The Lion & The Unicorn (JD Wetherspoon), Waterloo, SE1

Recently visited after a crawl of Salisbury and to take advantage of the Friday 1.00am licence, it’s ably described below so I can add little, but as BF mentions, the location is ill-conceived and to agree with Moby, it’s a bit like drinking in a sterile – and very noisy – student bar-cum-canteen as most of the drinkers appeared to be students (see photo). There were 12 pumps including the usual suspects, my pint of Portobello Market Porter fine, price not recorded. Although far from being an enjoyable venue, this is one of the best cask outlets in SE1, but I’d prefer to drink in the wonderful Kings Arms round the corner when in the area, or closer to the station, the characterful Hole in the Wall.

situated underneath the platforms of the former Eurostar terminus,close to the lower level exit barriers for these platforms and in the shopping centre that hasn't quite worked this 'spoons in a huge positive if travelling via Waterloo.Modern,glass fronted on both sides with views down to the street below there are high tables close to the bar with lower level dining style tables to the periphery and in the main body of the pub in what is essentially an L shaped interior. There is a rolling screen above the bar ,a little disconcerting but there are no other distractions and the vibe is of a smart 'spoons. The Trio of Doom feature on both sets of handpumps while guests on my trip were London Pride,Milestone Hammerhead Stout,Mad Squirrel Shamrock dry stout and Diablo (NBSS 4) ,Twickenham The Naked Ladies and Portobello Ho Ho Ho.Good to see two stouts on offer.Ales generally around £5 so don't forget your vouchers.The food is at a small premium price compared with other outlets but not usary. Great addition to Waterloo station,I will be using this 'spoons regularly in future.

The prices here are a bit more than you'll find in your average London 'spoons - the traditional breakfast is £6.71 and the guest ales are £5.04 a pint. But these are still fairly good value by London standards generally of course. The pub occupies a large new-build modern addition tucked away in The Sidings, from where the Eurostar used to operate. There's little in the way of natural light, but that didn't seem to bother the decent sized crowd of punters in there at Friday lunchtime. In most ways it's a typical 'spoons, but the only one I've seen with an illuminated screen above the bar advertising their wares, and the smaller train departure board is a most useful addition, In fact the Lion & The Unicorn is a most useful addition to Waterloo Station, and as a regular user of the station I'm bound to use it again.