Steaming Wagon.
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I love the Old Mill for it's no frills appeal and it is what a local pub should be, great beers, friendly landlord and lovely local people.
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The best pub in the area.
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Great to see it back in the GBG - one of London's best pubs
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Lovely pub. As mentioned before, don't be put off by the pub's exterior. It's very cosy inside and the service is second to none. Good selection of ales too. Well done!!
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Good to see The Old Mill is back in the new (2011) Good Beer Guide. And jolly right too!
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Don't be fooled by its ramshackle exterior, this is the best pub in the area and, moreover, one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to call my local.
A superb, constantly changing selection of ales, a friendly landlord, a pool table and a pub garden. What more could you want?
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Situated on the very edge of Plumstead Common and a shortish uphill climb from the station, The Old Mill is a friendly and welcoming community local.
On my recent Good Friday lunchtime visit, I quickly got chatting with the engaging Andy - who really is one of the most welcoming and likeable pub landlords that you're ever going to encounter - who explained to me that the mill dated back to the 17th century and that the pub had been operating since 1848. The mill - minus the sails - can still be seen behind the pub.
It's a pleasant comfortable, carpeted L shaped bar with an interior that is rather nondescript and is starting to look a bit worn in places. There's a pool table at one end, but, deliberately, no TV's - this is a "pub for conversation" as Andy explained. Perhaps surprisingly, I didn't see any framed prints / photos etc of either the old mill or the pub itself anywhere. The pub still displays a couple of the trademark red Bass triangles outside and was formerly owned by the Cannon Brewery Co in days long gone.
The main attraction here is the real ale. On my visit, beers on were Robinsons Dragon Fire, Batemans Miss Ireland, Morlands Original, Speckled Hen and a beer from Hook Norton. Beers change regularly and it is clear that Andy is enthusiastic and knowledgeable on the subject. Beers - described on the blackboard as "The Alements" - were priced at � 3.35p per pint ( � 1.70p per half ) , which is perhaps slightly more than might be expected, but both the Robinsons and the Batemans were in excellent condition.
The pub was in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide between 2007 and 2009 and the stickers are proudly displayed in the window but, unfortunately, it's not in the current edition.
An annual beer festival is held at the end of June, timed to coincide with the date that Andy took up the reins here. There's regular Sunday afternoon jazz between 2 - 4 pm.
I quite liked this one and would definitely return. Do call in if you get the opportunity.
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Def the best pub in the area. Yes it's tatty but this is more than made up for by the ever excellent and ever changing selection of real ales and the warm welcome to all from Andy... as someone else said. This is where my money goes!
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The Old Mill represents all that a local should be to me. A constantly changing (and often running out!) selection of interesting ales, well kept.
A massive bar, ideal for pulling up a stool and chatting to any or all that are in but big enough to hide and quietly read the daily rags.
The friendliest landlord in England who somehow manages to remember the names of all the punters and always has a pearl of wisdom to share.
Occassional beer festivals and other jollities, Jazz on the first Sunday of the month seems a real hit.
Yes, it is tatty in places but I suspect most of the regulars don't care and would hate to see a dramatic makeover occur.
I have sampled most of the pubs in the area over the last few years. This is where my money goes. Cheers Andy.
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It�s funny reading the previous review as I there was no food on during my visit and I actually noted that the chalk board on the wall with the title �food menu� was being used to list the ales available which were Landlord, Pedigree, Malt and Hops and Autumn Fall. There was also a standard draught selection and my Guinness was very nicely poured by a friendly landlady.
The pub itself is a bit tatty, but I think that this adds to a pubs character and from all of the postcards and photos adorning the wall behind the bar I think that there are a lot of regulars that would agree with me.
I didn�t spot any television, but there was some unobtrusive background music and also a pool table at the rear.
I liked it in here and would make a detour to return.
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Agree with the comments, but on my first visit...the stench of food being cooked was eminating throughout the whole pub, and as a consequence was making me feel quite sick.
I'm of the disposition that a pub is where beer and ale is served, but i also fully understand that plenty of publicans cannot get by on wet sales alone, and need to supliment their income with a food offering.
So unfortunately, unless it was just them cooking for themselve's, it's not for me.
But the beer was first class, no complaints there
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THANK YOU VINNIE !!!!!!! Finally made it to the Old Mill. What a great local boozer. 6 beers on, all in excellent shape. The Caledonian Raspberry is a nice change from the usual. Sunday Jazz. (first Sun of the month) Very very friendly. At last a pub that's not quite in walking distance, but not a 40 min drive either.
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most definately the best in Se18, as the previous reviews have said,Andy is a good bloke who knows and loves his ales, usualy 5 on the go and constantly changing, I used to come in every Sunday lunch time for one or three, but since my (philisteine)father in law now accompanies me and he kept complaining that the beer "tasted funny"we now go to spoons in woolwich where I can get a decent pint of ale and he can have a John Smiths,that just leaves the odd Friday night with the missus, still a treat when I get the chance, but it's more of a blokes boozer than one to take the ladies,unless there ale fans as well,
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Andy has created a gem - I'm almost tempted to try to put people off visitning Plumstead's hidden secret - a genuine Real Ale pub. Always a geat selection of ales, which the landlord takes (suitable) pride in! One of the best reasons to stay in Plumstead!
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Yay for the Old Mill!! 'Tis the best pub in Plumstead. Andy & his good lady wife make you feel welcome with a good selection of yummy real ales. Andy's got verbal diarrhea, but he's a good lad and knows his beer.
The local people in the pub are on the whole very friendly & the beer garden is lovely in the summer.
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one of only three real ale pubs in the whole of SE18
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i was in here Saturday and as the last person states, was a bit on the short side for the beer, which is most unusual,there was just THeakstons XB a dark mild,and the promise of bitter and twisted, we tried the dark mild which we managed to get through about half of before we gave up and tried the bitter and twisted which was very nice,I tried the XB next which was also good,and by then he also had youngs on the go,i'm in here regularly and it's the first time I was disappointed for choice, and although the dark mild was foul,the next two were spot on so I'll forgive them as this seems to have been a one off
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A bit of an uphill slog from Plumstead stn in Sat�s sunshine but this is a nice traditional pub, carpetted L-shaped bar, pool table at far end, defunct victorian fireplace, very nice beer garden with picnic sets around central grassed area, some below an open trellis with lighting. We may have been unlucky with timing coz the amicable guv had been on a late late one and hadn�t quite got organised for the day, with beers running out, but the 7 pumps offered a scrumpy, Bombardier (went), Theakstons XB & Dark Mild, Manns St George (went), Youngs Best, Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted (already gone). Friendly community pub and one I would certainly try again.
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glad to see this place is getting a bit of recognition as it's far and away the best real ale pub for miles,always a great selection always well kept,and a real country feel tucked away on the quite side of the common
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Ventured in last weekend for the 1st time in 4 years of living in Plumstead and I have to say I'm appalled with myself for not trying it sooner and having such ridiculous preformed opinions on it based on it's external appearance.
Very old fashioned inside without feeling remotely grotty. Put instantly at ease by the barman who obviously loves his ales and will wax lyrical for hours on them. Lovely unpretentious, unthreatening atmosphere. Excellent pint of Doom Bar and Double Century as well. He told me they have a beer festival on the 28 and 29 June. I will most definitely be there and many times before!
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Awesome selection of Ales.Always fresh.
Clean, seriously friendly and funny landlord.
And the signature wonky legged table that gets me even when im sober.
Highly recommended!
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apparently just been listed in the good beer guide,quite right too,always up to five constantly changing,excellently kept real ales,relativly chav free,proper pub atmos,probably hasn't changed inside since the fifties,if you want plastic interious and fizzy beer this isn't for you
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Absolutely the best pub in Plumstead. A good selection of beers served by cheerful staff, what more could you want? This is what a pub should be like!
anonymous - 17 May 2007 16:45 |
still the best in the area
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Decent pub, best in plumstead by a long way.
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poped in yesterday for a sunday lunchtime quickie,ended up staying for three,this really is the place for lovers of real ale,there where five well kept real ales,the landlord calls them his babies and the two I tried really were top notch,there was also a cheese board crackers nibbles and dips on the bar,a good friendly vibe, the best in the area 10 out of 10
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Fair range of beers and a fine, old interior. The landlord is the world's friendliest too, we were a bit knocked back by that. Good place.
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wonderful old fashioned pub on the common,great selection of real ales and a proper pub feel if you like your pubs to feel like they havn't changed for years you'll love it
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A "real" pub, caterring for locals but extremely friendly. Almost a sister pub to the fanstastic Rose in Woolwich, though more of a family feel here. Harveys BB was one of my all-time top 20 pints, really perfectly conditioned. Visit now.
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The Old Mill stands out as one of the better pubs in an area where quality pubs are few and far between. Originally a corn mill, they have been serving beer here since 1848 and the original windmill (minus its sails) is still standing behind the pub. The pub itself is a bit tatty from the outside with peeling paint and rotting windows but does retain a certain character. The Inside is L shaped with a fairly modern brick fire being the main feature. What sets the Old Mill apart from the normal bland local boozers is the range of beers (5 Real Ales) and the welcome afforded by the landlord to anyone who walks in through the door. The pub is being steered away from a basic lager den to suit a more mature beer drinking customer base and has met with some success. There is a pool table and a few fruit machines but no TV�s. The Guvnor reliably informs me that the negative aspects mentioned in earlier reviews (including the curtains) will be addressed in due course but he is anxious not to ruin the character of the pub. There are a few benches outside overlooking the common and in the summer the Old Mill would make a pleasant evening session. It is a bit of an effort to get to but there is enough potential to make a visit worthwhile and it will be interesting to see how the pub develops over the coming months
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Needs a bit of work on the outside, the nasty curtains and mottled windows mean you can't see what it's like inside at all. Very off putting for anyone new to the area (and that seems to be a lot of people considering the number of SOLD signs around Plumstead Common and the Woodlands Estate). Window frams and doors need some work as well, rotting wood is not a good look. It could be so much better, especially considering it's great location looking out accross the common and the character of the building itself. Friendly enough inside though and true the beer garden isn't bad.
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Friendly, well run pub with 5 real ales, all excellently served. Landlord is cheekily eccentric and knows the names of everyone drinking there. The 250 year old mill was converted to a pub in 1764. The present landlord took it over in 2003, and has transformed it completely. Nice beer garden in the summer. This is the best pub for miles around.
Jo Marples - 5 Apr 2004 13:18 |
