Old Nun's Head, Nunhead  

The story goes that a nunnery once stood on the site of this pub. The Old Nun in question - the Lady Superior of the nunnery - was killed during the Reformation and had her head chopped off and stuck on a pike-staff outside: hence the name both of the pub and the surrounding area. Not too long ago, the pub was derelict and a sighting of our headless nun (or ghosthunters tracking her down) was a more likely occurrence than this one opening for business again. But, under the care of the people who turned round the nearby Gowlett, the Old Nun is back on her feet and pulling in the punters. And no wonder: the pub's a fair size and offers enough room to stretch out in. The pub food is fairly priced (especially given the sizeable portions), but this one also places a focus on its beers and you'll find some unorthodox choices here (when we were last in, it was Rev James from the Brains Brewery in Wales and Brakspears Organic Blonde Beer). It's always nice to see a pub coming back from the dead: particularly when it's as friendly and comfortable as this one. On our last visit, we experienced the two-edged sword of pub gentrification: good beer and food, yes, but also an abundance of young children, whose noisy presence may not suit everyone; a sign of the times round here.

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