please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Just shows you the sort of money folk have /earn - not one mentions beer prices, unless former posts have. Late May: £3.15 for a Summer! Not been here since two Byrns nights ago (another chapter - do they still do it?). Now been taken over by a bunch of paper-grabbing la-di-da's (yuppies in the 80's). All trying to be upper middle class - some of them are. I mean the owners/staff. I'm so (sooo) surprised it aint all gastro wood now. Glad too - maybe their not that bad. £3.15 for Summer though? I'll continue down the Sultan thanks all the same! I will not even pay those prices pro-rata (halfs).Hate that kind of greed! Sheer utter greed!!!!!
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I moved to the area about 6 months ago and, after surveying the pub's on offer extensively, I settled on this one as my regular. I haven't been to another pub in the area since!
There's always a great selection of beers on and I like nothing more than whiling away an evening playing one of the many games on offer (Kerplunk anyone?).
My only hesitation in posting a review is that if too many people come I won't get a seat...
A proper, good, honest, beer drinker's pub.
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I've been here a couple of times for Sunday lunch in the last few weeks and it was very nice both times. Its properly cooked food and is pretty cheap at around £8 a meal. My veggie friend tells me her roast was good too. There's a good range of drinks - several real ales and unusual bottled lagers as well odd things like parsnip wine (which I haven't tried). Its a good pub for a boozy afternoon or a few pints in the evening.
Mobey - 13 Feb 2008 18:23 |
Adnams, Summer Lightning, Harveys & Sharp’s Cornish Coaster is a surprisingly good line-up round here, and the old pumpclips around the bar suggest that this was no fluke. Presume there must be a college nearby as there was a definite student vibe and started filling up at 16:00 predominently with 20something clientele. Yesterday was curry-night and the notice board also offered Sunday-lunch which sounded a cut-above regular roasts for £8. The kitchen is open and adjacent to the bar. Shame it’s a little off-track with little else in the area appealing as crawl material.
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Seems like some changes are afoot here. The food is good and the ale drinker is still well served which is a relief. The new friendly owners were very welcoming on a recent visit. Talk of an upstairs and a smoker's balcony. Currently still a good mix of drinkers.
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much improved of late,good fresh basic food,loads of different beers,sundays a good day, nice roast dinner.
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breath of fresh air to find real ales in tip-top condition. brilliant sunday roast followed by funniest quiz ever. think this is a free house-immaculate
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I personally do like the priory ive locked horns with tdk before but I have to say that the priory is one of the better pubs in the area it is definitely not unbeatable as the one of the previous comments has stated there are much better pubs in London
juzza - 19 Mar 2007 13:54 |
The Priory is undoutedly a poorer pub than it was two years ago (when it was run by Gary & Nicky). You would have to be blind not to see that. Ask ANY regular and they will tell you the same. If the Priory is "unbeatable" in London then we're in trouble.
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Unbelievable nonsense being spouted by people saying it's going downhill. The Priory is undeniably the finest pub for miles around (those "miles" including all of Clapham and beyond).
Constantly changing guest ales make every visit a new experience. Top-notch boozer, unbeatable in London as far as I'm concerned.
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It really depresses me to say it, but I have to agree with those saying that the Priory is going slowly downhill. There is no drastic deterioration - and this is still a lovely pub - it's just that the decor is a bit tattier, the welcome a bit less warm (even for those of us who are in 3 or 4 times a week), the service a bit hit and miss (it took 5 minutes for the barmaid to pour 3 drinks on Saturday), all at the same time as the prices going up and up. The telly being on all the time doesn't particularly bother me, but it does seem all of a piece with the general slip in standards.
In the last couple of years the Priory has changed from being one of the best pubs in London to being an ok local. Increasingly often I walk past it and go to the Wheatsheaf on South Lambeth Road instead.
anonymous - 6 Feb 2007 15:23 |
Was here on Tues for my quiz league game. Was pleased to see Landlord available as I seem to find it short supply in London.
Good atmosphere and well kept beer, only shame is that it was the last time our quiz team would be visiting.
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Definitely one of the best pubs in South West London for beer. Had an excellent christmas beer on the last visit. The staff were friendly and cheerful, and allowed us to stay well past 11:45 to finish our pints.
anonymous - 27 Dec 2006 16:23 |
LOL - I think you might be right about "the girls"! Agreed, I may have painted a slightly pessimistic image - just getting overly grouchy in my old age.
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Im in about the same as you I wonder though how well the cellar is looked after when just the girls are left in charge I dont mean that in a sexist way but the owner seems to know what hes doing but the manager I must admit seems to be absent alot of the time I do though still think that its a cracking pub hence I get in there whenever I can I havent experienced the same issues with you.
But I dont really feel that the television interferes with the atmosphere of the place but each to their own I guess.
juzza - 12 Dec 2006 18:25 |
I'd like to share your optimism Juzza. I don't know how regularly visit the Priory but I'm in there at least a couple of times a week and really feel that the place is going downhill quickly.
The television thing for me just represents the insensitivity with which the place is now run - this used to be quite a civilised pub where the main noise was conversation... it's now becoming the usual run-of-the-mill Sky Sports bars.
Have to disagree with you about the beer still being as good as before.
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I have to disagree very strongly about that!The Priory is still one of the best pubs in the area by a mile the beer service is top class! I dont really understand why a television is getting your goat up so much but I do agree that the place needs a lick of paint but that is just a very minor grumble if you want spic and span toddle off to Clapham
juzza - 12 Dec 2006 10:44 |
Sad to say, but the Priory has seriously gone downhill since the old landlord & landlady Gary & Nicki left a couple of years ago.
The old Priory was a lovingly run, CAMRA-friendly local. The new landlord has let the place run down badly; the beer is nowhere near as good as before, the place is scruffy and the TV is usually blaring away regardless of anyone wanting to watch it.
A real shame and a disgrace the way this pub has been left to run itself into the ground. I give it 2 years before it's sold off and converted into "apartments".
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A suprb selection of ales and a nice clean, pub. A hidden treasure worth seeking out for the true beer drinker.
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I used to drink here regularly when I worked at South Bank Uni. Nice old fashioned corner local, five ales on handpump with Harvey's & Adnams as house beers, plus plenty of foreign beers both draught & bottled and a large selection of fruit wines.
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What a cracking pub! came here for the first time this week and was very impressed good selection a hidden gem in the olive grove that is stockwell,
well worth trying
juzza - 20 Aug 2006 20:22 |
To the person who referred to this place as "cliquey and unwelcoming": you will either have been under 25 or very rude. Those 'cliques' are locals who have been coming here for donkey's years and still make up the majority of this place's clientele. They're generally a friendly lot. I should know - I'm one of them ;-)
Still one of the best real pubs in London. Friendly staff, fantastic range of real ales and continental beers (both bottle and draught) and pretty good nosh, too - the seafood linguine in particular is to die for. My only quibbles are that it gets a bit smelly when the open kitchen is busy, and that the average age of the punters seems to be on the increase.
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Quiet on a Sat lunch-time but pleasant - good Harveys
Would have liked to have tried food
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Haven't been here other than on a Sunday in the last 2 years, but the new owner does his job well enough, he's kept the formula basically the same so there's not much to complain about.
Sunday lunch is still superb, the Harvey's the best pint you'll find in the country, but he could do with some better Sunday lunchtime staff. This lot seems bumbling and ineffectual.
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Not keen on this pub, found it to be very clicky and uwelcoming.
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Quality gastro-pub. Good food. Good ale range. Many foreign beers. Friendly staff. Expensive.
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This pub is the greatest I've come across in many years!
I went to Uni round the corner, and used to pop in every day. Excellent excellent beers, games to play, service the best ever, food good too.
Would recommend, despite it's location! Very warm and friendly!
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The in-house chef from New Zealand sadly has to move back to his homeland so there is a new chef, a Scotsman and he is superb!!!! If he is in good mood, he will give you a WHOLE mackerel - Holy Mackerel !
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Excellent selection of beers and over 20 wines and nice mixture of people
anonymous - 18 Sep 2005 10:35 |
This pub may not have a prime location, situated as it is on a backstreet amongst the Stockwell housing estates, but it is a real gem. The major selling point may be the beer, superb in both range and quality, but the food is also excellent. The Sunday lunches are unusually good for a pub roast. The wine list is also extensive, including many fruit wines too. If you live in the Stockwell or Vauxhall area and like your real ales, then you won't do better than the Priory Arms. I fact, I only wish there were a couple of other pubs in the area which sold beer half as good.
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A gem. Lovely atmosphere and great for leisurely roast and Sunday papers
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Good pub. Good food cooked by in-house chef (though it is a bit dear, the food is superb). They have changed their web address to www.prioryarms.co.uk
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The beer in the priory may be a bit dear, but its worth it for the chilled-out relaxed atmosphere in the pub. Worth the journey. Staff are quite friendly here and the food's not bad either. Wish I lived near enough to make it my local.
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Lovely pub, though a bit pricy. Worth a visit for great selection of fruit beers, and food quite good too. Close to nearby Lambeth College, but luckily too expensive for more of the students, so it maintains a relaxed, local atmosphere.
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Update: The new owners have introduced an evening food menu, ranging from light bites to substantial quality fare, the food being served up to 9pm weekday evenings. In addition the beer (although excellent previously) has improved yet further. My rating for this establishment remains at 10/10.
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Gary and Nickie have retired and passed the pub onto a new licencee. He promises to keep the pub exactly as it is, that is, a vibrant local freehouse with an excellent range of real ales together with a top class bottled lager selection. After I visited with a group of friends on Friday 03/12/04, I was reassured that the pub remains in good hands for the forseeable future.
And, sad though it is to miss Gary and Nickie, the news that the pub is safe can only be welcomed in these circumstances.
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£2.55 is actually very reasonable for a pint; around here anything below £3 a pint is good!
SW9 - 10 Nov 2004 13:25 |
Although a bit dearer than other pubs in the area the pricing of the beers is just enough to exclude those Gary and Nickie wouldn't have in their pub, but nothing like the ludicrous £3 you pay in the west end.
Every inch of the Priory is good, down to the very last pint. The food was very reasonable during their beer festival - I'll definitely be going again!
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Numerous contributors to this board have commented on the friendly atmosphere, the good value food, the excellent range of well-kept beers, etc. All perfectly true.
Unfortunately, success has had its downside. The Priory has won a number of awards, including CAMRA's South London Pub of the Year, but they now seem to be trying to cash in on their good reputation. £2.55 for a pint of ordinary bitter in this area really is a bit over the top!
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Excellent local pub, get there early on a Sunday to get a good spot for lunch.
Badger - 8 Oct 2004 11:59 |
It's sadly increasingly difficult to find pubs which know how to handle their ale, serving it at it's best. This pub is a notable exception, they really know their stuff. Being a lager drinker normally, i was blown away by the delicious flavours and tastes of the Bombardier on tap. They also have great seasonal guest beers and a wide selection of interesting bottled beers from all over Europe and the rest of the world. Check out the tap badges of previous beers that are plastered over the whole bar!
ChrisM - 21 Sep 2004 13:00 |
Yes, a splendid pub, which does a fantastic sunday roast. In fact, I'm going down there in a minute to watch the football.
Alex Coronation - 4 Sep 2004 18:00 |
I miss the Priory Arms. I used go there all the time when I lived in Stockwell, mostly because it has the number one best Sunday Roast in the whole of London. The veggie option is amazing, I've never found anything like it. Now I live in Walthamstow, but I still miss it... (sob)...
thinga - 10 Aug 2004 14:56 |
A really good pub, a wide range of beer and plenty of room to relax. No piped music either.
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A fine job done by Gary and Nicky last Saturday celebrating their 20th anniversary at this excellent pub.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by all, and Gary was on hand - as usual - to wander round the pub making everyone feel personally welcome.
Thanks for the excellent barbeque, and the beer voucher scheme - a good idea given how popular the event turned out to be.
I wish the pub another prosperous 20 years in the same loving hands.
Cheers!
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i waitress here on the sunday for the lunches. and i gotta say its one of the best pubs i've been in! gary nicky and margate all work excellent to keep this place going. its got a beautiful friendly and cosy atmosphere. love it!
ish - 13 May 2004 00:33 |
I've long raved about the great Sunday lunches and and the selection of real ale, both of which are justly commended by many others on this site. Recently I went in for the Saturday cooked breakfast - for a fiver it's the best way to kill the Friday night hangover and make a gentle start to Saturday's drinking!
homer - 17 Mar 2004 16:50 |
I'm a regular at the priory Arms, in the sense that I go there most Sundays for a Roast. If I lived in the area, I would drop in for a beer every night. But Unfortunately coming from Dulwich to have a beer is a bit Sad.
I have invited most of my friends and family to the pub, and everyone of them says its a great pub.
I dont now how Gary, Nick, Dave and the rest of the team do it. But it has to be the best pub in london.
Well done, Keep Winning the Camra awards, and your fans will stick by you.
By the way, if anyone nows a cheap one bed flat to buy, in easy Staggering distance, i'll put a offer in tomorrow.
David - 12 Feb 2004 17:28 |
Well done to Gary & his team for a superb Burns Night session. Burns' own poetry read aloud, Haggis, Scottish ales and half-price whisky, what else could one ask for? It is touching how the landlord wanders among the customers talking to each group individually through the night - this really makes the Priory one of London's best pubs.
Regarding the comment below, don't be put off too much by the area; the Studley Estate has had a makeover and doesn't appear threatening at all (well, not to me anyway!!)
Visit the pub and see for yourselves - you will not be disappointed!
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The Priory is a veritable oasis in a concrete jungle of shite. Stockwell's only redeeming feature
Robacidgreen - 27 Jan 2004 11:43 |
Wow! This is pub is just brilliant! The selection of beers has to be seen to be believed, very nice barmaid and the landlord walks about the pub talking to the customers. This is a must for beer connoisseurs. It is a bit brightly painted and harshly lit if you like the old wood and stained paintwork aproach to pub decor, but the mixed clientelle and friendly atmosphere make it feel quite cozy. This pub is also quite small inside. Yes, it did have TVs with piped music videos, but not too obtrusive. I will definitely be going there again.
Tim A - 17 Jan 2004 13:09 |
I live nearby and thought I'd give it a go on a afternoon seeing all the rave reviews. Unfoutunately was with my small daughter and no children allowed inside. Too cold to sit outside but does look nice place maybe a bit yuppy but does not matter.
Duncan - 6 Jan 2004 05:05 |
Great Sunday lunches! Having lived in the are for 2-3 years I ve never had any problem late at night, many a time Ive stumbled back to Stockwell tube or to the Wandworth Road for a bus the worse for wear with no ill effects
Theo - 16 Dec 2003 12:59 |
My local for 18 months, I wish I'd actually gone along more, this is an almost perfect small pub, with a great selection of beers both on tap and bottled.
Aask for the Erdinger, or Schneider Weisse, you won't be disappointed.
David Hicks - 20 Nov 2003 12:16 |
I lived about a 10 minute walk from this pub up until about a year ago and it is easily the best pub in the area. When I first went to the old Priory back in the late 80's it was a basic if well run back street local. But the management team who seem to have been running the place since forever have created a wonderful institution. A great friendly atmosphere and fantastic range of ales and especially German beers are only 2 of it's many plus points.Its a genuine pleasure to spend a few hours here.
I wholeheartedly agree with Marks comments about The Priory and I admire his positive outlook about the area it's in, but I lived in this part of London for 30 years and know it well. Caution, especially late at night, is advised. The reputation is has earned is not without foundation.
Bob V - 2 Nov 2003 11:31 |
I would like to congratulate Gary and the team at the Priory for the excellent German beer festival last weekend. I came with some friends on the Friday and the beer was superb, so were the great value sausages and sauerkraut, and of course the British beer was not neglected in any way at all. So 10/10 for everything, and here's to many more such festivals at what is certainly one of London's BEST pubs!
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nice pub good beers we had a very friendly reception when we were working nearby last summer fond memories of a good pub
roger hayward - 8 Aug 2003 19:03 |
One of the best freehouses in London with a great choice of ales and bottled beer. Small friendly backstreet single bar pub well worth using.
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Attention to detail is what makes this pub perfect. It's a joy to quaff in such cared for surroundings. Always a fine selection of draught and a huge selection of bottled stuff. The roasts are unequalled in my experience. I disagree with Stevo. It's a lovely looking area if you relax about it's reputation.
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A very good pub indeed. My chess club meets here and if our chess was as good as their beer we'd be better players than we are. A good range of beers but particular note should be made of the top-notch German beers in the fridge. Also noteworthy is the enormous and entirely docile dog, who has an endearing habit of wandering past the chessboards, nose at pitch level. We should make more use of this than we do.
Justin - 2 May 2003 17:20 |
This is amongst one of London's best pubs. The very friendly, informed, chilled-out and enthusiastic management rubs off on the enjoyment of all customers! Harveys seems to be a regular beer plus a constantly changing range of up to four other guests. I was there on Friday 25/04/03 with four friends and we were introduced to an exquisite German beer - a subject on which the landlord is well-informed and well-travelled! An impressive stock is held, and some people come just for the German beers! Even the dog (I'm no dog lover) is friendly! I would recomend this pub to anyone looking for a great pint in a great atmosphere. No music, allowing for great conversation. A gem!
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Great small pub, slightly off the beaten track in one of the less picturesque parts of London. Fantastic selection of ales and friendly service. Food looks good.
Stevo - 23 Apr 2003 13:13 |
situated in the heart of stockwell, this pub is a light in asea of darkness. A terifically friendly boozer with an extensive beer and wine selection. Choose from 6 well kept real ales or go for czech lagers, german bottled beers, fruit wines and one of the best pub wine lists around. The atmosphere is relaxed and convivial with the emphasis on good conversation rather than overpowering music and electronic distractions. There is no pool table or darts board but there are a selection of board games for the punters' use should you tire of the company!! This is an essential call in any crawl of the area - even if you find yourself staying there the whole night!
jonathan pettit - 24 Jun 2002 16:12 |
A wide selection of English ales and fantastic food.
Pub of the year!
Tom - 21 Jun 2002 13:30 |
An excellent pub. Reknowned for its great range of cask ales, german beers and country wines(!). Also boasts a dog the size of a horse. Live football when on. Great Sunday roasts. Quiet music.
Joel - 15 May 2002 14:13 |
camra pub of the decade,and great sunday lunches.
roch - 25 Mar 2002 16:29 |
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