The Star, Wallington

Previously an O’Neill’s bar, this pub has now reverted to its original name of The Melbourne. Although the exterior is painted black, never a good sign in my opinion, it’s a marked improvement over its previous incarnation. It’s one of the growing number of Stonegate pubs. There were three ales on – London Pride, Pedigree and Sambrook’s Wandle. The Wandle at £2.70 a pint is a good bet price-wise, although I think this ale can be a little underwhelming at times. The menus featured pubco pub grub at reasonable prices. Furnishings are essentially normal tables and chairs, with the inevitable banquette seating and stools at the bar. The bar is a large horseshoe on the right, with the drinking area stretching around it to the left and rear, with what would have been separate rooms at one time with separate doors leading from the main road and probably Melbourne Road on the right. There’s some unusual floor tiling comprising foot-square pattern blocks encased by wooden surrounds, plus a bit of carpeting and bare boarding. They still have the trademark Victorian (or possibly Edwardian) cast iron pillars with ornate capitals, but everything else is modern. I’m not yet familiar enough with the Stonegate chain to form an opinion of their pubs, but they seem to have made a decent stab at improving this one. It’s certainly not a destination pub, but OK for a pint if passing.