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Yet another list with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Fire Station, Waterloo, SE1
SE1
SE1 8SB
Pub Type
Traditional Food (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Fire Station
A pretty dire place, I visited finally after years of ignoring it, justifiably as it turns out. Fairly featureless inside giving the impression of a cheap and cheerful venue but it's not either of those. Pedigree was the only cask beer option, not a favourite so settled for half a Beavertown Gamma Ray, at well north of £4.00 for the privilege.
My advice echoes BF's, ignore and walk on by.
(Visited July 25)
On 24th January 2026
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2257 recommendations about 2222 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Fire Station
The best part of this pub is the exterior with glazed tiling around the periphery and the original signage above the former Fire Station doors .Sadly there is no attempt to celebrate the heritage,the pub doors are modern french windows which can open out in hot weather,the internal ceiling is all faux industrial ducting and piping but at least some glazed white tiles have been kept on two walls.No sign of any firemans pole.
The bar is to the left,high tables opposite while the right section has a long bench seat in blue leather and lots of dining style tables.A photo booth is nearby for some reason.The muzak was r&b dirge,awful.
There is a wait to be seated rear dining area beyond which are two huge pizza ovens belting out heat keeping the rest of the interior warm.
Food looked like pub grub with pizze £15,Burger £18 and the limited mains £18 although no body was eating.There are deals on Sunday to Friday on 2 for 1 cocktails,two large glasses of wine keep the rest of the bottle and Amstel at £5.Obviously Saturday is their big day !
There was a huge line up on multinational brewers keg beers,and just two handpumps offering Brakspear Gravity and Marston Pedigree,clear but out of condition,flat and a chemical hint NBSS 2.
There are far better pubs close by,it's aimed at the mindless drinker so just keep on walking.
On 22nd January 2026
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3112 recommendations about 3112 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Fire Station
There was just the one real ale on during my Monday afternoon visit - Ringwood's XXXX Porter (£5.40 a pint) which was a meaty 4.7% beer. Pretty good it was too. They obviously major on food, but I didn't see a menu.
There are two separate areas, at the back and on the right that are reservedt for diners, that are furnished with normal tables and chairs, whereas the relatively small area surrounding the bar counter at the front that is available for drinkers has only tall tables and chairs. A sign of the times I guess. There are two banks of handpumps, one on the front of the counter and another around to the right of it, but each only had one of the pumps clipped with the said Ringwood porter.
There's nothing special about the place as far as I could see, and although the old LCC Fire Brigade signage on the exterior has been retained, inside it looks as if it could be any shop conversion - although having said that I guess the the white tiled wall and steel girders were indicators of its previous use. Maybe at another time it might have more ales on, but the one it did have on was delicious. But I don't see me making bar this a regular haunt.
On 8th February 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2614 recommendations about 2528 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Fire Station
Interesting conversion of the old London County Council building, run by the Revere division of Marstons, but despite the high ceilings the decorative tiles reflect every shouty decibel meaning that it gets very loud when busy. It is also a pity that such a large area at the back is roped-off as an (expensive) dining room as this can leave the bar area at the front (and outside on the pavement) very crowded. Now has five handpumps - dispensing EVA, Hobgoblin Gold, Youngs London Gold, Sambrook's Wandle and Hackney APA (£4.50) - plus about 25 craft keg beers from taps on the bar-back.
On 30th March 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9012 recommendations about 9012 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Fire Station
A former Edwardian fire station converted into a bar and restaurant, currently run by Marstons but allows guest beers. The contrast between the original wall and floor tiles and the modern gantries strung between and across the original steel I-beams gives it a steampunk feel in places, provided you look hard enough. It's noisy, busy, anarchic, but somehow it works. The food is mainly burgers and pizzas, so not worth writing home about but it's functional when that is what is needed. There is a bank of 26 keg beers and four handpumps dispensing Hobgoblin, Marston's EPA and Pedigree, Sambrook's Wandle and Hackney APA. Beer was well-kept but more expensive than necessary. The staff were pleasant, most of the clientele civilised if a little inclined to hipsterism. Good enough for a fast food lunch or a quick pint.
On 31st January 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3696 recommendations about 3657 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Fire Station
Located close to Waterloo station it does what it says on the tin. Former fire station with an interior as described below. Real ale and food served.
On 22nd November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3028 recommendations about 2961 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Fire Station
The old London County Council Fire Station signage remains outside, as does the mainly glazed tiled interior and flagged floor. All hard surfaces therefore making for a very noisy interior. About 50% of the floor area is taken up by the rear dining area which has an open servery while the drinking area/bar are located towards the front. The bar is metal topped, there are exposed steel beams and columns, décor includes a few collages of flames. I didn't see the restaurant menu apart from a board declaring the pie of the day to be chicken and chorizo, bar snacks are listed on a column, beef dripping chips £4.25, crab cakes £5.95.
It was packed during my early evening Saturday visit with no chairs to be found, even outside to the front, so bar propping it was.
A reasonable beer selection, Brakspears Oxford Gold, Ringwood Best Bitter, Pedigree and Bank's Sunbeam. Another clip had Hobgoblin reversed.
For me, not a spot to feel comfortable in for a session but near to Waterloo, a decent option to the Hole in the Wall if you have time to kill and fancy a decent enough pint because you've missed a train.
On 19th September 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Johnstone left this review about The Fire Station
Handy for a late one but so noisy and crowded it isn't pleasant and not cheap either.
On 29th April 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 98 recommendations about 98 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Fire Station
We popped in here last Saturday and what an interesting conversion. The late licence (2.00 am) was welcome but what wasn't welcome was the service; this pub is heavily into cocktails which are slow to serve and despite there being six staff behind the bar it took an age to get my round - they seemed far more interested in washing up.
I'd go here again, but only for the late licence.
On 3rd April 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2303 recommendations about 2249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Fire Station
Absolutely packed on a friday evening after work, this place served a good pint of Ringwood and the bar staff coped I thought very well with the hoardes of thirsty punters. Attracts generally quite a young, trendy crowd (oh well - one out of two ain't bad) with prices to match but nevertheless you could do alot worse. An attractive option in the first instance because you can stumble out and get on the tube/train in less than 5 minutes.
On 17th October 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]