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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Wolf's Tavern, Deptford, SE8
SE8
SE8 5RE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 3½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Wolf's Tavern
Situated in a remote location opposite a drive-in KFC, the former Black Horse is at least a late Georgian pub but was rebuilt in the 1880s and as mentioned, is firmly lodged within Millwall territory; we must be cautious.
Recently renamed after the manager’s husky, the exterior exhibits some lovely Truman’s tiling, the refit dating from the 1930s’, no doubt to the designs of their inhouse architect, A. E. Sewell. All is not so tickety-boo inside, the classic wood panelling – which no doubt would have featured inbuilt Truman’s mirrors as well as their beer names inlaid to the parapet – was ripped out in 2016; all that remains of Sewell’s hand is one of his trademark white Vitrolite ceilings. Now there’s a newish bare boarded floor, much distressed paintwork to window reveals, exposed brick, floral wallpaper to the rear, electrical wiring dangling from the ceiling, hanging ferns, filament bulbs suspended by ropes and a megavision TV showing – of all things – unwatched baseball, annoying commentary competing with music; there’s a games’ room to the rear. Furniture is mixed, looking a bit job lot, with ivory upholstered booth-style raised seating to the front; customers at the time of my Wednesday 9.30pm visit amounted to just six, one a gobby Russian.
With four unused pumps there’s no cask, the least bad option being Stella, £4.00 a half, served in a Rekorderlig glass by a taciturn barman.
This is a bit of a sad place; the Duke doing a brisk trade, the Dog & Bell needing fear nothing from this sheep in sheep’s clothing.
On 16th June 2025
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2243 recommendations about 2200 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Black Horse
This pub is still in Millwall territory with the trademark blue and white banner on one of the walls. An interesting decorative feature, but it hardly makes up for the lack of a real ale. I didn't see any sign of food either when I was in at Wednesday lunchtime.
Much of the original Truman's signage remains on the exterior, and inside the ceiling still has the Truman's trademark framed Vitrolite paneling. There's also still some paneling largely separating the rooms, with the room on the right containing the pool table, and the room on the left containing the dartboard down at the back. It's bare-boarded throughout, has banquettes along the sides with rectangular wooden tables and small round stools. There was a TV on showing some quiz show.
So, inside it's OK, with no airs or graces, but the absence of a real ale is a big minus factor for me. Pubs around here are struggling to survive, and I accept that they have to cater for what their customers want, and I concede that this will not always include real ale.
On 13th March 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]