The Ivy House, Nunhead, SE15

Really enjoyed my visit to this ex-Truman multi-room heritage pub from the 1930’s that was saved from the clutches of greedy developers by a locals campaign and is now an ACV and owned by several local shareholders. As described below its three main rooms with a bare boarded front room with impressive wood panelling and curved bar counter. Then beyond a pair of impressive double doors is a large theatre room with a stage for live music and comedy acts and then a further wood panelled back room with its own bar section that houses a community library (I am slightly tempted to come back for the advertised feminist sci-fi book club meeting on the last Monday of the month to see how it differs from normal Sci-fi). The front room and theatre room were used as the Krays' 'Double R Club' in the film Legend, and I believe the pub still has the mirror with the R&R logo that replaced the current mirror in the front bar for the filming. Four ales on in the front bar and for my visit these were two from the Wimbledon Brewery, Best Bitter and SW19 Blonde Ale, By the Horns Stiff Upper Lip Pale Ale and Bexley Brewery Redhouse Ruby Bitter. I went red again with the Bexley Brewery Redhouse Bitter and very good it was too. There was a young vibe with the clientele in during my afternoon visit and a cracking 70’s/80’s soundtrack playing. Yes I enjoyed it here and very glad to find it still functioning for the local community post pandemic and some six years since the last review.

Ex-Truman multi-room heritage pub from the 1930’s. A bare boarded front room with impressive wood panelling, curved bar counter and rather jaded padded bench seating. A large rear room beyond a pair of impressive double doors with a stage hosting a children's party on our visit (tomorrow’s punters, I suppose). Four pumps in the main bar with a blackboard advising of further options in the kiddywinks bar. Listed were a good selection; Brockley Pale (very good), Siren Craft Undercurrent (fine), Dark Star Hophead and Creme Brulee, Truman's Runner, something from Cronx plus Suzie Wong's (who she?) cider. Also a good number of unusual bottled beers. A huge amount of classes and events were listed on exterior blackboards and it’s clearly putting itself squarely as the ‘community hub’ (upon reading the reviews below, I see it was the first ever pub listed as an ACV and saved from development). Quite a young demographic (sprogs excepted) means that this one is bucking the general trend a bit and is obviously quite successful. I enjoyed my couple of pints here and it’s well-worth putting on the ‘to-do’ list for London. They are doing a very good job. 8.5

Probably the pub of the day on my trip around Nunhead, a fascinating story of people power to save this pub from the greedy developers, the first ever ACV and now run as a co-operative. I had a good long chat with an enthusiastic American lady behind the bar about this, she was very informative. At the same time a group were in making a film about the decline of the British pub and the reasons, I was a bit camera shy about getting too involved but added my views to be considered. The main room is on entering, the curve ended bar in a side corner, fireplace opposite. Some recycled school or church chairs in here with back pockets, the former Truman's name and products listed around a picture height timber rail. Decent wood panelling, a wall next to the bar has a plethora of posters for local events. Through a door to the rear, the bar continues here, this is the old ballroom and function room with a stage set at the end which has featured some celebrated acts over the years in the 70s when as the Newlands Tavern the pub hosted the likes of Ian Dury and Dr Feelgood, posters remain on the walls. Another room has a beamed ceiling with more wood panelling and some unusual heraldic style figures. There is a paved outdoor area beyond with some cover. Three pumps in the front room but three more through the door to the ballroom so you might want to check but they are all listed on a board. Brockley Pale Ale, Truman's Runner, Dark Star Hophead, Pentonville Oyster Stout, Brick Brewery Kinsale and Franklin's American Amber were on. Hallet's Real cider also available. Additionally the main bar has a large fridge of unusual bottles. This is an admirable venture which deserves support and is thriving thanks to people power. Some communities would benefit from the story here, well done to all and long may the place survive.