The Ivy House

🚇 Nunhead 🍺 £6.00 Arnsberg Lager The Ivy House is located in a quiet residential street, near Nunhead Cemetery in the Newlands area of Nunhead, Southeast London. The nearest station is Nunhead. This former Truman's pub was originally built in 1865 and called The Newlands Tavern. The pub you see today was built in 1938 by Truman's principal architect, A.E. Sewell. Renamed The Stuart Arms in 1985, its name changed again in 1996 to The Ivy House, apparently in connection with the pub's Guv’nor at the time, Mum Ivy. During the ‘Pub Rock’ era of the 1970s, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer all performed here. In 2015, the pub was used as the Double R Club in the Kray film ‘Legend’. This pub became the UK's first community-owned pub and the first pub listed as an Asset of Community Value. This large, multi-room pub impressively preserves its 1930s features, including dado height panelling, a glazed entrance, a moulded stone fireplace, multi-pane screens, and original bench seating. A notable detail is the brown and white chequered spittoon trough before the servery. The main bar connects to a Hall, off which lies the Jacobethan-style former "Refreshment Room." A courtyard beer garden is located at the rear. The beer selection is diverse, offering four cask ales, locally brewed beers, and familiar favorites. I tried the Arnsberg Lager by @bexleybrewery ; my pint was great, price was average. The food option here is pizza, with nine choices available. A Margherita pizza costs £9.50, roast dinners return in September. Arrived around 4 pm on a warm Saturday in April. The pub was quiet inside, with most customers enjoying the spring sunshine in the lively beer garden. Inside had a relaxed atmosphere. The service was excellent; a friendly staff member was kind enough to share interesting details about the pub. The @ivyhousenunhead absolutely blew me away, what an outstanding pub this is. It just goes to show the power of community. A rich history, beautiful decor, friendly staff and locals and a top beer selection made for a marvellous London pub experience. Get it on your to visit list. 📅 12th April 2025 More London pub info on socials @londonpubmap 🍻

Lovely little pub. Lots of character and amazing live folk music (Rapt &Luke De-Sciscio). Fair (typical) prices and a good community vibe. Recommended.

Excellent Sunday Roast at a very reasonable price. Enjoyed the coffee and finished the afternoon with a game of pool in the games room. Popular live acts all through the week. Once known as Newlands Tavern, this is quite the historic venue.

Went specially for the Sunday Roast so not too impressed, but the pub itself was nice. One of the few, maybe only, community owned pubs in London. Live band playing in the back lead to a nice atmosphere in the front room. Sunday Roast wasn’t to our tastes. Meat was cooked well but was a tad chewy, accompaniments not up to scratch - the potatoes hard, pickled cabbage interesting, no stuffing, and the gravy too light.

2019. Attended a friends 70th, a full on performance, good wo e and food. I ordered the vegan stew, absolutely delicious. Nice to be back, such a warm and wekcoming place, great staff team, attentive and helpful. Such a wonderful little gem. I have been to a couple events here over the last two years. It does have a good selection of beers and spirits, and a pub menu. It has a stage and plenty of seating, good place to hire for all sorts of events. I really enjoy the community atmosphere.

Cooperatively owned, great beers, nice staff, excellent building with a big gig space out the back.

Great community atmosphere. Good selection of cask and keg beer, which are really well priced. £5 for a good cask beer.

It's great to see a Community pub look to play live music and be the creative hub for the local area. Serves Modelo too #winning

I went here for lunch today as I was eyeing the sweet potato and broccoli falafel wrap on the online menu. Sadly and frustratingly as often happens in London, the menu was outdated. So I got the spinach, lentil and quinoa burger on a sourdough bun sans chips, for £11. The waitress asked if I wanted anything on top and I said no, deeply regretting my decision when the burger arrived. It was so dry, despite the little bits of chili sauce bits atop the burger, and completely tasteless. The bun had a fine dusting of flour atop that sprinkled everywhere. Dense and chewy bun but still lacking flavour. A few greens were sprinkled on the side. The venue is pretty cool with an ornate stage and gold lamé curtains, and red leather sofas, so I would give more stars if just for the venue. But I can't get over that sad, sad burger. There's also a vegan stew on the menu but with no description of what it is, I wouldn't trust it either. Dog-friendly so that's a plus!

The Ivy House! From the outside it looks like a regular local London Pub. Once in side it still looks like a regular local London pub and quite a small one at that. A short bar with a few chairs and tables dotted around and a peculiar pair of large black double doors. Down the rabbit hole we go, for behind the black doors is a proscenium arch with tables, comfy chairs and chesterfields scattered around the auditorium. A rather impressive and welcoming space, that has played host to many a comedy night. A pub worth keeping an eye on, as it has been know to birth some pretty special comedy talent.

London's 1st ever pub bought under the 2011 Localism Act. Impressive. What does this mean? Well since the past reviews this pub was closed and then resurrected by a group of locals committed to SE15. (take a look at the pic) It's a little rough around the edges but deserves 5 stars solely on the premise. That being said its a decent typical London pub. Loads of ales, lagers, ciders by the keg and bottle, wouldn't bother with the wine. Food is classic pub fayre, the burger was very good and the pies looked amazing. Add to that it has a variety of performances on their stage, comedy, bands, crafts etc. Great local, with a cool crowd, looking forward to a Sunday roast during the winter. Another insight into the progression the Nunhead & Peckham areas are showing in London.

The Ivy House is a hidden gem out beyond the back of Nunhead Cemetery. It's the first community owned pub in London, and one of the best in my opinion. The building itself is a large former Truman's pub, but with lots of character. A bar services three rooms. The first is usually the fullest, with tables scattered here and there. The second and largest room houses a small vaudeville-style stage that hosts gigs and stand up. The third has dark oak booths lining either side. As well as some benches out the front, there's also a small and nicely furnished courtyard out the back. It's a huge space for somewhere quite out of the way, but doesn't ever feel empty. Being a community-owned pub in one of the most highly concentrated areas of London for craft beer, the range of beer on offer is superb. Breweries based in Brockley, Gypsy Hill, Peckham, Brixton, as well as many from further afield, provide beers ranging from porter to wheat beer. The food doesn't disappoint either. Sundays in particular, when the pub sets up a large barbecue outside the front, are a highlight. Try the steak. Being a community pub, there's also plenty of community activities, ranging from yoga to a chess club. Round it off with friendly staff who clearly care about their pub, and you've got a five star establishment. Highly recommended!

I came here to see a few bands play. Kind out of the way to get to being there isn't a tube nearby. So took a taxi. The stage is beautiful! I know why the first band had chosen this location to shoot their video. They have a very large room for bands and crowds. I've seen some people order food. Haven't a clue if it's any good, but did look appealing. Prices are average. The only complaint is when the barman measured my wine. I am very peeved by that. If I pay 5 pounds for a wine, fill the bloody thing to the top! But all and all, nice pub! And a good place to see bands!

Pleasant atmosphere and a good range of ales in this lovingly run community establishment. A real success story that deserves all the support it gets. We travelled across London from Muswell Hill to Nunhead for a few pints on Sunday night and weren't disappointed. Prices are as high as anywhere in the city but you at least know the destination of any profit is more ethical than many other places.

Impressive beer selection, prices average, good atmosphere although the big room feels very big when it's a quiet night. The rear beer garden looks like it would be good in the summer.