The Horse & Stables, Lambeth, SE1

This place dates from the early 19th century, originally known as the Horse & Groom for Wm. Younger & Co., a name which can be seen in tiling between the first and second floors; the pub’s name written in ‘OK Corral’–style writing has gone with the arrival of ‘hipsterfication-lite’. The interior is quite brightly lit, allowing all to be seen. A lacquered floor, mixed furniture – some boudoir-style – and a colour scheme being a combination of black, white and cyan, along with some wood panelling and columns, with obligatory gold painted Corinthian capitals. Live music wafted out from a back room where perhaps other customers may have been seated, otherwise there was an elderly couple with me in the front room. Enticingly, there were five pumps, but to my horror, none was in use, me plumping for a half of Peckham Pale at £2.90 the half, served by a friendly barman. This pub’s format isn’t too bad, but the lack of real ale and lack of ambience, resulted in a venue that’s a bit soulless. The fact that it’s closed on Sunday and Monday, with early closing at 10.00 pm until Thursday probably doesn’t help.

Well described below.  We had to push our way through a bunch of ignorant smokers blocking the door, but once in we found it agreeable and welcoming despite being busy.  Ales on were Siren Session Pale Ale, Titanic Plum Porter and Hogsback TEA.  There was one dry pump.  The barmaid was quite pleasant, but she did look a bit shocked when I went to pay with cash.  This place was much better than I expected and I’d be happy to return and include in a crawl. 

Like others before me, I wasn't expecting much based on the garish bright blue signage on the front, but I was pleasantry surprised on entering. But having only a narrow frontage the interior, which stretches back quite a fair way, was fairly gloomy. The clutch of sofas are still there at the the front; there are a couple of booths further back on the right with the remaining furnishings being normal tables and chairs - a pretty comfortable mix in my view. Just about everything in here was dark brown, including the four original capitalled columns. A massive chalkboard now covers the right hand wall as you enter, mainly listing wines and drinks, but with also some elaborate chalk artwork and poetry. There are some rune like symbols and other meaningless script, and as Tolkien is mentioned I guess it must be Elvish. One thing I did rather like is the dispaly of Scottish tartans in the Gents corridor, which I'm guessing is a nod to Wm Younger & Co who, judging by the surviving old exterior signage, was the erstwhile brewery owner. There were three ales on when I visited - Hogsback TEA, Hobgoblin, and Tiny Rebel Stay Puft (£2.50 a half - 5.2%), which was a salted caramel and marsmallow flavoured porter. It sounded so unusual that I had to try a half, and the overwhelming flavour was caramel. A half was sufficient. I didn't see a menu during my Monday mid-afternoon visit, but they obviously do food as there were little buckets containing cutlery on all the tables. The tables all also had on them a single tulip in a small vase. It's a quirky little pub, and much nicer than I expected. And I also quite enjoyed my half of Stay Puft.

The Horse and Stables is an open plan pub with a bar that runs along the left hand wall up to the rear where a kitchen can be found. Standard tables and chairs are found at the front of the pub and high tables at the rear. I didn’t spot any televisions, but there was some background music playing at a very low volume. An upstairs bar/function room is advertised, but I did not investigate during my visit just before Christmas. It wasn’t very busy, but there were a couple of dining families with young children present. I didn’t read a menu, but I would be very surprised if the food is expensive. A premium keg range was available from the bar that supports five hand pumps. One of these was unused so the four available ales were Adnams Shingle Bells, Brentwood Gold, Fullers London pride and XT 3 Brewing Company’s Indian pale. I found the service to be polite, but I found the décor to be disjointed and the atmosphere to be lacking. I do not plan to do a return visit anytime soon.

The rather garish and gaudy external signage doesn't promise much, neither does the sign that advises the pub doubles up as a hostel. Once inside however initial misgivings are dispelled, there is a long tapering room with a boarded floor, bar along one side and with a long photographic mural on the opposite wall of Waterloo Bridge and the river. The floor is filled with mostly regular seating plus a clutch of well used sofas to the front. A pair of black horses heads bookend the bar counter over which the wine and cocktail lists are displayed. Food served, leaning towards the USA with various burgers and the like, Tennessee bourbon burger £7.95. TVs were off mid Saturday afternoon but live sports are shown with posters advertising The 6 Nations. There are four handpumps, all were in use offering Oakham Citra (£4), Pride, Grain Best Bitter and Bespoke Brewery Company Saved by the Bell. A decent enough selection, my Citra came in a dimpled jug and was carefully topped up by the friendly barmaid without me having to ask. It certainly isn't what it appears from outside, well worth popping in if you find yourself around the back of Waterloo or heading for The Imperial War Museum as I was.

Official site of The Horse & Stables - thehorseandstables.co.uk

Official site of The Horse & Stables - thehorseandstables.co.uk

The Horse and Stables is a plain looking pub that is situated close to Lambeth North tube station. Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room with the bar being on the left side,there are some leather settees to the front,american diner type seating to the right and normal tables and chairs in the middle. There was a good choice of decent real als on the bar,i had a drink of Oakham JHB which went down very well,the other beers were Roosters Golden Eagle,Purity Mad Goose and West Berkshire American IPA. There was some decent background music playing during my Saturday afternoon visit. This is a pretty standard pub with some decent real ales on,i was happy enough drinking in this pub. Pub visited 2/8/2014

3 real ales,food and digs available.