Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with sheffield hatter
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by john mcgraw
Submitted on Tuesday, 20th January 2009
With picture contributions to 21062 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (4 more images)
Detail Pages
The Jolly Farmers, Ladywell, SE13
SE13
SE13 6LE
Served areas
Reviews of The Jolly Farmers (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Jolly Farmers
Located to the South of Lewisham town centre, this is a basic local’s boozer set in a deep but narrow premises that’s reminiscent of a shop conversion. The pub has a bare boarded interior with low wood panels on the walls beneath plain upper sections. The servery is sited midway down the left-hand wall and has an angular tongue and groove panelled counter, a bare brick bar back and some attractive, small, coloured glass lamps hung above it. Fixed bench seating with very old-fashioned upholstery skirts the perimeter of the room with lots of low stools in support, including under the front windows, which bear the pub’s name. The benches are broken up by a series of partitioning screens, each with brightly coloured stained glass or frosted panes, and these are surprisingly effective in breaking up the space. High shelves run around the room and have been used to assemble displays for random bits including earthenware pots, a retro bread bin and various boxes for old, long forgotten products. The walls have been decorated with breweriana, some modern posters and a few old photos, and I noticed a dartboard on the side wall near the entrance. A few slot machines blinked away to the rear of the room and there was a TV screen showing muted rolling news whilst a load of weird jazzy dance tunes played in the background.
A promising row of four handpulls failed to deliver any ale, as they were all unclipped, leaving a couple of Beavertown beers on keg as the most interesting draught options. I took a pint of the Neck Oil for £5.10, which was served to me by a friendly barmaid and drank well enough considering I’m not a big fan of this beer. Locals came and went throughout my visit, and I got the impression that this was a bit of a down to earth working man’s pub.
I wasn’t really expecting too much from this place and was a bit disappointed to find there were no cask ales available, but I still enjoyed my time here regardless. I found it to be an unpretentious, welcoming boozer with a nicely presented interior cheery service and comfortable seating. It certainly won’t appeal to everyone, but I like spending time in pubs like this and hope it continues to survive and serve its regulars well.
Date of visit – 28th July 2023
On 28th December 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Jolly Farmers
This pub had on Doom Bar, Courage Best (£3 a pint), and Brockley Brewery Golden (£1.75 a half). I obviously went for the latter, which was in good nick. There was no sign of any food when I was in on Friday afternoon.
This is a fairly small no-nonsence locals’ pub. It has a classic “brewer’s rustic” interior, with faux wood beams on the ceilings and walls, plus rough plastered walls. Furnishings are entirely normal tables and chairs, with a bit of banquette seating and small round metal framed tables. The bar counter is on the left hand side as you enter, with a bit of seating in front of it near the windows, and stretching back beyond the counter. It’s actually a bit bigger than it looks from the outside. I did spot a nice distiller’s mirror on the wall, but otherwise the wall décor seemed to consist of advertisements for forthcoming sporting events and World Cup related stuff, as well as drink products. A TV was showing the cricket – but muted, with some pop music playing. The best feature for me is the several leaded light glazed panels around the place. There were old tins, sewing machines, and similar bric a brac on shelves on the upper part of the walls.
Clearly someone has made an effort to make this place as attractive as possible. But nevertheless it remains a basic locals’ pub, and there’s most definitely nothing wrong with that. Three ales on, with one from a local microbrewery is also a big plus.
On 15th July 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Jolly Farmers
The Jolly Farmers has for a long enjoyed the reputation of being one of the better Lewisham pubs and one of the few outlets for a selection of Real Ales in the area. After a much maligned period when it changed its name to the Jordan, it has now reverted back to its traditional name and had a few minor alterations but nothing to detract from its character.
Within the slightly protruding frontage with its patterned windows and floral baskets lies a long narrow interior right through to the “bowling alley” of a rear patio. The general feel is of a cosy but quite basic pub with bare floors, sturdy furnishings and various underplayed items of bric-a-brac and textured walls livened up by a series of farm themed murals. At the front end of the bar is a darts area and at the rear a flat screen and juke box.
Sadly the pub doesn’t enjoy the same reputation for its ales as it did a few years ago and my recent brace of visits have found just 3 of the pumps operational, Doom Bar and Pride seemingly the house beers with a guest, Castle Rock Harvest Pale on my most recent trip. Service was exceptionally friendly and beer quality is generally good but I did have a recent cause to doubt the consistency but this was hopefully a one off and I have never had any issues before or since.
The pub now has competition from the Wetherspoons, the Ladywell tavern and the revamped Ravensbourne Arms opposite and this is certainly reflected by the fact that there were barely half a dozen people present on a Saturday evening. It is certainly woth putting your nose round the door if passing but really needs to up its game a bit if is to remain among the front runners in the area.
On 9th July 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
View more reviews of The Jolly Farmers (5)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Randomness Guide to London - Jolly Farmers entry
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Jolly Farmers - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 09 July 2012 by Moby Duck
- Car Park : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : Yes last updated 09 July 2012 by Moby Duck
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 09 July 2012 by Moby Duck
- Karaoke : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : Yes last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 12 December 2023 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : No last updated 09 December 2022 by Rex Rattus
- Real Cider : No last updated 28 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
