The Hole in the Wall, Waterloo, SE1

Something of an institution for longer than I care to remember, The Hole in the Wall is exactly what it says on the tin – a hole in the wall under the railway arches outside Waterloo Station. Up several steps from street level and down a short passageway, the main bar resembles something of a works canteen with a large open space filled with rows of tables and chairs, with wooden settles lining the half height wood panelled walls. Various mirrors adorn the walls. The long bar counter is on the left hand side, at the end of which is an old fashioned food counter churning out chips with just about everything. Loud and noisy at most times, the place rumbles whenever a train passes by overhead on its way to / from Waterloo East. At the back, past the rather basic toilets, is an outside smokers yard with the usual large heaters and a view that wouldn’t exactly be described as inspiring. It’s partly covered by a corrugated iron roof. The wooden boundary fences have a number of framed newspaper cuttings of famous events ( eg – Twin Towers, Bothams 1981 Ashes innings at Headingley etc ) At the front is a smaller, more comfortable room with red velour seats and circular bar stools and copper topped tables, together with a carpet that has clearly seen better days. This bar has a fine collection of rugby shirts high up round the walls and an autographed photo of the England Rugby World Cup Winning Team of 2003. Note also, immediately by the bar, a framed set of autographs of the Blackpool FC 1953 Cup Final winning team, including of course the legendary Stanley Matthews. This bar tends to be quieter than the main bar, but appears to be often overlooked by the staff, with the consequence that you’re often obliged to use the main bar to get served. Although a bit of a clean up wouldn’t go amiss, there’s something of an old fashioned basic unpretentiousness that I like in these days of corporate identikit mediocrity. Apart from the addition of the outside smokers area, the pub is probably virtually unchanged from what I remember when I first visited in the early / mid 70’s. It attracts a good cross section of customers – homebound commuters, local workers, students etc. There’s still very much a blokish atmosphere, particularly when live sport is being shown on the screens, but I have detected women occasionally popping in more so than in the 1970/1980’s. A good selection of real ales is offered in the two bars at reasonable prices. On my most recent visit, an enjoyable pint of Dorking Brewery’s DB Number One was enjoyed. Other beers on included Hogs Back TEA, Sharps Doom Bar, Youngs Ordinary and Greene King IPA. A blackboard lists beers that are allegedly on, although there often appears to be little correlation between this list and those that are actually on from inspecting the pump clips. The pub is in the 2012 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. The Hole in the Wall is a pub that seems to divide opinion – like it or loathe it and, although it’s had its ups and downs over the years, I’m in the former category. If you’re passing through Waterloo Station, pop in and see it for yourself

Very basic bar in a railway arch split into a bar and a larger bar! The trains sound like they are about to come into the place. Very basic wooden seating and very scruffy, surprisingly due the reviews I found the beer very poor.

A much better alternative to the vile station bars and just as easy to catch your train from here. I find that the hole has a certain grubby charm. Nice ale and the bar staff know what they are doing and you don't get asked if you 'want some creeeessps' or get your change on a silver tray.

Just a minute or so from Waterloo station, but you would never find the place unless you were specifically looking for it, given that it is hidden away under the railway arches. The pub is split into two rooms, with a small front room fitted with banquette seating and low stools, served by a bar with four handpulls. A number of rugby shirts hang from the walls in here, which reflects the tendency to show live rugby (and most other sports) as well as the pub's role in playing host to travelling sporting fans passing through Waterloo. The main room, reached via a short passageway, suggests more of a drinking hall than a pub, with a large open space filled with row upon row of seating, mostly facing the large screens which were showing live football on my recent visit. The place looks a bit run down with tired looking vinyl flooring, half panelled walls and a brick arched ceiling. There is somehow room for a basic garden/smoking area through a rear door, but don't expect any wonderful scenery. Blackboards above the bar helpfully list the good beer (and standard food) selection. I was able to pick from Stones Nice Try, Bass No 1, Young’s Ordinary, Everards Sunchaser, Hog's Back TEA, Adnams Mild & The Bitter and Sambrooks Wandle. My pint of Sunchaser was thankfully in much better condition than the pub itself! The barman who served me was very nice and we enjoyed a bit of a chat during quiet periods. I think this pub is pretty much perfect at doing what it sets out to do and although it could undoubtedly do with a good clean up, much of its charm is derived from its 'take it as you find it' approach. I'll certainly continue to stop off here the next time I'm waiting for a train.

A massive improvement on my previous visit, all the handpumps were working and 3 of the 6 we tried were spot-on (although the beer selection was safely mainstream, one special guest would have not been too much to ask) with Paulaner available for the lager types. The toilets were cleaner (though there was still an underlying smell of stale piss) than before. The interior desperately needs a refurb - the carpet in the front bar is worn down to the threads in places and the paintwork is extremely grubby. Sort that out and this place can be quite a draw. Defenders of this place call it a “traditional style boozer”; well that’s a bit like me defending Saddam Hussein as a “traditional style dictator”. 29 October 2006 A rancid flea pit under the arches which had four ales on tonight. The Battersea was well past its best, and the Adnams Bitter wasn't far behind it. And as for the toilets - well I may as well have gone on the floor as it looked and smelt like everyone else had been since opening, and possibly the night before as well. Maybe the drain was linked to the ale pumps? One bonus point for the novelty value of having trains rumbling over your head. Really, if you think this a good, or even a decent pub, you seriously need to get out more.

Always a welcome site after the crush of Waterloo Station, the Hole is a decent Central London pub with good beer and OK pub food at reasonable prices. I had fish and chips which was not as good as the roast (fish out of a packet) but still fine. The real strength of this place is the beer - 9 ales on, and this time I had the Hobgoblin which was in perfect condition. Well worth dropping in for a quick bite and a well-kept pint when passing through Waterloo, but note that they don't take credit cards.

An oddity of a pub. Busy early on a saturday evening with people watching the rugby yawnion, although I was served very promptly by an efficient barmaid. Sharp's Doombar, the ubiquitous Greene King IPA, Hogs Back TEA, Adnams Broadside and Youngs Bitter available. I decided to re-evaluate my opinion of Doombar and was glad as it was an excellent pint. Sat out in the beer 'garden' which proved strangely tranquil despite the trains overhead and the noise from the telly. You'd have no real reason to go here other than, like me, killing time before catching a train. Nevertheless, you could probably do a lot worse.

Randomness Guide to London - Hole In The Wall entry

Randomness Guide to London - Hole In The Wall entry

Not much in the way of atmosphere. The front bar is OK, but the back bar is positively gloomy with no natural light. Punters here also enjoy regular earthquake effect as trains pass directly overhead. But there are usually 6 real ales on offer, and the Twickenham Original I had was excellent. It also has a decent pinball machine in proper working order, which is becoming something of an endangered species in London. Not the sort of place in which I would want to spend an evening, but OK for a couple of pints and a decent game of pinball. Gets a 7 from me for the excellent ales on offer plus the pinball.