please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
£4.60 for an average pint of Landlord. Won't be returning.
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Is good to see 6X on handpump these days, shame about the Greene King IPA. Nice big pub, though quiet on a Saturday night. Friendly staff.
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Went for a Sunday lunch today and was very impressed. The staff were friendly and attentive, the food was good and the portion size large. Also the meat was almost all free-range, which is important to me, and yet the prices were reasonable given all this: about £13 for a main. And although I wasn't drinking today, I also noticed they had a few good ales on. I'd definitely return when in the area.
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After visiting the IWM a friend and I went to this local pub. We asked for our food at the bar whilst ordering drinks but were asked to sit at a table and give our order there, but no one came until we asked for service.
The menu did not state the meal I ordered was a starter and so I paid �6.75 for a very small piece of salmon with a few bits of cress and tiny sliver of radish masquerading as a salmon salad. When the bar man was asked about it he said it was obvious from the menu it was a starter and not a main course. The menu did not indicate this at all so I feel mislead and that my point was dismissed as stupid by the bar staff.
I am a frequent visitor to the IWM. Needless to say I will not be going to this pub again.
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Big fan of this pub. In the summer, it's nice to sit outside near the Imperial War museum and watch the world go by. Pub itself is quite nice, staff friendly, beers are fine - always have a few bitters and some decent quality lagers too.
Not eaten yet but the food looks good too.
Come here at least a couple of times a week - ideal for a quick pint on the way home.
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I'm in two minds on this place really. I went in and had a leaisurely Sunday afternoon/evening with a group of friends and had more than a few beers and a meal. Overall the staff were great, the food was good and the beer was fine. There are a few points though
1) The only food on offer was the Sunday roast and then you only had a choice between beef, pork or a vegetarian tart. OK it's a Sunday and people will most likely want a roast but this is still pretty limited.
2) The beef I had was well done and I prefer it rare. Perhaps I should have mentioned this but I wasn't asked for a choice so I assumed you didn't have a choice. It was still very nice but I'd say that as standard it should be at least medium. Personal taste though I suppose.
3) They do that annoying piling the food in the middle of the plate thing. I guess this is to try and hide the fact that
4) The portions were a bit too small. Not enough to make you feel ripped off but enough that you thought they weren't being particularly generous. This is especially true as
5) The prices are fairly high. A pint of budvar was �4 which is about 50p more than I'm used to paying and about 30p more than I'd see even in a pricy pub. I also felt the meal was about �1-2 more than it probably should have been. I'd again judge this as a bit pricy rather than a rip off.
All in all I'd say that this is a good pub but the reasons I've posted above, and I fully admit they're minor ones, stop it from being a great pub.
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a very noisy pub,and there was a fishy smell.Expensive pint of Coke at �3.50.I wont be going there again.
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Was in there on 10 January 2011. Good beer, smashing food, good service and good prices.
Definitely a pub I'll be coming back to.
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I made this place my "local" during a visit to London last weekend. I found the staff to be very efficient and I never waited long to get served a drink at the bar, even on a busy Sunday afternoon when food takes priority. (something other London pubs should take note of). The pints of Ruddles went down very nicely and they were perfect. The ale here retained its head throughout and held its flavour from the first sup of the pint till the last. Probably the best I've had in London. Bit pricey at �3.50, but worth it. I'd rather spend a bit more to get a decent pint than pay sod all for some of the muck they serve elsewhere.
I didn't eat here as I was meeting up with friends further afield for dinner. A decision I now regret as the menu was imaginative and the food served up to those seated near me looked fabulous. And they certainly didn't leave the place hungry. I made a mental note to make the Stags my first port of call on my next visit to London for a bite to eat. Again, the menu is a little bit pricey, but not excessive. In fact, given the location (across the road from the Imperial War Museum) the price is quite reasonable. You'd pay a lot more a five minute walk up the road near Westminster Bridge. You could eat for less by walking five minutes in the other direction (heading out of town), but don't expect the same quality and service.
I found "The Three Stags" to be an excellent pub and evidently well run. The staff seemed to take pride in their work and despite being busy, the place was always spotless, including the toilets (which many pubs neglect).
Ample seating outside for smokers if you can put up with the constant noise of sirens from police cars joyriding around South London. (You'll get used to it).
I'll give "The Three Stags" 8 out 10. A point lost for the poor selection of ales on offer when I was there. (3 pumps, but only 2 available at any one time).
I recommend this pub to anyone visiting London and look forward to returning there myself.
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Having lived in this area for over ten years and seen the gentrification and gaytification of the area, I was pleased to see this pub
change hands and evolve, I am somewhat surprised by stream of negative comments this pub attracts, It could almost be orchestrated. I have
travelled extensively in UK and abroad, and I have seldom found a more welcoming place, the staff are for the most part friendly and an
interesting bunch , there is a wonderful music library (that has introduced many new names to me) it seems to attract an diverse and
eclectic mix of locals and tourists, from gay runners group to dog owners with their assorted muts! the food is generally very good and
an interesting menu, sometimes the balance between meat, fish and vegetarian could be better, but the quality of ingredients and the
presentation is always good, the plates could be hotter when they arrive! The pricing is I would say average for the area and for the
quality of fare provided. I have taken guests often and never had any complaints!.
No one is obliged to eat or drink there! There are plenty of other pubs locally ( seven to my knowledge within about 5 minutes walk) and
all are slightly different in character and composition and with varying pricing. I find it odd that there are repeated complaints about
lighting and whether the place is open, it always seems to be open when I pass and I have never had a problem reading a paper there, I
think it much improved since the argos chandeliers have gone!
If you don't like it don't go back, and no i"m neither a member of staff, nor an owner, I am a somewhat happier and more contented
local who has much less distance to wander in search of some decent food and company! I do have to say I prefer the pub when there no
curmudgeonly unpublished poets brooding and nursing their half bitters!
gjp99 - 22 Mar 2010 20:41 |
The Three Stags is my local and has been for the last six years. It is one of the friendliest pubs I've been to and one of the reasons I keep going back - the staff are incredibly polite and welcoming and Richard the landlord makes an effort to know his regulars and makes it a great place to hang out. As a woman I feel perfectly happy popping in by myself to enjoy a pint with my paper on a Sunday or even as a treat on my way back from work. No one is going to harrass you and if for some reason they did you can be sure that they will be politely asked to leave.
The food is fabulous and I have taken my parents and friends for excellent meals. Food is sourced locally and is in season and fresh, don't expect cheap and easy pub grub, this is more of a dining experience without taking away the relaxed atmosphere of a pub.
I've seen some strangely vindictive posts on this site which is a real shame. I'm not saying The Three Stags is perfect but if you don't like it leave it alone. They'll be more room for me!
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The WORST service I have ever received from a pub in London. Even the "spit and sawdust" pubs know how to treat their clientele properly. The menu screams "We want to attract moneyed customers who are serious about their food". The manner in which my party was treated suggested otherwise - no knowledge about the wines on offer and a scoff at the two females in the group who ordered Becks's Vier. We didn't even hang around to find out what their �50 steak was like.
Tourists - I wouldn't bother with this place - get yourself into town where they are at least reasonably happy to have you dine and drink in their establishment.
This guy and his staff clearly don't care
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Visited on Sunday afternoon after a trip to the Imperial War museum. This place obviously does a great trade in Sunday roasts as many of the tables were reserved.
Food was very good but overpriced (�13 roast beef). 3 Ales on tap only had time to try the Ruddles County which was fine.
A decent place to meet friends for afternoon beers and food, but not very cozy for the solo vivitor, no bar stools for example.
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This pub caters for the visitor trade (going to the Museum and at the hotel opposite) and is very expensive. The food is good but overpriced and a bit too fancy - although there aren't any real restaurants nearby so they're taking advantage of the market. Beer is also expensive. Nice to take visitors to, a nice atmosphere, but not really a 'local'.
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Popped in the other night, as I was staying at the hotel over the road. A nicely done out place, with a decent range of beers and wines.
But good grief the cost! For a pint of Morland (very nice by the way), a session bitter, I was charged �3.50. This strikes me as extraordinarily expensive for a pub in its location no matter how nice it is. That's 60p more than the Tim Taylors I had earlier, at The Thameside, right overlooking the river in the Borough Market area. I hope to goodness I wasn't ripped off as some sort of Northern novice in London knowing no better. But the alternative, that indeed �3.50 is the cost of a bog standard bitter here, strikes me as outrageous.
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This place is so much improved since I last visited a few years back. The new owners are pitching it about right -- maybe a little pricey and ambitious for the area, but calculated to attract the right sort of clientele. The food is moderately ambitious and hits the mark. Good service too. Morland bitter was on when I visited and appeared to be well looked after. All in all, probably the best pub in this run-down corner of North Lambeth -- you'd almost think you were in Kennington ...
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Nice chilled pub. Nice to sit outside, inside can feel a bit cramped when busy.
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I regularly visit the Three Stags with friends in the evening after running and we always eat here. The highlight is the food which is really excellent. They really make an effort and pay attention to good ingredients cooked from fresh, definitely no microwaved / frozen dinners here. Fish dishes here are always a standout. Whole sole is a regular menu item, always perfectly cooked by someone who knows what they are doing. The menu always changes too. I like the creativity of the chef. Portions are good and substantial which I like. Staff are friendly too.
In terms of the interior, I like the fact that it hasn't been tarted up and feels like a proper pub, something that is harder to find these days.
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There are some very odd reviews below, some perhaps not altogether impartial and there is the sound of grinding axes in others... However, this place appears to be a perfectly normal part-gastroified pub (if you will pardon the expression) that is quite common across London. A Greene King house, it thankfully had the reasonable St Edmonds on in addition to the less inspiring IPA and Ruddles County. Better still, this was dispensed from a traditional handpump rather than one of the fancy new fonts, and was in very good condition. On the down side, it is rather expensive (�4.50 for a pint and a packet of crisps).
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Having lived in the area for over 30years I have seen this pub change hands on numerous occasions. Previous managers/tenants have not managed to pull off what the present owners have and that is: wonderful food, friendly staff and the ability to have a great evening without being mauled by drunks. The owners have been on a learning curve and they were quick to learn. OK some people think the decor is dull but I would rather have that than a brilliant white wall and ceiling and someone serving mediocre food.
Long may the owners of the Three Stags prosper.
Mariap
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I love this place. The decor is very elegant and stylish but warm and inviting. The owners have preserved the period features and charm while modernizing the space. The ambient lighting is very atmospheric and relaxing. It is such a pleasure to discover a gem like this with so much mood and character compared to the nasty over lit, generic slew of chain bars across London. Sadly, quirky old pubs like the Three Stags seem so rare nowadays. Excellent wine list and a classic British comfort food menu which is unpretentious with the emphasis on simple quality. Mellow tunes, cool art gallery to check out upstairs and swift, friendly service. Really enjoy hanging out there and would recommend it to anyone with taste.
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Service has always been a bit of an issue here (managers aside) mainly because of plain old slackness/doziness on the part of the waiting staff and I always get a real sense of indifference from some in particular.
Food is good..........when it comes, but definitely not somewhere to go for a quick bite unless you have an extended lunch/evening period of time to kill! On an averagely busy mid-week lunchtime visit, I waited half an hour for a butty and that was with me having to remind one of them that I was still there....and waiting. I eventually went in to pay and the guy who'd served me had no recognition of memory of who I was, where I sat or having taken my order!
I noticed a few other irate customers also who'd been waiting for someone to actually take their order (they're keen on the table service aspect here).
I think they have a lot of competition in the area and need to pull their proverbial socks up. The White Hart pubs on Cornwall Rd and on Kennington Cross respectively are much better all round if you're looking for other locals in the same area. Equally, a similar vein of pub called The Freemasons in Battersea is wonderful and frankly could eat the Stags up in terms of its staff, efficiency and choice of menu. A smile and a glimmer of recognition when you're a regular customer go a long way :-)
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I have been to the 3 stags occasionally for the odd pint - no complaints. However today I went for Sunday lunch and had what I thought was a beef roast with yorkshire pudding. The only problem was it was only 2 slices of beef! Paying 13.50 for two slices of beef, vegetables, and a yorkshire pudding is in my mind being ripped off! I would expect at the least a lot more beef than that! I did complain at the end and she said she would mention it to the chef however nothing was done about it! I won't be returning for food there!
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hi all--the pub is not closed! may look a little dark from outside, but is definately open.
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This pub is now closed - or looks it.
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Hmmmmm okay-ish I suppose - much more charming places nearby. I do wish they'd switch a few more lights on.
Loving the obviously fake reviews too - they get 2/10 from me for that initiative alone!
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hmmm, yes, and all the improbably positive reviews in August-September are from users with hidden profiles who joined on that day and never made any further post.
Not on.
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not a bad pub, decent eclectic mix of people and the trip & abbots were pretty decent.
dan88 - 17 Dec 2008 12:42 |
I'm a regular in Three Stags and I love it there. The food is delicious, there's a wide choice of drinks, the atmosphere is brilliant , the music is cool and the new decor spot on. The staff are great and I always feel welcome. That's why me and my friends go there at least once a week and thoroughly enjoy it.
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I can't help but notice the flurry of positive reviews on 28/29 August... dirty tricks by management?
I recently ventured back but the staff still remain rude and happier chatting to one another than to serve the customer. I really was annoyed by the 'too cool for school' attitude of one of the bar staff (older guy, possibly manager?) who snatched my money off me and then threw my change on the bar. A 'please' and 'thank you' would have been nice.
The food looks good but for the money the portions are meagre. There are also too many tables meaning it's impossible to easily get to the bar without squeezing past other tables. However, the range of beers is excellent.
I really do wish I could be more positive... this pub deserves to succeed...
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Recent Management change , anyone know?
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I visited this pub at lunchtime today with a group of about 12-14 of us. Service was SLOW. Most of us then ordered food. Not the greatest choice in the world and a little on the expensive side, but what the hell, it was nice being out as a group. What a mistake!
The prices for what was delivered to the tables was ridiculous. Almost �8.00 for the smallest slice of salmon terrine you have ever seen with about 5 tiny lettuce leaves and 4 small slices of toast. Almost �6.00 for smoked salmon sandwiches which comprised 2 slices of bread with a bit of salmon and cream cheese, cut into triangles and served with about 7 or 8 tortillas.
I'd have loved to have commented on the beers or the atmosphere but the food ruined it for us all and we left after that and spent our considerable pot of money elsewhere.
Gastropub? Don't make me laugh!!!
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Really liked this place. It's changed from a regular boozer to a gastropub since the last time i was here a couple of years ago, but whereas that statement would normally ring alarm bells, they've done this one up really well. By that I mean that it still has a pubby enough feel and atmosphere. It is very dark but, unlike some other reviewers, I quite liked that. Slight downside is that it's a bit on the pricey side.
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I don't understand the sudden spate of reviews since the end of August... has the landlord been persuading customers to post reviews? The strange thing is that they're all positive - the earlier ones seemed to be negative...
Anyway, went in there the other day - still gloomy, still dreadful service, and they've started stacking CLEAN glasses on the bar again - this happened for a time earlier in the year, but thankfully stopped (it can't be very hygenic can it?).
Shame about the place - should be so welcoming, but just isn't friendly enough.
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Always a nice pub to go to. Comfortable to sit within, or outside for a cigar or sunbathe, lok at the world go by. Worth planning a visit to the War museum across the road and looking forward to a drink or more here. Only draw back being close to Kennington Nick up the road and off duty Plod.
anonymous - 25 Sep 2008 12:33 |
Had some excellent real ales and some very tasty chips here. Nice atmosphere in the pub - I liked the propaganda posters in the gents! (The pub is virtually next to the Imperial War Museum). Not cheap but I felt like I got my money's worth. There was, however, one problem. The staff kept approaching us to ask if we wanted more drinks - very continental. We said to one of the girls that we would but none ever appeared. A colleague of hers soon approached us and we ordered more with him. But when we were ready to leave it took a while to get the bill sorted. Not a major issue but was mildly irritating.
I haven't eaten here properly but am determined to do so one day.
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Awesome - that's the only way to describe the nights I have had in this place. My favourite local pub ever - and I don't even live in Lambeth. Really friendly staff behind the bar, and a character of a landlord to boot... and the selection of beers is the icing on the cake. It's a bit of a detour from grabbing my train at Waterloo but well worth it everytime I pop in "just for one". Great atmosphere inside, real mix of people - and genuine nice vibe all round. The food menu looks pretty good too - so my next visit will incorporate a bit of that I think... and then a few more ales. Great stuff.
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I love this place. My friend recommended it to me and it was well worth a visit. All the other reviews have mentioned the great food & drink (and it is great), but what this place really wins it for me is the atmosphere. The place is friendly, relaxed, just what I want. I recommend that you grab the Sunday papers and settle in with a bottle of wine! Wonderful.
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Great place and great folks running it. The food is quite good (we ate there a # of days when we were in London) and everything was top-notch. The chefs really are taking steps above what you get in most other spots. Got to say, I had a meal at the Eagle (gastropub mecca), which was great, but thought the food at the Three Stags was better.
The location is also great too. A three minute walk from the tube station (Lambeth I think), with the War Museum on the other side of the street.This means that there is effectively open green space running along one whole side of the pub, making for lots of sunshine during the day. Also, the pub is a short walk from the Eye and thus everything central, so people out and about can get there easily.
Overall, highly recommended.
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This place is simply great! We were in London for about 5 days on business and had the opportunity to dine at several restaurants / pubs.. I can say hands down that the Three Stags was THE BEST meal we had.. plus, we tried some "local" wine - which we were a bit skeptical about (Californians ;-) and it was amazing, both the red and the white.. the ambiance is perfect, the crowd is cool, but ultimately it's about sharing great food with friends.. Highly recommend!
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I love this pub, it has recently been refurnished and is under new ownership its informal and non pretensious, the food menu is varied and always to a high standard and there is a great selection of wine and beer..the new look is a definate improvement in my eye and i highly recomend you go and check this place out
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I have seen this pub before and after and am completely amazed by its transformation. There is now a great atmosphere, vibe and coolness factor that did not exist before. I have directed many of my friends there and they loved it as well--my good friend Jonathan said it was the best food that they had in London. The chef is fantastic and has really come into his own with signature dishes that are fresh, seasonal and a delight to experience. If you want a cool pub with great drink, amazing food and chill atmosphere, check it out. (Do I know them, yes! And love what they have done.) Enjoy!
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This pub has a wonderful ambience. Although previous reviewers have complained it is too dark, it really depends what you are looking for.
When I visited here I found a smooth, relaxed candlelit atmosphere that was perfect to sit and share drinks with friends. We also had food which is reasonably priced considering the location and that all the menu is made with an green conscience.
I would not describe the food as pretencious either - it is a good balance of traditional pub food and also caters for customers such as ourselves who wanted brilliant tasting food that is a little less ordinary and tastes wonderful (I had the risotto).
I had no problems with the staff on my visit and had the pleasure of meeting the management who were more than happy to talk about the drinks and food in detail plus a few worldly discussions!
Had a fantastic evening and felt very at home here. If you haven't visited before I highly recommend giving it a go (though perhaps leave the newspaper and bring a few friends along instead)!
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Have nothing but positive feedback for this place, the previous reviews were obviously written by people who have beeb to a different pub! Since it's changed hands and had a 'facelift' muyself and my friends actually eat and drink in there, whereas before before it was a very hit and nmiss experience. The food is great, the beer is tasty and the staff very friendly - I hope this pub is around to stay!
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Given up on this place now - despite the good beers I can do without the Dickensian twilight during the evenings and plain rude attitude of the majority of the staff, who all would seem to much prefer chatting to each other rather than, *gasp*, serving the customer.
Oh and isn't serving halfs of beer in unmarked glasses a touch illegal???
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Under the previous management the Three Stags was always friendly and welcoming (despite rather too many "reserved" tables), and while the real beers weren't great, the prices were reasonable, the atomsphere good, and the food more than acceptable.
Since its recent transformation it has become dark and unwelcoming (both literally and figuratively). The beer is better kept, and the range of lagers excellent, but this is let down by the aloof attitute of the staff and management, and the over the top pretentious (and pious) food.
It's also often too dark to read a paper, and the tables too crowded to walk around. Oh, and they don't encourage drinking at the bar, preferring to use it to stack (clean) glasses! A great shame.
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What has happened to the Three Stags? Before the recent refurb it was too light, now it's too dark inside, not helped by the new management turning the lights down even further every so often. It is now impossible to read a paper in there!
Beers (although well served) are now way too pricey (�6.90 for two pints of lager) and the gastro-style menu is too expensive (and putting off the tourists, previously the three stags bread and butter, who take one look at the menu and walk out) and not what the punters want. Customer service from the new staff is appalling, who seem happier to chat with each other or the management than serve the customer.
What was a great local has been ruined. Chicky's jazz night hasn't been held here for a while (indeed the refurb has seen the piano disposed of), a shame really as the pub was always packed. Judging by the lack of customers (especially after work drinkers) others are put off too. Unless there are radical changes, I fear for the pubs future.
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this place is so dark it looks closed!
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good jazz nights, expensive ales but gooduns at that. relatively decent atmosphere, customer service could do with a tweak or two.
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This pub should be my local. Unfortunately, and probably due to its proximity to the Imperial War Museum, it caters more for the passing tourist than the local resident looking for an atmospheric place to have a quiet, sociable drink. In my experience service is impersonal and careless which is a great shame as there are some good ales on offer. The landlord is missing a real opportunity here to turn this place into a real gem, but then why bother? Visitors to the Museum are hardly likely to dry up any time soon. Very disappointing.
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Although I never had any, I'm sure this place does nice food and a big notice behind the jump makes a point about it being made to order. But the fact of the matter is I walked in on St Georges Day and there was spanish music being played. Disgusting
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Please dismiss all of the previous reviews, this pub has come a long way in a short time, now offering great food and drink with pleasant friendly service the only time you will have to wait is when the place is full! Well worth the short walk from Lambeth North Station or quick stroll from Waterloo Station. Pearl's home-made pate is to die for!
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A long wait for average food as I recall.
Kept a decent slection of ales. But once again, udner-acheiving in a prime location.
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As a day time pub I can imagine coming here to be quite a depressing experience. At night though it's not half bad. Such ambiguity normally results in the pub failing in the evening and but passing as daytime fodder for the afternoon. Why is it different here? It's large windows let in far too much light, not helped by the pale colour scheme chosen to decorate the place. But the night takes the edge off of things. The bar staff are friendly and the food is okay too and I've been told it does decent music on Tuesdays and Wednesdays evenings.
Good for: Evening entertainment.
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Descent pub - good guiness and interesting live music a couple of times a week. The manager seems fine to me. It's worth a visit especially if something is on.
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