Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Waterloo, London, United Kingdom

The Wellington - If you're really stuck for a place to go... by rich42uk

rich42uk — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:55:18 +0000

Review by rich42uk

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7928 6083

Website: http://www.wizardinns.co.uk

Tags: food, sport pub, standard pub food

...then that would possibly be the main reason to head here. Whilst not an awful place to visit for a pint, there are a couple of factors that keep it from reaching the giddying heights of other nearby drinking holes such as The Windmill or even The Camel & Artichoke on Lower March.

The main one is that it's on a busy main road and is more or less the first place you see when emerging out of the Undergound street entrance to Waterloo. With that in mind, it gets uncomfortably busy and is filled with all manner of bad-tempered suits grabbing a quick one before heading home so at times it is standing-room only.

The drinks on choice are bog-standard and the wine list somewhat limited. Food seems to be quite middle of the road cook-chill stuff whilst again, not bad, is a bit unremarkable.

On the bright side though, it does have quite a nice layout with a good mixture of comfy tables, seats and bar tables (when you can get them). Bar staff are efficient if a little icy at times and the live sports can be a bit oppressive.

Whilst there's much to detract from, there's a lot that could be improved quite easily given a bit of effort. The question is whether you can be bothered with that when there are other, better, places within a short distance?...then that would possibly be the main reason to head here. Whilst not an awful place to visit for a pint, there are a couple of factors that keep it from reaching the giddying heights of other nearby drinking holes such as The Windmill or even The Camel & Artichoke on Lower March.

The main one is that it's on a busy main road and is more or less the first place you see when emerging out of the Undergound street entrance to Waterloo. With that in mind, it gets uncomfortably busy and is filled with all manner of bad-tempered suits grabbing a quick one before heading home so at times it is standing-room only.

The drinks on choice are bog-standard and the wine list somewhat limited. Food seems to be quite middle of the road cook-chill stuff whilst again, not bad, is a bit unremarkable.

On the bright side though, it does have quite a nice layout with a good mixture of comfy tables, seats and bar tables (when you can get them). Bar staff are efficient if a little icy at times and the live sports can be a bit oppressive.

Whilst there's much to detract from, there's a lot that could be improved quite easily given a bit of effort. The question is whether you can be bothered with that when there are other, better, places within a short distance?

Windmill Tavern - Best pub in Waterloo? by rich42uk

rich42uk — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:29:06 +0000

Review by rich42uk

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7207 3984

Tags: posh, food, relaxed

The Windmill is certainly a hot contender for best boozer in this part of town.

Whilst sometimes very busy, it's never manic and the long-standing though somewhat po-faced bar staff always do a good job of making sure the punters are served in a speedy, fair and orderly manner.

The proximity to so many artsy places (The Old Vic, Young Vic, National Theatre & LWT to name but a couple) means that it's a good place to go after-hours celeb spotting. Legend has it that the portraits on the wall are all of famous folks who've drank in the Windmill in years past though whether that's true or not is another matter!

Beers are bog-standard and after 6pm there's Thai bar food available which, whilst a little bit incongruous, is very good.The Windmill is certainly a hot contender for best boozer in this part of town.

Whilst sometimes very busy, it's never manic and the long-standing though somewhat po-faced bar staff always do a good job of making sure the punters are served in a speedy, fair and orderly manner.

The proximity to so many artsy places (The Old Vic, Young Vic, National Theatre & LWT to name but a couple) means that it's a good place to go after-hours celeb spotting. Legend has it that the portraits on the wall are all of famous folks who've drank in the Windmill in years past though whether that's true or not is another matter!

Beers are bog-standard and after 6pm there's Thai bar food available which, whilst a little bit incongruous, is very good.

The Anchor & Hope - Great, but why no bookings? by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:49:58 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7633 9144

Tags: good value, gastro pub, crowded

The Anchor and Hope has a lot of good things going for it, but the seating arrangements aren't one of them. There's a no booking policy, so the best places are dealt out on a first-come first-served basis. This means that if you are a couple there's a very good chance that after one of the two (!) tables for two are taken you will be sat antisocially close to good number of complete strangers on a large table by the kitchen while the waiting staff and diners on their way to the toilets periodically elbow you in the back of the head. This is the second time this year I've tried to eat at the Anchor & Hope; last time we could only stand the physical assault for five minutes - just long enough to try the bread and butter - then gave up and scurried off into the night. Still, free bread, can't complain.

This time, things went a great deal better. We had a nice quiet table for two in the corner, the back of our heads remained mercifully elbow-free throughout the evening, and most importantly we felt comfortable enough to stay long enough to sample the food, which turned out to be very good indeed. Just look at this menu:

Snails, tripe, quince, pheasant, partridge, hazelnuts, chestnuts and beetroot. It's a foodie's wet dream of perfectly pitched seasonal dishes, the odd eyebrow-raising unusual ingredient and heartwarming wintery goodness. It's the kind of food that wraps you up in a nice blanket in front of the fire when it's snowy outside. I wanted to try literally everything on this menu, and by the end of the evening it almost felt like I had, but in the end plumped for the pot-roast partridge with cabbage, bacon and chestnuts.

Truth be told the meat on the partridge was a little dry, but the surrounding broth was comforting, and the flavour of the caramelised onions and bacon strong and satisfying. With plenty of stock to smother the partridge meat this plate of food disappeared very quickly. The kind of thing I could eat every day as it felt incredibly hearty and healthy as well as tasty, partridge meat being pretty lean. This could not be said of a companion's lamb and beans dish, which was thick with cream but just as tasty.

Next I ordered the buttermilk pudding, which turned out to be an Anglicised panacotta with an accompaniment of sweet oranges, heady with alcohol. There were quite a few pips in the orange which I suppose would put some people off but I thought it added to the rustic charm of the dish. The buttermilk itself was just right - fluffy and not too sweet. However although tasty a companion's "Flourless chocolate cake" was incredibly dense and it was a bit of a struggle to get through it. Perhaps it was missing an ingredient... something that would lighten it a bit... oh yes, flour.

I know from experience we were lucky to get a comfortable corner table, and a majority of diners here will have to put up with a rather less than perfect environment to eat their food. But if this is the business model at the Anchor and Hope then good luck to them - it's clearly a very successful one, and goes to show that for many Londoners the environment comes secondary to the food. And quite right too.The Anchor and Hope has a lot of good things going for it, but the seating arrangements aren't one of them. There's a no booking policy, so the best places are dealt out on a first-come first-served basis. This means that if you are a couple there's a very good chance that after one of the two (!) tables for two are taken you will be sat antisocially close to good number of complete strangers on a large table by the kitchen while the waiting staff and diners on their way to the toilets periodically elbow you in the back of the head. This is the second time this year I've tried to eat at the Anchor & Hope; last time we could only stand the physical assault for five minutes - just long enough to try the bread and butter - then gave up and scurried off into the night. Still, free bread, can't complain.

This time, things went a great deal better. We had a nice quiet table for two in the corner, the back of our heads remained mercifully elbow-free throughout the evening, and most importantly we felt comfortable enough to stay long enough to sample the food, which turned out to be very good indeed. Just look at this menu:

Snails, tripe, quince, pheasant, partridge, hazelnuts, chestnuts and beetroot. It's a foodie's wet dream of perfectly pitched seasonal dishes, the odd eyebrow-raising unusual ingredient and heartwarming wintery goodness. It's the kind of food that wraps you up in a nice blanket in front of the fire when it's snowy outside. I wanted to try literally everything on this menu, and by the end of the evening it almost felt like I had, but in the end plumped for the pot-roast partridge with cabbage, bacon and chestnuts.

Truth be told the meat on the partridge was a little dry, but the surrounding broth was comforting, and the flavour of the caramelised onions and bacon strong and satisfying. With plenty of stock to smother the partridge meat this plate of food disappeared very quickly. The kind of thing I could eat every day as it felt incredibly hearty and healthy as well as tasty, partridge meat being pretty lean. This could not be said of a companion's lamb and beans dish, which was thick with cream but just as tasty.

Next I ordered the buttermilk pudding, which turned out to be an Anglicised panacotta with an accompaniment of sweet oranges, heady with alcohol. There were quite a few pips in the orange which I suppose would put some people off but I thought it added to the rustic charm of the dish. The buttermilk itself was just right - fluffy and not too sweet. However although tasty a companion's "Flourless chocolate cake" was incredibly dense and it was a bit of a struggle to get through it. Perhaps it was missing an ingredient... something that would lighten it a bit... oh yes, flour.

I know from experience we were lucky to get a comfortable corner table, and a majority of diners here will have to put up with a rather less than perfect environment to eat their food. But if this is the business model at the Anchor and Hope then good luck to them - it's clearly a very successful one, and goes to show that for many Londoners the environment comes secondary to the food. And quite right too.

Camel & Artichoke - Nice friendly space by sizemore

sizemore — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:30:07 +0000

Review by sizemore

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7633 0270

Tags: food, events, pub

Lower Marsh is tucked away near Waterloo and full of interesting places that never seem to be open when I'm passing. Although I'd walked past this pub many time I'd never been in - so perhaps its old name, The Elusive Camel' was appropriate. It's now under new management and I got the chance to pop along as part of a London Bloggers Meetup group.

There's a nice size bar downstairs and then extra seating available upstairs. With events such as the one this evening the first floor is either half or fully booked depending on the expected numbers. So basically if you can get together 20 or 40 people you can have a large slice of the pub all to yourselves and with no silly booking fee.

The atmosphere downstairs in the regular bar seemed really nice and the staff were certainly helpful. After a quick chat while ordering drinks, myself and a friend were invited to look at the newly renovated beer garden. A little while back it was overgrown and not used, but now they've created a great little space for another 20 to 40 people to hang out once the weather improves. The barbecue is an added bonus. Expect this place to be packed in the summer.

Pretty standard selection of beer, but a nice little place that I'll be going to again. Lower Marsh is tucked away near Waterloo and full of interesting places that never seem to be open when I'm passing. Although I'd walked past this pub many time I'd never been in - so perhaps its old name, The Elusive Camel' was appropriate. It's now under new management and I got the chance to pop along as part of a London Bloggers Meetup group.

There's a nice size bar downstairs and then extra seating available upstairs. With events such as the one this evening the first floor is either half or fully booked depending on the expected numbers. So basically if you can get together 20 or 40 people you can have a large slice of the pub all to yourselves and with no silly booking fee.

The atmosphere downstairs in the regular bar seemed really nice and the staff were certainly helpful. After a quick chat while ordering drinks, myself and a friend were invited to look at the newly renovated beer garden. A little while back it was overgrown and not used, but now they've created a great little space for another 20 to 40 people to hang out once the weather improves. The barbecue is an added bonus. Expect this place to be packed in the summer.

Pretty standard selection of beer, but a nice little place that I'll be going to again.

The Kings Arms - Always a Great Atmosphere and Great Food by Liss

Liss — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:17:56 +0000

Review by Liss

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7207 0784

Tags: food, dj, friendly

I have been to the Kings Arms a number of times now and keep going back - it is so easy to get to, only a few minutes from waterloo station

They serve great value tasty Thai dishes. It is always busy so you may find yourself waiting a few minutes at the bar or for a table if you are eating but it is always well worth the wait.I have been to the Kings Arms a number of times now and keep going back - it is so easy to get to, only a few minutes from waterloo station

They serve great value tasty Thai dishes. It is always busy so you may find yourself waiting a few minutes at the bar or for a table if you are eating but it is always well worth the wait.

Horse - Good looking pub ruined by incompetent bar staff by janie_lou

janie_lou — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:26:35 +0000

Review by janie_lou

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7928 6277

Tags: food, pool tables, modern pub

Apologies in advance - I'm not sure whether this counts as a review or a rant!

I visited the Horse for after-work drinks on a Friday. I thought it looked alright - high ceilings, nice wallpaper, neutral tones, mixed seating.

I was told by two of my friends that they'd got down there when it was pretty much empty and had had a pint of Guinness. They finished that and approached the bar for another. The girl was already pouring a pint of the black stuff. Great service, they thought. She then stood to one side and started drinking it. She looked at them, standing at an empty bar with their empty glasses, but said nothing. Strike one.

By the time I arrived it was a bit busier but not rammed by any means. We waited a while to get served, and I asked this same girl for small white wine spritzer using soda in a long glass. I got it in a large wine glass, but couldn't be bothered splitting hairs. It didn't taste too wine-heavy as it turned out, I figured it was a very tame house white number! The next time I clearly said "in a long glass" and watched what she was doing. She took a half pint tumbler, filled it half with ice, took a pre-filled 250ml glass of wine and slopped what looked to me like about a quarter of it into this tumbler, which then needed to be topped up with soda from the middle.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw this. When she put it in front of me I asked her whether it had a full 175ml measure in it, to which she replied with a torrent of absolute twaddle! The highlight was: "In the clubs you get cocktails and they do free-pour, a spritzer is like a cocktail so we do free-pour, see?" I told her that this was not a club it was a pub and she was legally obliged to give me the 175ml measure which I had paid for. Spritzers are not sold as cocktails. (If they'd thought about that they would've charged me a hell of a lot more than £2.60 for it!)

She saw I wasn't budging from the bar and got the manager. She asked me what the problem was with my drink and started up with similar excuses to the barmaid but with the added extra of prodding my hand which was on the bar. Twice I told her to stop touching me, and explained that I knew the legality of the situation but she just wouldn't listen. Eventually my friend boomed out "Look, she wasn't given the full measure!". She tipped away the drink and poured me a new one right in front of me. Not other word, and certainly not an apology.

I'm sure this place is fine if you want after-work beers (I would be evil if I didn't admit that their potato wedges were divine!) but for christ's sake keep a stern eye on their measures. Apologies in advance - I'm not sure whether this counts as a review or a rant!

I visited the Horse for after-work drinks on a Friday. I thought it looked alright - high ceilings, nice wallpaper, neutral tones, mixed seating.

I was told by two of my friends that they'd got down there when it was pretty much empty and had had a pint of Guinness. They finished that and approached the bar for another. The girl was already pouring a pint of the black stuff. Great service, they thought. She then stood to one side and started drinking it. She looked at them, standing at an empty bar with their empty glasses, but said nothing. Strike one.

By the time I arrived it was a bit busier but not rammed by any means. We waited a while to get served, and I asked this same girl for small white wine spritzer using soda in a long glass. I got it in a large wine glass, but couldn't be bothered splitting hairs. It didn't taste too wine-heavy as it turned out, I figured it was a very tame house white number! The next time I clearly said "in a long glass" and watched what she was doing. She took a half pint tumbler, filled it half with ice, took a pre-filled 250ml glass of wine and slopped what looked to me like about a quarter of it into this tumbler, which then needed to be topped up with soda from the middle.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw this. When she put it in front of me I asked her whether it had a full 175ml measure in it, to which she replied with a torrent of absolute twaddle! The highlight was: "In the clubs you get cocktails and they do free-pour, a spritzer is like a cocktail so we do free-pour, see?" I told her that this was not a club it was a pub and she was legally obliged to give me the 175ml measure which I had paid for. Spritzers are not sold as cocktails. (If they'd thought about that they would've charged me a hell of a lot more than £2.60 for it!)

She saw I wasn't budging from the bar and got the manager. She asked me what the problem was with my drink and started up with similar excuses to the barmaid but with the added extra of prodding my hand which was on the bar. Twice I told her to stop touching me, and explained that I knew the legality of the situation but she just wouldn't listen. Eventually my friend boomed out "Look, she wasn't given the full measure!". She tipped away the drink and poured me a new one right in front of me. Not other word, and certainly not an apology.

I'm sure this place is fine if you want after-work beers (I would be evil if I didn't admit that their potato wedges were divine!) but for christ's sake keep a stern eye on their measures.

The White Hart - Groovey '60s Pub by MartinKemp

MartinKemp — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:55:11 +0000

Review by MartinKemp

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7401 7151

Tags: cozy, european, food

Having only lived in London for a couple of months, it constantly amazes me the number of great places that are literally right on your doorstep. This is essentially my local, although i don't go as often as i should.

This pub is great - it's busy, it has a great crowd, brilliant design and excellent food and drink. It's a perfect london pub - not owned by a chain and not populated by derelict no-hopers.

There's a great selection of drinks - not only do they do strawberry beer on tap (Fruli?), they also do a special collection of Gins (including Hendrick's - the world's best!)

The bar staff are friendly and pretty, and the food looks amazing (although I've never eaten there).

Special things to point out are the great high-backed leather chairs and the lovely dark lighting. Really nice for a relaxing beverage with some friends.

Highly recommended if you find yourself near waterloo and looking for a drink.Having only lived in London for a couple of months, it constantly amazes me the number of great places that are literally right on your doorstep. This is essentially my local, although i don't go as often as i should.

This pub is great - it's busy, it has a great crowd, brilliant design and excellent food and drink. It's a perfect london pub - not owned by a chain and not populated by derelict no-hopers.

There's a great selection of drinks - not only do they do strawberry beer on tap (Fruli?), they also do a special collection of Gins (including Hendrick's - the world's best!)

The bar staff are friendly and pretty, and the food looks amazing (although I've never eaten there).

Special things to point out are the great high-backed leather chairs and the lovely dark lighting. Really nice for a relaxing beverage with some friends.

Highly recommended if you find yourself near waterloo and looking for a drink.

The Walrus Social - by keif

keif — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:47:39 +0000

Review by keif

Rating: 3.00

Tags: pub, bar food, waterloo

It's not bad... can be a bit smokey now I've quit, but roll on june =)It's not bad... can be a bit smokey now I've quit, but roll on june =)