The Ivy House, Nunhead, SE15

What can I add to the last review other than on a very warm night they had beer to match the temperature.About 8 cask ales and the two I tried were Tonbridge -rustic and Bristol Beer Factory -junga.Shocking condition and on a night when you want a cool refreshing beer.They have saved the pub next step save the beer.

Official site of The Ivy House - www.ivyhousenunhead.com

Official site of The Ivy House - www.ivyhousenunhead.com

This pub is a real survivor, having firstly seen the original Victorian building demolished to allow Truman's Brewery to build the present classic 1930's inter-war pub, then surviving the Luftwaffe bomb that wiped out the neighbouring row of shops in 1944 and more recently being rescued from the clutches of a property developer who intended to convert it to residential use. The last of these is in many ways the most significant, as the pub became a pioneer in the process - it was the first pub in the UK to be listed as an Asset of Community Value, the first pub to be bought under the 'community right to buy' clause of the Localism Act and is also London's first co-operatively owned pub, making it a beacon for hope and source of inspiration for many other pubs that have been and will be saved from developers up and down the country. The current incarnation opened in 2013 and presents a marvellous example of a well preserved inter-war pub, despite the fact that one wing of the pub has now been converted into accommodation. You enter into a small front bar with nice floorboards, a smart servery in the rear right corner and a nice fireplace with large modern art print above on the opposite wall. A smattering of standard and banquette seating runs around the perimeter with a larger table filling the middle of the room. A door to the rear leads through to two much larger rear rooms. The first you encounter has similar fittings and its own short section of servery with additional hand pumps (make sure you poke you're head round here to see the full ale range). A fireplace stands on the left hand wall and there are a few standard tables and chairs in the front half of the room. The rear half sees a couple of large sofas facing each other on what was presumably once used as a dance floor, given that the rear wall houses a pretty large stage with gold curtains, flanked by some big potted plants. The room has been decorated with an interesting collection of framed 1970's gig posters, hinting at the pub's live music legacy. Back in the days when the pub was known as the Newlands Tavern, it played host to many of the capital's pub rock and punk bands including Ian Dury, Hugh Cornwall, Dr Feelgood and Elvis Costello. Live music continues to be a part of the pub's remit and various flyers for upcoming shows were dotted around. Double doors lead through to a second large room to the right, this time with dark wood beam ceiling, attractive panelled walls, lots of standard tables and chairs, modern art prints and a book swap. Music played quietly throughout my stay and a number of well behaved children and dogs failed to spoil a pleasant visit, although rather remarkably I was eventually forced to leave because the staff lit a fireplace which turned out to have a blocked chimney, resulting in a most unpleasant smell. The ale range was very encouraging, comprising Brockley Pale and Porter, Clarkshaw Phoenix Rising, Hop Stuff Renegade IPA, Head in a Hat Tifter, Dark Star Hophead and, in a nice nod to the pub's former owners, Truman's Runner. I enjoyed a pretty good pint of the Porter, although at £4.25 for a pint that was brewed just down the road, I started to feel some of that community spirit wearing off. Pricey beer and blocked flues aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this visit. It's almost unthinkable that the public came so close to losing such a wonderful building and it's good to see that those involved in the campaign to save the Ivy House are also advising other such campaign groups. This is a fine pub that now deserves to be well supported and I will certainly be heading back some time soon.

No answer on phone yesterday (14:00), is this place open or does it have non-pub hours?

The Ivy House will reopen in the late summer

This is an inter-war pub built by Truman’s brewery. The right hand portion has been turned into private accommodation, but it still has three rooms. The front room is the smallest of them, and still has some original Truman’s panelling with the trademark Truman’s signage still in place, including for something called “Trubrown”. Unfortunately when I was in on Saturday afternoon we were confined to the front room as the two large rooms at the rear were being used for a film shoot of some kind. A shame, but nevertheless the front room, although fairly small, is a comfortable enough yet unpretentious room in which to enjoy a pint or two. St Austell Tribute and Caledonian 80s (£3.20 a pint) were available, but unfortunately the Otter Bitter had just finished. I’m not sure about the availability of food, as we were in late afternoon on Saturday and the kitchen may have closed by then. They seem to have a steady stream of events here, including quiz nights, comedy nights, and they even advertised a forthcoming gig by John Otway on 3rd December. It’s difficult to form a complete picture of this pub from a single visit when over two-thirds of the pub was out of bounds, but it seemed a decent enough and basic pub. The ale choice seemed reasonable as well, and although I wouldn’t go far out of my way to visit again, I certainly wouldn’t object to another visit if I was in the area.