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Disappointment of the week with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Sunday, 30th April 2023
With picture contributions to 4577 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Wellington, Waterloo, SE1
SE1
SE1 8UD
Reviews of The Wellington (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Wellington
Just a short distance away from the Waterloo station concourse, it remains a better option than the station pubs whilst sharing the transient feel. Features a two-part bar plus another lounge area to one side. Most distinctive features are the high painted ceiling and plaster busts in a niche above the smaller, central counter. Several TVs showing sport. Also offers accommodation. As a Fuller's pub, I found Pride, Seafarers, ESB and Dark Star's Skylab (£6.10) available from the two banks of handpumps on this revisit.
On 10th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8092 recommendations about 8092 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Wellington
This dates from 1851 but was rebuilt as this barnlike structure around 1918. It’s a Fuller’s pub, but with a huge fake ‘baronial’ interior, dominated by a high, vaulted ceiling with a trompe l’oeil (ok, mural) depiction of the Battle of Waterloo, which took place on the site of the railway station, opposite; there’s a large framed portrait of Arthur Wellesley or ‘Duke’, as he was affectionately known, the winning team’s captain; the pub is named after the pair of wellies above the bar, which Duke invented.
It’s very noisy in here, with customers comprising mainly commuters. Multiple games’ machines here are thankfully a rarity in Fuller’s pubs, likewise the multiple TVs showing a variety of channels; lounge furniture is mixed, like the customers, but unlike the customers, isn’t transient.
There were the usual Fuller’s beers, though thankfully Hophead at £2.80, which is steep for the area.
I agree with Moby, in that this is like an upmarket ‘spoons, but without the beer or the prices; in a word: awful – who would want to drink here with the fine Kings Arms round the back?
On 24th January 2022
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Wellington
This is a very large Fullers pub located roughly halfway between Waterloo and Waterloo East stations. The pub consists of two large, spacious open plan rooms, connected by a wide walkway. The right hand room is a fairly straightforward public bar, with bare floorboards, high panelled walls and the servery along the back wall. The bar has a nice counter boasting some intricate carving and a gold framed, mirrored bar back. A mix of high stools and chairs, banquettes and armchairs serve a variety of different sized tables on a lower level seating area to the far right. Several TV screens were showing muted coverage of a golf tournament and I spotted a few arcade machines around the room, including a golfing game – not sure if there are a lot of golfers drinking in here?! To one side of the bar is a large mural of the Duke of Wellington and above is a pleasant stained glass ceiling feature. Elsewhere, old pictures and plain mirrors dot the walls and there was a replica canon on top of the entrance porch. Over in the left hand room, you find a much grander room which is far more impressive and a big improvement on the plainer public bar. The room has a tiled floor and some lovely wood panelling on the walls including some sections near the entrance with finely worked carved decorations. Through the centre of the room, there is a high vaulted ceiling which depicts Wellington and his troops at one end of the arch, behind the bar, and Napoleon’s forces at the other end, near the front door. It’s an impressive centrepiece for the room and I kept finding my eye’s gaze drawn upwards to it. Tub chairs, sofas and some odd mid-height chairs predominate, with standard seating along the left hand wall where a nice fireplace can also be found. The servery runs along the back wall and has a nice traditional counter and bare brick bar back, with a large brickwork arch as the focal point. There are lots of TV screens in this room too, this time showing a muted football show and, unlike the right hand room, there was no music playing in the background.
It’s a Fullers pub, so you kind of know what to expect on the bar. There were four ales available – London Pride, ESB, Seafarers and Red Fox – with the latter costing £4.75 for a pint and being in pretty good shape. The staff here seemed very friendly, which isn’t something you can take for granted with pubs in this sort of Central London location, and there was a busy post-work crowd in, many of whom has spilled out onto the pavements outside.
I liked this place, which despite feeling a bit scruffy and neglected in places, still boasts a fine main room with some impressive features. Its location close to two busy train stations makes it ideal for a quick half before setting off on your journey and I’m sure I’ll be stopping off here again sometime soon.
On 11th January 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
View more reviews of The Wellington (19)
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- Official site of The Wellington - www.wellingtonhotelwaterloo.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Wellington entry
- Facebook - The Wellington Hotel
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Wellington - whatpub.com
London Charing Cross, 0.77 miles, 14 min walk (show)
London Blackfriars, 1.99 miles, 38 min walk (show)
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 : Yes last updated 22 September 2013 by Will Larter
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 10 November 2021 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Car Park : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 30 September 2013 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : No - Guide dogs only. - last updated 10 November 2021 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 22 September 2013 by Will Larter
- Jukebox : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : No last updated 10 November 2021 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 22 September 2013 by Will Larter
- Micropub : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : No last updated 10 November 2021 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 12 February 2013 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 11 January 2019 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 22 November 2013 by hondo .
