The Wellington, Waterloo, SE1

Noisy crowded and not at all nice. Once you have reached Waterloo station though there aren't that many options.

This seems to be a Marston’s pub now, judging by the external signage. I saw Brakspear’s Bitter and Pedigree (at £3.40 a pint) on that I noted, although there may have been on or two other ales on further down the bar counter. It’s a long bar counter and you really need to walk the length of it to be sure of what they have on. This is now a typical railway terminus pub, and seems to have become more downmarket from the pub I knew 10 or so years ago. They do food all day, at the usual sort of pubco prices – e.g. the steak and ale pie was about £8. A warning for ale drinkers – this is one of the few London pubs where they use sparklers, making the task of getting a full pint something of a challenge. Some loud pop music was being played which, for me, didn’t help the pub’s ambience one jot. This place serves its purpose as a convenient terminus pub for those travelling from Waterloo, but I really don’t find it a very easy place in which to relax. The only thing I do like about it though is the vaulted ceiling in the central part of the room with its mural of the Battle of Waterloo. It’s very appropriate, but doesn’t really make up for the pub’s other shortcomings.

Convenient for Waterloo Station, the Wellington is a large, barn-like pub with modern (plastic) fittings, indifferent staff and average food. The clientele was mixed but mainly tourists. The atmosphere was remiscent of a motorway service station, partly because of the decor and partly the loud, bright tv screens. All that aside, the beer was OK - 3 ales on, I had Jennings's The World's Biggest Liar which was well kept, but just a little too sweet for my taste and kept just a bit too cold. Not somewhere I'd want to spend a whole eveing, especially with so many better pubs nearby, but OK to drop in for a pint in passing.

Didn't come with a particularly good rep, but I was quite pleased by the place. It’s a large noisy bar (due to the high-ceiling) with three beers on (Youngs Ordinary, Marstons Pedigree and Adnams Broadside) which were fine. Very busy and a pretty raucous atmosphere with 70% of the pub watching the boxing. It's no world-beater, but I'll pop in again if I'm waiting for a train.

Big Marstons pub opposite Waterloo station. Like most boozers in the vicinity, gets very busy with a mixture of the office crowd and students/others before and after train journeys. As a result has something of a transient, anaemic atmosphere to it; This is hardly a pub you could call your local (in comparison, say, to the Kings Arms around the corner). Fought to get a seat at 5:45 only to be told a University Lacrosse Social had booked it from 6:15 and we'd have to vacate. Although this was irritating at first it actually proved a convenient excuse to move on as the beer (Brakspears) was in pretty poor condition. I'd be willing to give this place another shot but its not one I could imagine spending any great length of time in.

Randomness Guide to London - Wellington entry

Randomness Guide to London - Wellington entry

Large pub with beers from Marstons range and Brakspears. Can get very busy and noisy - popular with young.

This is the sort of place I wouldn't mind going if I fancied a quick pint before jumping on the train, but I wouldn't want to stay all evening. The staff were not the friendliest bunch and the pub lacked some atmosphere, which maybe due to its size. They show Sky Sports and Setanta on the many plasma screens dotted around the pub so maybe it is better when a match is on. During my visit Burton Bitter, Old Empire, Pedigree, Oxford Gold and Brakspear were all available. There was also a large selection of standard lagers along with Hoegarden and Staropramen. The Oxford Gold was on good form. Unsurprisingly there is a Napoleonic theme running through the pub with a large mural on the arched ceiling at the rear of the pub which is worth a quick look. As I said before, ok for a quick pint or two.