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Detail Pages
Ladywell Tavern, Ladywell, SE13
SE13
SE13 7HS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about Ladywell Tavern
Just a short walk from Ladywell station, this is a characterful, good-sized pub with a slightly gentrified feel. The pub occupies a single rectangular room with scuffed floorboards and rough bare brick walls. The servery is centrally positioned and has a green tongue and groove panelled counter front with a chunky wooden top and an unusual, corrugated iron bar back which is quite striking on first sight. An old gramophone stands at one end of the bar back and there are lots of colourful plants in pots along the counter, which brighten the space up nicely. Most customers were sat along the right-hand side of the room, where button backed armchairs and banquettes provide some comfortable seating options. Practical tables and chairs can be found to the rear, underneath some ugly modern wallpaper, whilst to the left, plush sofas and stools fill the space by the front windows before tables and chairs appear further back, although these appeared to be mainly set for diners and were accordingly unused on my Friday evening visit. There are some nice leaded windows to the front with stained glass bands and the fireplace on the left-hand wall sported a huge hood, making it quite a distinctive feature. The walls have been decorated with plenty of contemporary art and a door to the rear leads out to an Astro turf covered garden with some kids toys in a hidden corner and plenty of picnic benches. A few seats are available out on the front pavement too, along the main road, which should make for some good people watching.
There were three handpulls in operation when I arrived, dispensing Morland Old Golden Hen, Taylors Landlord and Purity Mad Goose, whilst the keg lines offered a few interesting beers, mainly from London-based microbreweries. I found the service to be quite friendly, but painfully slow, and my pint of the Mad Goose was in decent enough condition.
I quite liked this pub and thought it had the feel of a contemporary community local’s pub, attracting a mixed crowd thanks to the pleasant, welcoming environment they’ve created here. The beer seemed to be in decent shape and the garden looked like it would be a good spot for warmer months, so there’s enough here to merit repeat visits, especially given the dearth of options nearby.
Date of visit – 28th July 2023
On 28th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Ladywell Tavern
The ales on here were Timothy Taylor Landlord, Hopback Summer Lightning, and Skinner’s Cornish Knocker (£4.10 a pint). There were single-sheet menus on most of the tables, with the food having a big US influence, with burgers and “dogs” being the main staples.
It doesn’t look as if this pub has changed much since previous revewers’ visits. Like so many pubs this one has been completely opened up into one room, with a central horseshoe bar. There’s nothing original inside, but some of the windows still had their green banded glazing, intimating that it was once a Charrington’s pub. I reckon they’ve gone for the American diner look, with some bright steel pedestal tables and brewery adverts on the bar counter front, including one for the Kona Brewing Co, Hawaii. On the left are a couple of sofas in front of the large brick built fireplace (helpfully with the word HOT on the chimney breast) but also banquettes and some normal tables and chairs. There’s a mixed bag of décor – a framed photo of Sean Connery as 007, some unintellible arty prints, as well as several musical instruments. I saw quiz nights and live music advertised.
It’s all a bit brash, but a comfortable enough place nonetheless and handy for a swift one (even if £4.10 a pint is a tad expensive – in my opinion) before catching a train from Ladywell station a few yards down the road.
On 16th July 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Ladywell Tavern
I quite liked this place - yes, it has a somewhat 'straight from the gastro-pub design manual' look, but the staff were friendly and efficient. The atmosphere in the 'J'-shaped bar was also much more relaxed than many pubs in the Lewisham area. Three beers available on handpump - Otter Bitter, Harveys and Ringwood Fortyniner (£3.40, and served in the right glass).
On 19th February 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ladywell Tavern
This is one of those pubs that seems to be trying to be different or trendy, shabby kind of chic, black painted wooden floor, the walls and bar front are painted a kind of olive green. The bar back has old 12" album covers above on a shelf. They also do that thing I've noticed of late where each table has completely unmatching chairs however there are no dreadful high tables or similar.
Having said that, it has its plus points. Good beer being the first, two on, unusually for the area both not often found, Brakspears Oxford Gold and Woodforde Wherry. The Wherry was excellent, even if it was £3:30, it was however served in a branded glass, .
The bar is central and the room wraps around it, but there is a feel of different areas, especially to the left as the bar doesn't continue round this side. This area has an exposed brick fireplace, and a couple of Chesterfield sofas either side. A large choice of board games are available here plus a shelf of books.
The main area opposite the bar contains an old HMV style gramophone with a horn, a chrome finished American style juke box and an upright piano.
The front windows have narrow green stained glass inserts with amber corner sections, possibly a former Charrington's house I'm guessing.
They advertise art exhibitions here, and there were a few pretty decent looking modern examples on display.
For the fresh air types or smokers, there is a small paved and walled courtyard to the rear.
I'm not usually too fond of these modernised faux chic type of places but I didn't mind it here maybe because it seemed a half way between traditional and messed around and plus the beer was decent and service good and friendly. Near Ladywell Station, and worthy of a look in.
On 31st July 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]