The Old Mill, Plumstead Common, SE18

A bit of an uphill slog from Plumstead stn in Sat's sunshine but this is a nice traditional pub, carpetted L-shaped bar, pool table at far end, defunct victorian fireplace, very nice beer garden with picnic sets around central grassed area, some below an open trellis with lighting. We may have been unlucky with timing coz the amicable guv had been on a late late one and hadn't quite got organised for the day, with beers running out, but the 7 pumps offered a scrumpy, Bombardier (went), Theakstons XB & Dark Mild, Manns St George (went), Youngs Best, Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted (already gone). Friendly community pub and one I would certainly try again.

The Old Mill is a nice looking pub that is next to Plumstead Commom and has what looks like an old defunct windmill behind it. Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the bar facing,there is comfy bench seating to the right with small stools,the other seating is normal tables and chairs,there is a pool table to the rear,the room is carpeted throughout. There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Old Mill Kentish Ale which went down well,the other beers were Roosters Yankee,Cottage Deltic Gold / Clifton Ale and Doom Bar. The pub was quite busy on my Saturday afternoon visit. I quite liked this pub. Pub visited 2/5/2015

Sometimes when you walk towards a pub it has the look of somewhere you just know won’t have anything worth drinking. You’re not often wrong, but I was on Saturday. On walking into The Old Mill I immediately spotted the blue baize covered pool table, the stepladder propped up against the bar counter, the black sack in the corner, and the table littered with Christmas decorations awaiting attention. But then I spotted the chalkboard on the wall advertising Brain’s Fir King Good; Crossbay Nightfall; Thwaite’s Good Elf; and Titanic Deck the Halls. They were all on as well, and enjoying an excellent pint of Deck the Halls any temporary untidiness was soon forgotten. Talking to the Manager, he told me that they would usually have six ales on, and that they have sufficient throughput to ensure that ales aren’t hanging around long enough to go off. This is, however, a pretty basic pub. There are a few tables, chairs, and stools, and that’s pretty much it. But it shows that you can’t always judge a book by looking at the cover. This one is definitely worth a visit as long as your priority is good beer and not sumptuous luxury.

Randomness Guide to London - Old Mill entry

Randomness Guide to London - Old Mill entry

The Old Mill stands out as one of the better pubs in an area where quality pubs are few and far between. Originally a corn mill, they have been serving beer here since 1848 and the original windmill (minus its sails) is still standing behind the pub. The first impressions are hardly inspiring. The visitor is greeted by peeling paint and rotting windows whilst the L shaped interior is quite plain and dull with a fairly modern brick fire at one end. What sets the Old Mill apart from the competition is the range of beers although on my last visit they were awaiting some new equipment and only 3 (of the usual 5) were available (Wadworths Horizon, Everard Beacon and Hydes Golden Find). The landlord is very welcoming and has steered the pub away from being a basic lager den to suit a more mature beer drinking customer base and has met with some success with regular beer festivals being well received. There is a pool table and a few fruit machines but no TV's and the Guvnor reliably informs me that there is an ongoing programme to tidy up the pub without compromising the pub's character. There are a few benches outside overlooking the common and the rear garden has an aviary and guinea pig enclosure making it quite a hit in summer. It is a bit of an effort to get to but there is enough potential to make a visit worthwhile and it will be interesting to see how the pub continues to develop.