please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Popped in for a couple of pints on Saturday afternoon on the way to football.
Busy with the usual locals, Lewisham style !
Quick service but only 2 bar staff on.
A decent selection of festival ales on, I had a few pints of Theakston’s Vanilla Stout @ 4.5 %.
Been several years since I’ve been in. Does the job.
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A decent JDW with 6 cask ales and a cask cider on my visit. Helpful and friendly staff. The Simcoe pale ale I tried was well kept. Not much other choice in the area.
alexw - 13 Jun 2016 22:07 |
Arrived about 1815h on a wet weekday. The pub was comfortable but not heaving, no bouncers (a plus), poster warning about handbag theft (a minus). We were quickly and pleasantly served. Thatchers' Gold was in good condition, gammon grills ditto - and good chips!
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Hello, first visit to this site in a while and I have to say that MrRight's post made me chuckle enormously - useless as a pub review but very funny. Poignant in parts.
My pipppp pipp is restoring
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My wife and I are renowned for our love of Indian food, and we have been dining at the Curry Garden in Lee since we began courting in the early 80’s. Neither of us has ever been tempted to indulge in other cuisines, as we feel that the bold flavours, impeccable service and tacit approval of heavy drinking found in Indian restaurants suits us perfectly.
It was watching my dear wife Susan luxuriate in the delights of a prawn puri (an esoteric menu item at the time) that convinced me that she was the woman I would spend the rest of my life with.
Saturday evening became synonymous with Korma, Madras, Sag aloo and Ghee. We even invested in traditional Indian costume so we could look the part when enjoying our meals. My wife managed to pick up a beautifully made sari and powder blue silk suit from a Sue Ryder on the outskirts of Southall.
Come rain or shine we would head towards the infamous Curry Garden after enjoying ITV’s peerless range of prime-time delights (I’m talking Strike it Rich, Gladiators, My Kind of People etc., not the tripe pumped out by Bolton’s Kaye/Considine axis of c***s).
Whilst our Saturday curry had never been easy on the wallet, we felt it was a luxury we could indulge due to the savings we made elsewhere in our day-to-day lives. Susan was a well-known ‘face’ on the jumble sale circuit, and our only son Graham was home-schooled in the loft conversion.
Unfortunately, we were not immune to the economic downturn, and I was made redundant from my job at a well-known telecommunications company. A not unreasonable pay out, supplemented by the state pension, meant that we should have been OK. Unfortunately, Susan embarked on a disastrous business venture that left us (and several other families) destitute.
I am currently working in a ‘snack hut’ based on the A14, selling burgers and Adderall to long-haul lorry drivers. Whilst I am still pulling in enough to feed and clothe my family, me and Susan have had to explore less costly ways of obtaining our weekly curry fix.
After briefly dabbling in the frozen dinner game, we discovered the Thursday Curry Club at the Watch House, a branch of Wetherspoons based on Lewisham High Street. Thank god we did.
I felt at home as soon as entered the Watch House. The walls are adorned with old photos of seemingly random branches of the Wetherspoons chain based elsewhere in the country. I would happily cover my own walls with such pictures, if Susan didn’t rule the décor of our home with such an iron fist.
Now, let’s talk about the grub. It is worth noting that the curry club menu does not contain prawn puri. When making our order my wife refused to acknowledge this shortfall and boldly ordered her puri anyway. At this point I could have intervened, however if 30 years of marriage has taught me anything, it is not to underestimate my wife’s temper. The chap behind the bar initially seemed nonplussed, and responded that they did not have the item on the menu. “Oh boy” I muttered to myself, this guy was in for it.
What happened next surprised me, rather than usual fireworks (my wife once poured a pot of boiling potatoes down my back because I taped over an episode of Kid’s Say the Funniest Things) Susan began to softly weep. Obviously the lack of prawn puri on the menu represented the numerous disappointments surrounding her life: enormous overdrafts, the simpleton son and a husband who simply can’t cut it in the sack.
Wetherspoons’ shift manager that evening could not have been a day over 22, yet he handled the situation with the calm authority of a man twice his age. “What’s the matter love?” he asked “I have nothing!” she responded, “not even a f**king prawn puri!” The shift manager looked at me and said “I’m sure we can sort something out, why don’t you take your seats and your food will be over shortly”.
The manager hand-delivered our order within 10 minutes, and low and behold the kitchen had managed to muster up a prawn puri for my dear Susan. Remarkably, she did not seem to realise that her meal was no more than a small portion of the prawn curry with a couple of breakfast pancakes thrown into the mix.
Before long, a breathless Susan was reclining with a familiar smile stretched across her face. Her plate had been cleared. I leant across the table, took her hands into mine and asked “Did you enjoy your meal love?” Susan remained silent for a moment, and then replied “Thank God for J.D. Wetherspoon”.
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When is a Whetherspoons not a Whetherspoons? Er, well never really, but at least you know what you’re going to get. I first walked into the Watch House at about 6:30 on a Friday and was greeted by your usual Whetherspoons collection of old blokes outside the front doors, the odd “Croydon Facelift” mum with bored kiddy in tow and your staple Lewisham group of “gangstaaas”, however everyone seemed friendly and non-offensive.
The only thing that can ever set one Whetherspoons apart from another is the friendliness of its staff. In fairness to the Watch House, me and my mate stood at the bar most of the evening and had a good craic with most of the barstaff. The service was kinda slow (but hey it’s a Whetherspoons) and the beer was pretty good (ditto) and the (reasonably) young staff seemed capable enough at dealing with any minor scuffles before they became a problem.
No Whetherspoons pub has any particular atmosphere or ambiance and the Watch Tower is no different, but I guess that’s the point. In a world where yuppies want to sit on their laptops and the “yoof” want to sit around with plugs in their ears, no one wants to take notice of the world around them or interact with other people, so your average Joe like me has to make do with talking to bar staff or the old blokes outside the front.
Still, met a nice old bloke called Max, and the bar staff will probably recognise me next time. Result!
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Crazy town centre 'spoons, every inn and anything is on in here.
Always a couple of decent and varied ales.
Good price mad mix of locals and shoppers.
Have used this place since it opened, can sometimes be a bit hit and miss.
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This isn't a pleasant pub. Daytime it is full of pram-face mothers with 6 kids in tow who run around the place causing havoc. Hard to get served although cheap.
The out front seating area is dirty and full of fag ash and phelgm on the floor. Very unpleasant.
Last time I went in there some poor sod got his nose broken in a fight.
Haven't been back, its a magnet for scum.
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Had a lot of consistantly good beer here this year. I'm guessing the interior is due for an overhaul though pretty soon.
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We used to come here all there all the time but stopped a couple of years ago as the ale became too awful. We dropped in last week and it's good to see the ale ale selection has improved. Nice to see local brewerys such as Westerhams and Weltons on, also a Hook Norton and Adnams Broadside.. Unfortunately for us the Broadside ran out as we were there, but were told it'd be back soon. Posters outside says this place is now in Camra Beer Guide - good enough for us; keep it going and we'll be back for the Adnams!
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Usual good 'Spoons selection of ales but unfortunatly this place is not one of the better of the chain. Not in the same league of awfulness as Woolwich, Lee or the Elephant but sticky tabled, DHSS-ed and generally gloomy. It could be so much better as the decor is a good example of old school Wetherspoons.
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Today tried Dark Star's Hophead - difficult to see how it could be better (though not impossible as they could have given me th e full pint I paid for ).
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Had one of the last halves of FFF�s Bitter End � it was significantly less than great.
FFF�s dased & confused � some flavour in it was a bit funky.
Westerhams Target � ditto yet was a fresh beer? I am now wondering about the beer lines from the cellar to bar � hope I�m wrong.
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One of the older Wetherspoons with individual seating booths. The beer range was Greene King Old Speckled Hen & Abbot Ale, Weltons Golden Balls, Inveralmond Thrappledouser, Westerham William Wilberforce Freedom Ale, Elgoods Black Dog, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Ruddles Best. For real cider drinkers, there was Westons Vintage Organic and Old Rosie in the fridge. A pump clip displayed Marcle Hill. But I'm not sure if this was really on. A griffin on a pedestal is a slightly unusual feature near the centre of the pub. Look out for the Trevor McDonald lookalike collecting plates and glasses!
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standard Wetherspoons but not a bad one. Bar staff could've been a little more attentive.
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Run-of-the-mill 'spoons, but with a reasonable mix of clientele giving what is a very gloomy bar a decent-enough lunchtime atmosphere. The real ale selection was rather unimaginiative, but the seasonal Nadelek from Sharp's Brewery provided an ideal winter beer to go with my ham, eggs and chips. Bar staff weren't the most efficient, but the young chap bringing out the good and tidying up was doing a grand job.
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This week has been Welton�s week at the Watch House, with 3 Welton�s beers always on as guest ales and lots of differing brews. Tuesday saw thirty of us on the Welton�s Brewery tour (coach to Horsham and back) organised by this pub. It was a great night out starting and ending in the pub, plus plenty of drinking at the brewery. The previous commentator notes �very poor 'guest' ale selection. Only 2, both Weltons� � I noticed a similar situation at the Brewery � it was full of only Welton�s beers �mmmmm.
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I was in here yesterday afternoon and was not very impressed. Dark and gloomy and a very poor 'guest' ale selection. Only 2, both Weltons and nothing to write home about. Pleasant bar staff but somewhat slow service. Food served quickly and reasonable portions.
The toilets are upstairs and quite a walk from the bar. Coming down the stairs could be a bit tricky as there are a couple of sharp left-hand turns.
Unless I am in the area again I would not go out of my way to visit. Not one of Wetherspoons better pubs.
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I had the afternoon deal fish and chips here about two months ago and the food was fine, served promptly and no problems. Was not in for a drink so no comment on the beers but looking around it seemed to me like at least an average JDW so I can't begin to guess what inspired the exultant claim of dissatisfaction.
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In my top 5 worst 'Spoons' of all time has nothing going for this at all the area is terrible the pub is terrible and not a single person around this area knew where the pub was
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Situated along the stretch of High St furthest from the local train station, The Watch House has the honour of being Lewisham�s member of the JD Wetherspoon chain. A typical and altogether unassuming frontage leads into a rather dark, gloomy and slightly cavernous interior. The industry standard fruit machines were on offer for entertainment along with a couple of plasma televisions � although I was somewhat surprised to see The Simpsons getting an airing instead of the more expected Sky Sports News. The usual snippets of local history adorn the walls for the bored and curious - Walter De La Mare and John Wesley being two of the local figureheads I took the opportunity to read up on. The customer base did not appear to be anything too far out of the ordinary for a town centre �Spoons, with market traders and the 9am brigade battling it out to be the loudest and rudest. The usual excellent choices were to be found at the bar. As well as the usual commonplace Euro-fizz, Everards Tiger was amongst the guest ales and it was pleasingly to see Courage Directors Bitter saddled up alongside more regular fare like Pedigree And � the new � 99p option: Ruddles County. Prices were at the cheaper-end of the chains scale, with my partner�s favoured tipple of Coors Light being priced at �2.10. The �Curry Club� was, as-per-usual, excellent value and most quaffable. Staff encountered were friendly and as is often the case, service was prompt and efficient. The toilets were a drawback of sorts, however: perhaps the manager should check out the gents soon. To conclude: another member of the chain that does exactly what is says on the tin. If you know what to expect and generally enjoy spending time in such places, you will find nothing particularly untoward here: a solid 6 out of 10
HTM69 - 15 Mar 2009 15:08 |
Professional manager, always good beer and ok food.
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I think the idea that Wetherspoons sell beer that is at its sell-by date is an urban myth. This is a pretty standard Wetherspoons.
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Visited early on a Weds evening during WS beer festival. Quite an older clientele early on, but joined by a few younger punters as 5/6 oc came. Being festival time, there were at least half a dozen, possibly more, real ales on. Certainly a good selection, and, as usual, bound to be something you haven't tried before. Reasonably kept, but not great. I'm rarely convinced that the beer is at the very top of its quality when WS get it, and no change here.
All in all, a pretty standard Wetherspoons, so you know what to expect.
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A decent wetherspoons for the afternoon oldies and idlers. Deserves credit for catering for them. Okay, but not a pub to bother with in the evening. Cheap as chips mind.
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I complained a year ago that there were few ales and they were tepid. They've sorted both problems - lots of good beers at pretty much the right temperature and the usual Wetherspoon prices.
Smokers are crowded down one end of the room, which gets a little raucous - a nice lively pub.
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The Watch House is a good place to sit and chat and to drink good ale at silly cheap prices. It's not a big cavernous barn like a lot of Wetherspoon's pubs and the staff are always friendly. Plus, it's open till midnight. In short it's not a classic pub by any means but it does a pretty decent job.
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A great place to drop Grandad off for the evening. Give him �20 and 40 B&H and he'll have a fine old time and have change for a kebab on the way home Not so good for the under-65's
anonymous - 7 Nov 2006 11:28 |
A classic example of an "old man's" boozer if you ever visit this place during the day, but I can think of 100 better places and things to do then come here then, especially over the weekend. As for a Friday or Saturday night, from what can I remember all those years ago is this: no music, no atmosphere and no talent. This place on a Friday or Saturday night would sum up a night out in boring boring Lewisham. Awful. The problem with these high-streets in London is that for atmosphere and variety, they will never compete with town or city centres away from the capital, e.g. Norwich, Bristol or Portsmouth. In fact, I have as much chance as meeting a H-File candidate here, as Portsmouth do of winning the Premiership. As for the beer garden, it is no more than a broom cupboard. YAWN! I wouldn't even bother for a couple of cheaper drinks after work like I did on a Monday night in my student days.
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A few less smokers than the last time I went. A good selection of guest beers. However, regarding the food, there was no chicken in stock so I had to change my order. Also my friend order a Lamb shank, which is supposed to be served with seasonal vegetables. It arrived with no seasonal vegetables, but instead with a serving of peas. My friend hates peas but the pub couldn't offer an alternative. Should they not have said, at the time of taking the order, that there were no vegetables, rather than just serving them without asking first. My friend is a supervisor & key time staff trainer at another Wetherspoons and so she knows that this was below what should be expected.
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I remember when this first opened and the staff of riverdale centre got free drinks all nite while they trained the bar staff. QUALITY! Full of old people, cant go wrong if you want a quite chat and a cheap drink
Jamoo - 25 Nov 2005 10:22 |
i often visit the wetherspoons and apart from the woman with glasses asking me for id every time i go 2 the bar its a lovely pub. drinks are cheap, staff are friendly and seats are comfy!
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My work's local has taken a serious turn for the worse in the last months. The cask ale is all tepid, and whereas they used to have lots of guest ales, most are normally off.
Other than that, there are some oddballs, but a nice lively pub.
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Judderman -
It's not just about "trouble makers". Lewisham pubs seem to attracted other "unwanted" guest during the course of the day. And it's a fact that the Watchouse seems to cater for the vast proportion of these. Normally the work shy.
This means most people will tend to give it a very wide berth. Up the prices and you never know.....
Rob - 19 Mar 2004 15:22 |
There's nothing wrong with this place or Lewisham. I've worked in Lewisham for the last 9 years & have never really seen any trouble. Manager doesn't let trouble makers in here anyway.
thejudderman - 4 Mar 2004 21:21 |
This is a pretty good place for those who like a varied selection of real ales and a chat.
Nice people behind the bar.
People who think Lewisham is rough have not travelled much that's all I can say.
Will - 26 Jan 2004 22:56 |
reading the comments above, i am rather ashamed that you have this view, i have visited this pub on many occasions and have found it very nice and pleasant, as for the food,i found it very nice and very affordable, tell me where can you buy a 10oz steak cooked to your likeing with all the trimmings for under seven pounds. as for the email of above 15 july- are you an employee WHO GOT SAKED FROM SAINSBURYS? keep up the good work of serving good beer and food and not forgotting the very nice and bubbly bar people.
michelle - 28 Oct 2003 23:15 |
One of the better places for real ales in Lewisham, they are always in god nick, also one of thefew remaining 1st generation Wetherspoons where you can still sit alone & not be bothered by others.
Leslie - 9 Aug 2003 19:54 |
Crap, tatty toilets are a 2 mile walk, floor boards losse and vibrating. dont bother
Ian - 22 Jun 2003 23:57 |
One of the better Wetherspoons, probably more of a daytime drinking den than a place to go at night though.
Darryl - 18 May 2003 01:36 |
