Ladywell Tavern, Ladywell, SE13

Just a short walk from Ladywell station, this is a characterful, good-sized pub with a slightly gentrified feel. The pub occupies a single rectangular room with scuffed floorboards and rough bare brick walls. The servery is centrally positioned and has a green tongue and groove panelled counter front with a chunky wooden top and an unusual, corrugated iron bar back which is quite striking on first sight. An old gramophone stands at one end of the bar back and there are lots of colourful plants in pots along the counter, which brighten the space up nicely. Most customers were sat along the right-hand side of the room, where button backed armchairs and banquettes provide some comfortable seating options. Practical tables and chairs can be found to the rear, underneath some ugly modern wallpaper, whilst to the left, plush sofas and stools fill the space by the front windows before tables and chairs appear further back, although these appeared to be mainly set for diners and were accordingly unused on my Friday evening visit. There are some nice leaded windows to the front with stained glass bands and the fireplace on the left-hand wall sported a huge hood, making it quite a distinctive feature. The walls have been decorated with plenty of contemporary art and a door to the rear leads out to an Astro turf covered garden with some kids toys in a hidden corner and plenty of picnic benches. A few seats are available out on the front pavement too, along the main road, which should make for some good people watching. There were three handpulls in operation when I arrived, dispensing Morland Old Golden Hen, Taylors Landlord and Purity Mad Goose, whilst the keg lines offered a few interesting beers, mainly from London-based microbreweries. I found the service to be quite friendly, but painfully slow, and my pint of the Mad Goose was in decent enough condition. I quite liked this pub and thought it had the feel of a contemporary community local’s pub, attracting a mixed crowd thanks to the pleasant, welcoming environment they’ve created here. The beer seemed to be in decent shape and the garden looked like it would be a good spot for warmer months, so there’s enough here to merit repeat visits, especially given the dearth of options nearby. Date of visit – 28th July 2023

The ales on here were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Hopback Summer Lightning, and Skinner’s Cornish Knocker (£4.10 a pint). There were single-sheet menus on most of the tables, with the food having a big US influence, with burgers and “dogs” being the main staples. It doesn’t look as if this pub has changed much since previous revewers’ visits. Like so many pubs this one has been completely opened up into one room, with a central horseshoe bar. There’s nothing original inside, but some of the windows still had their green banded glazing, intimating that it was once a Charrington’s pub. I reckon they’ve gone for the American diner look, with some bright steel pedestal tables and brewery adverts on the bar counter front, including one for the Kona Brewing Co, Hawaii. On the left are a couple of sofas in front of the large brick built fireplace (helpfully with the word HOT on the chimney breast) but also banquettes and some normal tables and chairs. There’s a mixed bag of décor – a framed photo of Sean Connery as 007, some unintellible arty prints, as well as several musical instruments. I saw quiz nights and live music advertised. It’s all a bit brash, but a comfortable enough place nonetheless and handy for a swift one (even if £4.10 a pint is a tad expensive – in my opinion) before catching a train from Ladywell station a few yards down the road.

I quite liked this place - yes, it has a somewhat 'straight from the gastro-pub design manual' look, but the staff were friendly and efficient. The atmosphere in the 'J'-shaped bar was also much more relaxed than many pubs in the Lewisham area. Three beers available on handpump - Otter Bitter, Harveys and Ringwood Fortyniner (£3.40, and served in the right glass).

Randomness Guide to London - Ladywell Tavern entry

Randomness Guide to London - Ladywell Tavern entry