Waverley Arms, SE15

The main bar is a J-shaped space with a central distressed wood bar counter and a similarly presented scruffy green ceiling. Dark brown stained lower wainscoting, Charrington green and amber banded windows, there is a brick fireplace with a plain mirror and animal horns above plus a few brewery mirrors and pictures of pigs. The rear room to one side swaps the pigs for ducks and leads to a rear garden. Floors are now boarded and seating a bit mixed with the regular type at tables with mismatched chairs as well as a couple of sofas and a pair of pew benches. Four handpumps, two were on as I entered soon after opening time which is 4pm in the week, Deuchers IPA and Brockley Pale Ale. The Brockley went immediately leaving the Hobson's choice of the Deuchers, so I had a quick half. A bit of a poor show I thought with Friday evening looming. They advertise cocktails on a board for £8. Maybe that is the target demographic these days. I probably wouldn't bother again.

This pub looks as if it has had a recent refurbishment, but if so they haven’t done anything dramatic to it, and possibly just tidied it up a bit. It still has the feel and ambience of a backstreet locals’ pub. It’s a single room pub, with the typical central horseshoe bar; carpeted with banquettes round most of the sides, and a smattering of normal tables and chairs. A function room is at the back on the right but wasn’t in use when I visited on Saturday afternoon. There were a few prints on the wall, and I counted at least three TVs on the walls, all showing the football results service. I didn’t see any sign of food, but they had two real ales on – GKIPA and Sharp’s Doom Bar, the latter at a very reasonable £2.80 a pint, which is good going even for a pub that is a bit off the beaten track. This is a smart and clean local’s pub. It’s really nothing very special, and just an honest boozer, in which I enjoyed sitting and having a quiet pint. I doubt whether I’ll find myself wandering down Ivydale Rd any time soon, but if I did I would be happy to drop in again for another pint.