Ivy House, Nunhead  

Peckham Rye may not induce in you the same visions of angels which appeared before William Blake, but there's still a few sights round here that are uncommon to London. The allotments off Stuart Road are an unexpected sight and the nearby Ivy House isn't your regular sort of pub. The well preserved front bar (with Truman's lettering running round the walls) is a rare enough sight but it's the large back room that really draws the breath. Few are the pubs with a stage; fewer still are those with a stage with gold lame curtains. It's quite a sight: redolent of Nick Cave videos, drag act performances and old time sing-a-longs. None were in operation on our visit, but we're pleased to report live entertainment is still a going concern here (an acoustic club, an anything-goes-weirdness night and karaoke). The drink on offer isn't the widest of choices but we weren't complaining. No doubt business minded types will see this one as prime for redevelopment; we just see a one-off pub strolling on as best it can. More power to its elbow, say us.

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