The Pineapple, Lambeth, SE1

This place dates from at least the start of the 19th century, the current wedge-shaped beast being rebuilt in 1870; it also seems that – somewhat oddly given the backstreet location – that this was once a branch of O’Neill’s, the name in faux Victorian etched glass to a window or two; however, further investigation reveals that the place is run by the O’Neill family and since 1984. The first thing you notice on approach (as you’ve probably just exited the Steam Engine) is the frontage, which is bathed in ethereal blue light, giving the impression that this may be some sort of lap dancing venue, but a club of this nature wouldn’t display ugly wall mounted Heineken, Murphy’s and Kilkenny signs; the pub’s website boasts that ‘…we only serve traditional Guinness from Ireland.’; is there any other type? And why then the Murphy’s and Kilkenny signs? The interior though is fairly traditional, with two elevated rooms/areas to the left and right of the bar, the left-hand room being home to rowdy older locals, who seemed a bit Brahms, perhaps those referred to by E TA. The bar itself looks to be Victorian, unmolested and there’s some attractive wood, also probably original, to the entrance vestibule. Otherwise, the bar area is boarded then the right-hand area is carpeted. The colour scheme is contemporary, with mainly mid-grey shades augmented with a shade of burnt umber; furniture is traditional with décor amounting to eclectic mixed prints, then a wall mounted tableau depicting Black musicians. Customers seemed normal – at least to the right-hand area – along with a very vampish cougar, flirting with me in order to get a pound for the jukebox; it wasn’t her lucky day, in more ways than one. There is cask beer here, with new Sharp’s Solar Wave and Tribute at a very reasonable £5.00 a pint, despite a half being requested, in decent shape, poured by a slightly vacant barman. This isn’t a bad place despite all the blarney fixed to the frontage, making for a decent double with the neighbouring Steam Engine.

Official site of The Pineapple - thepineapple.pub

Official site of The Pineapple - thepineapple.pub

Well described by others, below.  I found the atmosphere rather hostile – the barman was somewhere between indifferent and ignorant, while one or two of the other clients were bordering on aggressive.  Two ales on, GK IPA and Doombar.  The Doombar was in poor condition.  Given the ale quality and general discomforting atmosphere I’d be loth to return. 

The Pineapple has an L shaped bar with a public bar seating area to the right and lounge seating to the left rear. It can be a bit of a squeeze around the narrow bar, but there was plenty of room in the lounge area during a visit just before Christmas. I counted two plasma screens that were both airing PDC World Championship Darts from Ally Pally. This was muted in favour of some festive background music. A partition door remains where two bars have been knocked into one. I imagine that this door means that either side can be hired out for functions. Standard draught products are available from the bar that also supports four hand pumps. These were drawing Greene King’s London Glory, IPA and the seasonal Rocking Rudolph alongside Sharp’s Doom bar. An extensive bar menu can be found on a large chalk board up on the wall. The vast majority of the available dishes are priced under £8. I found the service to be polite and would return if the opportunity presented itself.

The Pineapple is a nice looking wedged shaped pub that is a very short walk from the Steam Engine. Once inside there is an irregular shaped room to the front which is the bar,there is a more comfy lounge area to the rear left which is carpeted and had comfy bench seating. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Youngs bitter which was a decent enough drink,the other beers were GK IPA and London Pride. The pub was comfy enough and the beer nice but i found the pub it a bit depressing probably because it was fairly quiet on my late Saturday afternoon visit. Pub visited 2/8/2014

Quite an attractive façade, but hopes sink a bit as one sees the Murphy's, Heineken and Kilkenny illuminated signs. However, despite the name O'Neills appearing on some of the glazing and signage, it doesn't really give the impression of being an Irish pub - more of a no-nonsense local. The interior retains a traditional two-bar layout, with a pool table in the public bar and the lounge extended at the back with further seating area under a much lower ceiling. Traditional furniture and decor. Sports TVs and music (perhaps a bit loud in the early evening). Wooden patio tables out on the pavement. Two sets of three handpumps, offering Pride, Greene King IPA and Youngs Ordinary (£3.40).

The date underneath the pineapple on the gable gives the date of the pub as 1870. It’s changed a bit since then, but it’s still a decent pub. I felt quite at home in the Palace Bar on the left, but I suspect that it might not have been named after the Mighty Eagles, but for the nearby Lambeth Palace. But the cut glass in the door announcing it as the Palace Bar looked completely appropriate. This bar meanders round to the back, leading to a carpeted and comfortable seating area at the back, although the (more modern I think) beams look a little out of place in a Victorian London pub. There are some nice prints on the walls, of sailing ships, hunting scenes and the like. As you enter the pub the bar counter is facing you a few feet away, and to the right is another smallish bar, containing a pool table as well as an attractive fireplace. There are the usual flatscreen TVs, showing some cricket (but muted) when I was in there on Thursday afternoon. There are a few picnic benches outside. I had a decent pint of Young’s Bitter for £3 – the other ale on was London Pride. This is quite a nice pub on the whole – nothing particularly special or out of the ordinary, but a decent enough place to stop off for a pint.