The Walrus, SE1

Dating from the end of the 18th century as the Red Lion, this was renamed the New Dover Castle in the 19th. The place must have been rebuilt, probably in the early 20th century, when the original name was reinstated, the current name being a recent application. It’s twinned with the Horse & Stables next door, both doubling as backpacker hostels, though this actually had some customers and although less traditional, had a better atmosphere. The interior is now more style bar than pub, with a modern floor, scaffold and bare brick bar back with a copper ‘plumbing’ gantry above a modern bar, clad with bronze-coloured shiny glazed tiles. Walls are seemingly dark brown, along with ceiling with glitterball, thereafter paisley wallpaper. Lighting is minimal, with décor in the form of Tiffany lamps and framed prints; a large Union Jack adorns the rear wall. Furniture is mixed, being conventional with some low lounge furniture in differing styles. A jazz soundtrack played, in direct competition with the loud rumbling from the rail traffic crossing the adjacent bridge, going to and from Waterloo. This is a backpackers’ hostel, so I’d expect many an Australian and indeed most of the customers were young and probably inmates. There were some older customers, possibly office workers, one elderly gent straddling a solitary pouffe. An unused pump sat next to one dispensing Doom, me opting for a half of Neck Oil at an unpardonable £3.50 a half, served by a friendly Southeast Asian barmaid. I didn’t see any grub offered, but another barmaid was eating some Thai food, the smell wafting out across the room, doing nothing for the ambience. This is hardly a destination address, though it’s better than the Horse & Stables next door. Along with the insulting prices, you’ll not hear me say ‘I’m in the Walrus, coo coo kachu!’.

Official site of The Walrus - www.thewalrusbarandhostel.co.uk

Official site of The Walrus - www.thewalrusbarandhostel.co.uk

As described below, the single bar also serves as a waiting room for people using the B&B facilities. It has the air of a student bar, a feeling reinforced by the multiplicity of foreign students sitting in silence while exercising their thumbs on their phones, the dirge-like muzak and the ineptitude and lack of charisma exuded by the monosyllabic barnonbinarygenderthing. The TV screen dominating the comfy seating area was switched off, the projector on the ceiling was also off, the large screen at which it would point was rolled up to reveal a mural purporting to be a Vivienne Westwood. Two ales on, Doombar and Ubu Purity Goose, both in tolerable condition but overpriced. OK for a swift one, but not somewhere to linger if you value your sanity.

The Walrus is a small open plan pub with a bar on the right wall that faces a mix of standard seating and sofas. The majority of the other customers were tourists and residents of the attached hostel. Children are welcome because there were a couple of young mums with prams and babies present. The background music was at a reasonable volume (not too quiet, not too loud) and I didn’t spot any televisions. Once I had been served I decided to finish my drink on one of the awning covered picnic tables out the front. Available from the bar was a premium draught range alongside cask Purity UBU and an unused hand pump. I do not envisage a return visit here anytime soon.

The Walrus is a corner pub that is next to a large railway bridge. Once inside there is a smallish oblong shaped room with the bar facing,there were some low settees to the front with normal tables and chairs elsewhere,the room is bare boarded. There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Hogs Back TEA which was a decent drink,the other beer was London Pride. There was some very loud background music playing. I was happy enough having a quick drink in this pub. Pub visited 2/8/2014