The Wellesley, Waterloo  

It was a bit of a culture shock to drop down the steep flight of stairs from the station concourse into this windowless basement to find this is actually quite a reasonable pub. A fairly spacious bar area is fine for the quick one between trains and gives on to a loungey section with more comfortable chairs, including a couple of the now mandatory squashy sofas. A good beer range usually includes ESB, Pride, Bombardier and Young's complemented by the usual lager suspects and a reasonable looking wine list. Food of the breakfasty-brunchy-burgery type was being woofed down with evident enjoyment on one lunch-time visit - and, by the looks of it, by just as many local workers who'd chosen to come here as by the captive market of hungry travellers. Three TV screens should mean easy footy watching from virtually anywhere. The Wellesley has even made a crack at tackling that bane of station bars - the combination lock to get into the loos. Yes, they are still there, but the number - 1032 if you are interested - is printed in large letters on a label stuck (sometimes) to the middle of the door. In case you were wondering Arthur Wellesley is the bloke who won the Battle of Waterloo. OK, it's unlikely this pub will be our next pub of the year, but as that rarity in a London rail station - an honest, decent boozer - pay respect where respect is due.

reviewed:
7/11/2006

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