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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Fire Station, Waterloo, SE1
SE1
SE1 8SB
Pub Type
Traditional Food (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Fire Station
There was just the one real ale on during my Monday afternoon visit - Ringwood's XXXX Porter (£5.40 a pint) which was a meaty 4.7% beer. Pretty good it was too. They obviously major on food, but I didn't see a menu.
There are two separate areas, at the back and on the right that are reservedt for diners, that are furnished with normal tables and chairs, whereas the relatively small area surrounding the bar counter at the front that is available for drinkers has only tall tables and chairs. A sign of the times I guess. There are two banks of handpumps, one on the front of the counter and another around to the right of it, but each only had one of the pumps clipped with the said Ringwood porter.
There's nothing special about the place as far as I could see, and although the old LCC Fire Brigade signage on the exterior has been retained, inside it looks as if it could be any shop conversion - although having said that I guess the the white tiled wall and steel girders were indicators of its previous use. Maybe at another time it might have more ales on, but the one it did have on was delicious. But I don't see me making bar this a regular haunt.
On 8th February 2022
- rating: 5
[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 The Fire Station
Interesting conversion of the old London County Council building, run by the Revere division of Marstons, but despite the high ceilings the decorative tiles reflect every shouty decibel meaning that it gets very loud when busy. It is also a pity that such a large area at the back is roped-off as an (expensive) dining room as this can leave the bar area at the front (and outside on the pavement) very crowded. Now has five handpumps - dispensing EVA, Hobgoblin Gold, Youngs London Gold, Sambrook's Wandle and Hackney APA (£4.50) - plus about 25 craft keg beers from taps on the bar-back.
On 30th March 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Fire Station
A former Edwardian fire station converted into a bar and restaurant, currently run by Marstons but allows guest beers. The contrast between the original wall and floor tiles and the modern gantries strung between and across the original steel I-beams gives it a steampunk feel in places, provided you look hard enough. It's noisy, busy, anarchic, but somehow it works. The food is mainly burgers and pizzas, so not worth writing home about but it's functional when that is what is needed. There is a bank of 26 keg beers and four handpumps dispensing Hobgoblin, Marston's EPA and Pedigree, Sambrook's Wandle and Hackney APA. Beer was well-kept but more expensive than necessary. The staff were pleasant, most of the clientele civilised if a little inclined to hipsterism. Good enough for a fast food lunch or a quick pint.
On 31st January 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3280 recommendations about 3245 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Fire Station
Located close to Waterloo station it does what it says on the tin. Former fire station with an interior as described below. Real ale and food served.
On 22nd November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Fire Station
The old London County Council Fire Station signage remains outside, as does the mainly glazed tiled interior and flagged floor. All hard surfaces therefore making for a very noisy interior. About 50% of the floor area is taken up by the rear dining area which has an open servery while the drinking area/bar are located towards the front. The bar is metal topped, there are exposed steel beams and columns, décor includes a few collages of flames. I didn't see the restaurant menu apart from a board declaring the pie of the day to be chicken and chorizo, bar snacks are listed on a column, beef dripping chips £4.25, crab cakes £5.95.
It was packed during my early evening Saturday visit with no chairs to be found, even outside to the front, so bar propping it was.
A reasonable beer selection, Brakspears Oxford Gold, Ringwood Best Bitter, Pedigree and Bank's Sunbeam. Another clip had Hobgoblin reversed.
For me, not a spot to feel comfortable in for a session but near to Waterloo, a decent option to the Hole in the Wall if you have time to kill and fancy a decent enough pint because you've missed a train.
On 19th September 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Johnstone left this review about The Fire Station
Handy for a late one but so noisy and crowded it isn't pleasant and not cheap either.
On 29th April 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 98 recommendations about 98 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Fire Station
We popped in here last Saturday and what an interesting conversion. The late licence (2.00 am) was welcome but what wasn't welcome was the service; this pub is heavily into cocktails which are slow to serve and despite there being six staff behind the bar it took an age to get my round - they seemed far more interested in washing up.
I'd go here again, but only for the late licence.
On 3rd April 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Fire Station
Absolutely packed on a friday evening after work, this place served a good pint of Ringwood and the bar staff coped I thought very well with the hoardes of thirsty punters. Attracts generally quite a young, trendy crowd (oh well - one out of two ain't bad) with prices to match but nevertheless you could do alot worse. An attractive option in the first instance because you can stumble out and get on the tube/train in less than 5 minutes.
On 17th October 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Fire Station
Any building that has been converted from a previous use into a pub has to be commended and this is a good conversion from its previous use. Located on Waterloo Road, and you can virtually fall into it from Waterloo Station.
It’s a large cavernous place with high ceilings. As mentioned below it’s more of a trendy bistro bar than a pub and was very busy and noisy on the Friday I visited.
It does benefit from a decent range of real ales but I’m a bit of an old codger and do prefer my pubs a bit more traditional..
On 16th May 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Fire Station
As name suggests, is in an old fire station, so lots of character, and handily placed for Waterloo station. Cross between pub and bistro, with restaurant at rear. Staff very helpful, although can get busy. Food good, if not cheap, and nice range of beers, mainly foreign but with a couple of reasonable ales.
On 1st March 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]