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Submitted on Monday, 18^th October 2021
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The Lord Nelson, SE1

386 Old Kent Road
SE1
SE1 5AA

Phone: 02077018510

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Served areas

Bermondsey, Walworth

Reviews of The Lord Nelson (Average Rating: 4 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Tris C left this review about The Lord Nelson

Dating from the early 19th century but rebuilt later, this pub still displays a Taylor Walker cannon motif within its arched sign. Unchanged since March, it’s a bit scruffy externally and as mentioned, is in a rather down-at-heel area, namely the Old Kent Road. However, it’s on CAMRA’s list of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Exceptional National Historic Importance; again, as mentioned, that’s over-egging the custard somewhat; either way, it’s also grade II-listed.
The interior is well described below and on CAMRA’s site, but it’s still a bit grey, the heritage elements looking good but all to an awful Heart FM (or similar) soundtrack. Furniture is fairly traditional, the floor carpeted, some nautical elements complement a giant potted palm, with young people playing pool in the rear room and perhaps dependent on the sweetie dispensing machine; a solitary older local posed no threat, most customers being outside and seemingly domesticated.
There’s no cask here, an indifferent barmaid with severely unwashed hair serving me a half of Kronenbourg (£2.20) from the majestic P-shaped bar.
This pub is worth a look for the heritage value over a swift half of lager, but that’s where the merit ends, unless you consider the use of bank cards to now be a benefit.

On 30^th June 2023 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2209 recommendations about 2166 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Bucking Fastard left this review about The Lord Nelson

Corner pub on the Old Kent Road,I was drawn here by the CAMRA Historic Pub of National Importance listing which I felt was a little exaggerated.Yes there are some important features but the interior has been knocked about over the years and the features are hardly celebrated ,it's primarily a working class keg only boozer not far from those delightful folk of Millwall FC.
There are two entrance doors marked Public Bar and Saloon but the dividing partitions have long disappeared leaving a strange bar set up with a horse shoe bar to the front,then a straight bar set back quite a distance which serves two sections ,the far one past an arch being a pool and darts area.The open plan nature detracts from admittedly good bar backs and overhead gantries with the names of various libations and two magnificent etched glass mirror panes showing in some detail a Nelson's naval victory.That is certainly worth preserving.The noisy muzak from a commercial radio station is certainly not ,another error of judgement by the folk who run this pub.
It's the sort of place that when a regular walks in the pint is immediately drawn and place before him from a very mediocre choice of keg national brands.My Kronenbourg 1664 was passable and only £4.30.There is a Sky flatscreen high above a doorway,while the furniture is hardly traditional and comes in various shades of black.Bar stools are well used by blockers.
I'm sure it's popular before home games at The New Den but not suitable for away fans ,the historic listing is the only reason to visit...just.A huge missed opportunity but this part of the Old Kent Road is rough and unlikely to be touched anytime soon by gentrification.

On 5^th March 2023 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Lord Nelson

One of the few 'proper boozers' left on the Old Kent Road, but this one retains several points of interest that earn its place on Camra's national inventory of historic pub interiors. There remain two picture mirrors and a substantial gantry over what must have been the original servery, but this was extended at some stage to leave one of the oddest-shaped counters in the country. A pool table can also be found through an arch in the back room. No real ale, unfortunately, so John Smith's (£3.70) it was, with a packet of Taylor crisps to soften the blow.

On 4^th August 2021 - rating: 5
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]

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