Ivy House, Nunhead

Most of the original layout survives with three completely separate rooms, and with plenty of Truman's Brewery original features.

Built in the 1930s by Truman's Brewery to the designs of their house architect, A E Sewell, who has provided us with a quite remarkable pub. Even though it is still very large it used to be even larger before the right hand part was converted to staff accommodation.

The front room as you enter was almost certainly the original saloon bar and has the typical Truman's feature at the top of the wall panelling of gold lettering reminding us of their wares - such as 'TRUBROWN ALE' and 'IMPERIAL STOUT'. The fairly modest counter is original, and the canopy above it looks original as well, but the bar-back is modern. A pair of doors in the middle of glazed screening at the back leads into an enormous room known as the Hall, which has an original counter fronting the central servery, a stage in the corner and history as a music venue going back to the rock era of the mid 1970s. It also has some simple Art Deco surrounds to the doors on the right that lead to the former Refreshment Room. This room has a Tudor feel to it, with more panelling on the walls, wood effect beams on the ceiling, an inglenook fireplace, and most unusual decorative plaster plaques above the wall panelling depicting all manner of things such as a knight, roses, a portcullis, a swan, and even a snail has crawled in as well. The counter is also original with a couple of attractively glazed screens with chevron designs above it. 

Other things to look out for are the original stone fireplaces in all three room, and the brown and white tiled spittoon troughs beneath the counters in the Hall and former saloon bar.