please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Popped in for a quick beer on the 3rd day they reopened under new management this week.
I'm impressed. The decor is good quality shabby chic , the flooring is stripped floorboards and the brickwork is exposed. A bit of artwork hangs on the walls and the lighting is atmospheric but not too dark!
4 cask ales on the 4 pumps, just like the previous version of the pub had. These ales were 2 from Sambrook's and 2 from Laine Brewery, I had a pint of Bestist Bitter @ 4.3% from Laine, a decent pint at a cost of £4.30.
A good mix of music played at an acceptable level, the new bar staff fluffed around the punters and put reserved flags out on certain tables no doubt for the diners that were due later.
My first visit was a success and I can see me using this pub regularly, it is after all just a 10 minute walk from my house!
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Currently closed 'for refurbishment' (it says on the door). It's an Asset of the Community and apparently Laine's are taking it over (http://laines.london/2016/06/the-ladywell). It's all been rather quiet since they closed it in the summer, but we remain hopeful our local pub will re-surface to something even better and as a continuing local hub.
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The wife and I dropped in just before 11pm a couple of Saturday’s back for a night cap knowing it would still be open.
Several years since I’ve been here for a beer and I have no idea why as I pass it twice a day.
Live music was on when we arrived and it was pretty good. The group were playing a mix of blues, jazz, 60’s and 70’s tunes and the front man was decent. A fair sized crowd still in the pub with everyone a local.
Choice of 3 ales on the hand pumps with 2 being national brands and the 3rd from the local Brockley Brewery. I opted for Timothy Taylor’s Landlord with both pints I had being well poured and kept.
We stayed for an hour listening to the music and chatting while we enjoyed our drinks before succumbing to a burger from the kebab house across the road.
The Ladywell Tavern has always been a decent pub I just have no idea why I don’t use it much.
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Went in today and order a Roast Beef Lunch. The beef was dry and stone cold and very chewy.
All of the food on the plate was cold apart from the roast potato's which were warm.
Watery, greasy cold gravy. The barman said "oh sorry about that" as he scraped the plates into the bin. Do not bother with this place.Totally dreadful and I will not go back.
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This pub has re-opened now. I have only moved to the area so never went to the old pub. I have been a few times since it re-opened late 2013 and each time it has been better and better. It seems to be getting a good crowd on Friday and Saturday nights. It has a good range of beers inc. ale (maybe a little pricey for the area), open fireplace, live music some nights and food looks good. If your a local and you have not dropped down yet you should get on down and support it!
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Pub has unexpectedly shutdown for minimum of 2 months for refurbishment, though no confirmation from pub itself. Tragedy for Ladywell if this is not the case and our only pub has shutdown. It did good food, drink and entertainment.
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Top pub, top landlord and always a good choice of at least 2 ales, the fortyniner is always good.
Have eaten here regularly for over 4 years and the food is always good and I know for a fac is sourced locally.
Interesting mix of locals but always a good crack in here.
Maybe the previous reviewers who have been negative need to find a pub to eat and drink in that might go some way to matching their expectations and not visit here once and slag it off with untrue and excessive reviews.
This website is for people's opinions but it is also read by people who want to find a decent pub to visit so negative reviews can damage a pubs reputation.
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I love this pub, with its range of good beers, wines and atmosphere.
Sadly I have to the note the disappointing downhill slide of the food service which I can no longer give the benefit of the doubt. Prices have increased but food has gone from delicious to ok and mediocre, often served up overcooked or cold.
also the excellent stamp card scheme (an incentive which rewards the customer with �10 off a meal after 10 purchased meals) has been suddenly shelved without a notice, leaving embarrassed staff explaining that cards cannot be redeemed. I feel that existing cards should be honoured for loyal customers.
I hope that someone is listening who can turn around this underwhelming food experience. Cheers.
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Really decent pub.
Negatives are: Prices, long wait for food and not many seats.
Positives are: Good quality beer, atmosphere.
I like this place. Its cosy in the winter with the fire on full blast.
The landlord is a nice guy but has been pi**ed on a few occassions hence the wait for food.
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The staff and landlord of the Ladywell Tavern would like to offer a response to the previous review: Although the staff member in question did close early on this occasion, they have been reprimanded and made aware that this is unacceptable. As an explanation for this however, this member of staff usually works a Sunday night shift, when we do often close at 1030pm. However this is not normal procedure during the week.
With regards to the staff �filling your lungs with polish fumes�, we would suggest that this is a massive exaggeration, with the intent of portraying the pub in as bad light as possible. We at the Tavern pride ourselves on our cleanliness and endeavour to keep tables and the rest of the pub clean throughout the day, not just at closing times. The spray we use on the tables is a water-based hand pump spray which settles on the tables, we do not use aerosols for the precise reason that they hang in the air and can cause irritation to customers, so this cannot have been the case, unless you are suggesting that the staff member on shift sprayed you directly in the face.
And yes, we are proud to have been awarded the title of Best Pub in the Lewisham Mayor�s Business Awards, an accolade which we work very hard to live up to. We go all-out to provide excellent service and good quality food and drink and the majority of the previous reviews reflect this. As you made no attempt to contact us directly, we had no chance to make an effort to make amends. It seems that your comment, Jenny M, is deliberately scathing, a fact which is immediately apparent from the bitter tone in which it is delivered. It is unconstructive, and neglects to mention any good points about the pub. In a time when pubs and small businesses are struggling, it is testament to your character that you have posted a review like this, with the apparent intent of damaging our business, rather than posting a review that would prove helpful to readers in making their own decision on whether to pay us a visit.
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Something you need to know about 'The Best Pub in Lewisham' is that it'll close early if it doesn't think there's enough people present. This has happened to me a few times now, and I'm not even a regular.
The other Monday night, I arrive at 9.45 and buy a pint. I'm due to meet a friend here just after 10.30. I sit at a table and suddenly I'm breathing in heavy gusts of polish fumes because the barman has decided to clear and clean the tables no one's sitting at and get ready for closing up. Then, at 9.55, last orders is called! There are about a dozen people in the pub at the time. So I finish my pint fast and order another. While he's pulling it, I ask what time they're closing and he says about 10.20. I ask why and he says he's 'been told to', apparently, because there aren't enough people present. I say I have a friend due to meet me at 10.30 here and he just looks at me as if I've suggested kipping on his floor for the night. Sure enough, we're all thrown out at 10.20 and my friend arrives later to find a locked up pub.
This is British service in a nutshell. The place prides itself on being the best pub in town yet it'll happily take over �7 of your money to make you race down two pints, while filling your lungs with polish fumes and throwing you out an hour before it's supposed to. What it should do of course is put posters up that make it clear you'll be told to leave early if there are less than X number of patrons in the place and/or they're buying expensive enough drinks to make it worth their while. But that wouldn't exactly enhance the (phoney) ambience, would it?
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Whilst having the air of a gastro pub conversion that ran out of money (the state of the flooring for starters) this was a nice, friendly pub serving the best Sunday lunch compared to its other competitors. A nice pint of Otter bitter was a distinguishing touch of difference from the usual "safe" gastropub real ale selection.
But, by god, this was the coldest pub I've ever sat in to the extent that it puts me off returning until next summer!
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New chef installed a week ago. She is very good too, my mate said the steak the best he has had in 5 years, I agree it's very, very good on both occasions I have eaten here... Food is also cheap, �9 for steak & chips... Drink is a bit pricy and could be cheaper tho... Live bands, quiz nights, etc add up to a good little boozer with local community feel...
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Well renovated a year ago, in shades of olive with wood tables. Last night, an excellent blues band, watched by age-20s and -30s people drinking slammers and bombs, or Adnams and other real ales, Amstel, Heineken. New art gallery out the back, past the smokers' tiny garden spot. Rumour is they've just recruited a new chef after the last one moved up.
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It's a lovely place. Food was lush, bar staff were very friendly and the Quiz Night was so much fun. Definitely recommend a visit.
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Good beers and an eclectric range of clientale. Children welcome and we played games from the collection. Would certainly use it again if in the area. Interior was shabby chic and fine.
The couple next to us complained that their FOOD order had been forgotton. Profuse apologies and meals reduced to half price, so if they do make mistakes at least they work to amend.
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Great local family friendly pub. They are starting 'Mum & Baby Salsa' dancing classes on Tues 20th Jan. Classes will run every Tues & Thurs from 12pm until 1pm.
Definitely worth a visit. Relaxed atmosphere and they do a delicious hot chocolate :-)
indie - 14 Jan 2009 19:50 |
My local since the demise of the Hope & Anchor in Algernon Road. Sort of a gastropub although the food is a bit hit and miss. I've had some fab things but, on going back a week or so later to have the same again, have been very disappointed. My husband says that the beer is great and teh wines are quite acceptable too. It does look at a bit crap - the "shabby chic" decor is more shabby than chic and the staff do have a bit of a tendency to dress like ragbags but I guess that's young people today! The service is (genereally) quick and they are helpful and polite. All things conisdered, it is a bit mean of me to damn The Ladywell Tavern with faint praise when it is a place that you can happily go for a drink on the way home from work, have some reasonably priced food and a nice glass of wine or two. So good luck to it. And the dog, although large, is v sweet.
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Poped in over the week-end for a beer. Not to sure about some of the customers.
Beer was good. I heard this place has had a refurb recently, a bit surprised as I felt it a bit tatty!! still it takes all sorts. Not a bad place overall, just needs a little bit of cleaning up.
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I was in this pub years ago and some bloke was bragging to me how he got away with murdering someone � I just smiled and nodded � and never went back! Today this pub now seeks to offer an upmarket central London feeling, but does it locally. Hence prices are higher as you don�t have to travel or be in central London. It could also be viewed as a pub for anyone who doesn�t want to drink with the retired, or anyone on benefits or people who earn less than �30K a year. I paid �4 for a pint of Otter Brewery Bitter! At that price I get quite fussy, but still could find no fault with either the beer or pub. That said, I did think the barman was quite scruffly dressed and needed to see a barber as a matter of some urgency. At such an establishment, staff�s turnout needs to say �I�m taking working here seriously�. I had similar reservations about the barmaid�s attire, and the necessity for her to put on view her extensive lower back tattooing.
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Not inspired by what I saw when I walked in, apart from the tap for Addlestones Cloudy Cider. So I had some of that. It is really a bit gastro and attracts the sort of people who are attracted by gastro pubs (really, that dress was a bit minimal wasn't it?). However you go out the back and what do you find but a bunch of tattooed blokes swearing like troopers and letting the rather enormous dog downstairs. It is a very big dog, sort of like a small horse and a bit unnerving.
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A superb local! A 100% improvement on what the place was like before. Good food, great service, gorgeous barmaids, decent background music and the new decor is nice an welcoming. I'll be back!
Shaft - 24 Jun 2008 15:47 |
Missed the opening but went in on monday night. the staff were friendly, nice wine by the glass which is good as I was by myself. Treated myself to some slow cooked belly of pork.... best I've had. Still needs a bit of fine tuning but the effort is there and will hopefully become a great watering and eating hole.
Good Job
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Can i just say i've only recently moved into the area and found no local bars that i would venture into as a female. i'm used to having a nice bar just around the corner from me, so i find this rather harsh that i can't come back from work and pop into my local and have a snack and a drink. Although i briefly bumped into the new owners of the ladywell and they seem reallly nice (with a big dog may i add). They told me how it is going to be a big change to what it used to be, which i only know from reading this site that it was not that good at all. SO PLEASE hurry up and open so i can enjoy the area a lot more. X Quick please
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Despite having lived in the area for 3 years and only just around the corner from this pub, I could count the number of times I've been there on one hand. The punters in this pub are quite frankly scary. I walk past this pub every single day, seeing people fighting and arguing outside is the norm. Nice building but there are so many 'nice' people in the area who wouldn't even consider going in there. I suspect when the owner asks what the locals want he asks his current customer base and is ignoring the vast number of potential customers who want a clean, safe friendly local pub selling good food and booze at reasonable prices. A pub that gets this right doesn't need tacky gimmicks like ladies night, curry night, happy hour and 2 for 1 night. I wish the new owner every success with this pub because it could be a fantastic local pub, it just needs to smarten up, go back to basics and ditch those downmarket gimmicks.
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ladies and gentlemen,
We are currently replacing the rotten floor underneath the bar and about a million other things that need doing. We should be open early April if everything goes to plan and will have a lovely traditional english pub with a modern twist selling a good selection of our favorite beers, ciders and guest ales. We have a top kitchen and are hoping to provide good old simple grub daily and a smashin sunday lunch. Our philosophy is all about good drink, good food, good music and good times.
Please bear with us, we have a lot to do and we want to get everything right. We will be open as soon as possible.
David
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Pub has been shut for about 10 days now. Hear it was end of lease?
Hope it gets new owners who give it a proper refurb back to a traditional-looking boozer, but I fear it will end up as flats, as most closed Lewisham pubs do these days.
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bearing in mind that the ladywell tavern has only recently been taken over, the landlord has done a superb job so far in transforming the place. hes completely refurbished the pub, with the resteraunt/lounge already been completed and hes now working on the bar area. he has the best interests of the punters in mind as he constanly asks the punters wat they would like in the pub and tries his best to full fill these e.g, happy hour mon and wed 8-9, ladies night every fri 7-11, all drinks exept doubles 2 pound, quiz coming soon on a tues night, and there will also be a jazz night in the restaurant area every sunday night, which is starting shortly. as with the food menu, there is a bar menu available. and the restaurant is only open thursday fri and sat evening, and sunday day for dinners. as its only a recent restaurant there is always someone in there eating, be it only a couple or a large group, with sundays being normally the busiest time for food. these things take time, and only if everyone was a bit more patient as there was and still is a considerable amount of work that needs to be done, and im sure when its finished it will be a wonderful place for people of all ages to drink.
swans - 17 Nov 2007 12:56 |
Half of the pub is now a fine dining establishment, with cocktails & expensive prices to match, and surprise surprise it was empty when I last looked in.
Bearing in mind that there has only been crisps on offer as food before, maybe some simple pub grub fare would have been a better first step?
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Been here on a few occasions and I must say, I really do like it in here. The atmosphere is good and the bar staff are always friendly. Defintley a "local" pub, but all the better for it in my opinion.
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It's an average pub for this part of London - no reason to avoid it but no real reason to visit either.
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A reasonable local boozer, but can be a locals' local if the footy is on. Substantial and well priced Sunday lunch.
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Have been a regular visitor to this pub over the past 10 years and have seen management come and go and many changes take place. At the moment it seems to be a pub on a downward turn. The beer is awful for the price you pay, the tables are dirty, the toilets are just about clean and the atmosphere is one of continuous discontent and uncertainty about what is going to happen next. It needs a good clean and more focused management.
anonymous - 1 Jul 2005 17:03 |
I have recently moved in to the area with my family and use this pub quite abit at the weekends. I must say that I have always received pleasent service by all the members of staff and managers when ever my family and I go in. As for the cleanliness I've no real complaints, the tables and ashtrays are regular emptied. The beer is abit expensive for the area, but from what I have been told that is not due to the managers but the company they work for. All in all I always have a nice time when I go in there.
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It used to be great local boozer with friendly & welcoming barstaff who at least exchanged pleasantaries and helped create a good atmosphere. I've had some great nights down there especially around Xmas and New Year, and had DJ's etc.
Over the last year, all the good staff have gone to be replaced by Managers who don't care and grunt at you when you ask for a beer like your an inconvenience, godamn awful karaoke on a Friday, pub is dirty, beer is crap and full of plastic goodfellas and rumours of the pub closing down all in all create a miserable atmosphere. I'd rather drink at home! Sort it out L.T.!
Anon - 18 Nov 2004 11:03 |
i quite like this boozer although i don't go so often. small pool table with no room to play but better than no pool table. drinks ok, and although a locals place not unfriendly. always worth a quick pint.
al - 9 May 2004 11:14 |
Nice little boozer in Lasdywell. Watched the England v Turkey match there last October with a bunch of England fans and the Turkish guys from the Fenerbache Kebab house opposite, and everyone had a great time. Can't say fairer than that. Could do with having better beer, but then so could most places.
James - 27 Feb 2004 09:46 |
